When writing out your 2010 list of business resolutions, AOL Small Business says make sure to include a mobile-friendly Web presence. Here are three ways to get your act together:
1. Hire a Designer
Not every small business needs to go out and drop a fistful of Gs on a mobile site, but for some it will make sense. At Accession Media, Katinger works with small and medium business customers who have complex e-commerce requirements. He estimates that many of his jobs start at around $10,000 and go up from there. He focuses on building a single Web site that covers both regular computer requirements, then serves up mobile-friendly pages when mobile devices show up to the party. “It’s like any investment — if you deem it’s important enough to your business, you will pay for it,” says Katinger.
2. Instant Mobilizer
A lot of small businesses don’t have the time or energy to devote a lot of resources to regular Web sites, much less mobile sites. If that sounds like you, then dotMobi’s Instant Mobilizer is worth a gander. The service comes along with the purchase of a .mobi domain through a network of providers that includes Go Daddy and Domain Monster. Instant Mobilizer essentially translates your existing Web page into a mobile-friendly format that includes one-click calls to your phone number and an automated map and directions. It doesn’t require any technical knowledge and takes very little time to set up.
3. Make Friends with Mobile Search
It’s a strategy that’s smart for just about any small business, but an absolute must for businesses looking to drum up local traffic through mobile means. Here’s the premise: “The mobile marketing world is more than just the Web site,” says Katinger. You can push a .mobi site to your customers or design a mobile-friendly site from the ground up, but some potential customers will only go so far as Google, Yahoo or the internet yellow pages to find you. So make sure you’re listed at places like Google Maps, Yahoo Local and Yelp. It doesn’t cost anything, and it’s a great proving ground before you jump full-on into the mobile Web site waters.
Photo by appleinsider.