A new study reveals that most small business websites are not mobile friendly, which is big problem considering mobile has quickly become one of the most popular channels for consumers to search for local businesses while on the go.
The study polled 400 self-employed professionals and small business owners. The findings reveal that 74 percent have not designed a version of their website for viewing on smartphones, while 86 percent have not designed a site for tablets.
However, the most surprising piece of data revealed that only one in ten small businesses believe it is necessary to have a mobile-ready version of their website, and even more shockingly, more than 40 percent are not even aware of how their site appears on a smartphone or tablet.
A branded website adds perceived professionalism, which makes it one of the most effective marketing tools, and a matching mobile-ready version adds even more credibility – essential for keeping existing customers and attracting new ones. But, many do not recognize the need to create versions compatible with different devices.”
Additional data shows that 41 percent of small businesses would ignore optimizing their website for viewing on mobile devices if they thought it would be too difficult or expensive to implement. However, even more surprisingly, 40 percent of small businesses don’t even have a traditional website yet.