Making sites "mobile compatible" now seems vital

bn17311:

i must take a look at the responsive template demos online over weekend on ipad / iphone see how they look

Here, take a look at the bootstrap responsive template from gethub I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread:

http://www.promdressesforless.us/

I've been playing with it on this secondary site and can leave it up awhile.

I changed it to a right column layout, to move the product up when it is in responsive mode.

Does it appear to be workable? Note that it has Lightbox, Image Handler zoom on small photos and a size chart that opens in a new window. Do these things run in to problems?

bn17311:

on iphone i like a proper mobile template, all that zooming in on template to see the part of the page you want properly and to create an account is terrible,what's the phrase I'm looking for to describe your post.. oh yeah I remember.. USER EXPERIENCE..:laugh:

Based on my years of experience, I am expecting that in our testing that my client's customers will have the same user experience you had..

SPH:

I think I've also come to a decision: wait it out for awhile longer with just the standard desktop template. And I've also decided on which one, a Picaflor Azul template I've been working on and like the best. And it is the easiest to "change", with just the header and footer pic being changed making a dramatic difference in the site look. Yet the code and everything will be the same to Google.And it will LOOK good on a mobile device.. I love Anne's templates, but unfortunately they are not mobile friendly.. The javascript menus used in most of her templates do not play nicely on touchscreen mobile devices.. Test this out for yourself.. try figuring out how to get the menus onHover event to function EASILY on a touchscreen mobile device..

Hello everyone,

I missed this discussion so apologies for only now contributing.

@SchoolBoy- You hit the nail on the head by saying "My feeling is that eComm site owners who are "serious" about online selling must embrace these developments sooner rather than later. The pace of change is rapid, and a small investment made now may mean the survival of your business down the line."

I was actually at a conference just last week in Dublin ( http://digitalmarketinginstitute.ie/membership/mission-possible-annual-digital-conference ) where Peter McAvoy, from Google, couldn't stress enough that due to the spike in mobile device usage that all online businesses need to be adopting mobile Commerce (mCommerce). For those eCommerce stores that remain as is (PC/Laptop only) will quickly fall behind both on the search engines and user acknowledgment. To back this up, at the event Google also made the announcement that doing forward all AdWord placement will be Multi Device as standard rather than mobile Vs Non-mobile.

He also shared this prediction for 2013:

"I predict that 2013 will be the year of the multi device user, with consumers moving seamlessly between Smartphone, Tablet and Destop/Laptop (as well as seeing devices like fitbit, smart watches and wearable computing like Glass start to appear) depending on context and intent. Marketers start realizing how consumer purchase habits are changing and adjust their marketing strategies & attribution models accordingly and 4G rollout in Ireland leads to a significant increase in Mobile Usage and content sharing. We will still not have any self-flying cars though, I'll hold out for them in 2014.

So do you need to adopt it? Well of course, have you ever tried visiting, browsing and more so buying on your own website using a mobile phone device! Without mCommerce it can be a real hassle.

And when was the last time you looked at your Google Analytics to check how many visitors are arriving to your site using a Mobile device (and definition of Type)? I guarantee on a timeline view you will see big increases.
I find it very useful to use a GA Dashboard that provides a [PC/Laptop] Vs [Mobile/Tablet] view of a Zen Cart sites (Unique Visits | Orders | Transaction Value | Device etc).

If you are interested I'll aim to add it to my blog so you can use it yourself.
Now, our first v1 mCommerce module was launched back in 2010, and in 2011 came our V2. We’re now deploying a v3 which aligns with the latest jQuery mobile technology and this has been possible be working closely with really good developer’s who are keeping up with trend based on our GA reporting.

It's certainly not priced at 1500, in fact it's a lot less than that and includes full installation/support.
We did have a number of discussions whether or not to release a copy onto the ZC mods for all to use, as we released new version, but due to the rapid enhancements in jQuery mobile technologies those that we would provide would quickly become out of date and not benefit anyone.

Kind regards

Jamie
Owner of JSWeb.co.uk

TIP:

As we do more and more with mobile commerce, we find this user agent switcher very very useful. It makes it SO much easier for checking edits than fiddling about on the phone itself.

Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/user-agent-switcher/
Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/user-agent-switcher-for-c/djflhoibgkdhkhhcedjiklpkjnoahfmg

Updated list of agents:http://techpatterns.com/forums/about304.html

Jamie

Thanks so much for coming in to the discussion. I for one respect and value your input in these subjects, and also appreciate the complex challenges involved in developing a multi-device template for zencart.

I have all but given up on my own (feeble) attempts at this after spending a huge amount of time at it, and believe that a couple of hundred quid for a competent template is actually good value for money.

