As a media professional, I am very well aware that an
organization’s success is contingent on its willingness to change with the
times…especially in the rapidly evolving digital age. Exponential volumes of consumers are placing
greater dependency on mobile devices and internet resources for various purposes…
shopping, entertainment, catching up on current events, fact finding, job
hunting, socializing, photo sharing… you name it. The digital age is offering modern
conveniences that consumers expect their service providers to deliver. Organizations
that are indifferent to the digital revolution, are surviving on borrowed
time. They risk being abandoned by loyal
audiences / consumers, who will flock to the competitor that can deliver on
conventional computers, SMART PHONES and TABLETS alike.
Switching gears…As a photographer, I was very eager to
develop a website that featured my work. Like many other photographers, I immediately
gravitated to a flash enabled website that offered the most graphically
appealing solution, with animated features, that would surely attract the
masses. I was convinced that I
had the perfect vehicle for showcasing my portfolio and promoting my
brand. Why??? Because this website was “cutting edge”, it
looked professional, it was easy to navigate and it was a great representation
of my brand. In truth, such aesthetics
were trivial and not enough to effectively reach the masses, promote my brand or
maintain a presence in the digital arena.
Reality hit when it became clear that this beautifully designed site
could only be accessed on desktops and laptops.
It could not be accessed on the mobile phones or tablets, that possessed a tight hold on an increasing volume of consumers.
Translation… People who relied on mobile devices for
everything would not to see my site.
Consumers who were accustomed to immediate conveniences were not wasting
their time trying to figure out why they couldn’t access the site. As a result, they were likely moving on, in
hopes of finding another photography website that was mobile-friendly / easily
accessible.
Lesson learned…Repeated attempts to engage a growing
population of mobile dependent audiences and drive them to my flash site were
futile. I recognized the necessity of
changing coarse and severing ties with the non-mobile friendly flash platform
that so many photographers embraced. It
was time for me to take the logical step of practicing what I preached in my
media profession -- change with the times, in order to meet the needs of
consumers.
As much as I loved my flash site, I had to replace it with a
mobile-friendly HTML site that was accessible to everyone, on every digital
device…especially smart phones and tablets.
Adapting to mobile devices won’t be the last challenge to be
presented to service providers. As the digital
world continues to make advances, consumer demand will keep evolving and
organizations will continue to face new trials.
A few simple solutions for managing such challenges include remaining
vigilant of digital trends, staying attuned to consumer behavior and adapting
to changes that will meet the needs of your audience.
Quick and final note… establishing and
maintaining a presence on social media platforms is also a major “plus” for
organizations that want to remain competitive in the digital age.
