Is Your Business Mobile Ready? Google Mobile Ranking Update
With the continued domination of mobile search, ensuring your business’s website is mobile optimized is extremely important. Mobile is here and there is still a huge opportunity for local businesses to separate themselves utilizing technology to gain market share.
Consider these 2 thoughts to gain a competitive advantage.
6% of SMB’s have a mobile site, are you serious!
In a recent survey it showed that “US SMBs believed they were losing out on annual revenue of roughly $60,000 on average by not having a mobile optimized site.” Based on this survey and the current mobile landscape, there is huge opportunity to be had if your site is mobile optimized.
Google will update its algorithm – Mobile Ranking Update
According to recent articles Google is planning an algorithm update on April 21st, 2015, that will prioritize rankings for mobile friendly sites. With mobile search now surpassing that of desktop search, Google is stepping up the ranking game to make sure searchers are reaching relevant sites.
Opportunity is knocking
Why are only 6% of the US/UK SMB’s mobile ready and 45% of SMB’s do not even have a website when this year ~2 billion people globally will have and use a smart phone? When I read numbers like this and I see that our economy is made by SMB’s driving economic growth and creating jobs, I wonder why there is such a huge gap in technology acceptance. This should be a business ignitor but SMB’s are struggling to adapt.
The key here is not all business will understand how to leverage technology for their benefit – and that is the opportunity. Based on this data there is huge opportunity to grab market share “Yesterday”. 94% of SMB’s are not ready for what is coming, according to those surveyed. Mobile marketing and the strategy you deploy using technology will either make or break your company, I truly believe it.
It makes no sense to continue to sit on the sidelines waiting; there is no risk in not getting your business online and getting a mobile site. Don’t let technology pass you by and then look up and have regrets wishing you would have done something.
Smartphone Stats
- Nearly two-thirds of Americans are now smartphone owners, and for many these devices are a key entry point to the online world
- 67% of cell owners find themselves checking their phone for messages, alerts, or calls — even when they don’t notice their phone ringing or vibrating.
- 44% of cell owners have slept with their phone next to their bed because they wanted to make sure they didn’t miss any calls, text messages, or other updates during the night
- Younger adults — 15% of Americans ages 18-29 — are heavily dependent on a smartphone for online access.
- 62% of smartphone owners have used their phone in the past year to look up information about a health condition.
- 57% have used their phone to do online banking.
- 44% have used their phone to look up real estate listings or other information about a place to live.
“Four in five respondents used search engines on their smartphones or computers/tablets to find local information.” 54% of smartphone owners say their phone is “Not Always Needed” but 46% say it is something they “Couldn’t live without.
What To Do, Make a Change
Now, I am no rocket scientist and I don’t think you have to be to understand the data. It is clear that mobile is embedded in the fabric of our lives and growing every day. When I read things like “I sleep with my smart phone” and “nearly two-thirds of Americans are smart phone owners”, I am excited at the possibility for my business and how I can grow it using this technology. Let me say it again, “only 6% of SMB’s have a mobile site”.
Seriously, if your business is not mobile optimized change it “NOW”. Stop thinking you will wait and figure it out later. There is no later. There are so many resources available to get your business on track. Start grabbing market share and take advantage of the technology gap that continues to widen, there is great opportunity for your business to be successful online.
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