Mobile Site Search

If you are considering mobile-optimized sites, don't overloook mobile site search. Shaun Ryan, CEO of SLI Systems, a provider of eCommerce site search solutions that has just launched a mobile search option, spoke with Practical Ecommerce about this, starting with the question: "Why does an ecommerce site need special mobile-optimized site search." Here's his answer, and more Q&A.

How important is this? Well, just listen to Shaun: "If you go to Amazon, you'll notice that on its mobile site, it's dominated by the search." Need we say more?

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See also the following:
"Merchant Shares Experiences with Mobile-Optimized Site"
Assessing mCommerce Performance
J.C. Penney makes a massive mobile push for the holidays
Study Shows Mcommerce Customer Experience Needs Improvement (Multichannel Merchant writes that "The E-tailing Group's First Annual Mobile Commerce Mystery Shopping Study, conducted in the third quarter, shows that merchants are doing some things right with mobile – but the overall experience needs improvement." Search and Gift-giving were major weaknesses.)
Journeys Shares Lessons Learned from Mobile Launch The highlights:

• An order-by-phone link is important in m-commerce
• mobile can be used to enhance the in-store experience
• SMS works for an immediate call-to-action
• Geo-social programs can drive store traffic
• 23% of Journeys customers own a smart phone, so for this retailer, it makes sense to have a WAP-based mobile browser instead of apps