The technological landscape is evolving. The world used to revolve around desktop computers and laptops for the most part of the last few decades. However, since the turn of the 21st century, we’ve witnessed a paradigm shift in trends with the introduction of handheld gadgets like smartphones and tablets. And it is not only about the technology, it is also about the way people use it to perform different activities/functions. But for this article I want to focus on Mobile and not just search.
Reality Check
Previously, most Internet searches were conducted through desktop computers and laptops. Recently, the numbers are staggering in regards to Mobile use. Local mobile searches (85.9 billion) are projected to exceed desktop searches (84 billion) for the first time in 2015 (eMarketer). That’s a huge jump in new potential traffic you ought to consider.
On top of this, the use of mobile phones to access the Internet is expected to exceed traditional mediums (desktop computers and laptops). As a matter of fact, Google has adapted to these changes, revising their algorithms in order to provide better search results for mobile searches. This includes making sure your online presence is mobile friendly, which has become imperative if you’re going to make Google happy. But remember, it’s not just about pleasing Google, it’s your users too. Therefore, we need to pay attention to this significant shift in trends. If anything, it should compel businesses to adapt accordingly in order to maintain their competitive edge
Here are a few ideas you can use to capitalize on these emerging trends in order to optimize your business performance.
Preparing Your Mobile Site
You need a website that displays perfectly irrespective of the device used to access it. With desktop computers and laptops, there’s a wide range of possibilities to capture and convert audiences. But with mobile users, it’s become a different beast.
Ease of Use
Generally, when people use their mobile phones to search, they are looking for quick, easy, and immediate access to the required information. If they need to navigate through several web pages in order to reach their destination, they might as well decide to look elsewhere. It is therefore imperative for you to design your website in a way which makes it possible for everyone to navigate through it instinctively.
Quality Display
The quality of display also plays a pivotal role in attracting and converting customers. Responsive websites are pretty common these days, which programs the website to self-adjust according to the device type. You might be able to enhance your web presence through strategic deployment of technological resources. Nevertheless, the key is to impress, attract and convert all users who find their way to your website!
Therefore it’s optimizing your website for desktop and mobile searches have now to go hand in hand. Test your pages directly from smartphones and a variety of tablets in order to view how the pages look to your end-users. Last I read you have a few second to impress online users on desktops, and an even shorter span of time to attract your mobile users/visitors. Navigation is important especially when they are trying to navigate from one section to another. Another point I’d like to add is make sure all your bells and whistles are working properly. That means your share buttons, your menu videos, and any downloadable .pdf or files you have.
Diversify and Capture
We have to adapt to these changes, therefore make sure you incorporate mobile in your discussion of SEO, SEM, PPC marketing practices. For instance, display advertisements and banner ads used to comprise solely of text and images. However, it is now possible for you to use rich media in order to propagate your curated assets to your audience. This involves the use of video, audio, moving pictures and other interactive modes of communication that deliver high engagement and conversions. These techniques work well for mobile users as well.
So if you are planning to revise your online marketing model, don’t forget to look through the latest technological trends. These offer an unparalleled opportunity for you to expand your outreach and capture that untapped mobile market you have but are not familiar with.
