Mobile phones have seen a tremendous growth in power and usefulness over the past 20 years. For those of us who can remember when cellphones were mounted to cars, or when a Nokia with a Snake game was the pinnacle technology, it’s easy to underestimate how useful mobile devices have become for entertainment, shopping, research, and communication (besides phone calls). Recent reports from researchers at Nielsen, INMOBI and Pew Research Center show just how important mobile devices are for consumers and vicariously, marketers. Here are eight statistics that showcase the power of mobile.
According to recent research from Nielsen, 59% of worldwide online consumers find it convenient to watch video on mobile devices.
The same study also reported that 53% of worldwide online consumers think a tablet is as good as a PC or laptop for watching video.
A recent study by INMOBI found that US mobile users spend an average of 33% of their media time per day, or 3.6 hours, on their mobile devices.
A different study from INMOBI found that native ads (which aren’t terribly effective or well liked on desktop) have found a home on mobile devices. The researchers noted that 60% of worldwide marketers who use native mobile advertising say it engages audiences better than other formats, 41% say ads have a better look and feel, and 34% say it increases brand awareness.
Mobile marketing plays a key role in how people research the products they buy, including other mobile devices. In an INMOBI report on mobiles and wearables, the researchers cited data that showed 57% of mobile device owners learned about them via mobile channels, compared to 37% for TV, 23% for desktop PCs or laptops, and 19% for print media.
On the international stage, mobile phones are surging in importance. The majority of people in Africa have mobile devices and in some countries, like South Africa, cell phone ownership is on par with the U.S at about 90% of the population, according to a recent report from Pew Research Center.
Closer to home, mobile devices have fueled a culture of constant connectivity for teens. According a study from Pew Research Center, 92% of teens report going online daily — including 24% who say they go online “almost constantly,”.
The same study also reported that nine out of ten (91%) teens go online from mobile devices at least occasionally. Among these “mobile teens,” 94% go online daily or more often.
Mobile devices are an extremely useful tool for marketers because the permeate every facet of modern life all around the globe. Business owners need to integrate mobile technology into their websites and in-store experiences in order to get the maximum benefit from these advances. People are walking around with miniature computers and now, marketers can use just about every internet marketing tactic on smartphones (and more).
Besides all these compelling statistics, there’s less than a week left before Google makes a major update to its mobile algorithms. To make sure your site is ready, read this article with more information and mobile compatibility tips.
For more information on mobile marketing in general, read this article with nine stats on why mobile friendliness matters.