While out jogging this morning I was listening to the DJ’s (are they still called that?) on the radio talking about the price of gas and how to find the lowest price.  One of them said she was able to go to a web site on her new phone to find the lowest gas price in the area as she ran her errands.  While it is of obvious interest that more and more people are using their phones to search web sites for information, it also demonstrates that consumers expect information immediately and the importance of keeping your web site relevant and current.

Keeping a site current is obvious, but what about relevant to drive more traffic frequently to your site?  Here is a person that didn’t take the time to go to her computer before she left her house.  She was out driving around, needed gas, claims she pulled into a parking lot to surf the Internet on her phone (highly recommended here at Tom’s Trails), and found the cheapest gas.

People want greater flexibility than a computer tethered to a wall, and Internet surfing on phones allows for that.  So, what’s on your company’s homepage that a web surfer wants and needs while they are out and about?  What can you put there to make them think of you and surf your site from their phone?

Do a usability study on your home page to make sure your audience can find what they need and want – but do your study using a cell phone.  Evaluate your site for clutter and appearance.  Find ways to make it attractive on the computer and phone screen.  While using cell phones to surf is not commonplace yet, you have to get there before your audience is looking for it.  It’s important to stay one step ahead of the consumer.  They will try you once or twice, but if they don’t get what they need, you have lost your opportunity to get them hooked and it will be even harder to get them back.