5th Sep 2012, 07:39 AM | #1 |
HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Mishawaka, IN
Posts: 128
Thanks: 203
Thanked 56 Times in 46 Posts
|
I am meeting with a prospective client tomorrow and wanted to get some additional "ammo" from the WF members about offering her a mobile website (and/or other goodies that would benefit her business). She was out of town last week and I met w/ the person in charge, who told me, "Oh she won't need anything like that! Her website hasn't brought her any business. It was Facebook that has done well for her." The owner runs a custom-made jewelry business and makes approx 82K a year (Manta.com). It is a small company w/ 1-2 employees and she sells to other gift shops around the country as well as live customers. What are some things that I can say about the benefits of a mobile website (besides it will make her stand-out from her competitors, make it so customers can find her easily on their smartphones, it might allow her to move up on Google, etc)? Your comments are appreciated! |
| |
5th Sep 2012, 08:04 AM | #2 |
Warrior Member Join Date: 2012
Posts: 20
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
|
Mobile web is the future. You just need to explain her that people are moving to smartphones and large no. of people use internet from their mobile. It has really become a necessity for all website owners. A website MUST work well in mobile platform too.
|
| |
The Following User Says Thank You to johntucker300 For This Useful Post: |
5th Sep 2012, 09:54 AM | #3 | |
brickandmobile.com War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Toronto
Posts: 309
Thanks: 60
Thanked 106 Times in 64 Posts
|
Run a few reports and filter the results down to mobile devices only in your country. You will be surprised how many people may be searching for the business name directly in Google mobile search. If there is not much traffic on mobile search for the specific business name then try searching CITY + NEED ie.. Chicago Custom Jewellery. A report that shows the business owner how much sales they may be losing due to not being mobile optimized is a powerful weapon for your arsenal! Good Luck ! | |
[ | ||
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Kevin Z For This Useful Post: |
5th Sep 2012, 09:58 AM | #4 |
Todays Entrepreneur War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Edmonton,Alberta,Canada
Posts: 80
Thanks: 116
Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts
Blog Entries: 1 |
Google for mobile marketing stats - they are really high in people searching on smart phones before they go to any stores ! go to mobithinking dot com.
|
| |
The Following User Says Thank You to saralees For This Useful Post: |
5th Sep 2012, 06:03 PM | #5 |
HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Mishawaka, IN
Posts: 128
Thanks: 203
Thanked 56 Times in 46 Posts
|
Great suggestions from all of you. Kevin - I will bring some stats with me and great idea about honing down the adwords search for mobile devices. Saralees - mobithinking is a treasure trove of good stuff! |
| |
5th Sep 2012, 06:28 PM | #6 |
Digital Marketer War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Australia
Posts: 12,475
Thanks: 1,984
Thanked 8,187 Times in 4,079 Posts
|
Jim, You also need to keep in mind that mobile websites are not necessarily going to be the best investment for everyone. You need to look at each business differently and find out what is going to help that particular business. It might mean building them a mobile website, it might not. It mean ramping up their Facebook efforts even more so to take advantage of that. It might not. It might mean doing both. But if you need to convince yourself before you can convince your customer then chances are you already know a mobile website is not the best investment that business could be making right now. To be a great offline marketer you need to be able to recognize what one thing that particular business can do right now to ramp up their profits. If you recommend a mobile website, they build it, no one comes, then they are going to blame that on you and you'll get no further work from an unsatisfied customer like that. If you are in this for the longhaul then you need to be more adaptive to your customers. I am not saying you aren't. Chances are you have done your research and you think a mobile website is THE best single investment that business could be making right now to ramp up their profits. But if you don't truly believe that then don't try and talk the business owner into it either. |
| |
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to WillR For This Useful Post: |
5th Sep 2012, 08:42 PM | #7 |
JustinDupre.com War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Location: Bangkok
Posts: 1,687
Thanks: 21
Thanked 417 Times in 218 Posts
|
Considering about 20% of all online retail is now on mobile, just let her know that she could be making 20% more than she is now. Here's a neat infographic that should give them some more details: http://mashable.com/2012/05/19/mobil...c-smartphones/ |
I offer CPA coaching and investment opportunities for those SERIOUSLY interested in making money directly or indirectly with affiliate marketing. PM me for details. Read More about CPA/Affiliate Marketing on my Blog | |
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to JustinDupre For This Useful Post: |
5th Sep 2012, 08:52 PM | #8 |
Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 2011
Posts: 1,841
Thanks: 904
Thanked 846 Times in 581 Posts
