Survey: SMBs Lag in Mobile-friendly Websites

By Jessica Binns, Contributing Editor
Small businesses and sole traders are lagging behind when it comes to mobile-friendly websites, according to new research on business websites. The poll of 400 self-employed professionals and small business owners – commissioned by creative software developer Serif – revealed that 74 percent have not designed a version of their website for viewing on smartphones and 86 percent for viewing on tablets such as the iPad.

With 84 percent of smartphone owners now regularly using the internet on their phones to access information, firms must adopt new and changing technology. Most are not though. Only one in ten small businesses believe it is necessary to have a mobile-ready version of their website and, worryingly, more than 40 percent do not even know how their site appears on a smartphone or tablet.

"It's essential for organizations to have a website if they want to create the right impression, engage with customers and boost business," says Gary Bates, managing director at Serif. "A branded website adds perceived professionalism, which makes it one of the most effective marketing tools, and a matching mobile-ready version adds even more credibility – essential for keeping existing customers and attracting new ones. But, many do not recognize the need to create versions compatible with different devices."

A staggering 41 percent of small businesses would ignore optimizing their website for viewing on smartphones and tablets if they thought it would be too difficult or expensive to do. Some are even further behind the times and do not have a website at all: a separate poll by Serif found that over 40 percent do not have an online presence – despite the fact most consumers make purchasing decisions on the web.

In addition to the simple drag-and-drop approach in WebPlus, users are also given the freedom to customize everything on their website. This includes the site structure, colors, page layout, graphics and text, plus interactive features such as forms, photo galleries, podcasts, YouTube videos, blogs, forums, RSS feeds and online booking. WebPlus X6 is compatible with Windows 7/Vista/XP and costs just $99.99. It is available directly from Serif and includes free 30 days hosting with sub-domain web address.

For more information on WebPlus X6, visit www.serif.com/webplus.