Are you giving it to them?

These days, more and more people are using their phones for everyday tasks. Sure, they're posting to Facebook, following on Twitter, and slingshotting unhappy birds at little green pigs. But, they're also looking up information. Constantly.

As smart phone adoption rises, the desktop computer will continue to be replaced for basic tasks, like getting directions, finding local businesses, and deciding where to eat for lunch and dinner.

This last usage should be of particular interest to restaurateurs of all types. It used to be that the primary goal of a restaurant Website was to capture the atmosphere of the dining room experience, while offering up some basic information to possible clientele. That led to a lot of practices (such as using Flash to create fancy animations, or posting only PDF versions of menus) that do not place nice with mobile phones.

As more people use their phones to call your restaurant, look up your menu, and find out how to get to you, you need to start thinking about "mobile first." That is to say, how easy is it for potential patrons to use my Website on their phone? How easy is it for them to find out my hours of business, my address, and what I have on my menu?

Yes, there are sites like Yelp! and Urban Spoon that help faciliate this. But those should only be part of your Internet marketing strategy. To gain an edge over your competitors, and to keep new customers walking in the door, your site needs to be mobile-friendly. Make it as easy as possible for foodies to find you (and your entrees).

Want to learn more about getting your Website mobile? Get in touch and let's talk!