With nearly every American owning a smartphone or tablet it’s imperative for small business owners to incorporate mobile into their company’s strategy.  The popularity of mobile devices is continuing to grow and is now being used as a primary source for consumers to gather information on products and even make purchases.  Small businesses including restaurants, retail, auto repair, liquor stores and salons can all benefit greatly from the mobile revolution.

Mobile Coupons

Many businesses have been focusing on the way they optimize customer use of mobile phones, such as with mobile credit card payment processing equipment or with branded mobile applications that request user feedback. However, one use of mobile phones is catching steam more quickly than most others: the distribution of mobile coupons.  Mobile Commerce Daily recently reported the results of a study conducted by Key Ring, finding that mobile coupon redemption has been rising at a rate of more than 5 percent year-over-year. The report stated that over 75 percent of all shoppers using mobile phones had redeemed a coupon using their phone sometime in the past year. More significantly, roughly 80 percent of respondents noted that they'd be more likely to shop at a retail location if it accepted coupons redeemed digitally at its payment processing register.

Mobile Marketing

While many companies regard mobile as a small part of their marketing strategy, these findings suggest that they should consider it a top priority - perhaps as the cornerstone of their outlet. Another recent report, published by Weve, stated that mobile devices had eclipsed televisions as the primary "screen" for younger consumers - again displaying a necessity for e-commerce companies and other retailers to list their products through branded smartphone applications and accept payments through credit card mobile processing terminals. More than 45 percent of individuals between the age of 18 and 34 cite their mobile device as their primary and most important "screen." Additionally, the same percentage of users in that demographic turn to their mobile device before anything else in order to interact with online content, showing the need for all advertising and marketing attempts to be successfully translated to smartphones and tablets.

How To Go Mobile

First, be certain that your website is optimized for mobile display. If you're in the market for a website template, make sure that you see the keyword "responsive" in the description of the template before you buy it. A responsive website means that the look of each page changes based on the device they are viewed on (laptop/desktop, tablet, or smartphone).

Also, ensure that you're able to handle e-commerce transactions via mobile devices. Here are some tips to get you started:

• Use responsive e-commerce software to process payments so customers have a cohesive experience if they are redirected to an external shopping cart or payment processing page.
• Use software that enables customers to seamlessly and securely use to their Paypal accounts. This will make it easier for customers to do mobile business with you.
• Optimize your e-commerce site so it loads quickly when accessed over mobile networks, which can be slower than home or business networks.

Once you have a mobile site for your customers to go to, you can also think about how to bring your business to your customers. For example, your company can use mobile devices as point-of-sale terminals when you're outside of your retail location (think of selling from a flea market, concert, or festival).

Quikstone Capital Solutions has been providing small business owners with merchant cash advances to stabilize and improve their companies for more than 10 years.  If you are in need of a cash to cover unexpected costs, or if you’re looking to make long overdue improvements, a merchant cash advance could be right for you.  With the ability to quickly qualify and get your money in a timely fashion, there is no more convenient option.