Mobile Taking Larger Slice of Shopping Pie

In a new study from Marin Software data shows that mobile devices are now creating more conversions than ever before. According to the study, smartphones and tablets now account for about one-third of conversions on Google (30 percent) and Facebook (35 percent).

Additionally, the data shows mobile devices are pushing more interaction from shoppers in-store, from conducting product research to downloading coupons, mobile devices and mobile applications are an increasingly important part of shopping. Mobile application developers can show you how to integrate these items into your iPhone or Android applications.

Several other interesting bits of data were found in their report, including that mobile ad conversions increased 16 percent quarter to quarter. When it comes to usage on a popular search engine like Google, mobile devices accounted for 31 percent of paid search impressions (Q3 2014) and accounted for 38 percent of the search clicks. On the social side we see mobile devices and mobile applications taking just as important of a role, with one-third of Facebook’s ad conversions taking place via mobile and mobile accounting for 63 percent of their ad clicks.

“While smartphones and tablets are being used more and more by consumers to complete purchases,” states Kimber Johnson, Managing Director, Pacific App Design. “Their real power right now exists prior to the purchase. Smartphones are in an amazing position to be able to drive purchasing as they are so important to the research and discovery process of many shoppers. Savvy businesses are preparing their mobile applications and web sites to fulfill their customers needs and shopping activities.”

In new research from Nelson it showed the most common non-purchasing activity of those surveyed, among smartphone shoppers, was using a store locator (70 percent). Close behind was checking prices at 56 percent and researching items at 54 percent. About 40 percent read reviews, 20 percent used social media to comment on a purchase and 9 percent wrote a review of a purchase.

An interesting item of note from the Nelson research was that when it comes to tablets, each of the activities was performed at least half of the time at home (many of the the  activities were performed over 80 percent of the time), clearly mobile mobile devices aren’t just for those ‘on-the-go’. Clearly tablets are not being being used for showrooming like smartphones are and mobile applications for them should reflect the usage patterns of consumers.