Should Small Businesses Invest in a Mobile Version Website?

Should small business owners invest in a mobile version of their business website or not has been a serious matter of debate for quite a long time. It depends on one’s personal opinions, ideas and perceptions when it comes to investing resources for a mobile version website, but the statistics show a desperate need of such a step.

The need for mobile version websites has been knocking at the door for the past couple of years. However, with the recent advancement in mobile technology and introduction of different tablets and iPads, etc. investing your time and resources in designing a mobile version website has almost become an imperative decision to take.

Why is it Necessary for Small Businesses to Invest in a Mobile Version of their Website?

It is necessary for small businesses to invest in a mobile version of their website, mainly because it is an absolute need of time right now. Moreover, as the time goes on, this need is going to become bigger only. For the past couple of years, using mobile devices for surfing on the internet and doing business have become a growing trend. In the past 2 years, this ratio has been increased by 500%. Moreover, for doing online shopping or business, 43% of the people use their mobile phones and devices. This means that if your website does not have a mobile version, then you lose around 43% of your potential customers – which is too big a number to ignore.

Among all the business types, small businesses need to invest their time and resources in a mobile version of their website as soon as possible. Unlike the big giants, small businesses face fierce competition because of too many sellers and no dominancy of their brand name. Having your mobile website can give you a great edge over your competitors, and you can even knock them out.

This theory can be supported and justified by the following two facts:

1.    Approximately, 93% of all the small businesses do not have a mobile version of their websites. In short, 93% of small business websites cannot be rendered properly on a mobile phone or a mobile device. This means that by having a mobile version of your website, you can jump ahead of those 93% small businesses.
2.    After having a bad mobile experience with a small business website, approximately 40% of consumers shift to their direct consumers for the same type of transaction. This means that you can easily snatch an average of 40% share of customers from your direct competitors if they do not have a good mobile website.
To gain such a high level of customer base, a small business needs to invest tons of money on advertisement and marketing.

Negative Impacts of Not Having a Mobile Compatible Website:

Following are some negative impacts of not having a mobile compatible website for your small business:

•    Approximately 23% of your possible customers are not likely to do business with you if you do not have a properly working mobile website.
•    You will not be exposed to local searches done using mobile devices, and approximately 51% of people use their mobile phones for local searches.
•    You lose approximately 43% of smartphone users who use their smartphones for online shopping.
•    You lose another 57% of your customers, who do not recommend doing business with an organization who does not have a mobile version of their website.

Conclusion:

In short, a mobile version of your website has become an absolute necessity for your survival. Sooner or later, you will have to step up and make a mobile version website. So, why not invest your resources now?

Today’s author, Matt Fuller, works for Website Hotline, and specializes in small business web design.

Tags: Mobile Technology, Mobile Web, Mobile Website

Source : techtalkafrica[dot]com

1 in 10 Viewers Watched Debates on TV Plus 1 Additional Screen

Image credit: Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo

 Take a look at the constant stream of tweets during the debates (there were 10 million within two hours of the first debate between Obama and Romney), and it’s  obvious that not only are people watching the feuding candidates on TV but  also on their phones, computers  or tablets.

According to a study released by the Pew Research Center for the Press and the People, 85 percent of those who tuned in to the debate last week watched  it on live TV, but 11 percent  followed it online, either on a computer, phone or tablet. That means that one in 10 Americans used the two- or double-screen approach, watching TV while also holding a mobile device (phone or tablet) or computer.

Most of those who were following online were younger. Thirty-two percent of those younger than 40 said they tracked the debate online. The post-debate survey was conducted after the first presidential debate in a series of phone interviews with a national sample of 1,006 adults.

Pew also has some interesting stats when it comes to the social media activity. Only one-third of that 5 percent who followed the debates online said they shared their reactions online via Facebook  or Twitter. Interestingly, there wasn’t a major difference along party lines in technology usage.

More details on the survey can be found on the Pew website, but it’s pretty clear that while the majority continues to stick to the boob tube for these major political events, the smaller, more portable screens are starting to provide another avenue for at least 10 percent.

