If you thought PCs were remained the go-to device for communicating, connecting, and finding information on the web, think again. Mobile devices – smartphones and tablets – are gaining market share. More than half of the U.S. population owns a smartphone – and spends two hours a day on it! What’s more, statistics show that that local searches have been steadily moving from PCs to mobile for the past few years and will continue to do so.
According to a 2012 study by Pew, 31 percent of Internet users were going online with their mobile devices. In fact, the number of local searches on mobile devices quadrupled in 2012. It is projected that mobile search will surpass all desktop internet searches for the fist time in 2015.
Today, mobile traffic is increasing by 3.5 percent per month. What’s more, 45 percent of users between the ages of 18 and 29 use mobile search daily. It has been found, moreover, that mobile searches continue to result in conversion rates that are about three times higher than the same searches done with a desktop computer. This is because mobile users are usually on the go, so they have more access to their mobile phones than their PCs to perform searches. If a user becomes curious about a business or product, they can instantly do a search on it and make a purchase or contact.
Additionally, now that the world has more access to cheap smartphones and data plans, there will continue to be a larger incentive for people to invest in mobile phones instead of desktop computers. The rise in mobile users is particularly noticeable in countries like India and China where 3G and 4G data is becoming more easily accessible than expensive in-home connections.
If you would to learn more about getting your website mobile ready, visit our website design page or contact our office.
Sources:
1. “In a Mobile World Customer Reviews Matter More Than Ever” (MarketingPilgrim)
2. “Mobile Search Statistics” (Icebreaker Consulting)
3. “11 Reasons Why Mobile Websites Are a Must-Have” (Televox)
4. “Mobile to Overtake PC Search by 2015” (Search Engine Land)
