Mobile commerce is expected to make up nearly half of all ecommerce by 2018.

Let that sink in for a minute. And then consider the number of stores that do not have any sort of mobile-optimized presence, let alone a high-quality mobile app and website. Perhaps you are one of these individuals? If so, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, your customers may not forgive you for it.

Recent trends indicate that customers are becoming way more discerning about their mobile experiences. For instance, a recent Kissmetrics survey showed that even a one second delay in mobile page load times can result in a 7% decrease in conversions. That same report goes on to indicate that 40% of customers will leave a mobile site if the page doesn’t load in three seconds flat.

If you are an ecommerce merchant, take a moment and load up your site. How long does it take to load? Remember, if it takes over three seconds you are losing nearly half of your potential customers right then and there.

Here’s the good news…there’s no reason to be freaked out! Well, if you don’t take any action I guess there is, but I digress. Just to get your started, realize that most modern ecommerce platforms enable you to check one box on your dashboard to get your mobile site. that is about as simple as it gets, folks, but it is a big step towards making sure your mobile audience continues to love you.

The next step? Get your mobile app. That’s because there are so many native features that allow you to engage with mobile customers that are outright unavailable without an app. There’s also the fact that even low-ball estimates indicate that one-third of customers prefer to engage with businesses through an app. This use to be pretty difficult, and frankly not worth the effort or money. The Apptive platform has changed that and now it is simple to get an app for a low monthly cost.

Your mobile audience will become increasingly important, so it is necessary to create strong relationships with them that will meet their needs. They may be more and more discerning in their mobile tastes, but the ability to engage with them is more accessible than ever before!