2015 was a big year for mobile.
Google searches conducted via smartphones surpassed desktop searches; Apple Pay expanded its mobile payments program while Google and Samsung launched their own; and Google changed its search algorithm to favor mobile-friendly sites in smartphone search results.
Publishing company Vertical Web Media, parent company to e-commerce news site Internet Retailer, got its hand in the mobile mix and launched a publication focused on mobile—MobileStrategies360.com. Mobile Strategies 360, launched in June, gives readers across various industries the news, analysis, opinion and strategy on how companies leverage mobile technology to better serve and communicate with customers and grow their bottom lines.
Here’s what interested readers the most on MobileStrategies360.com in these six months, as determined by the most page views, starting from No. 10:
No. 10
Shop.com talks mobile talent, why slim sites are in and its devotion to responsive design
Steve Ashley, vice president of mobile and social for Shop.com, spoke with Mobile Strategies 360 about the importance of hiring hungry mobile talent and how focusing on speed, simplicity and responsive design are paying off for the retailer.
No. 9
United Airlines has taken advantage of mobile technology this year. Growing on its already deployed enhancements—United pilots use iPads to access charts and maps, saving the airline 326,000 gallons in fuel per year—United installed beacons, which are small wireless transmitters that can sense a smartphone’s location via Bluetooth low energy, around Newark Liberty International Airport to help travelers navigate the airport. United discusses beacons and its popular suite of mobile apps in this article.
No. 8
Home Depot focuses on color with a new app
How will this paint color look on the wall? Well, there’s an app for that, thanks to Home Depot Inc. In October, Home Depot launched a new app that allows a consumer to take a picture of a room at home and test how a paint color will look on the walls.
No. 7
Target tests beacons in stores
Beacons were top of mind for readers in 2015, as this is the second article pertaining to beacon technology in the top 10 most read list. Like United, Target Corp. announced a pilot beacon program that worked with its main consumer app aimed at helping Target shoppers find deals while they are shopping in store.
No. 6
Mobile ad blocking software can mean big problems for retailers
Anything relating to Apple is bound to get some buzz. Add malfunctioning apps that block the mobile content from major retailers, and you’ll get the sixth-most read story on MobileStrategies360.com: Mobile ad blocking software can mean big problems for retailers. This article explores why new ad-blocking software released for iOS9 is not only blocking ads for retailers, but also blocking tracking tools and causing mobile sites to display improperly.
No. 5
Neiman Marcus offers a new, in-app look at its Memory Mirror
Neiman Marcus’ Fantasy Gift list features its Memory Mirror, a device that lets shoppers compare outfits side by side that they’ve already tried on and captured in a 360-degree view with the mirror’s camera and software. Shoppers could buy the device for themselves for $30,000.
No. 4
Never run out of beer with this refrigerator
Just in time for football season, Bud Light unveiled in October a web-connected refrigerator that alerts consumers on their smartphones when beer is getting low. This refrigerator, which uses Wi-Fi and an app, joins other devices in the Internet of Things, which is still a growing segment of web-connected devices.
No. 3
Capital One debuts a mobile payment method for Android
With the debut of Android Pay in 2015, plus the continual expansion of Apple Pay, financial institutions decided to join the mobile payments arms race. Capital One’s Android app now has Near Field Communication embedded in it, allowing consumers to use the app to make in-store payments via smartphones.
No. 2
Ticketmaster sings a new marketing tune
For businesses looking for a boost from their email marketing campaigns, this article can help. Ticketmaster sent interactive emails after the Video Music Awards and smashed its average open rate.
No. 1
The absolute best mobile checkout in the whole entire world
The most read story of 2015 on MobileStrategies360.com was this opinion piece by Carissa Ganelli, CEO of a mobile commerce platform LightningBuy: The absolute best mobile checkout in the whole entire world. Here, Ganelli explains why office supply retailer Staples’ slim mobile checkout system is top-notch.
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