The Gotta-Knows of Mobile Browsing
Consumers are using more mobile devices to access the web than ever before, so it’s important your site is mobile-browser-friendly. Traditional device visits (desktop and laptop computers) fell from 88.6% in the first quarter of 2012 to 78.9% in the first quarter of 2013.
Smartphone visits increased from 5.4% to 10.4% during the same time period. According to the World Population Clock, there are approximately 7.2 billion people on the planet right now, with approximately 1.2 billion accessing the internet via a mobile device.
Competition in the market is bringing the price of buying and operating a smartphone down, widening the potential market opened by these devices to less affluent and younger potential customers.
There is no sign whatsoever that this trend is likely to drop off any time soon, so it’s good to make sure your business’s website is caught up and keeping up – standing still is falling behind in this changing techno-marketing environment.
You should work closely with your website designer to be sure that your site shows clearly and works fluidly on any platform – desktop or laptop computers, yes, but also the smallest of smartphones and the most spacious of tablets.
More and more customers are browsing on the go, and they’ll choose to stop physically in stores that have inviting mobile device applications. Older shoppers may still prefer to call to see if you have what they want before they leave the house, but more tech-savvy younger users will start driving first, then start browsing for who has what they want, in their desired price range.
Make sure they have all the information they need at the tap of a touchscreen – items, colors, sizes, and prices. There is a sense of urgency in browsing for a store while already out and moving. Make sure you have listings on services like Yelp because browsers tend to look for reviews as part of the decision-making process.
Keep it simple, though. All smartphones are not created equal and Flash still isn’t supported on all of them. Load times can be slow if you get too complicated with animation and graphics. Simple .gif images are fairly well accepted across platforms and even then, make sure the main message is in the first frame.
Choose lists in favor of tables, since tables often appear completely scrambled and nonsensical on a small screen. Opt for easy-to-find, working links to navigate to other pages instead of cramming too much information on any one page. Keep images small and in portrait alignment to fit the most screens possible.
You’d think that all of this research before purchasing would reduce spontaneity, but it doesn’t. In fact, studies show the inverse to be true. The ability to browse on the go stimulates a sense of adventure and a desire to try new things, so if you have new products to promote, make sure they feature prominently on the pages a mobile browser will find first.
One study indicated that 30% of mobile users will abandon a site if it is not optimized for mobile users, making it doubly important that your web designer makes sure you don’t lose that third of potential customers.
Infintech Designs offers all you need to ensure your website is available to every possible platform and every available device. Contact us today or at 504-777-3296 and set up a consultation. Quotes are free and our small but experienced staff will get to know your business and your needs, then come up with a design program to get you noticed on the web, and on the move.
