How do we know? Well, Web.com asked small business owners (about 500 of them), and learned that 84% of those that have stand-alone mobile websites are getting new business from them. This means that prospects and leads are waiting to be found on mobile devices, and that small business that meet them there are getting positive results.
A few related notes:
• 69%: The number of small business owners who think that mobile marketing is key to their growth in the next five years.
• 64%: The number who intend to spend more on mobile marketing this year, when compared to last year.
Given this information, it’s safe to say that small businesses are enjoying returns from their investments in mobile websites and mobile marketing. The main motivations for pursing these avenues are to 1) deliver better service to customers, 2) gain new customers, and 3) build an edge over the competition. But despite these worthwhile benefits, only about a quarter of small businesses have mobile-friendly websites. In addition, most don’t have a mobile strategy, and are currently missing out on opportunities to be found by mobile searchers.
Meanwhile, mobile search volumes are exploding. Mobile search is quickly pushing past desktop/laptop searching, and customers are increasingly expecting businesses to have functional mobile websites. Indeed, a customer’s experience during mobile search can have a powerful impact on a business. In another post, we laid out the unintended negative consequences of having a poor or nonexistent mobile presence, as well as the positive effects of a well-designed mobile presence.
The results might surprise you.
At this point, small businesses must be aware of these issues, or they’ll pay a heavy “tax” imposed by the market and shifting user expectations. With other small businesses confirming that mobile marketing gets positive results, and helps them push ahead of the competitors, isn’t it time you gave it a shot?
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