Your Guide to Automotive Industry Digital Marketing

An Online Resource Guide About Mobile Websites

Smartphones are quickly replacing the computer as the main source for Internet activity. Just take a look at how many smartphones have been sold in 2010:

• Q1 2010: 55 million
• Q2 2010: 64 million
• Q3 2010: 81 million
• Total: 200 million smartphones

One out of two Americans will have a smart phone by the end of 2011. This means that more and more people will be searching for the products and services you sell using a smartphone.

Companies that have websites specifically created for mobile phones will have a competitive advantage in this new channel. That’s because Google gives search result preference to mobile websites for searchers using a smartphone device.

Mobile websites are also easier to navigate on a mobile phone than traditional computer websites.

To help get you started, this guide will cover everything you need to know about mobile websites. It will give you information on benefits, best practices and more. The resources you find in this guide will separate your business from the rest of the competition.

What Is A Mobile Website?

Which of the two websites above is easier to read?

The picture to the left is how a standard computer website looks on a mobile phone. How long do you think a person shopping for a car would stay on that website?

Creating a separate mobile website fixes this problem.  Websites for mobile phones are specifically designed for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers like the iPad. These sites are formatted to effectively display information on smaller screens.

For customers researching and purchasing products and services on mobile phones, you want a website that will give them the information in a quick and efficient way. That way they won’t search for the information somewhere else.

This is very important because unlike computers, mobile phones lack some of the technological features to effectively view traditional computer websites. This includes:

• Screen Resolution: Many mobile phones do not have the screen capabilities to view a standard web page. Standard web pages may look unclear on a mobile phone.

• Loading Time: Loading a standard web page on a mobile phone can be very frustrating because it takes more time. That’s because of mobile Internet speeds and mobile phone limitations.

• Web Languages: Not all standard computer website programming languages are supported on some mobile phones. This means important parts of your website, such as video and Flash animation, may not be seen on a mobile phone.

A mobile website eliminates these problems. It also creates a better user experience for potential customers.

Five Reasons For A Mobile Website

There are lots of reasons your company should have a website for mobile phones. Here are the most important ones.

1. Mobile Websites Get Your Company Found Wherever, Whenever: Like traditional computer users, people with mobile phones are using search engines to find the products and services you sell. A mobile website will help them find those products and services faster. That’s because Google recognizes searches from mobile devices and loads the separate mobile website for easier use.

2. Mobile Websites Provide Location Sensitive Content: Mobile Websites allow your business to be found by people out shopping. For example, a person out shopping for car parts can find the nearest store with their phone. A mobile website gives them the info – addresses, phones number, product inventory – fast. It helps your business stand out among the competition.

3. Mobile Websites Are Easy To Use: As noted earlier, mobile websites load quicker and present information in a better way than standard computer websites. Mobile websites are designed specifically for mobile phones. This means people using mobile phones will get the information they need quickly and efficiently.

4. Mobile Websites Are Cheap: In comparison to standard computer websites, mobile websites are half the cost. That’s because mobile websites are not as complicated and do not contain as much information as standard websites. That also means it doesn’t take as long to build a mobile website.

5. The Mobile Web Is Growing: The stats don’t lie. More and more people are purchasing mobile phones with Internet capabilities. According to Neilson, one in two Americans will have a smartphone by December 2011. That is more than 180 million people. This channel is only going to continue to grow.

Best Practices For Mobile Websites

When looking for what features to include on a mobile website, it is best to follow these rules:

Put The Most Important Information At The Top Of The Page

You want to hit mobile users with the most important information right off the bat. That way they can get what they need quickly. Important information should include:

• Company Name
• Company Address
• Company Phone Number

After you provide contact information, single out two or three parts of your regular website you would like to feature. These features – products, store locations, etc. – should be seen without having to scroll down.

Keep Copy Short And To The Point

People using mobile phones do not want to read a lot of content.  Anything you write for a mobile website should be short and informative. Make things easy, so people can quickly scan for information.

Avoid Text Entry

Typing on smartphones can be difficult. The buttons are small and some smartphones have “virtual” keyboards. Users prefer to select values from a given list of choices.

Keep Site Size Small

Mobile websites that are smaller load faster. Small mobile websites also use less data, which is important to mobile users with fixed data plans. To keep sites small, limit the number of pictures and graphics.

Get Familiar With Different Phones

Make sure you understand how each of the different mobile phones work. This will help you determine how to develop a proper mobile website. Popular mobile phone operating systems include: Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Symbian and Windows Phone 7. Also be sure to try out all the different mobile web browsers: Android Browser, Safari, Opera Mobile, BlackBerry Browser and Internet Explorer.

Use Smartphone Emulators

Smartphone emulators allow you to view what your website will look like on a mobile phone. Two of the more popular emulators are:

• Google Mobile View: This is an excellent tool to see what your website will look like on an Android mobile phone. Just enter the web address in the tool and hit enter.

• iPhone Tester: This tool allows you to see what your website will look like on an iPhone. It’s simple to use.

Following the best practices above will help you create the best mobile website for your company.

Tips On Selecting A Mobile Website Builder

If you’re like most small and medium companies, you probably don’t have a programmer on staff to help you build a mobile website. If that’s the case, you’re going to need to hire a design company. Here are some tips you need to consider.

1. Understand The Technology

Before you even think about hiring someone to build a mobile website, take some time to understand the technology.

• Get a smartphone.
• Take some time to browse mobile websites in your industry.
• Take notes on what you like and dislike.

2. Be Realistic About The Project

Before sitting down with design companies, take the time to think about what you want as well as your budget. Basic text-based websites are very affordable. As you add more menus and graphics, the price can quickly grow. Here are some important questions:

• How much information from your regular website do you want on your mobile website?
• Will the mobile site need regular updates?
• What is the timeframe for getting the job done?
• What is your budget?

3. Look At Companies That Have Strong Portfolios

Mobile website companies are a dime a dozen. Look at companies that have past samples of their work to review. Also be sure they have customer references. When examining their work ask yourself the following questions:

• Does the mobile website load fast?
• Is the contact information at the top of the page?
• Is it easy to navigate through the mobile website?
• Is the mobile website easy to use on different types of phones?

4. Check Pricing And Guarantees

After you have narrowed down your list of mobile website designers. Be sure to check the pricing and guarantee policies. You want to find a company that will provide satisfaction-based guarantees. That way if you’re not satisfied with the work, you can get the mobile website redesigned or your money back.

5. Check References

This is a very important step. First check the website to see if there are any client testimonials. If there aren’t any, ask the company for several customer references. When contacting customer references be sure to ask:

• Why did you select this mobile website design company over the competitors?
• How long did it take to design the site?
• Were there any problems during the design and implementation process?
• Did they meet your expectations?
• Was the mobile website finished on time and on budget?

Following these five tips will help you find the right company to design your mobile website.

Summary

You now know the importance of mobile websites and a lot of tips and best practices. If you’re ready to build a mobile website or have any questions, give us a call at (877) 563-8054. Our contact information also can be found on the AfterMarketer Club contact page.