Are Mobile Load-Up Times Too Slow?

Posted on November 16, 2011 in Mobile Websites by susan

load-up times mobile, mobile load-up times, mobile sites, mobile websites, sites mobile, websites mobile

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Mobile web users expect their websites to load up on their mobile devices as fast as they load up on their desktop computers.  According to a Compuware study, almost half of the users surveyed said they were disappointed with the speed in which sites loaded up on their mobile phone.

• 71% expect a web page to load up on their mobile phone as fast as it did on a home computer
• 74% expect the page to load within 5 seconds
• 60% expect the page to load within 3 seconds
• 46% complained that sites loaded slower on their mobile phones than on a desktop

Why is there this problem of load-up times?

1.      A home internet connection is almost always faster than a mobile connection

2.      Home computers are considerably more powerful than either smartphones or tablets when it comes to processing power

The good news is that dual-core processors in mobile devices combined with the high connection speeds of 4G networks should help considerably to improve mobile connection times. That said, website builders still need to optimize their websites for upload performance before adding too many fancy features that will slow things down.

Click here to learn more about the Secrets to Successful Mobile Marketing!

What Does HTML5 have to offer?

Posted on November 9, 2011 in Mobile Websites by susan

HTML5, mobile sites, mobile websites

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HTML5 allows you to

• Deliver an app-like experience without people having to find you in an app store and download the software.
• SEO advantages (you don’t get those with an app)
• Dynamic scrolling bars so you can show your latest products, offers and promotions on your mobile homepage
• Better navigation with collapsible menus and pop-up windows so you can maximize the small screen without sacrificing download time
• High –resolution image galleries
• Advanced GPS so that the mobile site can adjust to where the user is located
• Predictive search that cuts down search results time
• Mini-carts that let the user easily call up their shopping carts without having to leave the page they are on

Click here to learn more about the Secrets to Successful Mobile Marketing!

Let’s Talk About HTML5

Posted on October 28, 2011 in Mobile Websites by susan

HTML5, mobile apps, mobile sites, mobile websites

(Want to learn more about how to succeed in mobile marketing?  Please download my free “Secrets to Successful Mobile Marketing” video now)

What exactly is HTML5?

HTML5 is the latest version of the classic web site programming language. What is important about it is that it allows developers to create mobile web sites that have many of the same qualities as mobile apps and is a huge step forward in enhancing the mobile web experience.

Mobile apps, of course, currently provide a much richer experience than a typical mobile web site. The reason an app can do this is they sit on a smartphone (or tablet) and make full use of the features and function of these devices. Until HTML5, a mobile web site couldn’t do that.

HTML5 cannot do a lot of things that a mobile app can but is still a very positive step in the right direction.

One of the features HTML5 can provide is GPS. The store locator is one of the most popular aspects of an m-commerce site. By allowing you to provide your consumer GPS technology, it makes it so much easier for them to find nearby stores. Another big feature that HTML5 offers is its ability to enable mobile web sites to play video without the use of Flash. Since Apple doesn’t allow Flash that means that the millions of iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad users have to go without. HTML5 will be a huge key to getting video content to these consumers.

What is interesting about HTML5 is that it begs the all important question of “Do I need an app and a site? Or-given HTML5’s capabilities-isn’t having a mobile site enough?” Apps of course can play a very important role. But undoubtedly m-commerce sites will always be the most popular avenue for mobile shoppers. With HTML5, they now can be almost as sleek as an app.

Click here to learn more about the Secrets to Successful Mobile Marketing!

Mobile App or Mobile Website?

Posted on September 14, 2011 in Mobile Apps, Mobile Websites by susan

mobile app, mobile applications, mobile apps, mobile site, mobile sites, mobile website, mobile websites

(Want to learn more about how to succeed in mobile marketing?  Please download my free “Secrets to Successful Mobile Marketing” video now)

Brands with limited budgets often ask the question: should I build a mobile site or a mobile app?

Mobile apps are viewed by many designers as to be the optimal way to provide a rich user experience on mobile.

However there are some inherent problems with the mobile app:

• The most successful iPhone app which becomes viral enough to be passed to every single user on the iPhone platform will still only reach 7% of the total mobile market.  A mobile website has the potential to reach 100% of mobile web users.

• Many iPhone apps require the current version of iOS to run and cannot be used on first-generation iPod touches, which represent 10% of iPhone traffic.  The Android market is equally if not more fragmented.  Once again mobile websites can normally be accessible to everyone.

• It may be a myth that users prefer a mobile app.  Research actually shows that most users prefer mobile websites over mobile apps (Adobe, eMarketer, InsightExpress),not to mention that more people use mobile websites than apps

• It is extremely difficult to rank your mobile app on Google or Bing.  Having said that, you can optimize your app for the app stores but it requires some specialized knowledge.
• Apps help the SEO of iTunes, Android Market, or Blackberry App World but not your website.  A mobile website (even at m.subdomains) can ultimately benefit your rankings for your .com site

• Most apps are downloaded once and then discarded. (Pinch Media, Localytics).

• There are few apps the truly provide something beyond what a mobile web site can do.

Given the above, with a limited budget, you are probably safer building a mobile website rather than a mobile app. This will ensure that you have the broadest reach and engagement for the maximum benefits.

Click here to learn more about the Secrets to Successful Mobile Marketing!