Haley Consultants

It won’t be long before the Web is accessed by more mobile users than PC users. In many countries, this has already happened. On a recent visit to Starbucks, I noticed more people on the web via iPhones, Android phones, and iPads than laptops. Recently, I had a conversation with a friend who told me he uses the "phone" feature the least on his iPhone.

Traditional websites often render poorly or are hard to use on mobile devices. They do not take into account the context in which a mobile user browses the Web. Approaching the mobile Web as a separate channel to your traditional website, then, is critical.

Here are some methods of delivering content on the mobile Web:

• Create a mobile website.

Mobile websites take into account small screens, different input devices and the numerous other unique characteristics of the mobile Web.

• Use text messaging.

Text messaging is ideal for notifications and updates. It is a perfect complement to your website and a way of keeping users informed.

• Build mobile applications.

Mobile platforms such as the iPhone and Android make it increasingly easy to build applications that run directly on mobile devices. They allow you to make your content available even when the user is not connected to the Internet or away from their PC.

Pushing your content to mobile devices is ideal if your target audience is often away from the computer or requires access to your content “in the field.” If you are a brick and mortar store it is even more critical to have your content viewed easily on a mobile device. With features like turn by turn navigation or near me now on phones, the phone is often used instead of GPS navigation.

Make sure your web site is optimized for mobile viewing, and look for ways to embrace the mobile audience to improve your sales, or viewers.

In my last blog I promised you some examples of companies successfully using Facebook to increase sales.  I realized afterwards that the companies that are really making the most out of their Facebook presence aren’t just selling.  With voicemail systems full of push 1 for this, and 2 for that, the norm, many customers and companies are finding the interaction to be a huge bonus. 

In this blog, I decided to focus not on the large companies such as Sprint, and Coke that have huge Facebook pages and followings.  Instead, I looked at one company and how Facebook has impacted their business.

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Larsen Wilkes, Chef / Owner of Bordeaux’s Prime Steakhouse near Austin, Texas has had a web site and successful email marketing campaign for several years.  In the last year Wilkes noticed the impact his newsletters created was not as significant as in the past .  He also noticed that the number of emails opened was declining even though he had more subscribers than ever. 

Bordeaux’s created a Facebook Fan page, and began informing customers in the restaurant, via a link on their web, and their newsletter.  In a short period of time, the Facebook page has become a  place for customers to comment, ask about upcoming specials, learn about upcoming and often unadvertised specials, and learn about special events.  One recent special event was the annual Bordeaux’s Valentines Wine Dinner.  Due to the popularity an extra sitting was scheduled.  The increased popularity was in large part due to the response from fans on Facebook. 
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Another pleasant surprise for Chef Larsen has been the resurgence in sales for his cooking DVD that was mentioned on his restaurant page.  Wilkes, Date Dishes DVD was produced a few years ago, and after a recent mention on Bordeaux’s Facebook page followed by comments from past buyers sales have spiked recently.

 
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Here is another recent article from the NY Times about Facebook business pages.   Let me know your thoughts and success via Facebook for your business.

Everybody has had heard of Facebook. Often I hear comments like isn't that the thing my niece/nephew/daughter/son spends all of his time doing?  I don't think I want my business on that.

What you might not know is with over 480,000 new users joining per day – it is the fastest growing social networking site on the web. The average user age has recently moved from those 25 and under to closer to 35-60 years of age. 

There are many reasons why your business might want to consider creating a Facebook fan page. I’ve outlined three of them here.

1. Everybody is on Facebook.

Okay – not everybody. But there are over 175 million people using Facebook. If it were a country, it would be the sixth most populated country in the world. Your business has the potential to reach this audience – for free.  The best way to have a business presence online is to set up a Facebook fan page.

2. Facebook is a great place to distribute your company information.

Facebook fan pages allow businesses and organizations a place to create event listings, post their business hours and contact information, and even display photos, text, and online articles. These tools are great to display information. Your business most likely has a website already – but do you have the potential to reach over 175 million people with that site?  You also have a better chance of visitors viewing your site by linking from Facebook to your site and your site to your Facebook fan page.

According to the Nielsen people (you know the TV ratings company), the average user on Facebook spends 4.5 hours a week on Facebook alone.  This is up from 2.0 hours about a year ago.  Also according to Nielsen, those same users are only online about 6-7 hours a week.  The math is pretty clear, you have a much better chance of attracting people via facebook and your web site , than your web site alone.

3. Facebook allows a two-way conversation with your customers and clients.

It works as a great feedback loop. Because a discussion feature comes pre-built into the page you can carry on discussions with your customers, take surveys, and gather feedback. Plus – you create “buy-in” when a client or customer becomes a fan of your page. They are basically raising their hand to say “Yes I want to continue a relationship with your business.” 

Sure you can have a blog on your web site, in fact we encourage that also.  The discussion is a much more free flowing conversation in nature on Facebook than a blog and comments.

To sum it up – Facebook is a great place to start if you are new to all this social media stuff. Because changes are coming for how you will do business. These changes are at the very foundation of how people communicate and interact online and off. 

Next Blog --  Examples of Companies successfully using Facebook to increase sales.

4 Reasons why you need a website to stay competitive

1. Internet Presence: Your competitor has a website...do you?
   The internet is continuing to be the method of choice for finding information.  An investment in a website pays for itself when it brings more customers to your business!
2. Information Anytime:  Your website is always open.  Provide your customers with information when they need it.  List your hours, services, location, anything you want to share is available when your customer is looking for it when you're online!
3. eCommerce: Sell your products and services online, sell your products and services worldwide. By accepting credit cards you make it easy for people to buy from you.
4. Feedback:  Improve your product or service by learning your customer's thoughts and feelings. Through the use of easy to use forms and e-mail, your clients can let you know their preferences allowing you to make changes without the need for expensive marketing and client studies.

I wrote those points above twelve years ago around 1998.  That was decades ago in internet years (kind of like dog years), and nobody really knew if having a web site was a fad or here to stay.  In today's economy or marketplace, those reasons have never been more valid.

I don't remember the last time I used the Yellow Pages, and you probably can't either.  We Google, we check Yelp! or Yahoo Local for reviews.  We check our friends Facebook page for cool restaurants they like.

So should your business have a website, even if your business is small and sells products or services you don't think can be sold online? My answer in 1998 is the same as my answer today: Yes, if you have a business, you should have a website. Period. No question. Without a doubt.

Give me your reasons why you think you do or don't need a website.

Scott