The internet has expanded more than anyone could have imagined since 90s. Data is exchanged at such a fast rate that more than 2.5 quintillion bytes of information is created daily.
To help understand better, here is a quick snippet of information that is created every single minute 24 hours a day:
- 217 users join the mobile internet
- 48 hours of YouTube video is uploaded
- 204,166,667 emails are exchanged
- 2,000,000 Google searches
- 684,478 Facebook content is shared
- $272,000 spent online shopping
- 100,000 tweets
- 47,000 Apple app downloads
- 34,722 likes for brands and organizations on Facebook
- 27,778 Tumblr blog content published
- 3,600 Instagram photos shared
- 3,125 Flickr photos added
- 2,083 Foursquare check-ins
- 571 websites created
- 347 WordPress blogs posted
This list is a short list of simple everyday functions that are created every single minute, making the overall daily data transfer numbers huge. This list fails to mention the amount of data created on every social network and through websites, making it almost impossible to track the amount of data exchanged every single day.
Mobile Internet
After the release of the internet, it become apparent fast that people relied heavily on it. As seen by the amount of data created every single day, people need to the internet as a means to gather and sort information. In order to make the internet more appealing, mobile internet was created for mobile devices. When it was first created, smartphones had not yet been created and 3G and 4G/LTE was not yet in existence. This made internet accessibility less likely.
However, with the release of smartphones and later 3G and 4G/LTE, mobile internet users began to skyrocket. Statistically speaking, as stated above, around 217 users join the internet via a mobile device every minute. Daily, this number approximates to around 312,480 new mobile internet users. From December 2009 to May 2012, global internet traffic grew from 1% to 10%. In short, this means that 10% of all internet usage came from mobile users.
In a recent study done in February 2013, the number of mobile traffic increased at an exponential rate. More than 40% of all internet traffic came from mobile devices. With the steady growth of mobile internet users, Gartner states that by sometime in 2014, mobile users will surpass PC users in internet usage.
What Do These Statistics Mean For Businesses?
With the steady increase of internet traffic coming from mobile devices, it has become a necessity for businesses to create websites optimized for mobile devices. Many domains detect when a mobile device is being used over the PC and can switch from mobile optimization to the PC optimized page. Although internet speeds have steadied with 4G/LTE, it is still vital for customers to want webpages to load quicker.
In a recent study, consumers stated they preferred internet webpages to appear in 3 to 5 seconds. This study determined that consumers had this preference on both PC and on their mobile devices. Many webpages are incapable of handling those speeds even on a PC, so it has a lower expected load time on mobile devices.
The only method available to increase loading times and easier accessibility for users on their mobile devices is through mobile optimized pages. If a business does not utilize a mobile optimized page, customers are more likely to click off the page and go to another website that will provide them with the same information or services with a more convenient loading time.
Online Shoppers Need Optimised Pages
When gathering information on a webpage, users can easily zoom in and read news articles without a hassle. Many users look for specific information through a Google search, so when they find the information, it is unlikely they will browse on the website. However, for online shoppers using their mobile devices, browsing is a necessity. Clicking buttons in a shop that is not mobile optimized can be a hassle and gives users the impression that they are unwelcome to shop online unless it is through their PCs.
With more than $217,000 being spent every minute, it can only be expected that users want a good experience with online shopping. In fact, in a recent survey, three-fourths of users stated they would return back to an online shop if the mobile experience were positive and convenient. Ultimately, optimizing a webpage for a mobile device is the only proven method of giving a user a positive experience.
Mobile optimisation for online shops lessens abandonment and creates conversion by more than 900%.
The Bottom Line
Creating mobile optimised pages can only seek to benefit users long-term. Whether you are selling on eBay or selling your own products of services online, you will definately benefit from a mobile optimised page. By 2015, more than 30% of all online transactions will happen through mobile devices – lessening a business’s chance of conversion by 900% if they are incapable of adapting themselves to the current trending market.
