.mobi Do .Mobi sites have enough original content?

[etimms]

I am the first to admit this. My only running .mobi sitetrafficupdates.mobi just pulls traffic feeds. I ask myself why would someone go to my site over Yahoo. I don't have a good answer. Is it important for us to have original content? What .mobi sites have original content?

 

[whitebark]

Regardless of the extension - reams of original content is always the way to go. If there is a golden rule on the net when it comes to search engines - it is that.

 

[scandiman]

For me the first measure of content for .mobi sites is not the uniqueness but the mobile accessibility. That in itself proves to be unique in its own way. As for the data feeds the public doesn't understand that stuff. They care about presentation, accessibility, usability, branding, etc. I'm all for unique content, don't get me wrong. But often times sites fail to take care of the basics, often providing too much content for mobile users. For example, for a hotel listing, at first I want the basics. Name, location, phone number and maybe a star rating. I don't want lots of photos, user reviews, latitude and longitude, driving directions, etc at first, maybe a click down under more info. This info is all out there on thousands of website today but who is making it accessible to mobile users in a way these users want to interact with it? This I feel is the challenge and opportunity for .mobi sites today: Get existing content out there in a way that is mobile friendly. Increasingly we are seeing that the users are out there wanting and waiting for this to happen.

 

[aggieuk]

For me the first measure of content for .mobi sites is not the uniqueness but the mobile accessibility. That in itself proves to be unique in its own way. As for the data feeds the public doesn't understand that stuff. They care about presentation, accessibility, usability, branding, etc. I'm all for unique content, don't get me wrong. But often times sites fail to take care of the basics, often providing too much content for mobile users. For example, for a hotel listing, at first I want the basics. Name, location, phone number and maybe a star rating. I don't want lots of photos, user reviews, latitude and longitude, driving directions, etc at first, maybe a click down under more info. This info is all out there on thousands of website today but who is making it accessible to mobile users in a way these users want to interact with it? This I feel is the challenge and opportunity for .mobi sites today: Get existing content out there in a way that is mobile friendly. Increasingly we are seeing that the users are out there wanting and waiting for this to happen.

Here here big buddy! At the moment this is what it's all about, this is new and you must start from basic and get more complicated in time. For instance there maybe hundreds of plymouth hotels, taxi's restaurants listed on .com or .co.uk's but the big BIG difference is they can access my Plymouth.mobi with a mobile, call the number automatically without writing it down first! Whilst the .com's and co.uk's can't. Being original and groundbreaking will come later down the line IMHO

 

[-REECE-]

For me the first measure of content for .mobi sites is not the uniqueness but the mobile accessibility. That in itself proves to be unique in its own way. As for the data feeds the public doesn't understand that stuff. They care about presentation, accessibility, usability, branding, etc. I'm all for unique content, don't get me wrong. But often times sites fail to take care of the basics, often providing too much content for mobile users. For example, for a hotel listing, at first I want the basics. Name, location, phone number and maybe a star rating. I don't want lots of photos, user reviews, latitude and longitude, driving directions, etc at first, maybe a click down under more info. This info is all out there on thousands of website today but who is making it accessible to mobile users in a way these users want to interact with it? This I feel is the challenge and opportunity for .mobi sites today: Get existing content out there in a way that is mobile friendly. Increasingly we are seeing that the users are out there wanting and waiting for this to happen.

Agreed 100%. Most of the information on my antioxidant site is already available on Wikipedia -- but do mobile users want to read about the history of the apple, where it was first found, what it's name means in latin, etc, or do they just want to know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away? I'm inclined to believe the latter rather than the former.

 

[scandiman]

Agreed 100%. Most of the information on my antioxidant site is already available on Wikipedia -- but do mobile users want to read about the history of the apple, where it was first found, what it's name means in latin, etc, or do they just want to know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away? I'm inclined to believe the latter rather than the former.

Such information is worth having in a "history of apples" section or similar but when it is part of the first results then the quick answer content is completely lost in the noise. I think of briefings that offer pertinent info in a short format, all backed up by supporting information that can be offered in additional pages (which can only help SEO IMO).

 

[sags]

I think mobi is all about short, sweet and to the point.

The big financial institutions will have it right. Provide the customer with the ability to do things online that they may need to do and nothing more. Check bank balances, transfer money, check exchange rates, allow booking appointments etc. Refer people to the bank or the .com website for full mortgage applications and other complex and time consuming business.

In the same vein, insurance companies will have their branding and marketing ability challenged. I suspect few people are going to spend the 30 minutes required to input their complete personal data in order to find the lowest quote. Success will be all about how "friendly, warm and personal" the website feels to a customer. The mobi site will basically have to convince and facilitate the customer to visit the .com site or make a call.

Many, many businesses are going to use their mobi site as a "business card" type of website. It is doubtful that BMW will sell many cars from their mobi site. They can however provide information about their cars and provide addresses for dealerships etc.

Advertising is all about "eyeballs". Mobi gives companies a very inexpensive way to attract a bigger audience.

What is the cost to a company? Register or buy a domain (hopefully from one of us), spend a few dollars on development and a few hundred dollars a year for hosting. Where else could a company advertise to a world wide audience for less than an ad in a local paper?

The ultra cheap cost of a mobi site is not going to be lost on big business.

To use a baseball analogy, we are still in the first inning of the game and people are still finding their seats. We will know how the game is shaping up after a few more innings.

Regards,

Sags

 

[Traveler]

To use a baseball analogy, we are still in the first inning of the game and people are still finding their seats. We will know how the game is shaping up after a few more innings.

Heck, I don't think the national anthom has been played yet. Everyone is still in the parking lot drinking beer :hehe:

 

[DBADT2007]

I am the first to admit this. My only running .mobi sitetrafficupdates.mobi just pulls traffic feeds. I ask myself why would someone go to my site over Yahoo. I don't have a good answer. Is it important for us to have original content? What .mobi sites have original content?

Not yet, but getting there- still in the building phase. I do agree with aggieuk taking advantage of the mobile programming features does contribute uniqueness that other extensions may not have just cause their targets aren't specific to mobiles, although I am sure some are adding to their auto-detection codes (other tlds) to enhance their mobile visitors experience.

 

[quasar1138]

Not yet, but getting there- still in the building phase. I do agree with aggieuk taking advantage of the mobile programming features does contribute uniqueness that other extensions may not have just cause their targets aren't specific to mobiles, although I am sure some are adding to their auto-detection codes (other tlds) to enhance their mobile visitors experience.

There is more coming. We are still at the foundation stage but the building is coming along quite well. Give DotMobi another 18 months....then you will see a plethora of content.

 

[etimms]

I see the arguments for feeds now. It puts in front of the user exactly what they need.