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#ecomchat – 2012 – October 22
Storified by dan barker · Mon, Oct 22 2012 12:46:35
Right, let’s get started with #ecomchat – who is around? Do chip in if you are here & interested in #ecommerce.dan barker
Evening all and welcome to #ecomchat week2 – mobile commerce. Who is listening? Over to @danbarkerJames Gurd
More details of #ecomchat here if you’re totally lost: https://ecomchat.org/aboutdan barker
I’m in #ecomchatDan Coleman
RT @danbarker: Right, let’s get started with #ecomchat – who is around? Do chip in if you are here & interested in #ecommerce.LEON BG (RETAIL)
#EcomChat Q1: Responsive vs Separate Sites vs One-Size-Fits-All for ecommerce – what do you think are the pros & cons of each?dan barker
A1) My preference is responsive using CSS to control look, though solution should match unique needs #ecomchatJames Gurd
#ecomchat Mobile sites should usually have cut down features to suit the device limitations. So one size fits all isn’t the way to go imo.Craig Williams
.@CraigWSoftcat very interesting. That from a B2B perspective, or do you think it applies no matter what? #ecomchatdan barker
@danbarker It’s a fallacy to think responsive web design is good mobile design, but if easy to implement, I would do it.Ian Fenn
separate site: cons DNS latency during redirect, additional maintenance task, not as good social sharing. pros mobile strategy #ecomchatDan Coleman
@JamesGurd and only worthwhile if it offers a truly optimised mobile experience not a mobile set of desktop content and functions #ecomchatDan Coleman
@DanielMColeman what do you mean by ‘pros mobile strategy’? #ecomchatdan barker
@danbarker if you have the resource you can have a dedicated mobile strategy – e.g. it might be more lead gen than transactional #ecomchatDan Coleman
@DanielMColeman yes I think key challenge with separate is maintenance effort/cost #ecomchatJames Gurd
Hard to imagine a ‘one size fits all’ ecommerce site that couldn’t be better optimised on either phone or large screen? #ecomchatWeb Managers Group
+1 RT @CraigWSoftcat: #ecomchat Mobile sites should usually have cut down features to suit the (cont) https://tl.gd/jo1qb5willdymott
@danbarker if you do go with a mobile site,making the standard one quickly accessible is a must #ecomchatGaz Copeland
@StokedSEO v much agreed. Interesting to track the ‘view standard site’ clicks. Have you seen it cause issues when not? #ecomchatdan barker
@danbarker just a general annoyance for me as a user. As is tweeting out deep links only to be redirected to a mobile homepage #ecomchatGaz Copeland
@danbarker is also a big problem for many sites which auto detect and redirect to mobile #ecomchatGaz Copeland
Any good examples of ‘responsive design’ ecommerce sites to share? #ecomchatWeb Managers Group
@danbark #ecomchat NO – not if I wanted money (see https://www.coop.se as an example of 1.2Mb Mobi site)Craig Sullivan
@willdymott hi will can you give an example of feature you would cut for retail mobile site? Thanks #ecomchatJames Gurd
Zoom RT @JamesGurd: @willdymott hi will can you give an example of feature you would cut for retail mobile site? Thanks #ecomchatwilldymott
360 RT @JamesGurd: @willdymott hi will can you give an example of feature you would cut for retail mobile site? Thanks #ecomchatwilldymott
@danbarker – Only if analytics (users) & the brand approach (context) warrants it. It’s a) costly & b) adaptive web does suffice #ecomchatAlex Blaney
@StokedSEO @danbarker Good idea to implement sniffer code which gives user option before redirect. To either go to msite or full #ecomchatCraig Williams
As an aside, I’ve tested some ‘desktop’ vs ‘mobile’ sites on mobile devices & a couple of times ‘desktop’ has come out the winner. #ecomchatdan barker
@danbarker Well they are just bad mobile sites then 😉 #ecomchatCraig Williams
@CraigWSoftcat i agree with that. easy to look like a ‘mobile site’ without being any use 😉 #ecomchatdan barker
@danbarker From what perspective Dan? #ecomchatMark Bolitho
RT @leebandoni if you don’t then you’re in serious trouble, google are about to introduce penalties for poor mobile ecom design #ecomchatdan barker
@leebandoni how do you think Google will figure out whether they’re ‘poor’ or not? (+ any source links?) #ecomchatdan barker
Is anyone using sniffer code and offering people a choice, or using browser detection etc? #ecomchatJames Gurd
We use browser detection RT @JamesGurd: Is anyone using sniffer code and offering people a choice, or using browser detection etc? #ecomchatwilldymott
RT @CraigWSoftcat: Good idea to implement sniffer code which gives user option before redirect. To either go to msite or full #ecomchatJames Gurd
@CraigWSoftcat v good. or even pick one, but include an overly prominent link to the other on 1st page? #ecomchat @StokedSEOdan barker
@danbarker @CraigWSoftcat yeah, I think if the ability to switch is obvious enough then you wouldn’t need that #ecomchatGaz Copeland
The one size fits all plan isn’t really a good idea as the needs of each device user are different. #ecomchatDaniel Austin
For many I’m sure it is cost/resource vs not being in the mobile space at all that dictates the decesion #ecomchatDaniel Austin
