Mobile technology has transformed how we interact with the online world. From Apple Watches to Fitbits to phones, iPads, kindles, and more — the mobile world is huge.Â
How huge? Well, people spend more time on mobile devices than traditional desktop or laptop computers. That means the majority of people are seeing your website on teeny tiny screens, giving you a smaller space and less time to catch their attention and acquire their business.
Despite the prevalence of mobile devices, many businesses do not have a mobile-friendly website. If you’re skeptical about the significance of mobile, these 5 facts will shed light on why a mobile-friendly website isn’t just important, but absolutely vital to your business.
1. Mobile is used throughout the purchasing process
While it’s true that a staggering three-quarters of Americans report buying things online via mobile device, 92% of consumers visiting a retailer’s website for the first time aren’t actually making a purchase right away. Instead, they’re researching your products, reading about your brand, and considering your customer reviews. Often, they’re doing this while on the go or even standing in your brick-and-mortar looking at your products.Â
If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing the chance to move interested customers through your sales funnel toward ultimately making a purchase.
2. Users REALLY don’t like sites that aren’t mobile-friendly
A survey of web designers conducted in 2021 uncovered that 73.1% of web designers think that non-responsive design is a top reason why visitors leave a website. That’s a big deal. Web designers are the backbone of online marketing and are intimately familiar with online user journeys and user preferences. If they’re pointing the finger at bad mobile design, it’s worth taking note. Â
If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, then it’s difficult for users to access information. What do users do when they can’t access the information they want? They leave your website or, even worse, go to your competitors.Â
Poor website design can make your site seem less trustworthy. Good design has become an unspoken factor in separating scams from actual businesses.
3. Even if your sales happen in person or on a computer, mobile had an effect
93% of people who research a product or service on mobile go on to make a purchase, and mobile sales rates have almost surpassed desktop sales rates. Regardless of where your customers end up paying you, a lot of them first learn about you on mobile, so make sure that the first impression is a good one.
4. People find your business using search engines
It’s no secret that search engine optimization is essential in order to drive organic traffic to your website. What might be surprising, however, is that 60% of all online searches are performed on mobile — with hospitality industries boasting a mobile search rate of 72%. Google also thinks it’s pretty important that your site be optimized for mobile. Having a mobile-friendly site allows your brand to show up higher in Google searches.
5. Users won’t recommend you based purely on a poor mobile experience
57% of users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site and 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience. They aren’t basing this on the quality of your product or the value of your service, but purely on their experience with your mobile website. You could offer the best architecture service on the planet, but if a user finds it difficult to submit a contact form on their phone, that won’t matter to them.
Mobile matters to your user — and therefore to you. Sites that aren’t mobile-friendly will continue to disappoint users, but by embracing a mobile-friendly website, you’ll help your business continue to grow and thrive in the digital world.
