Several years ago the only criteria for a business wishing to extend its reach to the online world was a sleek website that was both easy to use and navigate. Over recent years however, the online world has changed beyond recognition. Smart phones are now the norm and mobile Internet users are widespread and growing exponentially. Internet users now require web-based information and services on the move, something that has sparked a rapid move towards mobile websites.
As neglecting this revolution plays into the hands of your competitors, it is certainly worth investing in a mobile website. At this point, however, you must make a choice, either opting for a mobile plugin or a web platform. Both options have their advantages, though your decision must take the specific requirements of your business into account as no one size fits all.
Web platform
As the most work-intensive option, deciding to go with a web platform will involve creating your new mobile website from scratch. Though similar to your traditional version, the site will be fully optimised for mobile users as it has been entirely built with the mobile visitor in mind. Despite being more costly and complicated, this option has several important advantages:
- 1. Creating a new site from start to finish means that it can be customised as you see fit, giving you the freedom that a mobile plugin cannot provide.
- 2. Using a web platform will also allow you to monitor site-related statistics carefully, which should allow you to make future modifications in order to tailor the site to your mobile users.
- 3. Branding elements can be replicated across the site, allowing you to maintain consistency and create a sense of familiarity.
- 4. Your mobile site will be accessible from smart phones and standard phones, which will mean that you are not only limited to smart phone users.
- 5. Finally, this option allows you to include a great deal of media-rich content that may enhance your site, depending on the nature of your particular business.
Mobile Plugin
A mobile plugin is the easiest and least complicated method of transforming your traditional website into a mobile-optimised site. Again, there are several advantages to this method:
- 1. Mobile plugins are both easy to install and use as they optimise your traditional site automatically without the need to modify your original website.
- 2. Plugins are cost-effective as there are no additional costs involved in their use.
- 3. A mobile plugin will also mean that your mobile site will be up and running quickly as you are not creating an entirely new site, just optimising the original one.
As previously mentioned, no one size fits all as each business differs in terms of its needs and priorities. It is however worth recalling that if you require a more sophisticated site over which you have complete control, then a web platform is probably the best option. If, however, you simply need an easy-to-read mobile site, a plugin should be enough to meet your needs.
Some businesses, like this Nigerian free classifieds website, have decided to invest in both and have a web platform together with the mobile plugin. Of course it's a matter of taste, it depends on the clients you expect to reach, the type of business you run, and of course of your particular view of what could create more profit for your particular case. Remember the type you use should be in line with the predominant type of users in your country. Check out some statistics before starting and make sure your option aims for success!
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