The Importance of Mobile Optimization
KISSmetrics compiled data from Luth Research, the Mobile Marketing Association and Dan Flanegan to present an infographic titled “Mobile Mania: The Growing Importance of Mobile Website Optimization.” It offers some hard numbers highlighting the potential impact of failing to optimize your site for mobile screens.
In August, 7.1 percent of worldwide browsing activity was mobile browsing. Back in February 2009, this figure was just 0.7 percent, meaning that mobile browsing has surged about 1,000 percent.
In 2011, one in four mobile users expect to access the Web from their mobile devices at least once a day.
When it comes to the rewards of having a mobile-optimized site, KISSmetrics shares that for online-only retailers, a mobile site can boost consumer engagement by as much as 85 percent. In other words, a website without mobile optimization that gets 3.5 average visits per user can expect 6.5 average visits per user with a mobile-optimized site.
KISSmetrics also highlights that on average, website visitors are 51 percent more likely to do business with an online retailer if it has a mobile site.
Breaking this down by industry, the infographic shows that mobile users are 88 percent more likely to do business with auto dealers if their website is optimized for mobile. This figure is 65 percent for auto-parts stores, 62 percent for furniture stores, 61 percent for florists, 60 percent for luggage and leather products, 50 percent for beer/wine/liquor stores and 47 percent for clothing and shoe stores.
In 2010, an estimated 4.8 percent of online retailers had websites optimized for mobile screens.
According to separate numbers from StatCounter, Android accounted for 38.86 percent of mobile browsers in the U.S. in August, followed by iPhone with 27.22 percent and BlackBerry with 13.71 percent. iPod Touch followed with 10.80 percent, while Nokia had 2.79 percent and Opera had 2.35 percent.
Meanwhile, in an August survey, Nielsen found that 43 percent of all smartphone owners have an Android device, while 28 percent have an iOS device and 18 percent have a BlackBerry device.
However, 56 percent of smartphone owners who got a new phone in the past three months selected an Android device, while 28 percent chose an iOS device and 9 percent chose a BlackBerry device.
Sources:
http://blog.kissmetrics.com/mobile-mania/?wide=1
http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_browser-US-monthly-201008-201108
