Importance of optimizing your e-commerce for mobile devices

With each passing year, the importance of mobile optimization becomes more evident. As smartphones and tablets become the primary web browsing devices, ignoring mobile optimization for e-commerce means losing a significant share of the market.

We created this article precisely to talk to you about the reasons why it is crucial to optimize your e-commerce for mobile devices and how it can benefit both users and online store owners.

Statistics on mobile e-commerce

“Globally, much of the growth in e-commerce is due to consumers using their mobile devices, phones and tablets to purchase goods and services. According to Market Insights from Statista, mobile e-commerce sales will reach $2.2 trillion in 2023 and now represent 60 percent of all e-commerce sales worldwide”, they commented in a Statista report in 2023, which shows the impact of mobile devices on global e-commerce.

Regarding growth projections, according to Statista, electronic sales through mobile devices are expected to increase by 62% in 2027, versus the 56% of purchases made in 2028.

Also based on figures shared by the Search Logistics portal, it is expected that by 2026 there will be 199.50 million mobile buyers in the United States, so it is imperative for companies to offer a good mobile experience for their e-commerce.

Reasons why you should optimize your e-commerce for mobile devices

Optimized user experience

One of the most critical aspects of mobile optimization is improving the user experience (UX). Mobile users have different expectations than desktop users. They want a fast, fluid, and easy-to-use experience that adapts to the screen and touch input limitations of their devices.

An ecommerce website that is not optimized for mobile devices can be difficult to navigate on a small screen, leading to a frustrating user experience. This can result in higher abandonment rates and ultimately lost sales. On the other hand, a mobile-friendly website improves user retention, increases conversions, and fosters customer loyalty.

“Leveraging the convenience of mobile devices and with the removal of more technological barriers, it is becoming increasingly important for retailers to rethink and create a delightful shopping experience for customers on mobile devices. The unfortunate truth is that simply converting a web portal into a “responsive” mobile website is not the way to meet the high expectations of customers today”, they noted in the specialized portal UX Planet.

SEO and online visibility

Optimizing for mobile devices not only benefits users, but is also essential for success in terms of SEO (search engine optimization). Search engines, such as Google, consider mobile-friendliness as an important factor in ranking websites in search results. In fact, since 2015, Google has implemented changes to its algorithm that prioritize mobile-friendly websites in mobile search results.

This means that if your website is not optimized for mobile devices, it is less likely to appear high in search results, resulting in lower visibility and web traffic. Therefore, mobile optimization not only improves the user experience, but is also crucial for increasing online visibility and attracting more organic traffic to your website.

Shopify gives a very valuable explanation of why it is important to take mobile SEO into account:

“Prioritizing mobile-first indexing has been a Google policy since 2017. This means that, as Google's algorithm "decides" which websites appear on the search engine results page (SERP), “predominantly uses the mobile version of a site's content, crawled with the smartphone agent, for indexing and ranking” indexes content and ranks it based on the mobile version of a site. This makes a mobile SEO strategy crucial for improve your overall search ranking”

Adaptation to changing consumer behavior

Optimizing for mobile devices is essential to adapt to the change in consumer behavior. More and more people are turning to their mobile devices for online shopping due to its convenience and accessibility. From searching for products to making transactions, consumers expect to be able to do it all quickly and easily from the palm of their hand.

Ignoring this trend means missing out on a huge opportunity to reach a growing customer base and capitalize on the growing mobile shopping market. By optimizing your e-commerce for mobile devices, you can meet the changing needs and expectations of consumers, allowing you to stay relevant in a competitive and constantly evolving market.

Optimizing for mobile devices is essential in today's world of e-commerce. It provides an improved user experience, improves online visibility, and allows you to adapt to changing consumer behavior. Ignoring the importance of mobile optimization can have negative consequences in terms of lost sales, lower online visibility, and an unsatisfactory user experience.

Therefore, it is essential for online store owners to prioritize mobile optimization as an integral part of their eCommerce strategy. By doing so, they will be better positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the ever-growing mobile commerce market.

Do you need to optimize your e-commerce for mobile devices? At Rootstack, we have +14 years of experience supporting companies in their digital transformation. Contact us.

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