Tag Archives: Mobile Web
You cannot afford to ignore the mobile web any longer
For many businesses the mobile web has been seen as a passing fad. Mobile websites have traditionally been slow to load and uninteresting to use but the transition to smartphones with larger screens and tablet computers has changed the mobile web permanently.
The iPad is now critical to mobile commerce
The latest figures from RichRelevance’s 2012 Q1 Shopping Insights Mobile Study suggest that not only is the UK at the forefront of mobile web shopping, but that by March of this year, mobile devices accounted for 9.1% of all e-commerce transactions. Even more importantly, the average transaction from mobile devices was £109.68; desktop computers averaged just £100.05.
The figures go on and on, all proving that iPads, iPhones and other mobile devices are of increasing value to online businesses, particularly as the iPad accounts for 82% of the total mobile web spend. As such it is now impossible to ignore the importance of providing a mobile-optimised version of your website.
Fortunately many tools exist to convert existing sites to mobile-friendly versions, but careful consideration should also be given to the content for mobile presentation. The new iPad may have a massive screen resolution allowing for the display of plenty of text, but as we discussed previously (Does the New iPad change mobile content?), the majority of mobile devices do not. It is therefore imperative that mobile copy be concise to grab the reader’s attention increase the chances of converting their clicks into sales.
Just like last time we covered the mobile web (Writing Mobile Web Content), the copywriting rules are simple - keep it short, keep it snappy. Mobile web uptake is accelerating at a phenomenal rate and businesses who fail to get on board now will not only struggle to develop brand loyalty with early adopters – they may miss out entirely.
To get more advice about setting up a mobile website, or for assistance with mobile web copywriting, why not get in contact with Tech Write today?
Does the New iPad Change Mobile Web Content?
Much has been made of the New iPad, focusing heavily on the new ‘Retina’ display which has a pixel density greater than that of a 40″ plasma TV (for the non-technical reader that means you can fit more stuff on the screen at once). This sudden rise in available screen real estate presents web designers and content managers with a dilemma – how much should I put on each screen? 
Previously we discussed the importance of brevity when creating mobile-friendly websites because screen sizes meant that visitors were unlikely to spend a great deal of time and effort scrolling through screens. With it’s greater capacity however, the New iPad negates this argument doesn’t it?
Despite selling over 3 million units in less than four days, the New iPad is still a comparative rarity when it comes to the mobile web. There are still plenty of first and second generation iPads in circulation in addition to the plethora of Android-powered alternatives. Factor in smartphones with their 4 inch-ish screens and the answer is obvious. Mobile web content must still be short and to the point if it is to succeed.
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Until Samsung and other tablet manufacturers start shipping high definition screens on their tablets (which they invariably will in the near future), web content writers must abide by the same rules before to ensure that their articles and copy grabs the reader’s attention and converts into sales. The mobile web is here to stay and increasing in value every year. It is imperative that sites be designed and populated with mobile users in mind if they are to be a success.
The New iPad has certainly changed the tablet market again, but the wider impact on m-commerce and mobile web content will take a little longer. For now, short and sweet is still the order of the day.
If you would like further advice from Tech Write about producing written content for mobile web sites or would like to investigate the possibility of altering your existing website for use by mobile device users, please get in contact today.
