Elvis Week has arrived, and I spent a significant amount of time this past weekend helping tourists find where to eat, shop and explore Downtown. As I did I realized something: People are no longer using paper maps. They’re using the map feature on their phone to get around. They’re also using their phone’s web browser to plan their day.
What I saw leads me to ask the following questions:
Venues that book live music: Could someone with no prior knowledge of your business or website pull up Google on their iPhone or Android phone, type in your business name, and “drill down” to what band is playing tonight in less than a minute?
Restaurants: Could someone with no prior knowledge of your business or website pull up Google on their iPhone or Android phone, type in your business name, and “drill down” to your menu and hours of operation in less than a minute? If there are multiple menus (lunch, dinner, brunch, dessert, wines, etc.), could they find the one in use right now in under a minute?
If the answer to whichever question above applies is “no,” then you might want to consider a redesign to make your website more mobile-friendly. I know that a lot of businesses simply never thought about mobile users the last time they redesigned their site 2, 3, 4 years ago. From what I saw this weekend, though, businesses whose key information is easily found on a phone enjoy a significant advantage getting foot traffic through their door. You could be leaving tourist dollars on the table if your site hasn’t kept up with the times.
In the news: Aldo’s Pizza Pies is open for lunch, starting today. I hear the place is crowded, not surprising for the first day. Going early (11ish) or late (closer to 2) might help you find a seat more quickly this week.
Once again, my hopes for Romania as the Memphis in May honored country have been dashed. For 2013 it will be Sweden. Not a bad choice.
Election statistical analysis blog FiveThirtyEight says that Mitt Romney’s VIP selection Paul Ryan is the most conservative VP candidate since 1900, on an ideological scale.
Today is turning out to be a good first day back to work, after my 5-day weekend. I’ll be at Pint Nite at the Saucer about 6. Possibly poker at Goose for the 7:30 or the 10:00 game.