Throughout the last two years, I’ve blogged, emailed and discussed the rapid rise in mobile activity among handheld users, and I’d like to share the latest numbers with you.
The big headline this year, first shared by Microsoft Tag and Danyl Bosomworth, cites mobile Web access will surpass desktop Web access by 2014. Mobiles already outnumber desktops 4-1. A rising number of mobile devices are used for business. How does that affect your market, your client and your ability to stay connected with both?
Wherever you choose to do business, a mobile-first strategy is becoming increasingly critical. Mobile Web traffic continues to rise globally, especially in developing markets. Mobile use worldwide has risen 162.7 percent since 2010. Top three emerging markets are Asia, Europe and Oceania. Mobile use in North America has risen 69 percent.
Mobile usage continues to rise, but that doesn’t mean the majority of consumers are ready to purchase from mobile websites. Research shared early 2012 by eMarketer suggests 87 percent of consumers shop retail sites from desktops or laptops. 14 percent shop via sites on smartphones. 9 percent shop via sites on tablets. But only 4 percent of consumers shop via retail applications (apps) on smartphones or tablets.
Mobile usage continues to improve because of the sheer versatility of handheld devices. According to Microsoft Tag’s infographic, one half of all local searches are done on mobile devices. 86 percent of mobile Web users use their phones while watching TV. Relevant to terrestrial retailers, 29 percent of users will scan a mobile tag for coupons.
If your business uses social networking in its digital marketing mix, know that more than 1/3 of Facebook users use its proprietary mobile app. 50 percent of Twitter users access tweets via the mobile app. 200 million YouTube videos are watched per day on mobiles. Women aged 35-54 are the most active group in the social mobile space.
With mobile usage tripling across Asia in just three years and retailers beginning to track consumer-preferred buying on mobile devices, some venture capitalists have expressed that they will only fund forward-thinking business concepts with mobile-first strategies.
Are you ready for a continuing increase in mobile usage? Do you have a responsive website and a mobile email strategy? Have you thought about developing a mobile app to reach consumers in new and exciting ways? Now is the time to become mobile-ready.
Americans spend 2.7 hours socializing on mobile devices. Are they interacting with you?
