The dilemma for web merchants and developers is how best to deal with the ever-growing mobile masses of end users. Should they create an application for the iPhone, Pre, or Android market, or optimize their website for mobile users?
Usability is the largest issue for mobile users. The effort it takes to open a new application, type in a search query, or answer an email on a mobile device–versus performing the same actions on a desktop PC–is why mobile users have a limited attention span. Mobile websites have to be created with that premise in mind if they are to succeed.
SEO rankings for mobile websites are hard to quantify…when a person searches the web using Google, they are getting the results from the same database of websites that non-mobile users are searching. Having a mobile-optimized website certainly won’t hurt your search rankings, but the real benefit (versus mobile applications) is that mobile websites don’t require any downloads, payment or approval. Users can visit a mobile-optimized website from any device, whether it’s an iPhone, cell phone or PC. For the mobile user, it’s a transparent, instantaneous experience–either they can view (and use) the site via their device, or they’ll go somewhere else where they can do so without having to scroll left, enlarge, scroll down, and otherwise manipulate their device just to read a web page.
Another reason to opt for the mobile website over the app is that once online, your website is available to anyone. An application for the Pre, iPhone or Android market has to go through the store’s approval process, which can take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks, if it is approved at all.
Some large retailers have both a mobile web presence and applications available for mobile devices, which is a great option if your business can afford it. If you’re pressed for funds, the mobile website is hard to beat–if your business is going to cater to mobile users, it is a must, not an option. Not all businesses who have mobile websites have mobile applications as well, but all businesses who have mobile applications, also have mobile websites.
