According to Restaurant News, a recent report finds that investing in your mobile strategy should be a priority if you own or operate a restaurant.
The report, Mobile Path To Purchase: The New Shopper Mindset, highlights a few critically important findings.
Check out the summary of tips and tidbits below.
- Number of smartphone users rivals desktop. Mobile accounts for 51% of time spent online. For restaurants 50% percent for smartphones, 46% for PCs and 4%t for tablets.
- More than half (60%) of smartphone users use their mobile device to make their purchase decision. Additionally, 42% of shoppers say mobile is the most important medium for their decision.
- People make purchase decisions on their mobile devices fast. Two-thirds of mobile consumers look to make a purchase the same day; 34% are ready to make their purchase immediately; and 30% want to eat within the hour.
- Most mobile activity takes place at the start of the purchase decision-making process. For restaurants, 51% of mobile users used their device at the start of the purchase process. 37% use in the middle and 12% at the end to contact a specific restaurant. Almost 25% use their smartphones or tablets through the entire process.
All told, a mobile strategy should involve a responsive design website to optimize the user’s experience and be compatible with different types of mobile platforms.
To increase your restaurant’s visibility on mobile search:
- Create a mobile Pay-Per-Click advertising program targeting ads about your restaurant to mobile users searching for restaurants like yours.
- Tell your customers about your mobile site and all of its tools/functionality through email, social media, postcards, digital signage, or through blogging.
- Offer opt-in mobile coupons giving users exclusive access to your coupons when they enter their email address.
- Submit to mobile search engines and directories and let them know about your mobile website. This is a free and easy step.
- Create a mobile app. Design a mobile app allowing your mobile users to manage their dining experience, such as giving them the ability to reserve a table, place an order and pay their bill.