Tag Archives: mobile
Why your website needs to be mobile friendly
With the continual change of advanced phone technology, websites are in effect continually going from desktop browsers to tablets and mobile phones. This means that your website needs to change to suit the distinctive screen sizes and be cross browser perfect with the plethora of mobile gadgets now available in the business sector. The experience that a mobile client receives is so critical in your business and if you’re in any doubt then this article clarifies why you ought to make your site responsive / mobile friendly.
Higher Ranking in Google Search
Beginning April 2015, Google began offering giving preference to sites that are mobile friendly or have a mobile friendly version of their site, according to Google’s Webmaster Blog:
“When it comes to search on mobile devices, users should get the most relevant and timely results, no matter if the information lives on mobile-friendly web pages or apps. As more people use mobile devices to access the internet, our algorithms have to adapt to these usage patterns. In the past, we’ve made updates to ensure a site is configured properly and viewable on modern devices.”
Other internet search engines share a similar view with the inclination to favour mobile friendly websites. Yahoo and Bing for example have followed a similar path to Google requiring that you offer a mobile friendly / responsive website and if any any doubt then Google offer a free tool in which you can test your website mobile friendliness here https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/.
Various Screen Sizes
The primary reason for any website ought to be to serve up what the user needs and how the user wishes to view your website on a device of their choice. The massive development of smart phones and tablet devices means that websites need to adjust to a variety of screen sizes accordingly. This is called Responsive Design and is utilized to get the website information used on any portable device by removing the irrelevant parts of the site and just concentrating on the essential viewpoints. Advanced website design must make conformities for various sorts of screens including mobile telephones, tablets, portable workstations, desktops, projectors and even window display and each screen needs the special components taking into account their use and in view of their usefulness to your business.
W3CSchools says that “RWD remains for Responsive Web Design; RWD can convey site pages in variable sizes; RWD is an absolute necessity for tablets and cell phones.”
Concentrate on essential features
Bigger buttons, bigger text dimension and a configuration upgraded for a portable screen are perfect in giving the best site experience to a mobile friendly client. Different components which are given need is component dispersing, particularly for things such as connections, popups, catches and even drop down records. The general purpose of this is to guarantee that the end client concentrates on precisely what they need and not the extravagant components of your site which are displayed to desktop clients.
Whatever your website need we can help identify and then help your business reach its customers on any device so that you can concentrate on managing and growing your business, to find out more please contact the team either through the website here or call us on 01392 241653.
Ask your audience
Asking your audience surely has to be an easy way for your business to engage with its customers doesnt it?
By asking your audience you can gain valuable input into what your customer would like to see happen so hopefully you can provide just that.
Up and down the country you will see pollsters asking your opinion, but maybe your business could take it one stage further and ask a direct question about what product they’d like you to sell, if you’re a coffee shop, ask what cakes your customers would like or how about if you own property and a commercial unit is vacant, why not ask….
Tell us what you would like to see in this unit
And as the audience you can answer by simply using the QR code or heading to a web link where you can ask ; ‘tell us what you would like to see in our vacant units’.
So what would your business have to gain from asking your audience? we’ll take the example of the property looking to rent a vacant shop unit:
1.You are making the customers of the shopping centre feel involved somehow in the development of this resource.
2.The shopping centre is seemingly closer to the community as they are asking the community and not just putting another retail unit in that can be found in any high street.
3.The shopping centre is collecting data from everyone who engages from them, could they then use this to form a focus group and get face to face with their audience?
So can you business ask your audience and get them involved in what you’ve done well or maybe you have a direction that you want to go and not sure, maybe this is stocking new products or moving into new markets, either way asking your audience can be a big help. Of course this should then be embed into a full Digital Marketing Strategy then we are the team to help, please get in touch here.
The new layout on mobile for Facebook Pages
Facebook is the UK’s most popular social network and each and every day millions of us visit facebook pages and half of these visit are by a mobile device (and this is increasing). So this is why facebook have developed a new look and feel for the way anyone look for your business facebook page on their mobile device.
The recently initiated design and usage improvements for mobile Pages include:
For visitors to your page
- A cleaner, simpler look, with better Page layouts for mobile viewing
- More relevant information up front so people can see the information they care about most – such as location and photos – at a glance
- Streamlined and prominent ways to interact with Pages, including actions such as Like, Call, Message, and Share, all of which now appear at the top of Pages
If you own a facebook page
- Higher-appearing pinned posts, where admins can pin important posts (including offers or videos) from their desktops; these posts are now front and center when Pages are accessed on mobile devices
- Easier mobile management, allowing Pages owners the ability to easily switch between public and admin views directly from their mobile Pages/devices
If you are a Facebook page owner, there’s no need to do anything to prepare your facebook page, as these updates have already happened, but it’s important to make sure the information currently listed on your Page is complete and up-to-date.
