In this day and age when everything is accessible using a smartphone (my 2 year old is now swiping the ipad and wanting to download apps), it is important to develop a strong and stable mobile strategy for your business. In a July 2013 survey conducted by IDG Global Solutions, 41% of people used their personal smartphone for business and 37% used their tablet. An infographic from SlickText.com says that 9 out of 10 mobile searches result in a purchase or a visit.

As we all know, smart mobile devices is apart of everyone’s daily lives. Here are some useful tips to implement a mobile strategy for your business:

Tip 1 - Develop and promote.

In this mobile age, it is important to develop the ideal mobile application where consumers can get the most out of your products and services. The right mobile app can also assist you with sales, marketing, and product development. A good tip here is to think about your potential new clients out there. What age are they and how are they searching for information?

Tip 2 - Highlight, trim, simplify.

Highlight the key features of your mobile site. Trimming down some items will help the mobile page load much faster. Mobile users tend to be impatient when web pages do not load as fast as on their home computers.

Another tip is to minimise the use of heavy graphics like JPGs and GIFs. If it is possible to avoid graphics, use text instead. When using content like videos, photos, and slideshows, it is best to use mobile-friendly ones. 

Tip 3 - Be compatible.

Do not miss out on opportunities because your mobile strategy only caters for certain mobile devices. Make sure your mobile app/site is compatible with the popular platforms, such as iOS, Android, and BlackBerry. 

Your mobile site should also automatically adapt (be responsive) to the screen size of the device your customers are using. This way, your mobile site can provide a dynamic experience to customers.

Tip 4 - Learn to optimise.

It is essential to optimise your mobile website and content to maintain visibility in mobile searches.

Another helpful method is Google Analytics. You can use it to track mobile traffic to your site, and it also shows how people use your product on each platform. 

Tip 5 - SMS, email, and social media.

There are many ways to communicate with your customers. Some of the cheapest ways is through SMS and emails. These modes can be utilised to endorse sales, offer product updates, follow up overdue payments, invite customers to events, and so much more. 

Nowadays, when almost everyone has a Facebook, Google + or a Twitter account, another effective medium to market your business is through social media. Most social media platforms have a matching mobile application, so make sure your social media posts and contents are adjustable for smaller screens. It is also important that your posts drive traffic back to your mobile site and landing pages.

We would love to hear some other tips from some of our mobile experts on SavvySME.