It's no secret that mobile devices are now part of our daily lives. We carry our devices with us like we carry our car keys, and some of us can't go anywhere without them, myself included. We are constantly connected and the numbers show that the mobile web is the new frontier for doing business. In fact, 2014 was cited as the year that mobile internet usage would surpass desktop usage and a recent survey indicates that smartphone ownership in the US has reached nearly 65%. This increasing shift toward a mobile web means users are doing much more on their devices than ever before including searching for products and services. So having a website that isn’t optimized for mobile devices could have a serious impact on mobile user experience, which translates into missed opportunities for conversions. Another interesting factoid from a different survey of those using a mobile device to access the web indicates that: 72% of respondents said it is important to them that websites are mobile friendly. Additionally, 67% said that a mobile-friendly site makes them more likely to buy a product or use a service. For all the reasons stated above, it’s clear that mobile friendly sites are a must. More purchases are done on mobile devices than ever, and this is never more important than throughout the holidays when consumers are reaching for the pocketbooks (in this case, their phones) for gifts.
What’s a Mobile Website?
A mobile website is one that is displayed specifically to users on mobile devices like iPhones and Android phones and often times tablets as well (depending on the type of mobile site). There are several types of mobile sites but to keep things simple we are only going to talk about the three that are most widely used
- Mobile-friendly
- Dedicated
- Responsive
Don’t worry we won’t get too technical with the explanations (oh, and we’ll include some examples to help you understand the differences too). Seeing them in action is the key to understanding the differences between each.
