Local Business - Are You Keeping Up with the Mobile Trend??

Today, technology has taken many above and beyond. Because of this, so many people tend to use their mobile devices when they are on the go and don’t use desktops as much as they use to. For this reason, many local businesses need to consider keeping up with the trend and technology and not leave their local business websites in yesterday’s news. Many don’t realize how much today’s technology has come to impact their lives.

Five years ago, people would have checked their online social networks, emails, and local business web pages all online. Today, that is definitely not the case. More and more people use Smartphones vs. Desktops to check emails. Did you know that more and more people are using mobile devices, such as Smartphones, to check to emails and reply to their emails vs. using laptops?

It’s true. Checking one’s email has become so convenient that people who have mobile devices, such as Smartphones, are more likely to check their email when they are on the go compared to when they are sitting at home at their desk on a computer. Even more so, people are more likely to check their emails when they are waiting in line for something, such as in line to check out at a store register, or to pay the cashier in line at a restaurant.

It’s something that will make the time go by faster while at the same time make the person feel as if they are being productive while waiting. Consumers appreciate mobile promotions and coupons from local businesses. Today, many businesses use Smartphone technology to share advertisements or deals that can be received via coupons.

If a person is a member of a certain store’s email list, such as a local bookstore, for example, they are able to receive coupons through their email from that store and use the coupon they received via email just like using a paper coupon at the store. If the coupon they received via email is 30% off a single item or purchase, then all the store has to do is scan the bar code on the coupon located in the email directly from the mobile device, and the customer will get that deal.

For many, people find this to be very convenient. They would rather pull out their phone, which they know they will always have by their side, instead of using a paper coupon, which can be easily misplaced within a pocket, purse, or wallet, not to mention it wastes paper which goes against the environmentally friendly’s principles. Make sure your local business is mobile friendly. There are sites, tools, and applications out there for any business to check and make sure their online marketing tools—including their website, mobile promotions, email campaigns, and applications—are compatible with Smartphone and mobile device users.

A great place to begin is to test your websites mobile capability and speed for free by checking out speed testing tools such as Gomez.com, Websiteoptimization.com, and iWebtool.com. Also if you have yet to build a mobile friendly site, then consider doing this as soon as possible by checking out your options on sites such as Getgomobi.com and Mofuse.com, or you can conduct a Google search using the keyword ‘building mobile friendly websites’ to see what comes up. All in all, it’s very wise to make sure that your local business is up-to-date with what technology is providing to mobile users, especially to those who use Smartphones.

This gives you the advantage against those who haven’t yet made themselves tech savvy. Why be left in the dust by other local business, and businesses worldwide, for that matter, who have kept up with the times and technology? Because I guarantee that at some point in the very near future, not being mobile friendly will not be an option for local businesses if they want to capture and hold the average consumer’s attention.