Where’s your smartphone? Let me guess, you know exactly where it is because it’s sitting next to you (you might even be reading this blog on it right now). Smartphones are everywhere, ingrained in society as a form of communication and entertainment. With smartphone use expected to rise in 2020 to over 3.5 billion users, this is the perfect time to evaluate your company’s marketing efforts to make sure they withstand heavy mobile use.
We’ll identify mobile website needs, digital marketing, social media, and the state of the mobile industry. Keep reading to learn more about how companies are preparing to change the way they do business in the predominantly mobile era.
Why Mobile Matters
Mobile use is higher than ever before, with more than 50% of all Google searches starting from a smartphone or tablet. While it may not seem like this is an important consideration, it means that if you want to rank well on Google, your website must be mobile optimized. Don’t worry if you don’t know what that means, we’ll discuss it in a bit.
According to TechJury, 62% of smartphone users have made a purchase on their smartphone. For eCommerce companies, this means that advertising on mobile apps and attracting customers that purchase from their phones is a great way to increase revenue and brand awareness. Even if your company does not have eCommerce opportunities, having a mobile website can help lead generation and brand awareness.
Mobile use has become ingrained in every part of the culture in 2019, with no signs of slowing down in 2020. We bank, shop, and even conduct business from our smartphones. In fact, it’s estimated that 40% of all online transactions occur from a mobile device. Google now has mobile-first indexing, meaning that mobile-friendly websites will consistently rank higher than desktop-only designs.
Mobile Responsive Website
Your website is the basis of everything your company does online. No matter how great your ads, social media, or Google rankings are, if people don’t engage with your website, you’re missing out on customers. Your website needs to be optimized for mobile use, and there are a few key features you should take into consideration.
Is your website responsive? If it isn’t, it needs to be. Responsive websites automatically adjust the format, design, and pages to fit the device used, allowing the user to easily view the information from any type of device without having to “pinch and zoom”.
Additionally, the website needs to load quickly. According to Neil Patel, 73% of mobile internet users say they’ve encountered a website that was too slow to load. If your website is slow or difficult to navigate, potential customers are likely to leave in search of a better website.
If your website has an online shop with various inventory, a search bar is a great way to help mobile users easily navigate the website. Having a search button allows mobile users to quickly find a product or service they’re interested in, especially if the smaller images and layout is challenging for them to navigate.
As you develop a website that is optimized for mobile use, keep in mind the basics of any great company website. Don’t downgrade security, user experience, or search engine optimization in the process.
Social Media
Social media is accessed by mobile devices a lot. In fact, 93% of Twitter’s video views are from mobile devices. When you’re developing social media content, make it mobile-friendly. This means keeping posts short, sweet, and interactive. Post regularly, using a scheduling program such as Hootsuite so that you can plan social posts in advance and keep organized in the process.
In addition to your company’s social media channels, make sure to claim your Google My Business page and respond to all customer reviews promptly.
Digital Marketing
Google is king when it comes to search engines, owning almost 90% of the market. While Search Engine Organization is always crucial to success in the digital age, one could argue that it’s even more important as internet use increases on smartphones.
Think about the size of your smartphone for a moment – is the screen four, maybe five inches long? On a smaller screen, you see fewer results, without scrolling. Look at the two screenshots as an example. Even on a larger iPhone, Google only shows the first two results on a mobile page before you have to scroll, versus four search results on a desktop.
With such little screen space and so many businesses competing against you on Google, having effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is absolutely vital. Without good Google rankings, your business can easily drop below the first page and well below where most mobile users will scroll.
Search Engine Optimization won’t improve your rankings instantly, but there are other options you should combine with SEO to create the best chance for success. To help ensure your company shows up at the top of Google’s Search Engine Result Pages, invest in pay-per-click advertising, which allows your facility to bid on keywords and have mobile-optimized ads. For more information about pay-per-click ads (PPC), click here.
Revamping Your Mobile Experience
As you start evaluating where your mobile marketing stands and where your company needs to improve, consider partnering with an expert digital marketing agency. By utilizing a team of experts, you can ensure your company thrives in the mobile-first world. 2020 is quickly approaching. Is your company ready?
