Is mobile website development right for your business?  If they're thinking about it at all, people holding business purse strings are asking themselves, "should we invest in mobile website development, or is it a waste of time and money?"  

Researchers and mobile experts say the answer to the question is "you should definitely invest in a mobile website, and you should have done it yesterday."

There are two factors leading to the importance of a mobile website for your business.  

First, the increasing prevelence of smartphones and other internet-capable mobile devices.  Nielson reported in December of 2010 that 31% of US cellphone owners use an internet-capable smart phone, and by the end of 2011, smartphone users are expected to become the majority.

The second factor is the increased competition between businesses due to buyers price shopping with their mobile phones -- while in your place of business!  That's right.  If you have a product for sale, the chances are your customers have compared your prices to those of your competitors, using their phones to do so.

If your website is old and outdated, and if your website doesn't offer a mobile-friendly version that formats itself to the smart phone screen, you're missing possible sales because your potential customers can't find you when they're on the go.

If you aren't convinced, consider this: a recent poll by Adobe Scene7 found that 62% of US smartphone owners made purchases with them in 2010.  If that trend continues, then over 30 million US smart phone users will be pricing and buying products and services with their phones this year.

More over, in 2010, Morgan Stanley predicted that smartphones would outsell PC computers in 2012.  At the current rate of sales to date, the date has been moved up to this year.

The takeaway: by the end of 2011, over half of all cell phone owners in the US will be using a smartphone, and will have the ability to search for your business while they're in your competitor's store.  If you don't have a mobile website, you'll miss those opportunities.  

The kicker: even though you and your competition both have read most of these stats before, statistics say that if you're a one-office professional or small business owner, odds are good neither you nor your closest competition have a mobile website.  For now.

Sooner than later, mobile commerce will have such an important role in business that no one will be able to ignore it any more.  Businesses that don't have a mobile website will have to scramble to catch up with already-mobile competitors who were early adopters of the new technology.

Are you ready to join the mobile commerce web revolution?

Like with its big brother, e-commerce, just building a mobile website isn't enough.  You have to have a purpose to the site, and there are certain goals for mobile sites that work better than others.  

Don't hesitate.  KnoxvilleBusiness.com is offering a free consultancy to Knoxville-area businesses seeking help with creating a mobile strategy for your company.