I find myself getting more and more frustrated by people asking me if we can make their web site viewable on a smartphone. We’ve created over 800 web sites since 1995 and have been in the mobile web space since 2004 so we know a little something about web sites, smart phones and mobile.

If all you want to accomplish is to have your web site viewable on a smartphone, design your site without flash and you’ll hit the majority of smartphone users. But you are missing a major opportunity.

We all have read the articles about how Smartphone users are consuming more and more data every day. Texting, checking in, tweeting and updating. Got it. But what are they REALLY doing? They are using their smartphone to give and get information when they are mobile. They are using their smartphones for a reason – why did they pull them out? Give them information they WANT when they are mobile.

I recently took a flight on Southwest Airlines and noticed they had WiFi on my flight. I love their mobile app for my iPhone so I thought I’d check it out. What I got was the view someone would see if they were using a browser on a laptop.

Really? I’m on my iPhone using my browser, connecting to their WiFi network. And they give me an experience I can’t use.

Here’s my point. What if they had recognized I was on an iPhone and gave me a web site that was formatted to my iPhone? Good start.

Now what if they had given me an experience that was made for me, on my iPhone, in their plane, in the sky? What’s the weather or traffic when I land? How about letting me see my plane on its path to my destination and my arrival time? Can I get a discount on future flights if I book now?

Awesome.

Think about the experience you would want if you were at a conference, at a concert or on a cruise ship. Pull out your smartphone – what information do you want to see? Mobile behavior is all around us and we need to begin to understand this unique opportunity. Users are looking for information and using their smartphones to help them. Let’s help.

There is a huge difference between a web site that is mobile ready and one that takes advantage of mobile behavior. Mobile sites need to be created with the user experience first; what is the user looking for? Want can we provide to them to make it easier for them when they are mobile? Give the user only information that is mobile relevant.

Our experience with sports fans while they are in a venue has taught us 2 things: (1) users won’t tolerate anything that takes too much time and (2) it has to be easy to use, quick to find and readable on their smartphone. Give them only the items that they went there to find – stats, food, video. Then give them other things they can do once you have them hooked.

That’s creating a unique mobile experience.

Mike Birdsall is a pioneer in the mobile space. Back in 2003 he created the first web portal for the San Francisco Giants fans when they were at the Park. Check out FanConneX at http://www.fanconnex.com. See how Mike is helping give mobile users what they want.

Mike Birdsall is a pioneer in the mobile space. Back in 2003 he created the first web portal for the San Francisco Giants fans when they were at the Park. Check out FanConneX at http://www.fanconnex.com. See how Mike is helping give mobile users what they want.

Author Bio: Mike Birdsall is a pioneer in the mobile space. Back in 2003 he created the first web portal for the San Francisco Giants fans when they were at the Park. Check out FanConneX at http://www.fanconnex.com. See how Mike is helping give mobile users what they want.

Category: Leadership
Keywords: mobile applications, in-venue, mobile application, Fan experience, Bypass Lane, Diversified