DUH! We know that. But before you just move on, the study is actually pretty interesting. PewInternet.org highlights some of this recent survey’s key findings.
What the data confirms is that we ultimately use the mobile web differently than we use the Internet at a desktop computer. According to Pew, “42% of mobile device owners report getting weather updates and 37% get material about restaurants or other local businesses.” I’m not suggesting that this is groundbreaking stuff, all I’m saying is that you need to keep this in mind when you’re designing your mobile web site. You are developing a site for the mobile web, aren’t you?!
If you’re one of those “restaurants or local businesses” mobile might be a direct Internet Marketing channel for you. But even if not, it’s absolutely critical that any mobile Internet development take into consideration the difference of mobile.
We’ve been saying & doing this for a while. Look at G.1440’s Mobile Internet site: http://m.g1440.com/. This isn’t just g1440.com redux. We took the time to consider who would be visiting us from a mobile device. We used our Web Analytics. We talked to customers. Most of the users visiting our website from mobile devices are tied to our IT Staffing group in Baltimore & DC. Java Programmers, .NET Wizards, PHP Developers, Project Managers, and all kinds of Technology Job Seekers in Baltimore pass through our doors as part of our get-to-know-you technology recruiting & placement work. So, our mobile site reflects that! We lead off by making it extremely easy to contact us through email or phone, and then get straight to directions.
Beyond that, we keep it brief and focus on giving users the nuggets of information that are likely most important when on the go. It basically comes back down to web usability and user-centered design, but it’s also thinking about where users are accessing your website, and how that effects the “why”.
Mobile Website Design is one of our specialties, and I suspect that with more studies like this, that trend will also continue.