Source : abcnews[dot]go[dot]com

Growing number of Americans ‘dual screened’ debates last week

When you watched Mitt Romney and Barack Obama debate against each other last week, did you do so on television, on your computer, or both at the same time? A new survey suggests that, if you went for the latter option, you weren't alone.

If you’re planning on tuning into tonight’s US Vice Presidential Debate between current VP Joe Biden and Republican challenger Paul Ryan, then here’s a question: How are you planning on tuning in? After all, although the debate will be carried live by multiple television channels (including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS, as well as Fox News, CNN and MSNBC), it’ll also be streamed live online in multiple locations as well, and aired on the radio. Which venue and format is the preferred one for checking out the political conversation of the evening?

The reason I ask is that the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press have looked into the ways in which people watched last week’s first Presidential Debate between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, and discovered that more and more people than ever before appear to be using multiple methods for watching at the same time. According to Pew, 56 percent of those polled said that they watched the debate live, with 11 percent of those watchers admitting to being what the research body calls “dual screeners” – viewers who watched the event on television and followed it online at the same time.

The survey contacted 1006 adults in the US between October 4 (the day after the debate) and October 7 to ask about their viewing habits when it came to the debate. It found that, of the 56 percent who said that they watched the debate live (563 people, assuming that the 56 is a rounded figure), 85 percent of them watched the debate exclusively on television. That figure breaks down, as you might expect, to skew heavily in the older age ranges: Of viewers 65 and older, 98 percent of them watched solely on television, with 89 percent of those aged 40 through 64 years old. Only 67 percent of viewers aged between 18 and 39 restricted themselves to television. The younger demographic was more friendly to online viewing, with 10 percent of the 18-39 group watching only online, and 22 percent watching both television and online simultaneously, compared with 10 percent of the 40-64 group, and 2 percent of the 65 and above group (No-one in that latter group said that they watched the debate online only, and only 1 percent of those in the 40-64 group watched solely via Internet).

(For those who are curious, there was no noticeable pattern in the political affiliations of viewers when it came to their method of viewing; democrats, republicans and independents alike essentially watched television, online and both in equal numbers.)

Overall, the survey found that traditional media can feel confident about the way it’s measuring up to the Internet, with more than twice as many respondents also saying that they watched more traditional sources (Television, radio, newspapers) than digital in terms of overall debate coverage, 78 percent against 36 for digital (Maybe they were waiting for the Bad Lip Reading remix). While traditional media may be in trouble in the larger scheme of things, apparently it still feels like the best choice for people when it comes to political news.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

How old should you have to be to own a smartphone?

How old is old enough when it comes to owning a smartphone? We take a look at both sides of the debate.

 

The first cell phone I ever purchased was the original Motorola Razr. I actually resisted the cell phone revolution until 2004 when Motorola’s super-thin phone lured me in, but I was already in my late twenties by then. These days, no one waits until their on the brink of 30 years old to get a phone. Cell phones and smartphones are becoming a must-have item on every kid’s wish list. It’s not about making phone calls; it’s about having a camera, audio player, gaming device, web browser, and the ability to access social media and send texts.

Mobile phones are an important invention for the human race. They have definitely changed the way the world communicates and they will continue to do so. Most of us own some kind of mobile phone. According to The World Bank‘s fairly conservative estimate, 75 percent of the world’s population has access to a mobile phone. So how old should a child reach — what milestone — before its okay to own a phone? 

What about kids?

As it turns out, not very old. Nielsen research recently revealed that 58 percent of 13 to 17 year olds living in the U.S. right now have a smartphone. That’s a smartphone, an Android device or an iPhone (possibly a Windows Phone or a BlackBerry, but probably not). If we throw regular old cell phones into the mix then the figure goes up. Lookout estimates that 77 percent of 12 to 17 year olds in the U.S. have a cell phone of some kind.

You can’t blame kids for wanting one given that their peers probably have one. That “well if they jumped off a cliff would you jump too?” line is only going to work for so long. The trouble is parent’s opinions about what age is appropriate for cell phone bestowment vary wildly.

How young is too young?

