If you’re still planning your marketing strategy for 2017, make sure you answer a simple question, first. Are you mobile enough?

Mobile internet users have outpaced desktop users for more than two years, now and trend will only increase this year. That means more and more people will be using their smart phones and tablets to search for things that they had once relied on a computer for.

Your website and social media channels are most likely already mobile friendly, but are they mobile-centric? You should gear all a large portion of your efforts to the mobile market.

Here’s how you can tell if your site is mobile enough:

Test it.
Before you do anything else, make sure your website is responsive to mobile platforms. You want to be sure that it adjust to the size of the device it’s being viewed on—no matter what that device is. If not, you’re losing customers and negatively impacting your rank on Google. The Google search algorithm penalizes sites that provide a poor visitor experience.

Look around.
Identify mobile-centric searches in your niche or locale. If consumers are looking for an oil change, to fix a flat tire or get some other auto-related service what questions are they typing into the search engine? Anticipate what those will be. They make great keyword purchases for Google Adwords.

You’ll be in a better position to deliver a content that is based on a solution, which will get the attention of consumers. If they’re typing questions into Google or another search engine, think of ways to make your shop the answer.

Mobile Payments.
Nowadays, most of us don’t think twice handing our credit or debit cards to strangers. Think about that the next time you go through the drive through, and then extrapolate that into the wider business world. The average consumer is much more comfortable with paying for goods and services via their mobile device. Many prefer it, and some phone companies are gearing their own marketing plans toward that particular convenience.

Whether or not you think your customers will take that option, you should still provide it. Maybe the established clients at your business or shop are all old school. However, accepting mobile payments eliminates a potential barrier for new, younger customers.

Buy Buttons on social media
These buttons already exist on many social platforms, including Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube, but they’re rarely used. This is primarily due to a lack of awareness among consumers.

That may change in 2017. Just as customers are getting more and more comfortable with using their phones, they’ll increasingly see social media sites as legitimate business forms this year. That’s a good thing for you, because it gives you another avenue to attract customers, provides them an added convenience, and makes it easier to get feedback that you can spin into new marketing material.

Mobile Apps
If you own a small business and you don’t currently have a mobile app, 2017 is the year to consider getting one. Mobile apps increase engagement with your business and makes it easier for your customers to patronize your shop or schedule a service. It’s also a built-in Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) tool, providing you with consumer data and making it easier for you to attract them with seasonal specials, mobile coupons, and more. These days, mobile apps are not reserved for large companies only.

What do you think? Is your business mobile enough? Let us know in the comments!