|
You should look into GetResponsive themes Basically, it turns a site into a web, phone, AND tablet-responsive site, all in one. It will automatically resize to fit the dimensions of whatever device is being used to view it Basically, you get 3 sites, but only do 1/3 of the work. |
| |
The Following User Says Thank You to Robert Michael For This Useful Post: |
5th Sep 2012, 10:43 PM | #9 | |
Digital Marketer War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Australia
Posts: 12,475
Thanks: 1,984
Thanked 8,187 Times in 4,079 Posts
|
As I said above, you need to do more than just assume things. You need to talk to each business owner separately and find out which ways you can help them right away. The answer is not going to be the same for every business. | |
| ||
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to WillR For This Useful Post: |
6th Sep 2012, 04:34 AM | #10 | |
HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Mishawaka, IN
Posts: 128
Thanks: 203
Thanked 56 Times in 46 Posts
|
This woman seems to be doing well with selling jewelry on her Facebook site. Can she do better with tweaks to her website? Maybe. I need to check with her about HOW she wants to grow her business, but also educate her with SOME stats about the trends that are happening. Thanks Will - I always appreciate your keen insight. | |
| ||
The Following User Says Thank You to piney94 For This Useful Post: |
6th Sep 2012, 04:37 AM | #11 |
HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Mishawaka, IN
Posts: 128
Thanks: 203
Thanked 56 Times in 46 Posts
| |
| |
6th Sep 2012, 09:51 AM | #12 |
You reap what you sow. War Room Member Join Date: 2008 Location: Sometimes you don't.
Posts: 1,078
Thanks: 196
Thanked 411 Times in 243 Posts
|
If her website hasn't brought any business to her, it is probably because no one knows about her website. Before making her a mobile site, I would definitely start with improving her regular website in terms of design and traffic. A mobile website will not magically bring in customers. If a business doesn't get any web traffic to their regular website, having a mobile version of it will hardly make a change in their life unless the mobile site is marketed in some way. On the other hand, if a business gets traffic to their regular website and some of this traffic is coming from the mobile devices, a mobile version of their regular website will provide a better representation of their business and a better communication with the mobile visitors (assuming that the mobile site is properly designed). Having said that, if I was going to make a mobile site for such a jewelry store, I would create and distribute flyers with QR codes pointing to their mobile site a couple of times until people know about their mobile site and start visiting them on their mobile devices. One more thing, I never promise any guaranteed increase in sales due to a mobile website. It simply may happen or not depending on the specific case. |
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Nail Yener For This Useful Post: |
6th Sep 2012, 04:44 PM | #13 |
HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2009
Posts: 129
Thanks: 81
Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts
|
Show them statistics about how much internet browsing is done from mobile phones in modern times.
|
| |
The Following User Says Thank You to Gary M. For This Useful Post: |
6th Sep 2012, 06:23 PM | #14 | |
HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Mishawaka, IN
Posts: 128
Thanks: 203
Thanked 56 Times in 46 Posts
|
I will suggest in the near future about QR codes - designer ones! I agree with you about promising things I can't deliver. I don't do this. I suggest that these improvements may bring more customers. Thanks for your suggestions. | |
| ||
6th Sep 2012, 06:24 PM | #15 | |
HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Mishawaka, IN
Posts: 128
Thanks: 203
Thanked 56 Times in 46 Posts
|
Jim | |
| ||
6th Sep 2012, 06:30 PM | #16 |
HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Mishawaka, IN
Posts: 128
Thanks: 203
Thanked 56 Times in 46 Posts
|
Well, I met with the owner today and gave her a brochure, explained the mobile web process and how I'd like to be the person to help her improve sales and even showed her a mock-up on my Ipad. She was nice, but didn't seem to have a lot of time to talk. I even got in a quick statement about her Google ranking. She said, "Ok, thanks - we'll talk about it and get back to you." I was left with the TBNT (thanks but no thanks) feeling. BUT, I will send her a thank you email and dive a bit more into how I can help and how some of my services can possibly improve her website and Facebook sales. Thanks for everyone's input. Very appreciated! Jim |
| |
6th Sep 2012, 10:15 PM | #17 |
Digital Marketer War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Australia
Posts: 12,475
Thanks: 1,984
Thanked 8,187 Times in 4,079 Posts
|
Jim, Just keep at it. In this game you need to realize you will never sell to everyone. It's a numbers game and your 'pitch' will get better the more you do it. Keep up the good work and keep us all updated on your progress. |
| |
The Following User Says Thank You to WillR For This Useful Post: |
6th Sep 2012, 10:46 PM | #18 |
Barbara Moore Join Date: 2012
Posts: 14
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
|
Get data on some of the successful businesses who have used mobile websites to drive traffic and business. Make a good presentation and that should work.
