Simple Tip To Get More Mobile Prospects

Vagabond 007 · 11th Oct 2011, 11:52 AM

I was just researching some local restaurants to see if they have mobile websites. If not, I'm adding them to my list of places to contact/visit.

I came across one website that had a flash intro. Flash is used a lot on restaurant sites. I guess it looks fancy and people love it. I don't know. However, as you may know, flash does not show on iPhones. Which is what I have.

When I checked the site on my iPhone the screen was just white for a 12 seconds (I counted). Then it went to another page. Which of course looked horrible on a mobile phone.

HERE IS THE TIP:

I looked at the bottom of the site and it had a "site designed by" link. So I clicked on it. It took me to a god awful looking website of a local web designer. And wouldn't you know, they have a "Portfolio" page.

So I clicked on it and there were several more prospects that are going on my contact/visit list.

Most sites will have this "site designed by" link at the bottom. And chances are, the other sites that designer made all will have a similar look/layout.

So, if you find one bad site, you find several.

Btw, I'll be walking into these restaurants with their site already to go on my iPhone and showing them. Then I'll show them what it could look like.

Hope that helps. If you found this useful, feel free to hit the "Thanks" button.

FormerWageSlave · 11th Oct 2011, 01:29 PM

Good tip! Thanks!

JToneyUK · 11th Oct 2011, 03:34 PM

Simple but great idea!

Myself and my brother are setting up a "design studio" hoping to get some local clients to create/update websites and we have been looking at our competition. Needless to say some of these sites are terrible, never mind the work they have done on their clients sites. But as you say, most of these designers have a portfolio and you generally see familiarity within most of their work.

In this case, the excessive use of Flash makes for wonderful bait for us looking to do mobile wed sites.

Great tactic!

Mobileico · 11th Oct 2011, 11:50 PM

@Vagabond007. Have you ever thought about when targeting these restaurants to add a "Press for Taxi" button. How nice would that be? I read your post and it just popped in my head. I'm going to utilize this brainwave and maybe it'll help you too. Be great in everything you do

JToneyUK · 12th Oct 2011, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by Mobileico

@Vagabond007. Have you ever thought about when targeting these restaurants to add a "Press for Taxi" button. How nice would that be? I read your post and it just popped in my head. I'm going to utilize this brainwave and maybe it'll help you too. Be great in everything you do

The issue I see with this is that the customer is already in the restaurant. Why would they need to go onto their mobile phone and back to the restaurant website when they are in there? Especially when you can just (usually) ask the business for a cab number, which they generally have a handful of.

I do see where you may see the benefit to the restaurant and taxi firm, but probably not very practical. The user is more likely to come onto the mobile site to find the restaurants location, open and closing times, menu and costs. It may just happen that they see the call taxi function and keep a mental note to use it once they finish the meal. But again as I said above, most people are generally aware that they can ask restaurant staff for the number of a local taxi firm and they usually have a dozen or more taxi firm business cards to hand out.

rlhurst · 12th Oct 2011, 06:49 AM

A "tap for taxi" button may be pretty convenient for out of town diners who need a way to get TO the restaurant from their hotel..... (contact a local taxi company to become a client!!)

JToneyUK · 12th Oct 2011, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by rlhurst

A "tap for taxi" button may be pretty convenient for out of town diners who need a way to get TO the restaurant from their hotel..... (contact a local taxi company to become a client!!)

LOL, never thought about the getting to the restaurant part! Good point :rolleyes:

Mark68 · 12th Oct 2011, 02:26 PM

And also sell a mobile site to the preferred Taxi company?

JToneyUK · 12th Oct 2011, 02:43 PM

Another tip for finding prospective clients, especially if you don't have a car to scope local businesses - Google Maps Street View.

Earlier today I was the passenger in the car on our journey and I was looking at all the businesses that were around, especially those who had websites on their signs/displays/windows etc. However, we were going past all these businesses too quick for me to get them into my mobile phone notes app in time. Then I figured I could re-run the route using Google Maps street view and I've got loads of businesses to contact ready and waiting in my spreadsheet.

If you do not know of Google Maps Streetview, just go onto Google Maps, find any place around your town and keep using the zoom function until you go right down. It will eventually turn into Street View. Enjoy.

