The world we live in today is very mobile-orientated. Mobile internet usage accounts for over 49% of total internet usage. That means that a large amount of people are looking at your business’ website through a mobile device. Ensuring that your website is optimized for these devices is crucial to keep up with the completion these days. On top of staying ahead of the curve, there are plenty of reasons to have your website optimized for mobile.

1. Everyone Uses Mobile

As previously stated, mobile users account for 49% of total internet usage. Think of how many people probably check their phones first thing in the morning. According to Smart Insights, 48% of consumers start mobile research with a search engine. This means that almost half of your business’ potential customers are looking at what you half to offer through mobile devices. This makes the need to optimize your site very important. Furthermore, According to MicKinsey & Company, Google says that 61% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site they had trouble accessing and 40% visit a competitor’s site instead. Make sure you are not losing business to your competition and a lack of mobile optimization, you may actually be ahead of some of your competitors that have been too slow to catch on.

2. Better Brand Engagement

A mobile-friendly website will help you stand out from your competitors creating better brand engagement with your customer base. Your customers will have a more enjoyable and user-friendly experience when they can interact with your business from anywhere happen to be. Giving them the ease to multitask is also a plus. According to Mobify, 90 percent of people report moving between devices, or “multi-screening”, to accomplish a task. When your mobile experience is optimized for functionality and consistency it fosters trust and affinity with users. Whereas if the opposite is true, you run the risk of losing business out to someone else who does provide a mobile-friendly experience.

3. Increased Conversions

These days desktop users do not exactly convert anymore. 80 percent of shoppers admit that mobile purchases are impulse-driven and that they’re more likely to purchase from and interact with a brand that offers an engaging mobile experience. This means that when you are optimizing for mobile, CTAs (call-to-actions) should be clear and easy to click and contact information should be one of the first things visitors see. Crafting smooth, and clear mobile CTAs will enhance your customers user experiences dramatically, leading to more sales for your business. Depending on your brand, creating a mobile app for your brand is also something you may consider.

4. Mobile Gets More Traffic

How many times have you been sitting at home watching TV, or sitting around the house, or anywhere else you are, and you just happen to pull out your phone. I know I’ve been guilty of this. Mobile optimized websites get an insane amount of traffic. Multiple sources report that smartphone users are engaging with mobile websites and apps while watching TV, commuting to work, and simultaneously while using a computer. This makes mobile optimized websites just as vital as their desktop counterparts.

5. It Improves Your SEO

Search engines tend to favor mobile-friendly websites. In 2016, Google has launched a new algorithm that gives a ranking boost for responsive sites in mobile search results. According to Google, it is recommended webmasters build their sites as responsive, but if that isn’t an option, they prefer your business makes a separate HTML website to serve to mobile users. This will increase the likelihood your site will rank well in Google mobile search results. Also keep in mind that mobile pages require different strategies compared to desktop landing pages. They need to load faster, have bold CTA buttons, and include shorter headlines. Not to mention the image size requirements and minimalist design.

Preparing your website for the mobile world is absolutely essential in today’s world. With almost half of the internet’s users searching on their devices, having a non-mobile-friendly site is something you can’t ignore anymore. Once your website is mobile optimized, you notice a world of difference that will benefit your business.