Posted 3/15/2012
By Angie Kilbourne, AAM

ASA Web Ways

Get the Latest Show News with ASRW Ambassador

ASA members get the very latest developments for NACE and CARS 2012 in the new “ASRW Ambassador” newsletter focused on Automotive Service and Repair week. Check out the inaugural issue, available now in the ASAshop.org Communities’ Reference Library. Each month, it updates you with “insider news” as we build toward the New Orleans event Oct. 10-13 – the show designed for your specific needs. Log in to the Communities Section with your firstnamelastname (no space) as the user id and your six-digit member number as the password (found on your AutoInc. mailing label).

Web Wise: Does Your Website Measure Up to Mobile?

With your customers increasingly “on the go,” it can appear to be an endless task to stay one step ahead of them. Mobile websites are cropping up more and more within the automotive repair industry, and if you haven’t already considered it, now’s the time to evaluate how friendly your website is when working with smartphones and tablets.

First, take a look at your website using a mobile device. If you don’t have one, more than likely you know someone who does; ask to take your site for a spin. Do all your images show up properly? Can you read the text without zooming in or out? Can you easily navigate the site using your fingers?

If you didn’t answer yes to all those questions, it’s time to consider adding a mobile presence. Let’s take a look at some “dos and don’ts” that can help you design a knockout mobile website.

1. Mobile users are “on the go.” Mobile visitors need only the most important information about your business; pare down as much as possible from your full website.  Don’t fill your mobile site with staff bios and contact forms that require a large amount of typing. Do include a link to your full website; usually a text link in the footer will suffice.

Ready ... Set ... Go? Google offers an excellent tutorial on going mobile at howtogomo.com. The site includes a “GoMoMeter” to test your own website’s mobile functionality and friendliness.

2. Mobile users are “all thumbs.” Links, including buttons and other graphics, should be large enough and spaced appropriately so accidental wrong clicks are minimized. Don’t include your full website’s navigation. Do ensure the site is viewable easily on a number of devices without requiring visitors to pinch and zoom to see it clearly.

3. Mobile users are your neighbors. Take advantage of mobile technology by providing maps and directions based on their proximity to your location, as well as “click to call” phone numbers. Do place your full address, phone and email contact information prominently on every page. Finally, use your business’ branding on your mobile site to reinforce your marketing efforts. Don’t use rollovers, Flash, javascript or popup windows; they simply don’t work on some devices. Do make changes as necessary after you launch, using feedback from your mobile visitors.