How interesting to see Google's Peter McAvoy articulating the trend and how Google intends to address it...

Given that Google likes to deliver search results that BEST MEET the searcher's expectations, do you see a scenario where Google "favours" mult-device-compatible sites with higher SERPS?

In other words... if my site reads well on all devices, will Google rank me more highly than a competitor whose site is not multi-device enabled (given that all else is equal)?

JSWeb:

To back this up, at the event Google also made the announcement that doing forward all AdWord placement will be Multi Device as standard rather than mobile Vs Non-mobile.

He also shared this prediction for 2013:

"I predict that 2013 will be the year of the multi device user, with consumers moving seamlessly between Smartphone, Tablet and Destop/Laptop (as well as seeing devices like fitbit, smart watches and wearable computing like Glass start to appear) depending on context and intent.

Thank you for the information.

Will the new Responsive templates qualify as mCommerce capable for Google?

Is there a demo or example of how product attributes appear in the mobile and/or responsive templates?

I may have missed it but I don't remember any of the examples that I've seen portraying any use of attributes and their selection in the templates.

Radio button selection attributes?
Pull down selection attributes?
etc. ?

SPH:

Thank you for the information.

Will the new Responsive templates qualify as mCommerce capable for Google?
Responsive = Mobile capable.. that's the point of responsive design..

There are two options shopowners can consider:

1. Responsive template (one template which "adjusts" to the device)
2. A mobile enabled template along with a desktop template. The desktop template is served to desktop devices and a mobile template is served up to a mobile device.

RixStix:

Is there a demo or example of how product attributes appear in the mobile and/or responsive templates?

I may have missed it but I don't remember any of the examples that I've seen portraying any use of attributes and their selection in the templates.

Radio button selection attributes?
Pull down selection attributes?
etc. ?

i use the mobile template, i have a self modified version of sba installed, so some attributes have a stock and some dont,

example here.

http://www.onyourbike.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_65&products_id=1340

if you want to see a particular scenario with attributes let me know and ill change the above test product to suit,

i am also playing with the template sph talked about and about to update it with sba to see how it works, the basic template does seem to display quite well on iphone, ipad, and nexus 7

bn

schoolboy:

Given that Google likes to deliver search results that BEST MEET the searcher's expectations, do you see a scenario where Google "favours" mult-device-compatible sites with higher SERPS?

In other words... if my site reads well on all devices, will Google rank me more highly than a competitor whose site is not multi-device enabled (given that all else is equal)?

Yes and if I was a betting man, I would back that. After all Google wants to deliver fantastic results that their users respect (and device is going to be a big decision maker). If they didn't then people wouldn't use Google and advertisers wouldn't be paying them to keeping their huge business engine running ;)

When I was chatting with a number online teams, from both new start-ups to some very large corps, they all seem to agree that Responsive Web Design is the way to go.

A nice example of RWD is skinny ties read more at http://www.gravitydept.com/blog/skinny-ties-and-responsive-ecommerce/

While I totally agree, IMHO aiming for a RWD template would incur a complete new project for many customers (at a cost outside of most peoples budget) so opting for the standard + mcommerce module is a quick win.

JSWeb:

While I totally agree, IMHO aiming for a RWD template would incur a complete new project for many customers (at a cost outside of most peoples budget) so opting for the standard + mcommerce module is a quick win.standard + mcommerce module will be the direction my clients who move forward with mobile will go with.. Partially because of cost, and partially because some are REALLY attached to their desktop templates.. Changing mindsets to see how RWD would be a good way to go is a hard sell for small businesses for a LOT of reasons.. (and YES I know not all of them are GOOD reasons)

RixStix:

Is there a demo or example of how product attributes appear in the mobile and/or responsive templates?

Check out http://www.jstjodie.co.uk (Jodie Marsh website) which uses standard and mCommerce.

Guys, I mentioned the benefits of using GA to help better understand your site visitors (Visits, Transactions, Conversions by users device type)

So assuming you have your Google Analytic setup correctly, this dashboard will provide you with two columns; the left represents Laptops/Desktop PCs user and the right hand column Smartphones/Tablets (mCommerce) visitors.

View this image and if the Product Review is close to the cost of the mCommerce module or RWD redesign then you're onto a winnder!

Download here: https://www.google.com/analytics/web/permalink?uid=t1Ja5JXKTM2cbcqzkTjPMg

Now, I'm sure it will make sense, but if you need step by step instructions on how to setup or advice on the above then pop over to our support blog https://support.jsweb.co.uk/index.php/default_import/News/NewsItem/View/58/the-jsweb-digest---lastest-news-feb-2013

Talking about the growing need/benefit of responsiveness online behavior I find myself in the house on a laptop, my wife using an iPad (no doubt buying something!) and my son on my iPhone... Sheessh!

