39% of Tablet Users Purchase Physical Goods from Their Tablets

Small Business Retailers Take Notice - Tablet Users are a Growing and Willing Market for Sellers of Physical Goods

34% of American Consumers Use a Tablet

According to the June 2012 Mobile Content Study by Magid Associates, tablet use by American consumers increased from zero to 34% in just the past two years. Moreover, Magid predicts that by the end of 2013 “the tablet audiences will more than double, from 40MM in 2011 to approximately 100 million”. This is in addition to an “increase from approximately 100 million users in 2011 to 140 million users” of smartphones by the end of 2013. Another research study, this one from ABI Research, predicts that mobile-commerce will account for nearly a quarter of overall e-commerce market revenue by the end of 2017. If you are retailing physical products online and are not optimized for mobile, you’ve been warned – the clock is ticking.

Mobile-Commerce is on the Horizon, but SoMoLo is Already Here

“SoMoLo” is the new trend that urges consumers and Main Street small business owners to “Get Social, Think Mobile, Spend Local”. Why small business owners should embrace this trend is the 10% of all adults who use geosocial services (e.g. website like Foursquare) to “check-in” or share their location with friends. According to a study by Pew Internet & American Life Project geosocial services are utilized by 18% of all smartphone owners, which translates to 10% of all U.S. adults. Moreover, location-based apps (think Google Maps) are used by 74% of smartphone owners to get real-time location-based information (up from 55% in May 2011). If you own a business on Main Street USA, and you are not taking advantage of geosocial services and location-based apps and information, maybe it’s time you Get Social and Think Mobile so customers can Spend Local.

Source: Magid National Study, TechJournal, Comscore, Inc., ABI Research, Huffington Post