Google Helps Businesses Get Mobile

Google has launched GetMo, a campaign to help British businesses create mobile-friendly versions of their websites.

GetMo offers a free tool to test any website’s mobile compatibility, a report with suggestions on how to improve it, and information on mobile consumer trends. The scheme is an extension of the GoMo initiative that Google launched in the US last year.

Ready to Get Mo?

Google has been trying to get UK businesses online for a while, especially in Wales. GetMo takes things a step further, helping companies that already have online presence to get web pages adapted for smartphone use.

“Just because you can see your desktop site on a mobile phone doesn’t mean it’s mobile-friendly. Mobile sites are designed for the small screen, with the needs of mobile users in mind,” Google said. “A mobile-friendly site can help your business connect with customers and drive conversions.”

Research by Gartner suggests that by 2013, mobile phones will become a platform of choice to get online, replacing PCs. And there are more reasons to get mobile.

A report by Compuware entitled “What Users Want from Mobile” found 57 percent of customers wouldn’t recommend a business with a bad mobile site, and 40 percent have turned to a competitor’s site after a bad mobile experience. Finally, a survey by Adobe discovered that while applications are useful and fun, 81 percent of users prefer mobile sites to apps for researching prices.

The Google campaign offers a “GetMoMeter” tool for companies to see how their current website looks on a mobile phone. It also analyses the site, providing a free report with personalised recommendations tailored to how a business can build a more mobile-friendly experience.

The GetMo site also contains several guides and a list of 10 important considerations for a successful mobile website, including “Be Thumb-Friendly”, “Design for Visibility” and “Make it Local”. And in case business users decide their site does need a mobile revamp, Google has provided a list of trusted mobile developers ready to help launch a version designed for the three-inch screens.

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