Business Social Media Trend For 2013 - Creating a Mobile Device-Compatible Website

We've all been there - trying to use a smart phone or tablet to browse a website, only to find that the site is not user-friendly at all. If you're anything like me, you simply leave the site. Bam. Their loss.

 
Don't let that scenario happen to you. Your business may be terrific, your website top-notch, but if you haven't optimized your site for mobile devices yet, you may be losing valuable interactions with potential customers.

Searching for information and shopping by mobile device is not a passing fancy. In fact, it's the hottest thing since (insert generational euphemism - Example, sliced bread)! As Tech Republic reported in June of 2012, "Since 2010, mobile searches have seen a 400% increase and it is estimated that by 2013, there will be more mobile internet users than desktop users." Certainly our most recent Holiday season saw a rise in mobile shoppers.

So what's a busy business owner to do? Well, you can start by using a free tool such as Google's "Test Your Site" feature to see how your site looks when viewed on a mobile device. Doing this will let you know how potential clientele are viewing your website.

Then, when you're ready to take the plunge into mobile optimization, consider a company like bMobilized, where for $9.00/month you can get the following:

Point is, there's no reason not to embrace mobile marketing. It's here to stay, it's an expected service to customers, and it's relatively simple to get started. Good luck to you!

5 Ways Business As Usual Might Change in 2013

Want to remain competitive in 2013? Read these predictions for the coming year that could make or break your business if you don't plan accordingly.

1) Reverse outsourcing will increase
A key issue in the recent presidential elections was the unemployment rate. Well, businesses are taking notice as well as taking steps to alleviate this condition - jobs are coming back to the U.S. Even major companies such as Apple and SeaMicro have announced plans to manufacture at least some of their goods in America.

2) You need to take reputation management seriously
Social networks are a double-edged sword - they provide a wide network of communication that may be used to the advantage or the disadvantage of a business. One way to keep on top of your company's online reputation is to set up Google Alerts. These alerts are viewable via Google Reader, which is an organized feed reader of every alert you’re subscribed to. You can click between different alerts and star certain ones for bookmarking, as well as share specific alerts via Google+ or email.

 3) Adobe Flash will go the way of the Dodo bird
Flash content can bog down your site, making it difficult for those with a slow internet connection or who are using a mobile device. However, HTML5 can transmit rich content to devices without the compatibility issues that arise with Flash, which is why it will soon begin to replace Adobe Flash for animations, movies, and numerous other applications. Get in the know about HTML5, now!

4) Email is becoming obsolete
As businesses make the switch to more instantaneous communication methods with their customers - like LiveChat, which we've raved about in the past - email is slowly becoming too, well ... slow. And business-to-business dealings are more frequently being conducted through Instant Messaging, Skype calls, and Google hangouts. Adios, email!

5) R.I.P. fax machines, it's been a good run
The main reason that fax machines are still with us? We haven't figured out how to make digital signatures legit in legal and real estate transactions. That's where a brilliant solution like DocuSign comes into play - you can send, sign and save documents anywhere, on any device,  and DocuSigned documents are legally binding. Sorry fax machines, your day of reckoning has arrived.