IN THIS ISSUE:
• Are you Ready for Mobile Marketing?
• Enhancing Your Presence on a Mobile Website
• Leveraging QR Codes to Drive Traffic to your Website

Are you Ready for Mobile Marketing?
Internet traffic from mobile web browsing is on the rise

As the use of smart-phones and tablets continues to increase in popularity, more people are accessing information online using their handheld devices. Mobile technology is developing a strong presence in people's lives and transforming the way businesses communicate with their target audience. The concept of "mobile marketing" involves several techniques, such as mobile websites, social location marketing, SMS and MMS marketing, mobile advertising and mobile apps.

In 2012, worldwide mobile phone users will increase to 4.11 billion*; with an ever-rising number of Internet users accessing the web on their mobile phones and tablets. Is your business ready to make the most of this trend? *eMarketer, April 2011

Websites in their traditional format, when accessed via a mobile phone or a smart phone appear to be all jumbled up or are difficult to navigate. Is your website compatible for mobile devices? Remember, your mobile website must be:

• Easy for your customers to reach you via a mobile phone or tablet
• Should not require any inconvenient downloads by your customers
• Be easily accessible on any mobile browser
• Be easy to update and manage

Recommended best practices for mobile website design

• Using standard mobile mark-ups (like XHTML Basic and XHTML Mobile Profile) will ensure that a wide array of mobile devices can render your page as you intend it to be seen.
• Each mobile browser shows markedly different characteristics. Test your mobile website on a range of browsers and devices.
• Keep page sizes small; less than 10KB if possible. Mobile pages typically take longer to load due to slower network speeds, so minimize use of images where possible.
• Make sure that all pages are linked to other pages. It's still a little complex to browse with a mobile phone, so don’t make it harder by forcing users to hit the back button to escape dead ends.
• Use a single column layout to minimize left/right navigation, which is difficult on a phone.
• It is important that users should be able to see maximum page content once the page has loaded, without scrolling.
• Don't cause pop-ups or other windows to appear, and don't change the current window without informing the user.
• With video and audio, beware of Flash and other closed formats that aren’t compatible on some devices. Don't download video/audio files until requested and NEVER use auto-play.
• Keep it quick. Mobile users are often short on time so it’s important that your site loads fast, content is easy to scan, and key information is easily accessible. Compress images to ensure your site loads quickly.
• Be finger-friendly. People use their fingers to scroll, swipe and select on touchscreen mobile devices. Use large, centered buttons and increase their padding to reduce accidental clicks of the wrong item.
• Simplify navigation. Use a clear hierarchy for navigation that users can click to drill down and avoid using rollovers. Try to have your content fit on the screen but when scrolling is needed, use vertical scrolling. Have a search box for larger sites.
• Use mobile site redirects. A mobile site redirect is code that is added to your regular website that automatically detects if visitors are coming from a mobile device and redirects them to your mobile site. Also give users the option to go to your full website from your mobile site.
• Design for visibility. Content should fit onscreen and text should be readable without users having to pinch and zoom to enlarge.
• Make it accessible. Ideally your mobile site should work across all mobile devices and handset orientations. Avoid using Flash as that does not display on many smartphones.
• Make it easy to convert. Make it easy for customers to buy or contact you while on your mobile site by reducing the number of steps to complete a transaction and including click-to-call functionality.
• Make it local. Looking for local information is one of the most popular smartphone uses. Include a clickable local business number and your address or store locator on your homepage. Take advantage of the location based capabilities of mobile phones and include maps, directions and prioritized information based on the user’s proximity.
• Make it seamless. Users often go back and forth between their mobile phones and their computers. Prominent access to Login, Shopping Cart and Favorites features help users easily retrieve information between devices.

QR (Quick Response) codes are those barcode-like images that can be scanned by smart-phones, which store more information as compared to conventional barcodes. They can be linked to URLs directly. For example, if you scan the QR code given on the right, it'll take you to my website: wsiprositebuilder.com.

This bar-coding technology is able to easily incorporate social media capabilities, custom landing pages and store text based information such as mailing addresses. These codes can be easily scanned by almost all iPhones, Androids or other camera enabled smart-phones which integrate barcode scanning applications. This will allow you to entice audiences with dynamic engagement strategies.

How your business can incorporate QR codes to build website traffic:

• Print medium. QR Codes can be printed in newspapers/magazines, posters, CD labels etc, where the person scanning the code can reach the mobile website of the advertiser.
• Websites. These codes can be scanned from the primary website and in turn lead to the mobile website.
• Business Cards. Your potential clients and business associates can scan the QR code on your business card and easily add you to their phone contacts.
• Product Packaging. Incorporating QR codes on the packaging of your products can help provide vital information such as customer care contact details, user manuals and other vital information.
• Direct Marketing and In-Shop Print Advertising. When used in your print advertisements, mass mails or email signatures, QR Codes can help drive traffic and a consequent fan following to your social networking profiles on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
• Effective Event Management. You can print QR codes on tickets or invites of your event and link them to Google maps, RSVP pages and all other event related material.

Mobile marketing is inexpensive, immediate and personal. It's a viable new way to create customer loyalty, increase awareness and boost sales. WSI can assist your business to optimize your marketing strategy leveraging this exciting new trend.

If in the Madison and Mount Horeb Wisconsin area, contact your local WSI Consultant to catch the mobile marketing wave and propel your business to a new level!.