Paypal Predict Mobile Commerce Will Overtake Traditional ‘Bricks and Mortar Sales.
In October 2012 Paypal sent an email to all business owners emphasizing how important mobile marketing has become. It revealed the true extent of how people use 
their mobile phones to shop online.
They shared 3 official statistics proving that our behaviour is changing due to this evolving technology:
• 40% of mobile phone owners now say their phone is “the most important device for accessing the internet” – something that looked very unlikely just a couple of years ago (1).
• Alongside that, 42% of us regularly use social networks via our phones, 51% watch video clips, and 51% use our phones to read email (2).
• One in five of us use our phones to research products while watching TV (3).
Although people still use laptops and desktops, the way we are using technology is changing. Many of us now use tablets and mobile devices alongside other activities. We are more likely to purchase via mobile at weekends (4), and tablet owners tend to shop while watching TV at home (5).
Mobile commerce and a warning to traditional bricks and mortar businesses
Paypal claim that mobile commerce is predicted to grow an average 39% each year from now until 2016 (6).
The percentage of smartphone shoppers has almost doubled over the last 12 months to 23% (7). There is even speculation that mobile commerce will overtake ‘bricks and mortar’ sales. As a result, many shop owners are using mobile alongside their websites to help boost sales.
We can’t stress enough how important it is for businesses to make their sites mobile friendly. For a friendly, no pressure, free consultation, please give us a call to discuss how we can help your business. Our details are on page 3 of this magazine. Please don’t put it off. Call today.
sources:
1http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/market-data/communications-market-reports/cmr12/uk/UK5.82
2http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2012/07/18/uk-is-now-texting-more-than-talking
3http://econsultancy.com/uk/blog/10446-will-m-commerce-overtake-other-payment-options-infographic
4http://econsultancy.com/uk/blog/10446-will-m-commerce-overtake-other-payment-options-infographic
5http://www.marketingcharts.com/television/dual-screen-tablet-owners-shop-while-watching-tv-22684
6http://www.forrester.com/Mobile+Commerce+Forecast+2011+To+2016/fulltext/-/E-RES58616?docid=58616
7http://econsultancy.com/uk/blog/10435-23-of-uk-smartphone-owners-access-retail-sites-on-their-device