In the past five years or so, there has been a considerable shift in online activity from desktop to mobile. And the simple truth is that unless your business is utilizing mobile technology to its fullest, you are going to fall behind your competitors.
Smartphones and tablets are quickly becoming the dominant tools for consumers when they go online, and it has never been more important for businesses to start moving with the times than it is today.
Don’t underestimate how important mobile is becoming, and will end up being in the future. Here are some incredibly compelling reasons why every business needs to start ensuring they are investing in mobile tech to grow – and retain – their customer base.
60 percent of searches are now from mobile devices
Up until a few years ago, the average person searched for information, products, and ideas from a desktop. But this has constantly been changing since the introduction of Internet-capable mobiles. And with the rise of the smartphone and tablet, the stats are now pointing firmly towards mobile being the search tool of choice for the average consumer. Today, almost 60 percent of all searches are now coming from mobile devices, according to Google. And given that mobile optimization is such an important factor in Google’s SEO demands right now, only a foolish business would fail to acknowledge the importance of mobile.
90 percent of mobile use involves apps
People are spending an increasing amount of time on their smartphones and tablets. Almost 75 percent of Americans check their phones or devices every single hour. And, interestingly, 90 percent of mobile use involves using or checking in with mobile apps. So, as a business owner, if you aren’t talking to a mobile applications developer and looking at ways to create an app for your business, there is a good chance you are missing out on valuable business. Not only are apps great tools for finding new customers, but they are also great tools for retaining them.
Mobile e-commerce is on the rise
The trend towards searching via mobile has been happening for quite a few years now. But over that period, the search statistics haven’t matched with the figures for purchasing online – people still tended to buy online via a desktop. Things are finally changing now, however, and buying from a mobile – m-commerce – is becoming an integral part of the e-commerce scene. Last year, the figure leaped to 57 percent of all e-commerce purchases, and we are betting that there will be another significant rise throughout this year and the next.
The technology is improving
Because businesses are investing a lot of money in mobile technology, things are finally beginning to grow. Most people will remember the early days of the smartphone when virtually every website looked terrible in such a small form. But as the tech is getting better and developers learn new ways of working, mobile usability and design are improving. It’s vital for businesses to invest in UX and design these days, as consumers are beginning to learn what to expect. A poorly designed app or a website that looks terrible on a smartphone won’t stand a chance of survival.
Smartphones are personal
Smartphones offer an incredible opportunity for businesses to start tailoring their marketing to individuals. You don’t have to look too far to find how many companies are doing this already. Take Amazon’s algorithms as an example – it’s continually offering similar or complementary products to those the user is searching for. Marketers can also glean a lot more relevant information from their customers than was possible before. Mobile searches and application use offer a huge range of big data which can be used to form a better, more accurate picture of average customers and individuals alike. In simple terms, if you aren’t taking advantage of mobile, there’s a good chance your targeting efforts aren’t as razor sharp as hey could be.
Email is still the king
Email is still the most valuable tool for marketers to keep in touch with their customers and develop stronger relationships with them. And the simple fact is that the vast majority of emails are opened on a smartphone or tablet – over 60 percent, according to research. So, any business that isn’t addressing this enormous trend is likely to be missing out. And a simple switch to optimizing your emails for mobile could bring you instant and dramatic results.
As you can see, it’s never been more important for businesses to invest in mobile marketing technology. Put simply, if you fail to go with the times, you will be left behind.
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