It’s difficult to contest the popular observation or assertion that the mobile is the future of everything. Even at present, the influence of mobile technology is already dominating everyday life. Smartphones, tablet computers, and other mobile electronics are becoming highly popular. It’s rather a rarity seeing someone who does not own a web-enabled smartphone. Hence, it’s only logical to create a solid mobile strategy to help drive e-commerce success as these devices become more mainstream.
Need more convincing? The following are the most compelling reasons why you should consider having a mobile strategy for your web-based business or entrepreneurial venture. These are also the main points of how you should develop a solid mobile strategy that will boost the success of your e-commerce venture.
Marketing and Promotions
Arguably, the top reason why you should have a solid mobile strategy is the opportunity to exploit the increasingly growing number of people who access the Internet through their smartphones and other mobile devices. A Nielsen study released in the early part of this year reported that web access time through mobile devices is already greater than through laptop and desktop computers. Internet penetration has greatly advanced in recent years because of the popularity of smartphones, tablet computers, and other portable or mobile devices that can access the web. It will definitely be unwise to not do something to try to reach mobile Internet users to promote or market your products.
Many of those who use social media access their accounts through mobile devices. Likewise, many smartphone and tablet users regularly connect to the Internet through a variety of web-connected apps. Back in 2010, it was already predicted that mobile will dominate Internet access by 2015. This prediction has a very high possibility of becoming true or it could already be the case at present. If you have not prepared your e-commerce venture for the impending shift to mobile, you will be left behind in the e-commerce competition.
Easy Online Shopping
Mobile Internet access certainly makes it easy to do online shopping. That’s why you have to come up with a strategy for your store or online business to make use of mobile shopping channels as customers are becoming more comfortable with the medium. A solid mobile strategy should always include techniques that facilitate sales through the mobile web. In addition to mobile web marketing, it is very important to have the tools and features that make it easy for buyers to make their orders or purchases online.
Cashless Payments
The new iPhone feature called Apple Pay has been regarded as a success by Apple CEO Tim Cook. The claim isn’t necessarily 100% accurate but what is certain is that purchases through web-connected mobile devices will become a reality and will be widely used in the future as cashless payment transactions mature and become more reliable. To be able to partake in the advantages and opportunities created by cashless payments through mobile devices, you need a solid mobile strategy. Your store should already consider enabling mobile payments even if Apple Pay or other mobile payment systems is not widely used in your area yet.
Comparisons
The Internet, mobile Internet in particular, is making it easier for consumers to quickly find information about the items they interested in buying. It is easier, for example, to find price details nowadays. Price comparisons can be quickly done by potential customers so if you are unable to dynamically react to the price movements of your competitors, you might not have the ability to compete effectively. This is not to say that you have to engage in a price war. The idea here is simply to set the right prices that attract customers while maintaining profitability.
Fortunately, there are tools like the ones offered by Wiser that make it easy to monitor prices for certain items being sold online. Their WisePricer service gives retailers the ability to automatically track prices can help you set competitive prices and decide on the right timing in setting prices so you don’t end up driving away current and potential customers whenever there is a need to raise prices and so you can create the biggest impact whenever you lower your prices. The power with these tools is that you’re able to compete automatically in real-time based on predefined rules you set. This frees you and your staff from the tedious tasks of keeping track of hundreds of thousands of products you’re trying to compete while giving you valuable insight and market intelligence.
Customer Feedback
Lastly, the mobile web is making it easier to obtain feedback from your customers so it only makes sense trying to include a feedback gathering system to help your business improve. Similar to how it works with traditional businesses, you simply cannot ignore customer perception and desires. You always have to strive to satisfy customers. You won’t know if your customers are satisfied if you don’t obtain feedback from them.
There’s no escaping mobile technology. Even as the smartphone sales of leading companies are declining, the mobile web will continue to thrive. Access to the Internet through mobile devices will play a major role in e-commerce. You have to know how to make use of the mobile platform to boost marketing and sales efforts, mastering purchase and payment systems, and customer feedback gathering for your business.
