Mobile Shopping Framework: The role of mobile devices in the shopping process

Mobile Shopping Framework: The role of mobile devices in the shopping processPublished: January 2011 | By Yahoo! and The Nielsen Company

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With the increased adoption of smartphones, faster network speed and convenience factor, mobile presents a tremendous opportunity for marketers to reach a captive, commerce-oriented audience while they are shopping. To provide a deeper understanding into this opportunity, Yahoo! commissioned a study with Nielsen to create a framework around mobile Internet shopping behavior.

We wanted to better understand:

• Mobile usage and consumption basics
• Mobile shopping penetration and activities
• Mobile impact on purchases
• Mobile advertising

To answer these questions we interviewed 8,384 U.S. residents ages 13-64 via an online quantitative survey in June 2010. 5,313 were mobile Internet users who access information related to at least one of 12 product categories. 3,071 were PC/Laptop Internet users who access information related to at least one of the 12 product categories and could not access any category Internet information on a mobile device.

Product categories:

Apparel & Accessories	Food & Beverage	Consumer Electronics
Dining	Health	Travel
Entertainment Items & Content	Home Improvement	Beauty & Personal Care
Financial Services	Mobile Digital Content	Auto & Parts

Key findings include:

1. Mobile devices are accessed frequently in stores, making them a great advertising vehicle for retailers. 9 out of 10 mobile users have accessed mobile web while at a store (see chart 1), and approximately 50% of in-store mobile web activity is related to shopping. For example, 48% of in-store mobile users take and/or send a picture of a product to a friend or family member.
   
   
   Mobile Shopping Framework: The role of mobile devices in the shopping process
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Chart 1: 9 in 10 have accessed the mobile web at a store
2. 51% of consumers indicated that they do make a purchase after doing research on their mobile device.
3. On average 16% use their mobile phones for shopping research, but interest for this in the next 12 months is extremely high at 57% among mobile Internet users and 41% among non-mobile Internet users, on average.
4. There is tremendous opportunity to reach consumers through advertising on their mobile devices. 1 in 5 mobile shoppers who have seen advertising during the shopping process say they always look at it. The key to being successful in mobile shopping advertising is to make sure the ads are informative. Consumers want mobile ads to include:
   
   
   • Price
   • Product Features
   • Benefits
5. 86% of mobile Internet users (and 92% of 13-24s) are using their mobile devices simultaneously with TV. A quarter of them say they are browsing content related to what they are watching, presenting a compelling opportunity for content providers and advertisers alike to complement the viewing experience on the mobile platform.
   
   Mobile Shopping Framework: The role of mobile devices in the shopping process
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
       Chart 2: Most mobile Internet users access the mobile Internet while watching TV
6. Mobile becomes critical for impulse, time sensitive buys and when a PC is just not available. 56% said it’s great when I am not near a PC/laptop, 45% said it’s great to research unplanned purchases and time-sensitive research, 41% use it for impulse buys.

Bottom Line:

Although mobile shopping research is still nascent, a significant number of mobile Internet users are accessing the Internet in-store, often to search for shopping information. By targeting mobile ads to these engaged users, marketers can reach a receptive audience at the time of purchase or while they are conducting product research for a future buy.

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