In business, it is hard (and expensive) to keep pace with technology.

It seems that every six months there is a new product being launched by Apple that is better than the one before.  Smart phones such as the Apple iPhone and Android are being adopted at a rapid rate.  In fact, at some point in 2011, Telstra predict that 50% of the Australian mobile population will be using smartphones.

So what does all this mean for small business marketing?

It means that mobile phones will become the preferred method of accessing the internet in the future. In fact, I read recently that some technology experts predict by 2014, mobile devices will overtake desktop/laptop computers as the number one method to access the internet.  That is a worry if you are one of the 65% of Australian businesses that don’t have a website….

So how do you make your business mobile ready?  Here are a few simple tips to get you started.

1. Get yourself a website

I know, I know…this is plainly obvious but the statistics show that many businesses still don’t.  If you want to be mobile ready, get a website up and running asap.

2. Claim your local business listing on Google Places.

Everyday, I’m amazed how many businesses have not done this.  News flash – it’s free and takes about 5 minutes to set up.   If you haven’t set yours up yet, here is the link.  Another point is, the Android phone, the major competitor to the Apple  iPhone is owned by Google.  Now put two and two together and see if you can think of why you need a Google places listing…

3. Create a mobile version of your site.

With some websites, it is very easy to create a mobile version of your site.  If you have a WordPress website, it’s as simple as uploading a plugin called WP Touch.  If your website isn’t on WordPress, you should ask your web developer about creating a mobile version of your site.  Remember, most people will access it via their phone in the future so you need a mobile version of your site that is easy to read.

4. Make contact details highly visible.

In many cases, customers will look for your site to find your contact details.  Make sure they are clearly visible in the top right hand corner of your website. Don’t hide them in an internal “contact details”  page.  With mobile search, you must make sure your details are easy to find on a small handheld screen.

5. Link your office address to a Google Map

If you have a street address, often customers will use a mobile to search for your street address.  If you link your address to a Google map, this will make you easier to find.

6. Use less copy on your home page.

If your home page is very wordy, chances are  it will be difficult to read on a mobile. Make sure you use less copy and get to the point of highlighting what you do.

So there you have it.  This could be one of the most important trends affecting marketing of small businesses in the future – are you ready?

Let me know your thoughts by sharing your views below.