Have You Mobile-Optimized Your Website?

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In order for businesses to thrive in today’s crowded market, they need to not only have an online website, but a mobile website as well. More than half of Americans currently own a smart phone. With smart phones being so affordable now, many consumers forgo a computer at home, using their smart phones instead.

Smart phones are used for everything from phone calls, texting, taking photographs, playing games, using apps, and surfing the net. Most smart phone data packages are becoming more affordable, or even have no-limit rates. You only have to walk down the street to see the number of people using their smart phones for non-phone call use.

When you need to hire an expert to create a mobile website for you, here’s some tips to keep in mind. The more you plan in advance, the more affordable your mobile website programming package will be.

1. Company name and contact information should be on the landing page. Smart phones may be handy, but they have tiny screens, and it can ease frustration if you provide all your business details on the main page, such as address, phone number, and email. That way when your customer needs to quickly look up your address, they won’t get frustrated when they’re on the way to visit you.

2. If your business has more than one location, set up your landing page so that users can first choose their preferred location, before entering the site. Sometimes different locations have different deals, or pricing. Don’t annoy your customers by having conflicting information on one page. This is especially handy for businesses who have a USA and a Canada site.

3. Decide which photographs are most important. Don’t leave your customers scrolling through several images, select one or two, the ones that most represent your business, or your products. You can always have more photos on additional menu pages, if it’s a business that relies on photographs, such as a photographer or a florist.

4. Include a map, so that your customers can find you. This is not so important on the home computer when a user can just open a second window in google, but on a smart phone, provide a handy map so your customers can easily find you. You won’t believe the number of people who use smart phones to look up directions to find businesses.

5. Have an easy drop down menu for any options you don’t wish to list on the main page. If you own a car dealership you may create a separate menu button for each type of car. Just don’t list too many options, you don’t want to overwhelm your buyers, when you want to entice them to visit your business on site.

Carefully plan what elements you wish to place on your mobile website, so that you can present them to your mobile website designer. It’ll save on time and money if you’re organized in advance, rather than going back and forth several times a day. Once your mobile website is online, you’ll be extending your customer reach to everyone who is interested in your business.

If you have any questions about how to set up a mobile website, contact Direct West Media Group Inc., and we’ll be happy to create a fantastic mobile website for you.

Mobile Marketing Strategies

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Over 163 million smart phone and tablet users in the US are ready to view your mobile website. Is your business smart phone ready? Don’t leave your customers out in the cold. Many businesses haven’t optimized their website for mobile phone usage. Either they haven’t had the time, or they don’t know how. Have you considered mobile marketing for your own business yet?

Viewing a regular website on a mobile phone can be a long frustrating process. Not all the photos may load, and it can be hard to find pertinent information. By optimizing your website for mobile phone and tablet use, you’re providing an easier way for someone to obtain the information they need instantly. Your bounce rate will improve, as those customers won’t get frustrated and find a competitor that’s already jumped on the mobile marketing bandwagon. Your business will be more accessible and visible, and all for a reasonable cost.

Just what do you need to do to optimize your website for mobile devices? This involves some heavy editing on your part, while allowing all pertinent information to remain. Photos need to be shrunk down to fit on a mobile screen, or cut completely. Text needs to be legible. Contact forms need to work on your mobile device. An easier drop down tool bar needs to be created, rather than the fancy ones on your site. Check out your site on your mobile device and see what you need to do.

Another great 21st century mobile marketing tool is to have a special mobile app created for your business. Customers love downloading and using apps. If it’s a free app showcasing features of your business, even better. Perhaps it’s a catalog of your products, a restaurant menu, or flight prices. You can make something fun such as a game involving your business. Whatever your business is, an app can be made. While there’s some simple app creating tools on the market now, hiring a professional app designer can help you create a professional and well-designed app that customers will open again and again. There’s a lot of competition in the app market and if you spend the money, you want to ensure that your app is going to stand out from the others.

Just how will you know what you need to do with mobile marketing? Taking a course may help you with your mobile marketing strategies. Hiring a company that specializes in mobile marketing may also be a viable option. Advertising and marketing firms make it their business to understand the mobile market. They’ll assist you with your marketing strategy, design your mobile website, as well as create your mobile applications. With their expertise, they’ll increase your brand awareness, and enhance your overall customer experience.

By considering your client’s needs on mobile devices, you’ll be providing them with valuable information at their fingertips. They’ll visit your mobile website and applications again and again. You’ll gain a valuable step up from the competition by staying ahead in the mobile market.

If you have any questions about how mobile marketing pertains to your own business needs then please contact Direct West Media Group Inc. We’ll be happy to answer your mobile marketing questions, as well as providing a wide range of mobile marketing services.