Have a great evening.

Guys, I mentioned the benefits of using GA to help better understand your site visitors (Visits, Transactions, Conversions by users device type)

So assuming you have your Google Analytic setup correctly, this dashboard will provide you with two columns; the left represents Laptops/Desktop PCs user and the right hand column Smartphones/Tablets (mCommerce) visitors.

WOW. What an eye-opener.

Thanks Jamie.

JSWeb:

Guys, I mentioned the benefits of using GA to help better understand your site visitors (Visits, Transactions, Conversions by users device type)

So assuming you have your Google Analytic setup correctly, this dashboard will provide you with two columns; the left represents Laptops/Desktop PCs user and the right hand column Smartphones/Tablets (mCommerce) visitors.

View this image and if the Product Review is close to the cost of the mCommerce module or RWD redesign then you're onto a winnder!

Download here: https://www.google.com/analytics/web/permalink?uid=t1Ja5JXKTM2cbcqzkTjPMg

Now, I'm sure it will make sense, but if you need step by step instructions on how to setup or advice on the above then pop over to our support blog https://support.jsweb.co.uk/index.php/default_import/News/NewsItem/View/58/the-jsweb-digest---lastest-news-feb-2013

Talking about the growing need/benefit of responsiveness online behavior I find myself in the house on a laptop, my wife using an iPad (no doubt buying something!) and my son on my iPhone... Sheessh!

Have a great evening.
Great information.. Thanks for contributing..

Hope your wife is buying something good.. LOL

DivaVocals:

... some are REALLY attached to their desktop templates.. Changing mindsets to see how RWD would be a good way to go is a hard sell for small businesses for a LOT of reasons...

These people are generally not worth bothering too much about - they are not really "good business-people" and have a "mom-n-pop-store" approach to trading. They are more interested in the prettiness of their site rather than why people are really coming there.

If a client insists on embedding unnecessary designs and complex features into their site, I usually part company with them. Today, (despite what some people still believe) the cosmetics of the site are very secondary to the ease of use and functionality. People do not come to shopping sites to marvel at your flash header...

In early December, a long-standing client approached me and asked me to "do something to increase sales".

It had been a while since I had seen the site (I have developed over 300 over the years, so regularly visiting all of them would be challenging!) but I saw that she had invoked almost all the sideboxes, and built banners for advertising, and had image sliders... The home page looked like a pinball machine on steroids...

We simplified the header logo and reduces it to 30% of its original size, removed "shopping cart in header, login, search (moved search to under the header) an generally simplified the whole look and feel. A complex background image was removed and a neutral color replaced it - this made the product images stand out really nicely.

I removed practically all of the "unnecessary" elements, bringing the focus back to the core product. I re-wrote the product descriptions and simplified the purchase process.

FAR fewer graphics on the site - but those that remain are of top-quality and showcase PRODUCTS.

Net result, sales up by 22% in January, 28% in February (year-on-year).

I implemented the Dashboard as per Jamie's instructions and right away did a Year-on-Year comparison for one of our clients' sites:

Compared to the SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, visitors to this site using mobile devices increased from 896 to 4,665 .

That's more than a FIVE HUNDRED PERCENT increase.

And as you can see, a year ago accounted for 17% of visits - now about 40%.

DivaVocals:

Responsive = Mobile capable.. that's the point of responsive design..

Thanks. Yes, I already understood that. I was just wondering how Google knows it's a Responsive template to possibly give it favored mCommerce status. I'll just take it that Google does recognize the RWD.

schoolboy:

These people are generally not worth bothering too much about - they are not really "good business-people" and have a "mom-n-pop-store" approach to trading. They are more interested in the prettiness of their site rather than why people are really coming there.
Well this certainly doesn't describe EVERYONE, but yes.. IN GENERAL this is an indicator of the mom-n-pop mentality..

However, the client I am currently working with on his mobile strategy (I'm working on all the others as well) is far from mom-n-pop and he is an excellent business man as his sales would indicate.. So we'll have to agree to disagree on this point..:smile:

There's nothing FANCY about my client's current site.. He keeps it simple, and it's been a GOOD strategy for him.. He simply doesn't want to change his desktop template right now if he doesn't HAVE to.. However he recognizes the importance of a mobile solution for his business.. So for this site we will be going with a mobile template to make his site mobile enabled. (probably the one from Ultimate Zen Cart)