V good point from @danieljaustin – often ‘mobile’ isn’t driven by what’s right, largely by cost/time available. #ecomchatdan barker
Example of @goodprint – mobile site is much more orientated around reordering – makes dedicated much more practical #ecomchatBen Goodwin
I think projects start wrong if the thought is ‘we just need to adapt the desktop site, job done’ #ecomchatJames Gurd
@danbarker – IMO. Start with mobile first. Then use Adaptive Web with astute break points to deliver the best ROI for your client. #ecomchatAlex Blaney
What do you consider a mobile site? Not just anything IMO, has to be specifically targeted for mobile users & user journeys. #ecomchatJames Gurd
@JamesGurd with the size of handsets, their capabilities and connection speeds now I find the idea of a "mobile site" old hat #ecomchatGaz Copeland
@danbarker @leebandoni they could give m. sites a boost when searching from a mobile. That would make me sad. Most emdots are crap #ecomchatDan Coleman
What are your customers telling you, how has your site visits via mobile/tablet changed over time.This should drive your decision #ecomchatDaniel Austin
@DanielJAustin: there is a school of thought that you should build for mobile first then reverse engineer for desktop #ecomchatPaul_Digital_Bidder
@Paul_Bidder indeed, but I just think businesses need to take a slight step back before heading into mobile head first #ecomchatDaniel Austin
@DanielJAustin @Paul_Bidder Agree. I think there are opportunities in looking at how people are wanting to use mobile differently #ecomchatDan Coleman
Anyone else have a thought there. New Google Tablet is rumoured at 2560×1600 resolution. How’s that fit with ‘responsive’? #ecomchatdan barker
@danbarker #ecomchat – not really mobile … and its 10" same as my laptop – so does it need to be responsive ?Gerry White
No doubt mobile is the future,have this in mind with any future projects, just think about the best experience for your customers #ecomchatDaniel Austin
@DanielJAustin @paulbidder yep start with the basic financial case – does traffic + growth potential justify investment? #ecomchatJames Gurd
@dergal I agree. & I think almost impossible to design a set of elements that scale nicely from 320px up to 2560. #ecomchatdan barker
Right I’m out of #ecomchat and on me bike. Will read the rest of the discussion when I get to the train. You know. Mobile ;)Dan Coleman
Right, we’re 35 minutes into #ecomchat. Let’s move on to Q2!dan barker
#EcomChat Q2: Marketing for mobile: what should people do differently to take ‘mobile’ into account in their marketing?dan barker
#ecomchat a2 keep your phone number visible when ever your call centre is openwilldymott
A2) and think how mobile interacts with offline channels like press, in store etc #ecomchat offer all relevant response mechanismsJames Gurd
#EcomChat A2. Silly eg. One of the things I do differently is measure ’email to a friend’ on mobile as a marketing outcome.dan barker
#EcomChat A2. Sometimes people won’t buy directly on smartphones, but email the product link to themselves & buy later on tablet/desktopdan barker
A2) integration opportunities with mobile/tv/radio can be greater if you think about it first … #ecomchatDaniel Austin
@DanielJAustin you mean but thought into plans and not just execute on a whim…. #ecomchatJames Gurd
@willdymott I like that. Good tip from @optimiseordie is to track clicks on your phone number on mobile too. v easy. #ecomchatdan barker
#ecomchat also 0844 numbers very easy and cheep to set up with good reportingwilldymott
@JamesGurd exactly #ecomchatDaniel Austin
SEO/PPC strategy need to be thought about in a different way for #mcommerce the intent is often different #ecomchatDaniel Austin
@danbarker bidding on mobile PPC search generally cheaper or no different? #ecomchatWeb Managers Group
@webmgrs yes – sometimes cheaper, less competition, and higher CTR. #ecomchatdan barker
#EcomChat Q3: What should you do to measure ‘mobile’ vs ‘desktop’? (& where do tablets fit?)dan barker
My key advice is approach planning for mobile campaign same as anything else – goals, audience needs, cta, ease of response etc #ecomchatJames Gurd
@danbarker – ‘Mobile First’ as an IA/UI ethos that is, as it caters for all (using the right image serving tech of course). #ecomchatAlex Blaney
#EcomChat A3: I think v important to #measure ‘mobile’ & ‘desktop / tablet’ separately.dan barker
#EcomChat A3: Little bit tougher than it should be as @googleanalytics bulks ‘mobile’ & ‘tablet’ together.dan barker
I like to create custom segments for device types, browser sizes etc in GA then use to drill down in reports – the basics #ecomchatJames Gurd
@JamesGurd rule of thumb is that tablet conversion & ATV is usually fairly close/little higher than desktop. Mobile usually lower. #ecomchatdan barker
Yes I’ve seen tablet aov higher but rel low traffic contribution for ecommerce, though good for news pages like blogs #ecomchatJames Gurd
Right – the hour is up. Big thanks everyone for chatting on #ecomchat . Do drop feedback to me or @jamesgurd .dan barker
#ecomchat will be back again next Monday at 17.30 UK, and we will write up today’s notes in the meantime at https://ecomchat.orgdan barker
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