In this constantly connected world, people use their smartphones throughout the day to find information, shop, and stay connected. We commissioned Nielsen to conduct a study of smartphone users who recently made a purchase to better understand the role of mobile in the research and shopping process. Through a combination of surveys and metered data of actual mobile consumer behavior, we uncovered five key findings:
- Consumers spend time researching on mobile: Consumers spend 15+ hours per week researching on mobile sites and apps. They visit websites 6 times on average in the purchase process.
- Mobile research begins with search: 48% of consumers start mobile shopping-related research using search engines, more than they start on branded apps or websites.
- Location proximity matters: 69% of consumers expect a business to be within 5 miles of where they’re located.
- Purchase immediacy is key: 55% of consumers want to purchase within an hour, 83% within a day.
- Mobile influences purchases across channels: Of those who made a purchase and researched on their phones, 82% purchased in-store, 45% bought online (desktop/tablet) and 17% purchased on mobile.
With smartphone penetration in the US nearly doubling year-over-year from 31% to 56%
1, it’s clear that the mobile savvy shopper is here to stay.
Key Implications
Below are ways that advertisers can use these insights to better reach the mobile consumer and drive more business:
Ensure you have a mobile-optimized site
Consumers expect a business to have a mobile-friendly website. To create a mobile-optimized experience, you’ll want to start by analyzing how your consumers currently interact with your website, what they’re looking for, where they’re visiting from, etc. These insights will provide hints for creating a mobile website that meets your consumers’ needs. For more information on building sites that are optimized for mobile and other devices,
check out these resources.
Tailor your search ads for the mobile shopper
As search is the most common starting point for mobile shopping research, it's important to have mobile ads running so you'll be there when consumers are looking for you. You can help consumers get the information they need by designing your search ads with mobile-preferred creatives, such as “Call now” or “Visit our mobile site.”
Use location extensions so consumers can find you
Location extensions allow you to attach your business address to your ads, which lets consumers know how close they are to your business and provides directions for consumers to get to your store.
Facilitate faster checkouts
Showing local in-stock inventory with
local PLAs, enabling
click to call and building fast, seamless mobile checkout experiences with tools like
Google Wallet Instant Buy are several ways advertisers can help consumers complete their purchases quickly.
Measure conversions across channels with cross-device conversion tracking
Consumers purchase across channels, often times starting their research on mobile, then buying in-store or on their computers. Advertisers can better understand how mobile ads drive purchases by using
estimated cross-device conversion to measure conversions that start from mobile research.
To explore more of the findings from the Mobile Path to Purchase research, view the full presentation at the
Think with Google site.
Posted by Bao Lam, Performance Ads Product Marketing Manager
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