Is Your Business Ready for 5G?
As the world continues to grow more technologically advanced, it’s hard to imagine that smartphones have been around for a minuscule amount of human existence. Given that many people would rather lose their wallet than phone, smartphones have become a staple of our modern world, across countries and cultures. We use it for everything from directions to shopping, social media to selfies. As the smartphone market grows, so does the need for businesses to have websites that match what consumers expect.
In the last decade, we’ve seen faster and faster mobile internet speeds, and with 5G on the horizon in many American cities, it’s expected that it will again impact the way consumers use their smartphones, even rivaling Wi-Fi speeds in some areas. 5G will continue to open up more opportunities for telemedicine, video conferencing, remote workers, and automation, which creates an enormous potential for brands. Given the impact that 5G will likely have on the world, business owners must adapt to the changing digital landscape.
Here are 3 things businesses can do today to prepare for 5G:
Check your website. Consumers today have a low tolerance for slow, outdated or confusing websites, and it can lead to higher bounce rates . Check your website for how quickly it loads, if the infrastructure is set up correctly, and most importantly, if it’s mobile-friendly. If you haven’t updated your website in awhile, it’s time to have it checked by a free website grading program (my favorite is Website Grader) . Websites have become very affordable in the last decade, and consumers often gauge how trustworthy you are simply by your site. According to this article, 57% of people won’t recommend a brand if they have a poorly designed or slow website.
Put a video on your website: In today’s marketplace, video is critical to the online consumer experience. Research has shown that consumers spend greater time on sites with video, are more likely to share the site with their community, and are far more likely to purchase your product. Although the concept of making a video can feel intimidating, even simple videos that are incredibly affordable make a significant impact to your website & brand. Google believes that 80% of the world’s internet traffic will be video by 2021, which is a truly staggering number. With 5G, consumers can stream video far easier than before, and often expect to have at least one video on your site.
Master the basics: After you’ve reviewed your website for performance and added a video, make sure that you first master the basics. Ensure that your homepage is captivating and clearly expresses your message, using images & video to explain your brand. At best, you are likely to have no more than 3 minutes for a new user to decide to engage with your brand, or go back to another web search and, ultimately, your competition. Make sure the user experience is as pleasant as possible by mastering the basics; click-to-call phone number, social media links on each page, well-laid out design and navigation, and a form fill or email for easy contact. If your site has an e-commerce function, ensure the process is streamlined, lest you lose a sale.
5G capabilities have already started in some cities, with nationwide rollout in the coming years. Is your brand ready?
