A mobile future – what does it mean for small businesses?

There’s a buzz about the mobile revolution at the moment, statistics flying around about take up of smart phones vs desktop computers.  In some cases a sense of panic that everything is going to change and if you’re not ready you’ll be left behind.  But what does the mobile revoultion/evolution or whatever you like to call it, mean for small businesses and what do you need to do to ensure you’re not left behind?

 

Having attended the Tedx Liverpool event (via online streaming)  “A mobile future” yesterday these are my reflections and thoughts on what it means to you as a small-business owner.

 

(Just to clarify…when I say mobile, I mean smart phones, when I say smart phones I mean mobiles that are fully Internet enabled)

 

Despite a range of contrasting opinion yesterday the general consensus is that media will become more blended.  Connectivity with each other and with the internet will be increasingly important. There will be a less clear distinction between media  – websites, TV, games, print media etc.  We’ll even more increasingly live our lives online, and on the move, and online technology will increasingly manage things for us.  The device will become less important and will act more as simply a way of accessing information held in the “cloud”.  Businesses will need to become cleverer at engaging, and holding the attention of their target market who will become ever-more demanding to have an enjoyable, useful and streamlined experience.

 

The take up of mobile vs desktop has taken a speedy increase, and this will increase hugely over the next 5 years, so don’t panic it doesn’t all have to happen overnight.  How will you make mobile part of your business plan/marketing plan over the coming years, with your customers in mind?

 

Consider your customers and your target market, yes the “world is going mobile” but some groups will be the slower to convert – how quickly are your target market going to expect/need your business to be more mobile-friendly?

 

What does mobile-friendly mean? I think in a basic way it means two things; 1. The need to review and possibly make changes to your exisiting marketing and your business  and 2. Greater opportunities for you in sales and marketing for your business. I’ll be writing in detail about each of these points next week.

 

The best news for small businesses, as we see it is that to embrace and make the most of this mobile future, it will be a lot more about understanding your customer and creative thinking, than about high-level investment.  If you would like a chat about mobile future and your business, get in touch.