Mobile Optimization for Your Small Business

Did you know that across the globe, there are 6.8 billion mobile phone subscriptions? In just the United States, about 85% of the population uses a mobile phone for more than just calling and texting. With smartphones on the rise, more and more people are using their mobile phones to go online, shop, and interact with businesses in all kinds of ways. Because of this, your small business absolutely must prioritize mobile optimization in order to stay competitive and target your full audience.

Why You Need to Go Mobile mobile

Currently, 55% of those who own a cell phone use it to access the web. Furthermore, 33% of these users go online on their phone the majority of the time. These numbers show that if you want to reach all of your potential customers, you need to go mobile. A recent survey found that the mobile experience has a huge impact on consumers, whether it is negative or positive. First, having a mobile site will lead to mobile purchases.

Second, consumers will seek out a competitor if their website is optimized for mobile and yours is not. Finally, if a user has a bad experience using or attempting to use your mobile site, he or she is much less likely to engage with your brand in the future. As a small business, mobile optimization is key for both customer attraction and retention.

Tips for Optimization

There are many different ways that you can optimize your brand for the customer’s mobile experience. Most important is your website. To optimize your website for mobile, keep in mind reduced screen size and device compatibility. The design of your website should be very simple, with easy navigation and no Flash or other design elements that will not be compatible. Your website should also have large buttons, a bigger font, and no drop-down menus if possible. Finally, the site should feature your address, phone number, and maps for maximum accessibility.

Along with your website, your business should be easy to find in search and all of the major business listings and directories sites, such as Yelp and Google+ Local. You should also update your presence on social media such as Facebook and Twitter, as these are major amongst mobile users. In addition, your marketing campaign should target mobile users by including a SMS, or text list (similar to your email list). For emails, remember that device compatibility is key. Do not include Flash or other incompatible elements, just as you wouldn’t on your website