Mobile Tuesday: Top 10 Mobile-Shopping Cities
Mobile Tuesday, the newest addition to the series of post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping days, is a testament to how much smartphone shopping has grown.
More than two-thirds of Americans own smartphones or other mobile devices, and the vast majority of those people use their smartphones to make purchases. That means retailers who make their products available for purchase online -- and via smartphone-friendly websites and apps -- have an advantage.
For retailers in cities where mobile shopping has taken off, that competitive edge is even more important. The list of Top 10 smartphone-shopping cities includes some of the usual suspects, but some cities may surprise you.
A study of mobile shoppers revealed the cities with the most mobile shoppers, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Without further ado, they are:
- Houston
- Seattle
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
- New York
- Atlanta
- Chicago
- Dallas/Ft. Worth
- Boston
- Philadelphia
If you're located in or near one these areas, that means a whole new way to reach customers. Even if you aren't ready to launch an app or make your website mobile-compatible, you can still do some things to attract these tech-savvy shoppers.
Mobile shopping customers aren't just buying items on their phone. They're also using their phones to find better deals. For example, almost a quarter of smartphone shoppers use their phones to access coupons.
Even if you don't have your own app, local coupons sent via email to your newsletter subscribers are one way to get mobile customers in the door. You can also team up with a coupon company like Groupon or Scout Mob to get deals to new and existing customers.
They can use their phones to redeem the coupon, and you don't have to do anything differently.
You may not have time to create a mobile-compatible store in time for Mobile Tuesday this year, but you can start preparing for next year by building a mobile-friendly website. But before you move into the area of smartphone apps, check with a web developer and an attorney.
The developer can help you build a great product, but the attorney is also important to make sure your app meets state legal requirements for security and disclosures. Not doing so could result in a serious fine for your business.
Smartphone shopping is on the rise, and it will only get more popular in the coming years. Don't get left in the dust when it comes to attracting shoppers on Mobile Tuesday, or on any other day of the year.
Related Resources:
- 7 E-Commerce Errors to Correct by Cyber Monday (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
- Customers Want to Pay with Wave of Smartphone (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
- FTC "Red Flags" Rule Live on Nov 1st: Is Your Small Biz Covered? (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)