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Mobile Search to Overtake Desktop Searches
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
More web searches will be completed on mobile phones than on desktop computers by the year 2013 as Australians increasingly embrace smartphones, according to Google.
In December 2010, approximately 12% of Google Searches originated from mobile devices such as iPhones, Androind Phones, Blackberries, Windows Phones etc. With the rapid uptake of mobile devices, this number is expected to overtake that of desktop computers within the next 18 months.
Tony Keusgen, Google's head of technology in Australia and New Zealand, said more Aussies would soon have a smartphone than an old-style "feature phone" with basic internet access, which would help drive the surge in mobile internet use."Some time late this year or early next year, even in Australia, there will be more smartphones," he told reporters on Thursday on the sidelines of the CeBIT Australia Web Forward 2011 conference.
Within Australia, mobile internet usage has surged by 3000% in three years to December 2010.The global popularity of mobile internet usage is rising at a pace that is eight times faster than take-up of desktop internet during its infancy in the mid-1990s. (You can read more here: http://www.zdnet.com.au/phones-to-overtake-desktops-for-internet-339316103.htm)
Now would be a very good time to ensure that your website loads properly on mobile devices, and is easy to navigate. You may even begin to consider launching a dedicated mobile version of your website, for example m.yourdomain.com.au. With the smaller screens contained on mobile devices, it's also vital to ensure you are coming up within the top 2-3 search result on Google for your important keywords. Google AdWords is an ideal way to achieve top Google rankings, particularly with advanced AdWords click to call technology. When correctly programmed, this allows prospective customers who find you on Google to 'touch' a phone link directly from within Google Search results, and call right from their smartphone to discuss the products/services your business provides. If you'd like to discuss running a dedicated mobile campaign for maximum results across mobile devices, please make contact today.
Yellow Pages Banned in San Francisco
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Joel's thoughts and musings:
When was the last time you used the Yellow Pages printed directly? I struggle to remember.
Interestingly, today, San Francisco's board of supervisors voted 9-1 to ban the delivery of Yellow Pages printed directories, unless specifically requested for delivery.
"The over-distribution of telephone directories results in an unconscionable waste of natural resources, and costs the city over one million dollars every year to process through our re-use system," Melanie Nutter, director of the San Francisco Department of the Environment, said in a statement.
San Francisco joins Seattle in it's move to reduce waste created by Yellow Pages printed directories. You can read more about San Francisco's decision here: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/306893
In today's world of super-fast broadband, a plethora of internet connected devices, and technology like Google Instant to make finding local businesses super quick, it is becoming increasingly difficult to comprehend why anyone would continue using printed directories. While a small portion of the population might still use printed directories, no doubt Australian cities will soon be following the lead of San Francisco and introduce an opt in system for printed directories. With well over 90% of Australian's using Google Search, and with less and less people using printed directories every year, it may just be a good time to consider your businesses ongoing investment in advertising and ensuring that this is reaching as many prospective customers as possible, and delivering highest ROI (return on investment).
Google AdWords advertising allows businesses to directly reach prospective customers online, through high rankings within Google Search results, on all important product/service based keywords, while also offering increased flexibility allowing for daily AdWords budgets to be adjusted seasonally (e.g. when additional work is required). Professionally managed AdWords advertising campaigns also allow for a great deal of measurability, allowing focus to be directed onto keywords which are most effective at generating high quality traffic, which is most likely to generate enquiries and sales.
At the end of the day, you have to go where the people are. If at the same time your advertising dollar can produce higher ROI and allow for increased measurability, and flexibility, then that's a bonus!
Now is a good time to re-evaluate your businesses advertising mix. It's more important than ever to ensure prospective customers who are already searching for your products and services, find YOUR business. Like to chat about professionally managed Google AdWords advertising? Make contact today.
Australian .au Domain Names Hit 2 Million
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Just very recently, the number of .au Australian domain names registered hit 2 million. This is an important milestone demonstrating the fact the Australian businesses are now beginning to take the online space seriously. Despite this, a recent study by MYOB found that 65 percent of Australian businesses still don't have a website! For me, working all day every day assisting business with their online strategy (and ensuring prospective customers who are searching on Google can easily find the given business when searching for their products/services), I often have to remind myself of this fact, which I find a little hard to believe given the amount of time the average Australian spends online. An interesting figure to consider is the year-on-year growth in search volumes on Google. The number of searches being run each year increases by 26%, which is very significant, highlighting just how quickly the online space is still growing, and consumers use of the web to make purchase based decisions.
The market is changing and business owners now need to act and ensure they are not left behind:
1. Your business needs to have a website that not only provides details on the products and service provided, company info, contact details and so forth, but to connect with and ENGAGE prospective customers, presenting them with compelling reasons to choose your business over a competitor (a lot of this happens subconsciously via your websites layout, look and feel, depth of information provided etc).
2. It's nice to have a website that EXISTING customers can refer back to and lookup your details, but equally important, is reaching NEW and prospective customers who are searching on Google for all your product and service based keywords, and who are not yet familiar with your brand or may just be looking at the options they have. Where a comprehensive Google AdWords Advertising strategy really becomes powerful is in tracking which keywords are delivering top results, and which keywords are non performing, and optimising accordingly to ensure highest return-on-investment (ROI). Some of the metrics used to measure keyword performance include time on site, pages viewed, bounce rate and conversions (online enquiries, callback requests, online orders etc).
As more and more business register domains, build new websites and advertise on Google with AdWords, it's important you don't get left behind. Need some help gaining business through Google, or not sure if your current campaign is delivering highest possible ROI? What are you waiting for? Make contact with us today.
Joel Kingston
Director - Mr Search
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