Mobile devices are becoming the new trend in internet accessibility. Based on studies conducted on August 2013, 17.4%of all global web traffic came through mobile devices and this number will continue to grow in 2014 up to 2016. Engaging your website platform to a responsive mobile format is a big step into the mobile world.
Here is some of the Advantage/Disadvantage of Responsive Format for Mobile Devices:
Mobile Responsive
Responsive mobile website allows you to have a single website that automatically fits the screen size of the device on which it is being viewed. This is achieved by adapting the content, design, navigation and method of interaction to deliver the same comfort and usability to the mobile user as to the desktop user.
Pros:
1. A Single Website
It is a lot easier to administer a single website for all platforms and devices. Also it much easier to update single website rather than two separate on mobile and desktop.
2. A Single URL
This makes sure your users will find you on mobile devices without having to wait for redirects, especially helpful on slower connections
3. Easy SEO
There is no need to create specific content for mobile devices, while you still enjoy the benefits of your desktop website SEO on mobile devices.
4. Easy Marketing
You don’t need to do extra marketing to promote your website on mobile.
5. Low Cost
As said on the first pros, one website means a lot cheaper than maintaining two.
Cons:
1. A Single Website
Having just one website for all devices may be easy for you, but not always for your users. You will often need to put different emphasis on the same page in order to maximize conversions using the advantages of the platform.
2. Technical
As a responsive mobile website is a new technology, there are still mobile devices that have old browsers that will load the website too slowly or not fully.
3. User Experience
Mobile is a completely different experience than desktop, so having a single, even mobile website may harm your overall UX on both platforms. If you try to satisfy both mobile and desktop users with the same user interface, you may end up satisfying no one.
Mobile Website
A mobile website is optimized to be viewed on any screen resolution and in any operating system such as IOS, Android and Windows. Meaning your current website address should reach the mobile web browser whenever internet connection is available. It does not mean that it will be easy to read and navigate on a mobile device with its current design. But it is important to make your website mobile friendly.
Pros:
· Mobile website works on all app platforms like Android, iOS, Windows, etc.
· It is easy to convert your current website to a mobile website. Moreover it is cheaper and faster.
· At an advance stage of development, you can easily embed a mobile website into an app if you want.
· You can easily be found and accessed through internet searches and web links on a mobile browser.
· Loading of a certain page or website on a mobile device will be quickly accessed within a few seconds since it is smaller than desktop website and has a few files to be downloaded.
· Mobile websites don’t have a data hog. So, visitors who have data plans will not have to worry about the website eating too much of their allotted data.
Cons:
· Mobile websites are not built on native code and this will affect the quality and performance of your website.
· While browsing a mobile website, phone’s features become unavailable. So, you will face some difficulties in that part.
· It is quite difficult to bookmark a mobile site. As a result, you need to enter the full web address every time you are browsing through mobile.
· Full content and features of a website will never be accessible in mobile devices.
· You will run the risk of people ending up at the wrong website address.
· Many mobile devices are emerging frequently. Due to that, you need to update yourself on the top of emerging technology, so that your mobile website will know what devices to detect. Ultimately, it is time consuming and takes high cost to maintain.
Mobile Applications
With a rapid rise in mobile commerce, it’s crucial for business to adapt to ensure that the needs of their mobile customers are taken into account. One of the best ways to do this is by launching mobile app. However, apps aren’t for everyone so it’s important to consider the needs of your business and customers before you rush to develop an app for your store. To help you decide whether your e-commerce store needs an app, we’ve put together a list of pros and cons to help you gain a better understanding of what a mobile app could do for your business.
Pros:
1. Mobile Sales are Booming
Mobile sales grew at over seven times the rate of those via tablets and mobile now accounts for two-thirds of internet traffic this year and an 11% rise on 2014. Launching an app is a brilliant way of actively promoting, accommodating and encouraging this growing market.
2. Improved User Experience
Well-designed apps dramatically enhance the user experience by enabling users to connect with your services from any location. This helps to build relationships, reinforce your brand’s image and increase your brand’s overall exposure.
3. Functions Offline
Unlike mobile websites, your app will function offline, so your customers will have access to your app 24/7.
Cons:
1. Maintenance
Mobile apps require a lot of time and effort on maintenance and have to be built to accommodation each platform. For many small business owners, this can prove to be too time consuming and costly.
2. High Expectation
Competition in the app market is tough and even the major retailers struggle to keep up with the expectations of consumers. If you rush your app and roll it out before it’s perfect, people will not wait around for you to iron out the glitches, they will just leave a bad review and move on to a competitor’s app instead.
3. Low Repeat Use Rate
With so many apps available, it can be difficult to create apps that engage users and encourage regular use.
