Citrus-Lime Retail Advice: Is your online shop optimised for mobile search?

By Citrus-Lime

Everyone’s on their mobile

Let’s face facts: mobile devices dominate how consumers search for products and services.

Don’t believe us? A whopping four-fifths of online shoppers in the UK are on mobile devices, which begs the question: where are you? If you’re an independent retailer, hopefully the answer is: right there with them – on a fully mobile-optimised site.

82% of UK smartphone users rely on their phones to find local businesses, and “near me” searches in the UK have skyrocketed by 900% in just two years. No longer are customers browsing the high street to find the product they’re looking for – they’re finding you online first.

If your shop isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re definitely missing out on the majority of local searchers.

So, what is Local SEO?

Local SEO makes sure your business shows up when people nearby search for the products you sell. It helps you appear in local search results, map listings, and the options customers see when they’re ready to buy. The goal? Make sure you’re the shop they find first.

Mobile search behaviour & trends

Mobile search isn’t just convenient, it’s how people make fast decisions. When someone needs a quick answer about a product or service, they reach for their phone, search and expect instant results. If a site is slow, clunky or confusing? They don’t hang around. They hit back and pick the next option.

Retailers! Here are some quick stats for you:

  • 76% of people who search on their phone for something nearby, visit a business within just one day – 28% of those visits result in a purchase.
  • Globally, one-third of all mobile searches are location-related, e.g. “bike shop near me” style searches.
  • In the US alone, 93% of people use mobile to find businesses.
  • 53% of mobile users will abandon a site if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. Worse, 61% won’t return after a poor mobile experience, and 40% will visit a competitor instead.

What will make my website mobile-friendly?

Optimising for mobile search means ensuring your website delivers a smooth, fast experience on the smaller screens.

Key mobile-friendly factors include:

Responsive design
A responsive website layout can adapt to different screen sizes. Text, images, and buttons resize automatically for mobile – which prevents the dreaded pinch-and-zoom!

Page speed
With attention spans lower than ever, speed is paramount. Compress images and utilise browser caching to create quicker load times – which also increases your rankings with Google, as it’s a ranking factor. Let’s not forget: 3+ second loads lose over half your visitors. Ouch!

Mobile-first content
This one’s important, so we’ve got a checklist for you:

  • Keep your website simple with clear calls-to-action (like “Shop Now” or “Contact Us”).
  • Use bullet points, short sections, and ensure key details – like opening hours or store location – are easy to find without endless scrolling.
  • Buttons and links should be large enough to tap without error, and all interactive elements (like menus and forms) should work smoothly on touchscreens.
  • Avoid mobile-only issues such as broken videos or awkward pop-ups.
  • Above all, test your website on real devices. If it’s frustrating for you, it’ll be worse for your customers!

Ready to win customers on mobile? Let’s make it happen.

If all of this talk of page speed, bounce rates, and “near me” searches has your head spinning, don’t worry. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out yourself.

At Citrus-Lime, we help independent retailers like you get found online with our done-for-you Local SEO service. From mobile optimisation and Google Business Profile management to local rankings and reporting, we handle the behind-the-scenes tech so you can focus on what you do best: running your business.

Your customers are searching on their phones. We’ll make sure you’re there when they do.

Get in touch with the Success team to learn more about our Local SEO service and we’ll take care of the hard part for you.

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Photo credit: Citrus-Lime