Did you know that 6 in 10 internet searches begin on a mobile device?
Why should you care? If your business website is still designed for desktop use, that’s a lot of potential customers you might be losing. Like it or not, mobile is the way of the future. The key is to figure out how to harness new technology in business and increase your profits.
One solution (f you haven’t already done so) is to make your website mobile friendly. Don’t worry–it’s not as difficult as it sounds.
Here are five important reasons why you should make a mobile website.
1. Satisfies Customer Demand
Before we get into anything too technical, let’s start with the most obvious reason.
Why should you make a mobile website? Because it’s what people want.
Remember the 6 in 10 people who begin searching on a mobile device? 61% of them will immediately abandon a website that isn’t mobile responsive.
But this isn’t a math lesson–this is your livelihood we’re talking about.
No one has the time (or patience) to wait for a website to load. If users have to squint, resize, and move your homepage around on their mobile device, they won’t stay on it for long.
How long has it been since you had a black-and-white television in your home? Would you trade out your shiny new HD flatscreen for one? Hardly!
A desktop-only version of a website is like that 1960s television. In contrast, a mobile-friendly site is like that HD flatscreen. It looks great, and it encourages visitors to stay longer and enjoy what you have to offer.
2. More Effective Social Media Strategy
How’s your current social media marketing strategy? Are you reaching out to customers via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter?
If not, you’re way behind the curve. The average person spends 2 hours and 22 minutes on social media every single day.
What does this have to do with your website?
The goal of social media marketing is driving people to your website (and creating customers). Most people who click over to your site from a social media platform will do so on their mobile device.
Imagine a potential customer eager to learn more about your product, only to sigh when they realize they can’t navigate your site from their phone. Most people won’t bother switching over to their computer–they’ll move on to one of your competitors instead.
Making a mobile-friendly website creates a seamless experience for your customers. They can click on a link in social media, land on your homepage, and easily learn more about you and your brand.
Since mobile-friendly sites include click-to-dial phone numbers and easy-to-use shopping carts, your odds of landing a new customer increase dramatically.
Think of all the passive income you can generate simply by updating your website! In time, you might also consider mobile app development to create even more revenue.
3. Improves Your SEO
SEO is all about making Google happy. The better your website is designed and optimized, the higher you’ll appear in search engine results.
What’s one key way to improve your SEO? You guessed it–optimize your site for mobile use.
Since 2015, Google has been rewarding websites that are mobile-friendly. Although algorithms are always changing, this is one facet that remains constant.
In fact, with the world going more and more mobile, it’s likely to become even more important in the years ahead.
You don’t stand a chance of making it to the first page of search results if your website isn’t mobile-friendly. And if you don’t appear on the first page of search results, 92% of people will never click past it and find your website.
4. Increased Conversion Rates
Logically, if you make your website attractive and easy to use, people are more likely to hang around. And the longer they stay on your site, the higher the likelihood of them buying from you.
Creating a mobile-friendly website is one of the easiest ways to improve user experience (UX). Important buttons are easy to find, and forms are simple to fill out and submit.
In fact, 70% of mobile searches lead to some sort of action within an hour. This could include making a purchase or a phone call or visiting a business in person.
Do you see the importance of features like click-to-call or including a Google maps link to your store? People who are searching for you now can find you easily, increasing your odds of making a sale.
Another factor that helps conversion rate is a mobile-friendly site puts you one step ahead of your competition. Only 30% of small businesses have a mobile-friendly site.
By making this one simple change, you’re automatically coming out ahead of 70% of your competitors!
5. Easier Website Management
A final reason to optimize your website for mobile use is the valuable time it will save you.
It takes a lot of time and effort to maintain one website. Having a desktop and a mobile version of your site doubles the amount of time you’ll spend on maintenance.
Switching to a responsive website means your site will look amazing on any smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer. Flexible images, fluid grids, and automatic resizing ensure great user experience no matter what device your site is accessed from.
What if you decide to rebrand your business or update your site’s appearance? Rather than messing with multiple versions, you can save time and hassle by merging all content into one responsive site.
Ready to Make a Mobile Website?
As you can see, there are many sound reasons to make a mobile website.
If you want your business to thrive in the years ahead, it’s a no-brainer. A mobile site will allow more people to find you and become loyal customers.
Ready to tackle the challenge and create a professional looking (mobile) website? Be sure to read up on our latest web design tips.