The value of mobile sites to users and businesses
 

Been mulling this over and I've got a few thoughts.

1. So someone gets locked out of their car and they whip out their phone and google locksmith and google local gives them a list of local locksmiths. Are they going to get on the locksmith's site or make a call?

2. I'm not a smart phone user so I talked to a friend who is and he claims that people are so used to using sites that aren't mobile formatted and they are really adept at navigating so a mobile site has very limited value.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Re: The value of mobile sites to users and businesses
 

Studies had shown Mcommerce is growing very fast so all merchants go to capture those eyeballs

Re: The value of mobile sites to users and businesses
 

If you're Googling you can use extensions so you could do either of those things directly from the advert for example.

A properly put together mobile site makes such a difference. Sure you can get by, but if it's made easy for you, I think you're more likely to return to that site again?

If the experience is flawless, it's fast easy to use, and remembers and helps you when you return, it's definitely worthwhile. Compared to taking a lot longer, the site possibly not displaying properly (I'm thinking flash, or hovering javascript buttons) Also mobile sites are often scaled back to what you need. I think that this is a little like remembering your customers name when they return to your store. Not absolutely necessary, but definitely is going to help you in the long run.

Re: The value of mobile sites to users and businesses
 

If you don't even have a smartphone yourself, how in the world can you intelligently ask any questions concerning the use of said item?

You have no actual personal experience on the day-to-day use of it. If you want an answer to that, get a smartphone and find out for yourself. They're cheap enough these days.


As I stated in another thread you started; the same as this one (how many times are you going to post this question, and what really is your motive?) if your friend really believes that to be true:

Why is everything about a smartphone designed to make the use of the smartphone as easy as can be, with just the use of your thumb to navigate around and to have buttons big enough to be accessed by thumb or finger?

The internal structure of a smartphone is not designed to 'pinch-and-scroll' and 'zoom in-and-out'. And that's why native-apps, web-apps and good ole mobile sites are designed with that in mind.

Really. Is that so hard to comprehend?

Re: The value of mobile sites to users and businesses
 

Mak, Why are you so angry?

Re: The value of mobile sites to users and businesses
 

Hey my friend, you suggest anger. Where in my response did anger surface?

Nowhere that I can see.

It was a straight forward and honest response to a question.

And a question that was posted twice in various sub-forums.

If you only accept sugar-coated answers, given with milk and cookies for your enjoyment,
then perhaps you shouldn't ask any questions.

Some of us here talk like we're adults.

Re: The value of mobile sites to users and businesses
 

Logic is not your strong suit I'm guessing.

I didn't know you were chief of the thread police. I'll make sure I check with you in the future before I post to more than one forum. http://cdn.warriorforum.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Ok, you got me. Shhhhh....don't tell anyone but I'm trying to decide if I want to offer the service to my clients. :cool:

Re: The value of mobile sites to users and businesses
 

Yes, I agree with you. Websites that have flash are not mobile friendly.

If you are a business owner, you should have a mobile version of your site too. It will grow your business as according to Google, mobile usage is expected to exceed desktop internet usage as early as 2014.

Sincerely,
Alma

Re: The value of mobile sites to users and businesses
 

As a heavy smart phone user, I've lost count how many times I gotten pissed off at a business for not having a decent mobile site.

Just this past Saturday, was driving and thought I would stop in this car place on the way to another event, google got me their website quickly, but the business phone number was not easily accessible, the directions button for my thumb was impossible to hit and when finally got it, the directions page was not mobile friendly enough, I gave up. Didn't go. Probably won't ever bother to go because still not a clue how to get there exactly.

When someone is looking for a business on the go, extreme ease and readability is essential. One or two taps max. Anything else means I have to stop or risk an accident.

Ask your friend how adept they are at navigating those full sites while driving? Use one hand - one thumb only. (yes I know, so don't raise the risk by making me navigate a crappy desktop site). If I am one the go, most of the time, I only want to find you, or call you, or see if you are open. Occasionally, something quick about you, or a nice menu formated for my phone is nice too... I don't need your stinking full desktop site on my phone that requires both hands and multiple finger gymnastics.

Re: The value of mobile sites to users and businesses
 

A mobile website is not just about how it fits on a screen. It is about how fast it loads on a screen. It is about offering things on a mobile site that a regular website can never have -- like Click to Call buttons.

It is about presenting information that is relevant to mobile users as opposed to desktop users.

Anyone who tells you a business doesn't need a mobile website doesn't really understand the real purpose of a mobile website.