The recent popularity of smartphones and tablet computers has led to an influx of mobile web traffic. On any given day, more and more of a site’s traffic will come from mobile users. In this ever-changing technological climate it is now more important than ever to provide mobile users with a compatible, easy to use mobile site. Failing to adapt is sure to lead to a decrease in traffic and resultant financial loss. The following reasons will illustrate the need for a mobile version of a website.
1. Desktop Versions Look Sloppy on Mobile Devices
The web was not set up to be used by mobile devices. Even the most beautifully designed site looks awful on a four inch screen. Links can overlap, making it nearly impossible for touch screen users to click on anything. Graphics look distorted. Important information at the top, bottom and sides of the page can be obliterated. A desktop website viewed on a mobile device looks like a mess. Site visitors will become easily frustrated and find a comparable mobile enabled site to complete their tasks.
2. Ordering is Close to Impossible
If the site relies on online orders for revenue, the need for a mobile accompaniment increases ten-fold. No longer is the site losing viewers for lack of a mobile version; now it is losing actual money. Filling out an order form on a desktop site with no mobile component is practically impossible. Tablets are quickly replacing laptops and desktops; many people have done away with large and cumbersome computers entirely. For many, ordering from a desktop is not even an option. The lack of a mobile site will result in sales losses as customers take their business to a competitor.
3. A Mobile Site Can Garner Notice
Google supplies a separate index for mobile sites. Since the mobile bandwagon is fairly new, this index is comparatively empty. Those searching for a mobile site on a mobile device will be shown far less options than those using a desktop. Sites with mobile components are therefore far more likely to climb to the top of a Google search.
4. Mobile Advertising is the Wave of the Future
Mobile advertising is expected to surpass $6.5 billion this year. A well-visited mobile site can earn a fair share of advertising revenue, especially when the market is currently wide open. Mobile advertising is expected to grow exponentially over the next ten years and a successful business would be wise to get in on the ground floor of this boom.
Do you have a mobile version of your website?