Loading...
February 21, 2012#

Mobile Optimised Website vs Native App

2011 saw the move to Mobile gather speed at an alarming rate. In fact Australia has the second highest smartphone penetration rate of 37% according to a Google study conducted in September 2011.

The debate however continues about mobile strategy and whether to develop a mobile optimised website or a Native App that will be available in the Apple Appstore and Android Market. Let’s first take a look at the difference between Mobile Ready Websites and Native Apps.

Mobile Ready Websites

This is a version of your website that users see when viewing your website from a mobile device. Your web developer applies a re-direct so that when someone visits your website, the correct version of the site is displayed. So, if you visit the website from your desktop you see the full version and if you visit the same website from a mobile device a mobile version of the website appears.

You’ll usually see a URL similar to mobile.yourwebsite.com or m.yourwebsite.com in the browser on your mobile device.

Users can only view your mobile website when connected to the internet. I know that sounds obvious but that is one of the differences between a mobile website and a Native App. Other differences are that a mobile optimised website is generally quicker to develop than a native App, it costs less to develop and has a better chance of being found via a Google Search.

Up until a few months ago, the one downside was that the user experience wasn’t as good in mobile sites. The onset of html5 is changing that and mobile sites are improving all the time.

Native Apps

Native Apps are the Apps that you access via the Apple Appstore or the Android Market. Apps cost more to develop and production time is longer too. Remember that you’ll need to develop the App for both Apple and Android and a tablet version doesn’t hurt either. That’s one clue as to why the costs are higher.

Native Apps look beautiful (if developed by the right team), they’re easy to use and they use the features of the phone (camera, geolocation, address book etc). They’re also really popular – Australians with smartphones have an average of 25 Apps on their device with 8 of these being paid-for Apps (source: ourmobileplanet.com)

The problem with an App is getting found. Users may need to find your website before knowing the App exists.

User are likely to use your App if they have regular digital interaction with your company. Think Skype App, Facebook App, Twitter App or even a Newspapers App. The user visits these on a regular basis, so downloading the App makes sense. It gives people quick access to a great user interface.

Native Apps also work when not connected to the internet. Unless it is a Hybrid Mobile App.

Hybrid Mobile App

This is an App that is available in the Appstore and/or Android Market but has certain features that will only display when connected to the internet. This is usually done if the App is required to link to a website’s database.

Think Facebook App – you need to be connected to the internet to use it. You can also view a Hybrid App that we developed for GenerationOne where the supporter numbers feed from the websites database, we use Google Maps that integrates with the website database as well as the Youtube API and Flickr API. The Sign Up form on the App also links to the database.

Ok, I’m getting technical but you can download the GenerationOne App for free from the Appstore or Android Market or view the iPad App to see what I mean.

Mobile Website vs Native App

Now you know the difference, the solution is a simple one. To cover all bases your mobile strategy should allow for both.

Ok, so that’s the easy (but expensive) solution. My advice would be that you HAVE to have a mobile ready website. Browsing a normal website from a mobile device is a waste of time and is a terrible user experience. Your conversion rates will drop and your bounce rates will increase without an optimised version of your site.

Make it easy for the user and they’ll spend more time on your website and will be happy to visit again and again (content dependant). If you can afford to also develop an App then we strongly recommend it. However, it really depends on your market and what the user case will be. Don’t just have an App for the sake of having it.

Can we help?

If your website isn’t mobile ready yet please get in touch. You’re missing a massive opportunity that is getting bigger by the day. We’ll help plan the user interface in conjunction with you, we design the mobile ready website, we develop it and then implement the re-direct.

We can also assist with App development and you can see a full list of our digital services here.

February 20, 2012#

Segmentation Tool for your website traffic

One of the skills we bring to our digital production offering is a background in direct marketing. Over the years the DM and advertising industry’s have figured out ways to segment their markets in all media channels to deliver the right message to the right audience at the right time.

But what about websites?

Once a website is built that seems to be it. Every page on the website looks the same for every visitor, regardless of who they are and where they are. Ok, so bigger companies will often develop microsites or landing pages for specific campaigns, but these too are the same for every visitor. Plus they’re costly and take time to create.

Introducing Highlighta

Highlighta enables website owners to create, and highlight, targeted messages to their website visitors based on their geographic location, their browsing behaviour and the website they were referred from.

It’s a tool designed for marketers, not web developers, and enables you to create and deploy targeted messages on your existing website quickly, easily and professionally.

Examples – Highlighta in action

Here are some examples of how you’ll be able to use Highlighta to improve your conversion rates on your website:

  1. Geographic Segmentation: Let’s say you sell T-shirts on your website, but it’s winter in the UK and your T-shirts are so summer. Show visitors from the UK a message about your new line of hoodies, without making changes to your website.
  2. Referral Segmentation: Let’s say your website is socially connected and you’re seeing a spike in traffic coming from Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest. Highlight a message to these visitors asking them to share your content on their social networks.
  3. PR Segmentation: Your PR company has just sent out a press release and your URL is going to appear on news sites, industry websites and blogs. Create a specific message for each visitor based on the site they were referred from.
  4. Behavioural Segmentation: Highlighta enables you to deliver more targeted messages to your website visitors based on their recent browsing behaviour. So, if your visitor likes Manga art we’ll display your latest Manga T-shirt design.
  5. New Market Segmentation: Let’s say you’re experiencing a growth in website traffic from Japan. Create and display a message, in Japanese, to traffic from Japan offering them an early adopter discount.
  6. Local Market Segmentation: Display messages to visitors from a specific state where your sales figures are particularly bad. Run A/B testing to find out what messaging works in this state and what will turn them in to clients and/or advocates.

