Pay Attention to the Mobile Web especially Website Design, Communication and E-commerce
A Marketing article written by Elle Meech
Mobile technology is firmly back in the limelight this week. Are E-commerce, website design and internet marketing companies taking the dominance of Smartphone users over the Internet? The answer is more than likely No, which will start to be a problem as the technology of Smartphones begins to overpower traditional PCs. Firstly the design of websites needs to be aimed more towards mobile users (see our blog on mobile sites vs responsive designs). Secondly mobile communication, how to make the most out of mobile Internet consumers and thirdly E-commerce, shopping on Smartphones.
The argument for more mobile related website designs has continued this week with a recent article arguing in favour of iPad friendly designs. The article states that many websites are overcoded and loaded with no iPad friendly buttons and links. After three years of the iPad and its continued dominance, it's important that designs bear in mind that many website users are favouring Apple's brainchild, the iPad, over conventional desktops. However, with mobile Web still being relatively new it's understandable that designers will start with desktop sites. The cost of changing desktop sites and advertising to the mobile Web is also a turnoff for designers and digital companies. However, designers should focus on a design that will cover all bases, such as responsive designs.
Andrew Jacobs, the General Manager of mobile media consultant, Snakk Media, has answered questions on the importance of mobile communication. The first two questions covered the design of such sites and whether the main focus should be desktop or mobile sites. The answer to these questions were very much focused on mobile devices such as tablets and Smartphones, suggesting that companies should consider the size of screens on which users will view web pages. Carrying on from this, it was suggested that designs should be more focused and touch screen friendly, but not completely deviating from desktop computers. Lastly, promotion via mobile web, it seems people are five times more likely to click on an ad on a mobile phone than a desktop. So get your designs focused and mobile ads out there but don't write off the desktop computer yet.
iPhone and Android are battling it out for E-commerce superiority, after consumer mobile usage has doubled in the space of a year, according to a report from Monetate. The reliance on Smartphones is more important than ever for consumers, not just to interact socially but to make purchases, consume and engage with brands. Although it seems that Google is leading the race with the most consumer purchases being made using Android, iPhone users lead the way in website traffic. So what does this mean for businesses? Businesses now more then ever need to be fully aware of the traffic from Smartphone devices meaning the need for mobile Web optimisation. Businesses who rely on E-commerce need to relate to their Smartphone uses by optimising designs, web purchasing and locations.
