Mobile is All the Rave! – Part 1

Smartphones are becoming more and more ubiquitous and with this comes a shift in mobile behaviour.

Remember when your cell phone resembled the one Michael Douglas is holding in the picture below? The term cell phone and smartphone have become somewhat synonymous, because in Canada, 56 per cent of the population uses a smartphone, up from 33 per cent in early 2012. Not only are people expected to have a smart phone, but their expectations for the experience are very high. People expect to get results within seconds and to have a similar experience to that of a computer or tablet. However, if websites are not optimized for mobile users, this is not possible.

You’re probably tired of hearing “You should be on mobile” but it’s all the rave for a reason. According to Google, mobile online usage will surpass PC usage in 2013.  If you haven’t started improving your online presence, there’s not better time to take the first leap. Here’s why…

Up to 70% of Canadians use mobile devices

My friend’s 6 year old is proficient on a smartphone.  So is her 3 year old brother.  With more and more Canadians on mobile devices, having a mobile website is no longer optional.  Simply put, mobile represents a huge opportunity to expand your online visibility and the importance of delivering a good experience cannot be stressed enough.

79% do not leave home without their smartphone

Majority of people have their smartphone within arms length at all times of the day. Also, 1 in 4 Canadians would give up TV over their smartphone. This is interesting because now that smart phones are so smart, we can use them to replace almost all other forms of media (which would be a HUGE missed opportunity for businesses that are not mobile).

86% of smartphone users notice mobile ads

Let’s assume that you have taken my advice and have created a mobile friendly website… your next step is to start advertising because your ads will be noticed by a large percentage of users. The benefit of advertising on mobile is that the clicks are approximately 30% cheaper than clicks on computers or tablets.

34% of consumers turn to the screen that’s closest when looking for information

The best way to reach your audience at any given stage in the buying process is to be on mobile. We have become so reliant on technology that we expect to find an answer to any question, at any time of day. Therefore, we will search for just about anything, no matter where we are, and guess what we will be using to search? The device that is always closest…a smartphone.

We’ve all seen people so engrossed in their smartphone that they are no longer aware of their surroundings.

So what should you do about it?

Making the transition to mobile does not have to be immediate but steps can be made in the right direction. Stay tuned for Part 2, where I will discuss just how to integrate mobile into your marketing mix.

How is your business adapting to the mobile revolution?  Let us know in the comments!