It is estimated that by 2014, more people will access your website via a mobile device than a desktop computer. The future of the web is in the palm of your hand, and it's time to make it a priority. 

Next Tuesday, March 27, at 8am, Kendra Wright will be presenting to Rise Austin on "Why Mobile Marketing is No Longer Optional."  She will discuss the future of mobile marketing and why it is essential to the success of your business.

Please register now to attend our presentation.

I’ll admit it, having a smart phone has lead to an increase in my procrastination.  No longer do I look up directions, hours or even a phone number before I’m out the door on my way to a restaurant.

Prep time has gone from a 5 minute search on my laptop to a quick look at the mobile site before I pull out of the driveway.

According to a recent report from Nielson, I am not alone in my use of a smart phone as 25% of US mobile phone users have a smart phone.  That number is expected to increase to around 50% by 2013.

Now more than ever, users are looking for simple versions of their favorite websites for their phone.  They don’t want to get bogged down by all the extra bells and whistles a laptop can support, just a streamlined design that is easy to navigate on a small screen.

So how does your mobile site stack up?

If a consumer is looking for you their smart phone, are they automatically redirected to a mobile friendly version?  Or five minutes later are they still waiting for your full site to download?

It seems a little silly to make it hard for your customer to find you…but maybe that’s just me.

As a mom to two elementary-aged daughters, my time is constantly divided between work, the girls’ activities, family events, household responsibilities and everything in between. How is an online marketer supposed to garner my attention? Today’s busy mom, the person in charge of 80% of all household spending, is someone marketers need to know intimately.

So how should online marketers best approach selling to moms like me? According to a recent eMarketer interview with Laura Fortner of CafeMom, there are several key factors for moms when interacting with a brand online.

• Moms like companies who listen to the feedback they provide. This can be accomplished by offering them opportunities on your website to weigh in on your product and where it may be headed in the future.
• Moms need information at their fingertips. Give them the information they need, which they can then share on Twitter and Facebook. Moms connect on social networks to share coupon codes, offers and other vital information.
• Moms value honesty. Women want to be respected and understood by the brands they choose. The same word-of-mouth connections that allow moms to share deals also make it easy for disgruntled mothers to exploit the viral effects of the Internet if they are unhappy. Staying in touch with moms via social connections provides marketers valuable information regarding how their products are viewed by their consumers.

In order to stay connected to the mommy demographic, companies need to keep these factors in mind, while remaining up-to-date on the latest trends, technologies and communication patterns. Click here to read the full eMarketer interview.