Has Your Business Adopted a Mobile-First Approach?

The trend toward mobile isn’t a fad. It’s a reality. The percentage of mobile internet traffic has already surpassed the traditional desktop variety. As of January 2014, mobile devices accounted for 55% of all U.S. Internet usage.* Whether you want to accept it or not, this is one trend that will not slow. Not convinced? You aren't alone. Sometimes it's easier to make objections than it is to make the leaps required for growth. Below, we lay out some of the most common objections we hear, as well as provide you some information that might help you to reconsider and see the bigger picture.

Common Objections:

• “My industry is different, our mobile traffic isn’t that high.” Let’s dig into your Google Analytics or whatever statistical tracking software you currently use. Most (if not all) reporting platforms should have a reporting section showing the traffic coming to your website from mobile devices. Now expand the time range to show data from the last year. What does it look like? The number of mobile users has probably increased, and probably even significantly. We’d be glad to have one of our Internet Marketing experts walk you through the specifics.
   
• “We’re happy with our search results.” Even if Google is your friend today, that could change soon if you plan to maintain the status quo. Google stated in December 2014 that its search algorithm will start to favor websites that are “mobile friendly.” Conversely, they’ll penalize websites that are not. To test your website (or your competitor's) visit Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and see if you get a green light. Of course Google didn’t say exactly when these changes will take effect, so you may not notice any drop in search results for some time. However, chances are, you will in the near future if you do not adapt to industry standards.
   
• “We already have a mobile website.” Yes, this is better than not providing any kind of accommodations to your growing mobile audience. Mobile websites were even considered the ideal solution at one time, but this was before so many different screen sizes appeared on the scene. The problem is that mobile websites are made to be device-specific, usually optimized for an iPhone or Android screen size.
  
  Fast-forward a few years and consider the range of devices now on the market; tablets, phablets, and smartphones with screen sizes varying from small to large. Understandably so, a new approach was needed to accommodate. Enter the responsive era. Instead of guessing which device will be most popular and designing for the majority, a responsive website will go with the flow, as it is optimized to look great and function with ease on any sized screen. One website. Any screen size. It's that simple.

Rethinking Responsive:

Hopefully the above points have helped you to understand why we so strongly recommend a responsive upgrade. A Global Reach representative would be happy to speak with you about the special considerations your business may require in order to employ a responsive design on your website. Though responsive design is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor, and it may not be right for every business, it’s still likely to be the best solution for most, and a worthwhile investment in today's search landscape. Contact us today to get the conversation started!

*comScore cited by research firm Enders Analysis