|
The Following User Says Thank You to barbaramoore225 For This Useful Post: |
7th Sep 2012, 12:50 AM | #19 |
Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2008 Location: West Coast, USA
Posts: 59
Thanks: 5
Thanked 55 Times in 9 Posts
|
I would first try to find out if she periodically offers any sales or specials… I would then try to find out if she has a customer data base… Depending on the answers I would explain to her the benefits of SMS text marketing. I would let her know that 95% of all text messages are opened and read as opposed to only 31% of emails. Also on average, emails are read within 48 hours as opposed to on average, text messages are read within 4 minutes. |
The Following User Says Thank You to Al Andrews For This Useful Post: |
7th Sep 2012, 03:45 AM | #20 |
HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2012 Location: USA
Posts: 174
Thanks: 7
Thanked 21 Times in 19 Posts
|
Hey Piney Gather some stats from web like the number of people using smart phone devices, applications usage stats, mobile website surfing stats, number of people making contact to small businesses through devices and finally show them how a mobile website will bring reputation and revenue. Search for some good blogs over the web showing comparison and use those stats in your presentation. This will definitely help you to get a few good points during the meeting. |
I am Daniel Jones, working in a Mobile Application Development Company as a Mobile App Developer. I enjoys exploring apps on iOS, blackberry, android and other mobile platforms.
| |
The Following User Says Thank You to shoopt For This Useful Post: |
10th Sep 2012, 09:28 AM | #21 | |
MobileWebRockstar War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: New York
Posts: 253
Thanks: 41
Thanked 52 Times in 37 Posts
|
A little late but another tactic could be to show her a competitor that is using a mobile site. It's put a little fear in a owner that they their competitor is one step ahead of them. | |
| ||
The Following User Says Thank You to lint631 For This Useful Post: |
11th Dec 2012, 05:33 AM | #22 |
HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2012 Location: San Francisco, CA, 94108
Posts: 206
Thanks: 12
Thanked 23 Times in 21 Posts
Blog Entries: 163 |
Tell your client that while he is thinking over creating the mobile app, his competitors are already using it for increasing interaction, awareness and incomes. In the nearest future every company will have a mobile website or a mobile application, thus it's not only a trend, but also a necessity.
|
The Following User Says Thank You to MobiDev For This Useful Post: |
11th Dec 2012, 05:50 AM | #23 |
Advanced Warrior Join Date: 2012 Location: Living in Cambridge UK for 2-3 years.
Posts: 645
Thanks: 78
Thanked 143 Times in 103 Posts
|
Take an example of one of their competitors (do a mock up if you have to) then show them on your smartphone their site and then show them the competitors site and them go WOW! Then just explain that more users are using mobile browsing than desktop by mid next year and would they benefit from a couple of extra customers per month? (They will definitely say YES) then just tell them you can host it yourself and "can I call back on Monday/Tuesday etc with mock up?" |
The Following User Says Thank You to DexterGallagher For This Useful Post: |
11th Dec 2012, 06:28 AM | #24 |
HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Mishawaka, IN
Posts: 128
Thanks: 203
Thanked 56 Times in 46 Posts
|
I typically go in businesses after I do a mock-up of THEIR site. But...maybe, like you said, I should test and try to just show them a competitor site and then ask for an appt for a mock-up for theirs. Thanks
|
| |
17th Dec 2012, 06:31 PM | #25 |
HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 213
Thanks: 44
Thanked 28 Times in 27 Posts
|
I always get great ideas in this forum. All experienced warriors' suggestions on convincing the client are great
|
| |
18th Dec 2012, 11:38 AM | #26 |
Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 2012 Location: Canada
Posts: 10
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
We've always found showing competition or a leader in the industry as opposed to their own mock-up is more powerful... plus it saves you time! When we showed their own mockup it automatically led to how their existing looks, is it good enough... When we showed a competitor it becomes more urgent as others are already the wagon.
