In today’s fast-paced digital world, more and more people are turning to their smartphones and tablet devices as a primary means of accessing the Internet, and that trend is expected to surge in the foreseeable future. It has even been predicted that mobile devices will eventually surpass PCs in the role of Internet access, making the latter obsolete. For the time being, however, mobile and PC Internet usage rates are equalizing. What does this mean for businesses that have a presence on the web?

PC-optimized websites can no longer function as the sole method that businesses use to maintain their digital presence. It is vital for businesses to fully understand the differences between PC and mobile sites, so that they can take advantage of what each has to offer. Expanding to both versions allows a company to retain a competitive edge while reaching even more potential customers and clients on the market.

Traditional PC sites are optimized for the operating system of a desktop computer, which has a wired and therefore more reliable connection to the Internet. PCs have a great deal of computing power and large screens, which make them the device of choice for users who spend time looking for heavy amounts of information. Thus, PC sites generally feature more complicated and intricate layouts, in order to convey complete and detailed information. Additionally, more images can be included on PC sites without too much concern for affecting the speed of the site loading.

Mobile sites, on the other hand, are optimized for the operating system of a smartphone or tablet. These devices have smaller screens and less computing power than PCs, and they connect to mobile operator networks for Internet access. Since an unwired connection is not as efficient as a wired one, mobile devices are ideal for users who need immediate information as opposed to carrying out lengthy tasks. Mobile site layouts are more streamlined and simplified than those of a PC site and aim to express the basics. Large amounts of images are avoided, because they can result in a mobile site loading more slowly than normal.

Many people access the Internet to use search engines, besides other applications like social media. With respect to making searches, there are further differences between PC and mobile users. A PC user is more likely to carry out a narrow search focused upon specifics, whereas a mobile user probably wants a broader search for quick basics. A mobile user, for example, might be out on the town searching for any nearby open restaurant, while a PC user might be at home looking for complete menu information while planning a dinner for next week.

Despite these contrasts between mobile sites, PC sites, and their users, many businesses are still questioning “Why have both? Isn’t one enough?” With a correct understanding, however, it becomes apparent that having both is the better option. Reap the benefits of what each one has to offer, and then use them to complement each other, making up for the gaps in what each provides individually.

Businesses maintaining only one kind of site simply do not get as much traffic as they are capable of. While it is true that PC sites can be accessed from a mobile device, sites designed for PCs will not perform well on smartphones and tablets. They will most likely load improperly or too slowly, causing visitors to exit in frustration and move on to the next search result. Creating multiple mobile apps to supplement a PC site is strategy some businesses choose, but it entails a new app being created for every operating system of tablet and smartphone in existence, if the most users are to be reached. Since the number of operating systems is increasing at the rate of new devices being developed, multiple apps make for a very inefficient “solution.”

If a business does not have both a PC and a mobile site, it is merely setting itself up for competition with other business that do. Companies with a digital presence should aim to serve every kind of website visitor, and there is only one effective way to do that. For the convenience of both the business and the customer, the best solution is to maintain a responsive PC website, as well as a mobile version of it.

Responsive websites are coded in a specific way so that page elements will automatically resize themselves based upon device screen size. This helps to eliminate the horizontal scrolling visitors find so annoying and also removes the need for multiple apps, since a responsive website will function and display properly on any kind of device. For the reasons outlined earlier, mobile content must be tailored differently than PC content, which necessitates a separate version of the site; in order for both to work as efficiently as possible, they should be responsive.

Both versions of a website should have proper search engine optimization, or SEO, in order to improve ranking in search engines such as Google and Yahoo. Increased visibility in search results will encourage potential customers to visit a website, because the higher a website is ranked, the more trustworthy searchers deem it. Although enhanced SEO has no bearing on the speed of a site, other measures should be taken to ensure that PC and mobile sites load as quickly as possible, with aesthetically-pleasing layouts and designs; this will prevent visitors from quitting a site too early due to bothersome technical difficulties.

The unique aspects of mobile sites offset their minor drawbacks, and they can be used to supplement PC content because these aspects are not available on PCs. Click-to-call is a common mobile-only capability that lets a website visitor to automatically dial the number of a business by clicking or touching a phone icon on the mobile site. Location services are another feature of mobile devices that can be utilized to add interactive map content, which provides visitors with directions based on the GPS location listed for a business. QR codes can be downloaded for any page of a website, so users who prefer to use their mobile devices to complete these actions will be led to the site through the code.

Cool Life CRM assists businesses in achieving this solution with its in-system website editor, which allows for the creation of a not only a responsive PC site, but also a mobile version. With its easy-to-use, intuitive interface and a built-in section for the SEO of every page, the editor makes creating, managing, and updating both versions of a website as simple as possible.

The benefits of this solution are far-reaching. Having both a PC and a mobile site will attract more visitors who are using the web, and that directly translates into more traffic and exposure. From this augmented level of site traffic, higher conversion rates occur as more and more visitors are exposed to the worthwhile content offered on a quality site. Greater numbers of visitors-turned-customers clearly indicates more sales and profitability, as well as a slew of other advantages: more recognition, better brand awareness, and improved customer loyalty.

Although applying all this knowledge to create a traffic-driving website may require a deal of effort, it is highly important that businesses set aside the time for digital presence development projects. Tangible ROI, in the form of increased website visitation and conversion rates, is well worth it; the benefits eventually come full circle, so investing energy and resources now will help to deter profit loss later down the road. A superior content strategy is nothing without a top-notch digital presence.