Anybody with a smartphone is likely to carry it around with them wherever they go. This also means that web browsing habits have changed drastically. In the past, if you wanted to access the internet, you had to schedule time in front of computer in order to do so. Now you just have to whip out your phone or tablet wherever you are to access the internet in seconds.
As a local business owner, the vast majority of people in your local area are likely to search for your type of product or service while ‘out and about’. Times have changed. Most people don’t want to wait until they get home or to work to search for something; they want to search for it right then and there exactly when they need it.
Let’s assume for a second you are a Locksmith. Somebody is locked out of their home or vehicle. Do they really want to find a computer or yellow pages book to search for somebody that can help them? Of course not.
It is far easier to just pull out their phone and browse for a company that can help them immediately. The same idea pretty much applies to just about any business that services local consumers.
Remember; people today are busy and thrive on convenience. Furthermore, they’re always looking for the fastest and easiest way to get what they need. In most cases this will mean searching for you via their mobile devices. In fact, most people use their mobile devices to perform internet searches even while at home; this is much easier than having to boot up their computers.
What does all this mean? It means that your business should have a mobile-friendly website; one which does NOT involve the user having to pinch, click incorrect links, and struggle to navigate – amongst other things.
In terms of marketing and helping you generate more leads and sales, a mobile optimized website will expand your market reach. You are putting your services or products into the pocket of thousands of people in the local area.
If you have a mobile website and your competitors do not, your company will be picking up that business and profiting from it. This is because you have made things as easy as possible for your potential customers. They are going to love it.