Mobile-First: Strategies for Start-Ups
The advent of mobile technology presents unique opportunities for both media and businesses alike. As a recent Pew Research Center report points out, news has become omnipresent and more than 92% of Americans access their news from multiple platforms on a daily basis. Mobile is becoming an increasingly popular trend with more than 33% of cell phone owners now access news on their cell phones. Wireless news consumers have “on-the-go” access to news.
In the current media landscape, mainstream news organizations like CNN and the New York Times have developed mobile applications for new consumers. However, Geek Squad founder Robert Stephens says for those contemplating a journalism start-up, a mobile presence should first and foremost be established instead of an application that is related to an application.
Stephens said that because most users are “on-the-go” devices like smart phones and tablets will eventually be the main platform of news access. The audience is going mobile first and it’s important to not only have a mobile version but rather build from mobile first because it’s easier to convert later. Of course a mobile strategy will require effective work by a limited number of staff (in the case of most start-ups) but any mobile strategy will require a web developer who can create mobile applications.
In a mobile-first operation, design may be both a journalism function and a technology function but mostly likely it will combining both skills. Mobile applications can also be a revenue generator for a start-up organization.
Perhaps most importantly, start-up organizations need to ensure that their strategies for mobile news, and information are not only compatible with the latest iPhone, BlackBerry or Droid but also for people with more basic phones that handle only phone calls and text messages and for non-phone devices such as iPods, and the impending iPad.
Subsequently, by establishing a mobile-first strategy start-up organizations have to embrace the role of mobile technology in advertising. Even in the most recent economic downturn, mobile advertising continues to develop and flourish, according to a recent report by Mobile Marketer.
A start-up with a mobile-first strategy enables itself to not only be a self publisher, but also accessible on more than one platform. Experts say much of news consumption will be increasingly mobile based, so why not start your business there?
Filed under: Business Models, Mobile technology, Start Up | Leave a Comment
Tags: applications, BlackBerry, CNN, Geek Squad, iPad, iPhone, mobile-first, New York Times, Pew Research Center
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