Why Plumbers Need Mobile Websites in 2023

Time and again, data has shown an increase in mobile internet usage. Still, some plumbing websites remain optimized primarily for desktop display. Recent data from the Pew Research Center reveals that desktop/laptop ownership has fluctuated since 2012.

Based on Pew Research data, desktop/laptop ownership stands at 77%, which, while still a considerable number, is lower than the estimated 85% of smartphone owners. This disparity has coincided with an uptick in tablet ownership.

Tablet computers have risen from 19% ownership in 2012 to 53% most recently.

See the chart below:

Over the same length of time, smartphone ownership has risen from 39% to 85%. While owning a basic cellphone is not especially modern, ownership of wi-fi enabled, browser-friendly smartphones is.

Plumbing companies across the nation should note these outlandish increases of 34% (tablet) and 46% (mobile).

With 85% of U.S. adults owning a smartphone and just 77% owning a desktop or laptop computer, it marks the first time in history that more Americans own smartphones than computers.

See the smartphone chart below:

So what does this all mean for plumbing companies and their websites? Here are 3 reasons why plumbers need mobile websites in 2023:

The data has been published, and it’s hard to argue with raw statistics. Since more adults now own smartphones than desktop or laptop computers, plumbers should recalibrate most of their resources to reach consumers at their preferred medium.

Plumbing customers might search for reputable companies by a number of different mobile-oriented means. Some of the most prominent channels to consider include:

• Google Maps: GPS apps like Google Maps
• Review Apps: Review apps like Yelp, HomeAdvisor, and BBB
• Social Media Apps: Social apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn
• Web Browsers: Mobile browsers like Safari, Chrome, etc.

With so many ways to reach plumbing websites through smartphone channels, plumbers better ensure their company site is presentable. That means simple navigation with a mobile-oriented display and nothing less.

It’s also optimal to incorporate phone number links so that smartphone users can click to call straight from their mobile browser.

Finding a plumber online in 2023 is much easier than it was in 2013. The data shows that most Americans did not own smartphones 10 years ago. For this reason, they had to research plumbers on their desktop or laptop computers which entailed several steps.

Today, such actions can be performed in a fraction of the time it took only 6 years prior. Finding a plumber via smartphone is convenient for the following reasons:

• Time: It requires far less time to whip out a phone than to power on a laptop or sit down at a desktop
• Location: Smartphones double as walking GPS, and Google can personalize search results based on a user’s current location
• Opportunity: Most people have their phones with them at all times, which was not the case with laptops, and certainly not with desktops

For the average American in 2012, an 8-5 work schedule would preclude them from researching plumbers within that time frame. While some might have carried laptops along with them, the opportunity to use them would be few and far between.

Today, in 2023, smartphones are on the average American’s person at all times, including during a lunch break browsing the net. Step out for some air, and browse the net. This seismic shift in research opportunities cannot be overstated.

As recently as 2012, consumers’ options were dependent on their personal research acumen. For instance, a skilled desktop user could probably narrow their results by location, reviews, and pricing within a half hour or so.

Conversely, less proficient users would struggle to narrow their options based on reliable metrics. Today, research requires far less acumen and, perhaps more importantly, less time. Smartphones do most of the work for consumers, allowing them to make good choices quickly.

A smartphone search can narrow plumbing contractors by:

• Authority: How trusted the mobile website is by Google
• GPS Location: Exact location of the user
• Reviews: Legitimate customer reviews and aggregate star ratings

To expound on the concept of authority, Google ranks websites based on their domain authority and mobile usability. The two measures often go hand-in-hand because mobile-friendly websites earn higher-quality links, which in turn boosts domain authority.

As a result, mobile users are presented with the most authoritative options first, which are almost always companies that display mobile-optimal websites. It’s never been easier to locate a quality plumber so efficiently.

Plumbing contractors who read this page might immediately check their own website’s display on a mobile device. This action is actually very intelligent. Viewing your existing website from the perspective of a mobile user can help you determine whether or not your site is, in fact, mobile-friendly.

If it turns out that it isn’t, there are steps that can be taken to change that. Plumbing Webmasters offers website design services for plumbing companies throughout the United States. We look forward to crafting your custom website for optimal mobile display.

Our design process is comprehensive and intuitive. In designing a custom mobile site for our plumbing clients, we focus on display, navigation, and aesthetics. For instance, we optimize client logos for mobile website display and compress them to encourage faster loading time.

Google favors mobile sites that load quickly, which parallels a decrease in attention span for the modern internet user. As 2023 approaches, the demand for mobile-friendly websites is at its peak level in human history. Desktop presentations are now secondary to the new medium of plumbing consumers globally.