11th Oct 2011, 11:52 AM	#1
Vagabond 007 Dark Horse War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Location: Outside Philly, PA Posts: 486 Thanks: 84 Thanked 801 Times in 124 Posts	Simple Tip To Get More Mobile Prospects Share on: I was just researching some local restaurants to see if they have mobile websites. If not, I'm adding them to my list of places to contact/visit. I came across one website that had a flash intro. Flash is used a lot on restaurant sites. I guess it looks fancy and people love it. I don't know. However, as you may know, flash does not show on iPhones. Which is what I have. When I checked the site on my iPhone the screen was just white for a 12 seconds (I counted). Then it went to another page. Which of course looked horrible on a mobile phone. HERE IS THE TIP: I looked at the bottom of the site and it had a "site designed by" link. So I clicked on it. It took me to a god awful looking website of a local web designer. And wouldn't you know, they have a "Portfolio" page. So I clicked on it and there were several more prospects that are going on my contact/visit list. Most sites will have this "site designed by" link at the bottom. And chances are, the other sites that designer made all will have a similar look/layout. So, if you find one bad site, you find several. Btw, I'll be walking into these restaurants with their site already to go on my iPhone and showing them. Then I'll show them what it could look like. Hope that helps. If you found this useful, feel free to hit the "Thanks" button.
	The Ultimate Sales & Marketing Mind Map (Just updated - now twice as big!) - scott_krech - "Quite possibly one of the BEST WSO's ever." www.UltimateMindMap.com

11th Oct 2011, 01:29 PM	#2
FormerWageSlave Learnin' as I go... Join Date: 2009 Posts: 427 Thanks: 72 Thanked 124 Times in 80 Posts	Re: Simple Tip To Get More Mobile Prospects Share on: Good tip! Thanks!

11th Oct 2011, 03:34 PM	#3
JToneyUK HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2011 Location: North West, England Posts: 267 Thanks: 97 Thanked 41 Times in 34 Posts	Re: Simple Tip To Get More Mobile Prospects Share on: Simple but great idea! Myself and my brother are setting up a "design studio" hoping to get some local clients to create/update websites and we have been looking at our competition. Needless to say some of these sites are terrible, never mind the work they have done on their clients sites. But as you say, most of these designers have a portfolio and you generally see familiarity within most of their work. In this case, the excessive use of Flash makes for wonderful bait for us looking to do mobile wed sites. Great tactic!

11th Oct 2011, 11:50 PM	#4
Mobileico Mobile design and creator Join Date: 2011 Location: Greeneville, Tennessee. Posts: 135 Thanks: 9 Thanked 48 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Simple Tip To Get More Mobile Prospects Share on: @Vagabond007. Have you ever thought about when targeting these restaurants to add a "Press for Taxi" button. How nice would that be? I read your post and it just popped in my head. I'm going to utilize this brainwave and maybe it'll help you too. Be great in everything you do
	"My aim in design and UX is elegance, intelligence, functionality, and fun." - Wallace Morrison. Desktop - Mobileico.com / Mobile - m.mobileico.com Featured in Google's video about mobilizing, Mobile 1:35 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=Rzs5Iud20bk

12th Oct 2011, 06:49 AM	#6
rlhurst I Do Voice Over Work War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 581 Thanks: 34 Thanked 129 Times in 96 Posts	Re: Simple Tip To Get More Mobile Prospects Share on: A "tap for taxi" button may be pretty convenient for out of town diners who need a way to get TO the restaurant from their hotel..... (contact a local taxi company to become a client!!)
	I do voice over work... here's a SAMPLE

12th Oct 2011, 02:26 PM	#8
Mark68 Active Warrior Join Date: 2010 Posts: 32 Thanks: 60 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Simple Tip To Get More Mobile Prospects Share on: And also sell a mobile site to the preferred Taxi company?

12th Oct 2011, 02:43 PM	#9
JToneyUK HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2011 Location: North West, England Posts: 267 Thanks: 97 Thanked 41 Times in 34 Posts	Re: Simple Tip To Get More Mobile Prospects Share on: Another tip for finding prospective clients, especially if you don't have a car to scope local businesses - Google Maps Street View. Earlier today I was the passenger in the car on our journey and I was looking at all the businesses that were around, especially those who had websites on their signs/displays/windows etc. However, we were going past all these businesses too quick for me to get them into my mobile phone notes app in time. Then I figured I could re-run the route using Google Maps street view and I've got loads of businesses to contact ready and waiting in my spreadsheet. If you do not know of Google Maps Streetview, just go onto Google Maps, find any place around your town and keep using the zoom function until you go right down. It will eventually turn into Street View. Enjoy.