Is there a difference between a desktop website and a mobile website? The answer is: Absolutely! A desktop user has a huge screen with the ability to make selections with pinpoint accuracy using their mouse. On the other hand, the mobile user must navigate a 2×3 inch screen using their finger! The most important difference is the type of information being sought after.
A desktop user browsing the internet is looking to be entertained. Many times they are doing research on a product or service and look for websites to educate them on a topic. Desktop users statistically perform a local search for a business only 20% of the time.
The mobile user is on the go and in the moment. They need your product or service NOW! The mobile surfer is not looking for entertainment or education, but instead they are looking for key information in order to call or find your business. The mobile user statistically performs a search for a local business 90% of the time!
Viewing a regular website on the 19” screen of your desktop computer is quite different than viewing that same site on the pocket sized screen of your mobile phone. If you are lucky enough to see the whole site, the menu navigation is typically too small for you to select using your finger, so you usually have to stretch it in order to read/select an item and navigate the site.
non-mobile Salon website on an LG smartphone
Here is an LG smartphone displaying a Hair Salon’s website. The user most likely has heard about the salon and wants to either call for an appointment or find the location. You can see that the user experience here will be less than positive.
One site we previewed had the entire home page designed with Flash. The problem is that the iPhones don’t display flash, so this company’s website came up as a blank white screen on our iPhone.
So why is this important to you as a business owner? Customers are looking for your business or service at the very moment they wish to buy! This results in more sales for you. According to the Smartphone intelligence survey conducted by Kandar Media, almost 1/3 of all smartphone users who search for local businesses via mobile end up visiting or calling the location. They also stated that approximately one in three Android and iPhone owners discovered at least 2 new businesses in the first quarter as a result of using the local search on their phone.
With 5 times more mobile phones than computers the importance of a mobile website becomes obvious: More Customers!