Blog Email Sign Up

Marketing Best Practices - How and When to Use the Y-Box

Posted by: Jeff Davis - 11/26/2015

Or When Is the Best Time for The Ask...

Read More »

Digital Marketing - The Advertising Message

Posted by: Jeff Davis - 11/26/2015

In a previous article I talked about how frequency is more important than reach.  The Law of Familiarity tells us that it is important to make your brand familiar to the consumer.  The more familiar the brand is, the more likely the consumer will do business with you.

Read More »

Using Facebook Advertising To Target The Right Consumer

Posted by: Jeff Davis - 11/26/2015

Facebook is a great way to target consumers with advertisements to grow your business.  They offer an extensive targeting program based on demographics, interests and behaviors.  But first you must know who you want to target.

Read More »

Why Retargeted Marketing is Important For Every Business

Posted by: Jeff Davis - 11/26/2015

We were recently asked by a health care provider to research ideas for generating increased exposure online for their services.  In this case the client deals with the treatment of addictions.

Read More »

Facebook and The Malling of America

Posted by: Jeff Davis - 11/26/2015

With the ongoing changes to Facebook, (Facebook Throttles Back Organic Reach...) I had a flashback to "The Malling of America".  In 1985 Charles Kuralt was quoted as saying "Twenty-five years ago, they weren’t here. Today they’re everywhere. What used to be farms or woods or country crossroads have become malls."

Read More »

Average Open Rates For Email

Posted by: Jeff Davis - 11/26/2015

Email marketing will remain a significant portion of our digital marketing plans for the foreseeable future.  The reason – it works and is readily accepted by many consumers. 

Read More »

Interview With a Vampire - Actually a Digital Marketer

Posted by: Jeff Davis - 11/26/2015

Recently, I was asked to participate in an online interview conducted by Deepak Kanakaraju and published on DigitalDeepak.com.  Here is part of that interview...  

 

Read More »

Turning Mirrors Into Windows

Posted by: Jeff Davis - 11/26/2015

comScore reported in June that 60 percent of all online traffic now comes from mobile devices.

Read More »

Digital Advertising, The Magic Wand

Posted by: Jeff Davis - 11/26/2015

Digital Advertising, The Magic Wand

Read More »

Y Mobile and Why It Matters

Posted by: Jeff Davis - 11/26/2015
“The very best marketing comes from observing consumer behavior and inserting your message into their behavior.”

Recently I reviewed the Google analytics for 22 YMCA web sites to identify consumer traffic trends for 2014.  Research from eMarketer indicates that consumers continue to move their web access device of choice to mobile (smartphones and tablets).  “ Combining online and mobile devices, however, eMarketer expects US adults to spend 5 hours 46 minutes with digital media daily this year, increasing digital’s lead over television to well over 1 hour per day.  That increase is almost exclusively attributable to mobile .

I wanted to see the impact, if any, on the traffic to YMCA websites. Many businesses are now reporting that more than 50% of their site traffic is coming from mobile devices.  It makes sense, smartphones have outsold computers since the 4th quarter of 2011 .  

These analytics covered 2.1 million web sessions from January 1st to November 23rd, 2014.  

We Are Going Mobile


  • During the first six months of 2014, mobile traffic represented 46.2% of all traffic to these YMCA websites.
  • From July 1st to November 23rd, mobile traffic represented 49.4% of all traffic, an increase of 7%.  Clearly consumers are increasing their use of mobile devices to access YMCA websites.
  • Seven of the 22 web sites already generate more than 50% of their traffic from mobile devices.
  • Based on current trends, it appears that mobile traffic will account for more than 50% of all YMCA traffic by the end of the first quarter of 2015.
Does It Matter?

What does this change in traffic mean to the “average” YMCA, if anything? This analysis includes a cross section of YMCA sites: 14 traditional web sites and 8 responsive design (mobile friendly) websites.

Mobile traffic for responsive design websites increasingly represents a larger portion of total site traffic.  Mobile traffic in responsive design sites is 46.7% of all traffic versus 45.8% of non-responsive sites. When consumers have a more engaging experience, they will visit more often and stay longer.

This may be a small difference, but the real difference comes from looking at the variances in bounce rates.

 
Bounce Rates
   
January - June
Traditional
Responsive
Variance
Smartphones
53.40%
46.70%
14%
Tablets
44.70%
37.90%
18%
       
July - November 23rd
Traditional
Responsive
 
Smartphones
54.40%
47.68%
14%
Tablets
44.44%
39.57%
12%


Clearly the bounce rates are lower for responsive design sites. Responsive (mobile friendly) design leads visitors more easily to the content they are seeking.  

Your website is your digital storefront and for many member prospects it is their first impression of your organization.  Upgrading your website to responsive design (or at least offering a mobile site) is no longer an option. Consumer behavior now dictates it.
To learn how to convert your YMCA site to mobile responsive, contact your digital partners at Thrive.

Read More »

Follow Thrive

Posts by Topic

See All