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During one of our recent Social Media Madness Series sessions we had a discussion about websites and mobile apps, and which was the way of the future. We thought we would share the information with you, as we often get asked these questions from our clients.
Are websites a thing of the past?
According to GlobalWebIndex’s 2016 Q1 Report, 80% of internet users own a smartphone.
With the rise of social media sites such as Facebook, some think that websites are thing of the past. People are no longer searching for companies on search engines, instead they go on their social networks and ask their friends for recommendations on a product or service they are interested in.
In 2016 it is evident that while social media has changed the way that people find out about products and services, there is still a need for a web presence. People continue to access websites (you are reading this article on our website), although now they are more likely to do so via a mobile phone rather than on a desktop computer.
eMarketer expected mobile to overtake desktop for US search ad dollars in 2015, rising from $8.72 billion to $12.85 billion—just slightly above desktop’s $12.82 billion. At the same time, there will be 156.4 million mobile phone search users in the US, representing 49.0% of the population.
Related: 3 Great Reasons to Create a Site Using Responsive Web Design
When people search for businesses, products or services on mobile devices or smartphones, they are looking for specific information including pricing, hours of operation, contact information, addresses and services. If people can’t find what they are looking for they will go elsewhere, and they will go elsewhere soon.
What is a mobile website?
A mobile website is essentially like any website you see, however, it is optimized for mobile devices which makes it easier for people who are viewing it on the go, or on devices other than the desktop browser. It is designed for smaller handheld devices and touch-screen interfaces.
10% of Americans own a smartphone but do not have broadband at home, and 15% own a smartphone but say that they have a limited number of options for going online other than their cell phone. Those with relatively low income and educational attainment levels, younger adults, and non-whites are especially likely to be “smartphone-dependent.”
Benefits of mobile websites:
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User friendly
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Easy to navigate
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Faster website load speed
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Improves SEO
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Cost-effective
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Low maintenance
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Simple and resourceful
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Compatible across devices
What is a mobile app?
Mobile apps, or applications, are specifically developed and designed to run on smartphones and/or tablets. They can be pre-installed on phones or downloaded through app stores. Mobile apps serve a very specific purpose that you can’t get from a website, such as accessing a document offline or playing a game without a wifi or network connection.
Even if your website is mobile friendly, there are several advantages to consider that mobile apps have over websites.
Benefits of mobile app:
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Can do all functions of your mobile website, and more
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Send push notifications
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Track user behaviours and preferences
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Make use of phone features and functionality
Mobile Web VS Mobile App?
When it comes to deciding if your business should invest in a mobile friendly website or a mobile app, the answer depends on your end goals. While apps are popular, they are more more of an investment. There are times when creating an app is the logical choice, such as when you are asking users to access mobile-specific functions such as their camera. However, sometimes a mobile site can accomplish the same goals that you were hoping to achieve with a mobile app. In some cases the best solution is to create both. If you do not have a solid mobile friendly website in place it makes the most sense to start there. The best thing is to take your budget and business into account and chose a more user-friendly mobile solution that is right for you.