|
The Following User Says Thank You to Everyonemobi For This Useful Post: |
19th Dec 2012, 12:50 AM | #27 | |
Digital Marketer War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Australia
Posts: 12,475
Thanks: 1,984
Thanked 8,187 Times in 4,079 Posts
|
| |
| ||
The Following User Says Thank You to WillR For This Useful Post: |
20th Dec 2012, 12:04 PM | #28 |
Local Marketing Solutions War Room Member Join Date: 2012 Location: Napa, California
Posts: 220
Thanks: 93
Thanked 162 Times in 46 Posts
|
Personally I have not had great results using a "mock-up" as my strategy with selling mobile sites. I have found that doing this will give the impression that you are a "designer". Most of the time I have got the "looks great but I will have my designer take a look" response which in all honesty is a legitimate response. If this is going to be your main approach I would follow others suggestions here and use a mock-up of a competitors site that is doing well. My suggestion is to approach prospects as someone who can bring them in more business using the latest mobile technology. Do a good needs analysis to find out where they are hurting. Then look in your tool box and figure out what you have that best addresses their needs. If all you offer is mobile sites I think it could be a tough road. Unless you are already established as a designer, have a large client list or are just one heck of a sales person, I would consider incorporating other services to what you are offering. |
LIVE NOW | |
The Following User Says Thank You to MoBuzz For This Useful Post: |
20th Dec 2012, 02:31 PM | #29 |
Active Warrior Join Date: 2011 Location: Evansville, Indiana
Posts: 55
Thanks: 9
Thanked 23 Times in 16 Posts
|
Interesting comments. I have tried demo mock-ups for similar businesses to show functionality, but I think they might be more responsive to a mock-up of their own site, because they would scrutinize it more carefully, give it more attention--which means it has to be good, and has to leave the door open to "can I do this" type questions. I would not make a mock-up before walking in the door. That seems like a waste of time, unless it is your best approach to actually get in the door. |
| |
The Following User Says Thank You to TimPiazza For This Useful Post: |
28th Dec 2012, 12:24 PM | #30 |
Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 2012 Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 1,471
Thanks: 41
Thanked 424 Times in 299 Posts
|
Its hard to know how she was pulling them in from Facebook but I would have looked at a few things that seem to work for me. What type of promotions is she doing on Facebook? Giveaways, sweepstakes and contests? I would have tried to ramp it up. Lots of third parties let you work as resellers. Custom page header. Lots of sales through third party stores? A perfect candidate for email marketing and as an older business owner, it is something they understand. Plus you can add a sign up form to a Facebook tab. Main website - Even if you are driving your traffic through social media, people still look towards your website for information. Can they go there to find out where people can buy? Does she sell direct (i.e. is it a commerce or informational site)? My biggest thing is finding customers that are on flash based sites and tell them, even if you don't do a lot through your website, it still needs to be seen on tablet devices (over 100 million iPads sold). I may be in the minority here but my take is, if you need to have a Mobile website created, it means your site is so out of date you need an entirely new website created. SMS works but not for businesses that are selling mainly through third parties. |
| |
The Following User Says Thank You to OnlineStoreHelp For This Useful Post: |
2nd Jan 2013, 07:47 PM | #31 |
HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Mishawaka, IN
Posts: 128
Thanks: 203
Thanked 56 Times in 46 Posts
|
OnlineStoreHelp - Lots of great suggestions! I will try to ramp up some of these suggestions with her, especially focusing on her Facebook account.
|
| |
2nd Jan 2013, 11:40 PM | #32 | |
Warrior Member Join Date: 2009 Location: Philippines
Posts: 11
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
| |
The Following User Says Thank You to alritch.merin For This Useful Post: |
Bookmarks |
Tags |
client, convince, good, mobile, suggestions, thing, web |
| |