Mobile Sites: 5 Tips to Convert Visitors to Customers

With a nearly 125% increase in mobile usage, brands are experiencing higher traffic to their company websites via mobile device - primarily smartphones and tablets. What is interesting, however, is close to 90% of websites are not ready for optimization!

In an article from search engine watch, a study concludes that although mobile usage has sky rocketed, in most industries conversions are a third lower than that of desktop conversions. The truth is, marketers "need to do a better job at addressing the user experience on smartphones."

Furthermore, companies really need to capitalize on the missed opportunity in mobile traffic by "ensuring sites are following [the] best practices for mobile optimization" (a great resource is Google's Guidelines on Mobile)

So, what does this mean? Is there an opportunity for mobile sites to convert its visitors into customers? The answer is ABSOLUTELY! In fact, in an infographic from Sanera Camp it was estimated that by 2015 the expected U.S. revenue from online mobile sales will reach $31 billion, up from $11.8 billion in 2012.

Here are 5 tips to help convert those visitors into customers from Social Solutions Collective:

1. Create a clean and easy to read mobile website. You really don't want to clutter an already limited screen with too much information up front. Instead, you should include your important information and try and build your site as if YOU are the mobile user on a mobile device. This information can include: location, phone number, "contact us" button, and a brief overview of who you are and the products and/or services you offer.

Are you mobile ready?

2. Offer multiple payment options. If you want  people to buy from your  mobile site you need to pull out all the stops and give them various payment options - and don't forge to make those payment options visible with user-friendly and easily accessible clickable icons.

3. Provide security to your customers! Make sure customers know that your site is secure enough for them to actually feel confident - and comfortable - enough to make a purchase. Be sure to include any Chamber of Commerce of industry-related organizations you are a member/involved in.

4. Stay up-to-date. Let's face it - customers (including myself ..and probably you) have no time for a site that is out of date or simply serves as a catalogue. Ensure that when your customer is visiting that they know  immediately that your site is up-to-date.

5. It's all about the call-to-action. What is it you want your customers to do? It sounds basic - but you should be telling them what it is you want them to do by asking them to buy, to take advantage of a limited time offer, or to prompt them to ask for more information. Those who do not ask shall not receive!

It's time to take advantage of the power of mobile sites in converting visitors to customers - I hope that this post has helped!