Facts And Figures

Research shows that mobile commerce sales will rise from about $25 billion last year to about $39 billion this year. Furthermore, by the year 2017, it's expected that mobile devices will account for 25% of all online retail sales. That's more than double the 2012 percentage.

A lot of small businesses are behind the curve when it comes to mobile, and it’s not surprising. Business owners have questions about what it means to be mobile, how to become mobile, and the time and financial investments required. But, the truth is that becoming mobile isn’t as complicated as it sounds.

Your Approach

Now, you may be asking, “what do I have to do to be 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, 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). An example of this is Verifone PAYware, a mobile payment solution that allows you to swipe a card, capture a signature and e-mail receipts from Apple, Android, or Blackberry devices.

With a little research, and the right partnerships, you can soon be offering your customers a mobile e-commerce experience that exceeds their expectations. Most importantly, you can help your business to reach new customers while also offering your loyal customers a new way to do business with you.