For more information on these updates and Facebook Pages, click here.
ebay image recognition, making buying easier – possibly!
If you already have the Amazon app you will know how easy it is to use, you simply find a product in a High Street store you like, scan the barcode and hey presto this is how much it costs on Amazon, and do you want to order? – you’re standing in the shop, no problem click this button and the product you have touched, checked out and verified in that high street store is now ordered through Amazon.
Well eBay is taking this further having just announced that they are to add an image recognition tool to its mobile apps by the end of this year, what does this mean for all of us with the mobile app?
In simple terms as we see it you could take a picture of say a pair of shoes and then the app will recognise the product and use it to instantly scour the eBay site for the product….. No need to scan the barcode as with Amazon, just take a picture and the mobile image recognition software would ‘recognise’ clothes or goods, then use that information as what it thinks is the most appropriate search term within eBay, instantly bringing up auctions with similar images. Again you could then order and checkout as you go.
For an already embattled High Street this means that the power really is in shoppers hands, you could walk and scan and compile a shopping list with the High Street picking up all the fixed costs for your online shopping and actually order online where potentially it is likely to be cheaper.
How should the High Street respond? Well i think one of the key things (amongst many) needed to be done is to concentrate on the overall shopping experience. Stores need to have keen helpful staff who provide a great experience, let you touch and feel the products and make you feel valued as a customer.
Without a doubt competition is fierce and its getting fiercer it will be interesting to see who can rise to the challenge and which retailers fail?
What is a QR code and how would my business benefit?
I talk a lot about Social Media both on this blog and to customers in general. In fact one of the key strengths of this business is using our considerable experience in including an element of Social Media into a customers Inbound Marketing Strategy, and seeing that drive traffic to the customer website solutions.
However in a recent meeting, I was asked very simple question which I thought would be perfect for our blog hence this post.
That questions was; what is a QR code and how could I use one to promote what my business offers?
First lets start with what a QR Code Looks Like
So a QR code like the one on the ladies bums above (you did see it didn’t you?) is an acronym for quick response code and is actually quite old. I believe starting in Japan in the mid 90’s. Now the technology is really taking off some 15 years later as mobile technology has caught up.
If you have a smart phone with a camera and a simple app once the QR code is scanned this can take a user to a web page, a video perhaps or even a call – it really is that flexible.
What a QR Code Can Be Used For
QR codes can be used in so many different ways, many household names are using these codes for adverts or specials inside the stores, the codes are even being seen embed on billboards and press adverts – all to send smart phones users to a link containing more info on a product or service.
If you are a business that why not use a QR code in your shop window to send users to a web page containing hours of business, a menu and even reviews on the business. Maybe print one on the reverse of a customers receipt to ask them to review their purchase or LIKE your facebook page.
A QR example from Betfair and the British Beach Volleyball Team
Check out the photo of the two beach volley ball players, a QR code will be printed on the back of the sportswomen’s bikini bottoms that will direct users to a Betfair website when photographed on a smartphone.
How do I Scan a QR Code?
Firstly you need a smartphone, then when you see a QR code somewhere and you want to scan it and see what’s offered? Well firstly you need an app which you can get from Android, the App Store or Ovi store; then you open the app and hold your camera at the QR code and off you go, the app does the rest…
So have you got any examples of QR codes, will you be scanning the ladies bums in the London 2012 Olympics?
Business mobile phones, iPhone, Blackberry or htc on a business tariff
We all know about the massive business growth that comes from the mobile internet that can be delivered though a business mobile on a business tariff, this varies from just checking email to texting employees. Which ever way you look at it the way a business works has changed dramatically from just a few years ago and with new handsets from the like of Blackberry, HTC and Apple you really are spoilt for choice.
A few mobile stats for you below;
- 19% of internet users now use status updates – mobile dominates
- 975 million mobile web users expected by 2012
- Mobile phones to over take PC’s for web surfing by 2013
- Over half a billion people to use mobile money transfer services by 2014
So the question is if we know this, then why are so many businesses on outdated tariffs not giving them the flexibility their business now demands. The mobile market is constantly changing as each of the networks compete for market share, new offers constantly on the market, for example text deals or internet deals are always around and some may suit your business. For any business with more than one handset a full annual analysis is always recommended, this includes what you currently pay and what handsets are right for you.
To give you an example; We recently found a solution for a customer that wanted to use more texts between each of his business phones and the ability to get mobile email while out and about, on his current contract, that was expensive. A free business tariff analysis has seen him move service provider, get all new touch screen handsets for his staff and save nearly £500, a good saving I think you’ll agree.
So if your business has multiple handsets and you want a free cost analysis just get in touch here, you really dont have anything to loose.
*source Mobile Inc