Would it surprise you to learn that the Lookout report also revealed that 22 percent of parents think 10 years old is an appropriate age for kids to get their first phone? Does that sound too young to you?

Kids do mature at different rates. Before you equip your child with a smartphone, you really need to consider whether they have the understanding or the skills to use it. You might want a young child to have a basic cell phone for emergency calls, but there’s a world of difference between that and the latest iPhone.

While 10 might sound too young, most parents would agree that a teen should have their own cell phone by the time they are 16 years old. Wouldn’t they?

A lot depends on the reason behind your child getting a phone. Let’s take a look at some pros and cons.

Why your child should have a phone

Keep in touch: Some parents see mobile phones as an ideal way to keep in touch with their children. Kids can check in with their parents, phone when they need a lift, and make emergency calls if something bad should ever happen. You can even use a cell phone to track your child’s location – all the major carriers offer this service for a reasonable monthly subscription. A cell phone can provide peace of mind for an anxious parent.

Google Maps > stranger: With a smartphone, your kids won’t get lost ever again. It’s frightening when you get lost, but thanks to navigation options like Google Maps, if your kid has a smartphone they can always get directions home and they won’t have to ask a stranger.

Education: Technology is a big part of everything now and it’s important that your kids are exposed to it and learn to use it so they can reap the benefits later in life. Check out the potential for educational help with our back to school apps roundup. A cell phone can also help to teach them about budgeting and taking care of their possessions.

So he/she can socialize: Socializing is an important part of your teenage years and you want your child to be involved and feel like they are on level ground with their peers. When I was a kid we would “call round” for people by actually physically going to their house and ringing the doorbell. It was a huge waste of time and if you ever lost a friend when you were out somewhere there was no way to contact them. Cell phones are so convenient for arranging social situations, that the lack of one could leave your kid out of the loop.

Be nice: Smartphones are awesome. We adults are buying them in our droves and using them for all sorts of purposes. Don’t assume your kid will get up to no good – they probably want a smartphone for many of the same reasons you do.

Why your child shouldn’t have a phone

Kids can be data hogs: Do you trust that they have money skills or understand limits? They could run up big bills for overage charges on data or app purchases. Smartphones are also potentially very expensive.

Inappropriate content: Consider the fact that a smartphone allows them to surf the web and access all kinds of content. Not all content is good. 

Stranger danger: If your kid is texting or chatting on a cell phone, you have no idea who is on the other end. Your kid could be talking to someone bad. They can also take photos and potentially share them with anyone.

Texting and driving: For older teens, texting while driving is a serious concern.

Sweep aside the cons

The good news is that you can sweep away all these concerns by choosing the right device, the right plan, and considering parental controls.

First of all, decide whether they need a smartphone or if a basic cell phone would do the trick. A nice feature phone would still allow them to text friends, track location, take photos, listen to music, and even play basic games. It’s also way cheaper and seems to make more sense for young kids. You may even want to consider something really basic for emergencies, like the OwnFone.

Check out the family plan deals and dedicated plans for kids and see what would suit you and your child best. You can set hard limits and block access to app purchases if you want to.

You can also look into your many options for parental controls. Some carriers provide services and there are many apps available. They allow you to do all sorts of things like: block specific numbers or only allow specific numbers, set times when the phone cannot be used, limit access to the web, set time limits for usage, and even remotely cut cell phone service when your teenager is driving.

Rules and reasons

Most important of all, sit down with your child and explain what they should and shouldn’t do in detail. Give them reasons and make sure they know that their new phone is a privilege. Ultimately, if you want to ensure that your kids use technology responsibly and safely you have to make them aware of the dangers. It also helps if you are at least a bit tech savvy yourself.

There’s no right answer to the question of how old kids should be to own a smartphone. The truth is it depends on your kid and it depends on you. We’d love to hear your opinions though, so please post a comment and weigh in on the debate. If you’re a parent, what are your concerns? Have you given your kid a cell phone or smartphone? How did it work out? Any tips for other parents? If you’re a teen or even younger do you want a phone? If so why? What would you use it for?

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com