Interested in what Highlighta will do for your website? We’re busy building it, but you can register your interest at highlighta.com

February 16, 2012#

The importance of mobile optimised websites

Is your website optimised for mobile browsing?

If it isn’t, then you’re in good company or should we say bad company. 4 out of 5 Australian websites are not optimised for browsing from smartphones, yet we’re second in the world for smartphone penetration.

A Google study done in September 2011 showed that 37% of Australians had smartphones, and considering the record sales of iPhones and Android devices over the Christmas period that figure is probably over 40% by now.

As a nation we love social networking from our mobile phones, but we’re also using our smartphones to do real estate searches, mobile banking and 25% of Australian smartphone users have made at least one purchase over the internet from their mobile device.

The research also showed that 36% of respondents said they believe their mobile internet usage would increase above their desktop internet usage in future. The way mobile is taking off in Australia and around the world these figures are likely to escalate very quickly.

Apps

The research also showed that we love Apps with Australians having an average of 25 Apps on their smartphones with 8 of these being purchased.

If you’re still not convinced that you need a mobile optimised website why not head over to Our Mobile Planet (a Google website) and look at insights into smartphone usage and mobile attitudes around the world.

Mobile Website & App development

You can view some of recent mobile website development & App development projects on our home page.

If you’d like to discuss your mobile strategy and how to get your website mobile ready we’d love to hear from you.

January 18, 2012#
ipad-app-development-sydney-genone-main

Download some of the free Apps we’ve recently developed:

January 12, 2012#

Survey for new startup in web marketing

Highlighta.com

Can you help? This survey will only take 2 minutes and you’ll find out about a great new online product that we’re building.

Take our 2 minute survey and find out more about Highlighta.

November 23, 2011#

Our Web startup is live

Our web startup curv.me went live today.

Curv.me is the modern way to resumé. It gives jobseekers the chance to develop their personal brand in a modern more personal way, giving them a better chance of making shortlists.

Curv.me can also be used to create online profiles for those not looking for a job. It gives people a free home page where they can add a biography, information like key skills, work history, experience and more, a background image, a video and link their social media profiles.

Recruiters

We’re now completing Phase 2, which is for Recruiters. Recruiters can register their interest here. Recruiters who register early will receive early access and discounts once phase 2 is live (limited to the first 2,500 signups).

Example (click on the image below to view a Curv profile)

curv.me profile example

 

November 4, 2011#

Web Startup in Private Beta

Our web startup Curv.me has just sent out the second round of invites to its Private Beta.

We will be sending out one more round of invites next week so if you would like to get in early you can still register your interest at Curv.me

As soon as testing is finished we’ll be live. Not long now!

[frame_box]
Web Startups
If you have a great idea for a web startup then we’d like to chat. Echo Communications assists with the technical development of your concept and a marketing plan to get you successfully through the launch phase of your web startup.

We’re entrepreneurs and currently have 2 web startups in production. Our blend of marketing, advertising, web development and hands-on startup experience makes us different.

If you have an idea for a new web business that is different, is well researched and well thought out and you can answer the question ‘What problem does your idea solve’ then get in touch and lets discuss your options.
[/frame_box]

October 10, 2011#

App and mobile website development Sydney

App development & Mobile-Ready Websites

The number of internet users accessing the web from tablet and mobile browsers continues to grow at an ever increasing rate.

More people access the internet from mobile phones than ever before. If your website isn’t optimised for use on a smartphone then you’re missing an opportunity.

Our web development company, Echo Websites, has recently completed a few different mobile-ready website and tablet projects. These include:

[list_icon color=black type=icon_ok]

[/list_icon]

If you already have a website and need a Mobile-Ready version, or if you are looking to design and build a new website that has cross-platform functionality, or you would like to discuss the development of an App (Android or iOS) simply contact Echo Websites or click on our Contact page.

October 8, 2011#

Curv.me Counting down to a better resume

Curv.me – the modern way to resumé

Our web startup (curv.me), that we’ve been building over the past few months, is almost ready to launch its Private Beta. As we countdown the days here’s a quick glimpse of why we think Job Seekers will love their curv.me resumé.

Recruiters, phase 2 is all about you. The second phase will be launched towards the end of 2011 … so keep watching!

Follow curv.me news in these places:

[list_icon color="black" type="icon_ok"]

[/list_icon]
[line]

If you’re quick you can still get an early invite to the Private beta by signing up at curv.me.

September 5, 2011#

PHP Developer Sydney for web startup

Echo Communications is looking for a PHP Developer in Sydney to join as a Co-Founder in a web startup. The start-up is in an advanced stage but there is still time to get in and put your mark on the business before launch.

You’ll be the ‘Tech’ brains behind the startup working with a business development co-founder, so it goes without saying that your PHP skills will be nothing short of remarkable and your overall knowledge of website development will be vast.

That doesn’t mean you need to be old or have 10 years experience! If you’re good, please get in touch.
There’s no investment required. Just your PHP development skills.

Interested? Contact Echo Communications to discuss further. Please ensure:


[list_icon color="black" type="icon_ok"]

  • You have advanced PHP skills
  • You live in Sydney, Australia
  • You’re looking to use your PHP skills in the Tech startup world

[/list_icon]
[line]

← Older Entries

Switch to our mobile site