5 reasons why you should have a mobile responsive website.

Do you run down the hall to turn on your desktop computer to surf the internet? Of course not, because you have your mobile device right by your side. Your smartphone…tablet…iPhone…laptop.
If you've ever tried to open a website on a device that was not optimized for mobile viewing with the frustrating pinch and zooming action with your thumb and index finger, then you understand how important responsive website design is for user access on mobile devices. 

Here are 5 reasons why your company should invest in a mobile responsive website:

1. A Positive User Experience

User experience often determines how your business or brand will be judged. According to Google’s Think Insights, more than 60% of mobile users who are frustrated with navigating a website will leave immediately and most likely end up on a competitor’s website instead. On the flip side, the survey indicates that 67% of users who have a pleasant experience will buy the business’ product or sign up for a service. 

2. Mobile Phone Usage is Skyrocketing

People are always on the go and require accessing websites or content searches at the touch of a finger on a mobile device. Nearly one-fourth of all Google searches are being performed from a mobile device and more than half of all local searches are accessed on a smart phone. 

3. Saving Both Time and Money

Total development costs are usually cut significantly due to the fact that there's no need for a duplicate website template created for each mobile device. Consequently, investing in a mobile responsive website is the wisest choice in the long term for cutting maintenance costs.

4. Preferred Approach for Search Engine Optimization

Google and other popular search engines strongly prefer responsive designed websites over mobile templates. Since there is just one single URL needed for a bot to crawl the website instead of multiple, Google’s algorithm responds more efficiently.

5. Adaptability to Future Mobile Devices

Since responsive websites involve a template that's designed based on screen size rather than device, the website will display properly for that screen size regardless of the particular device being used. Your website has the ability to adapt to all technology changes. A recent study conducted by eMarketer demonstrated that nearly 40% of internet users will access websites through their mobile devices on a daily basis and that responsive websites have a higher retention rate for longer periods of time. 

Responsive design enables a website to adapt its layout to device-specific requirements. Content and layouts automatically re-size to fit the screen, images grow or shrink, copy re-flows itself.  It’s become a critical component of building strong brands, nurturing lasting customer relationships, and making mobile work for you. 
READY TO GO MOBILE? Get in touch: Lisa@EdOutWest.com

Where did my Activity Feed on my LinkedIn Profile go?

I don't know about you , but I liked having my Activity Feed on my profile page. I thought it was a useful way for anyone viewing my profile to see what I've been posting, liking, sharing.

LinkedIn has moved our activities to the Home Page. Here is their explanation:

Being able to share what you do on LinkedIn is important to us and we are working on more useful ways for you and other members to view and interact with your activity on LinkedIn from your profile. In the meantime, you can still access your own activity from the Homepage:

> Click Home in the top left of your LinkedIn homepage.

> Move your cursor over All Updates, found below the Share box and to the right.

> Select Your Updates.

You can also share updates to your network directly from the homepage, and you can have other activities broadcast to your network.

ASK for what you want!

I live by these words in both my personal & business life: "IF YOU DON'T ASK, THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS NO." 

It's easy to assume that potential customers don't want to take your call, reply to your email, or chat with you at an event.  It can be unnerving to make the first move.  BUT...
How else are we going to grow our business unless WE ASK for that meeting?  
How will we know if that sales person will give us the discount when we left our coupon at home unless WE ASK if they can?
Listen, the worst that can happen is they say no, but you don't know what they're going to say unless YOU ASK! You'll be surprised how many times they say YES!
My word of intention for 2014 is FEARLESS, what's yours?