Do You Need A .mobi Domain?
By Jacque Crook
More and more people are using mobile phones and other mobile devices, as opposed to desktop or laptop computers, to access the Internet. With this evolution, some companies have invested in .mobi domains - websites designed specifically for access by mobile devices. But what about your business? What exactly is a .mobi domain? And do you need one?
A website with a .mobi domain can more easily be accessed and viewed a mobile device. While you technically can already view most websites on a mobile device (regardless of the domain: .com, .net, .org, etc.) a properly-designed .mobi site improves the experience. The site is easier to use and navigate, can be viewed on a smaller screen and with a mobile connection. These .mobi sites will also rank better with search engine results, since the search engine will give preference to a .mobi site for those people searching from their phones.
So do you need a .mobi site? It depends on your current website and your business, and will take some research to figure out.
Try visiting your current website from a mobile device. How is the experience? Is it difficult to navigate? Are you able to see things clearly enough? If it’’s an awkward experience (and feel free to enlist friends to do the same thing) you have a few different options.
1. Maybe you don”t do anything. Look at your target audience; are a lot of them using mobile devices to access your website? How much revenue do you think you”re losing by not having a mobile-friendly site? If you”re not turning off a key demographic, you probably shouldn”t worry about it.
2. Maybe you try to improve your current site. Like was mentioned, mobile devices can already access your .com site, but maybe it’’s just a little busy or messy. Try some design changes, or have contact information prevalent so they can call you if they have questions. But keep track of the data; if the changes don”t bring greater revenue, you may want to stick with what you had before.
3. Maybe you invest in a good .mobi site. If your customers need a better experience when visiting your site on their mobile devices, and your current site is hurting your business, you should probably make the investment. Plus, this may give you an advantage on your competition when people search for your product on their phones.
Weigh the pros and cons, then make a decision about making a .mobi site. If it’’s not going to directly help build your business, there’’s likely not a pressing need to create one. But be sure to keep in touch with your customers and how they”re using technology to access your products and services. By being aware of what’’s available on the market, you”ll be able to be serve your customers.
About The Author
Jacque Crook is an experienced online makreting consultant and business owner. Learn more about effective online marketing at PMI Coaching.
