With over 55% of all online activity now coming from mobile devices such as smart phones, a mobile ready website has become a necessity, not an option.

Which site would you actually want your customers to see?

Why Your Business Needs a Mobile Ready Website

By:  Alex Mickus

 There was a time when shoppers patiently flipped through the phone book, hoping to find a business that could meet their shopping, dining, or service needs. Customers would often call different places and ask questions to narrow down where they should try, or maybe call friends and ask for recommendations.

For today’s modern consumer, those days are just a memory. Most businesses have been quick to understand how important it is to have an online presence if they want to stay competitive, but many businesses are missing out one particular aspect of their web site that customers are now demanding: mobile readiness. 

What Is a Mobile Website?

 A mobile website is a scaled down version of your actual website that is designed to be compatible with today’s advanced mobile devices that have internet access. Smartphones like the iPhone and Android models are prime examples of this technology.

 People’s Shopping Habits Have Changed

 It’s important to realize that the consumer of today has radically different shopping habits than the consumer of yesteryear.

 What we know about today’s customer is that he or she no longer turns to the phone book, or even the internet, to find places to eat, play, or shop. Instead, customers flip open their cell phones, boot up their iPads, or use a plethora of other web-enabled mobile devices to search for businesses, directions, and reviews. Often this is done while they are travelling and going about their daily routine.

 This is backed up by a recent study by the Pew Research Center which shows 35 per cent of all adults in the U.S.A. now own smartphones and 68 per cent of them use them to access the web each day.

Many business owners don’t realize that their site won’t show up correctly – or at all on mobile devices unless they have created a mobile version of their site. The sobering reality is that if you don’t have a mobile website you are essentially invisible to the modern consumer.

What are the Elements of a Good Mobile Website?

 Having a mobile website for your business is more than just creating a “miniature” version of your site — the process requires you to not only format information so that it can be properly displayed on a mobile device, it also requires that you understand how mobile browsers work.

 Today’s customer is used to getting the information he or she is looking for in seconds – not minutes. When you create your mobile website, it must be designed to display quickly – a process that takes a significant understanding of the requirements and capabilities of mobile devices.

Another factor in your mobile website is the fact that not all mobile devices are created equal. One customer may be looking for you on a device with a large screen, while the next one has to peer into a tiny window. What will your customer see when he or she pulls up information about your company?

 A properly designed mobile website will be compatible with all makes of mobile and smart phones. This ensures that all of your potential new customers will have the same experience when they view your mobile ready website. 

 The Bottom Line for Businesses

 It is no longer enough just to have a website for your business; now it must be mobile ready to attract the millions of mobile phone users. As a business owner you must go where people are and people are going mobile.

 Therefore, in order to attract this new breed of consumers who want to find you, you must have a properly designed, fast loading mobile site.

 Creating a good mobile website is a tricky process, which is why hiring a design company that understands how to create a mobile site may be the crucial difference between being found online and being left behind. Ask yourself this: when your customers are looking for you on their mobile web, will you have a mobile presence or will you be invisible?

 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Mickus

 If you’re interested in learning more about how to make your website “mobile ready” or to learn more about  the emergence of Mobile Marketing and how it will affect your business  CLICK HERE  or contact us at 1-800-858-8889 and ask to speak with one of our Marketing Consultants for a FREE consultation.