It’s estimated that by 2014 half of Americans’ web browsing will be done on mobile devices. Today more and more of your customers are using their iPhones, Blackberrys and Androids to search for you and your competitors. Companies who don’t start catering to these mobile surfers may find themselves behind for too long.
This isn’t a lose-sleep-over-it-tonight revelation – but definitely a hot 2011 trend that small businesses should consider. A mobile optimized site can help differentiate you from your competition. Optimizing websites for mobile devices a few years ago was expensive, complicated and daunting, but things have changed.
If mobile visitors land on your site and see your “full web” screen, chances are that shrinkage will render the navigation impossible (and pretty aggravating) to use. Then, they will leave your site. Keep in mind mobile devices are not desktops. Mobile versions should help turn your regular visitors into actual customers. This is accomplished by less copy, more calls-to-action (like coupons and promotions) and condensed quick links, like ESPN.com:
Optimizing websites for mobile devices a few years ago was expensive, complicated and daunting, but things have changed. There are a slew of services that help make “mobilizing” (ha – shameless pun!) easier and affordable for small businesses, including WordPress plug-ins.