Everything that Ross covered in his post is solid advice. Since I was right in the middle of launching a mobile site this week (details here) I was especially glad to see his post. Here are some more tips from the trenches I’d like to share that compliment what he already covered.

Affordable Mobile Site Builder





The site builder I chose to use is MoFuse. It is an online mobile site builder that has a lot of flexibility in what can be done with it. It can mobilize an existing site or build a complete new one. Pages can be crated from scratch or can be RSS fed pages. (I used a combination of both.) I found the site building process to be more intuitive and flexible than other site builders. It is extremely easy to drag and drop pages to rearrange the order of pages.

With MoFuse I am using my own domain but didn’t have to host it myself. There is a free option and a paid version (currently $3 per month). With the paid version I got access to build as many sites as I want and can monetize the site with AdMob or Google Adsense and keep 100% of the ad revenue.

There is a built in site analysis that monitors traffic right from within the dashboard and I’ve found that MoFuse has excellent support and is very responsive to customer needs.

It would be well worth your time to give MoFuse a look if you are looking for an affordable mobile site builder.

Get Traffic to Your Mobile Site with Mobile Directories and Search Engines

In addition to the mobile directories that are covered in Ross’s post, you should also work to get your mobile site listed here:

PhoneFavs
Chaos 365
JamPaw.com
Medio
PDAHomePage
WAP Review

Before you start clicking to submit, have your site description written and a list of keywords ready. You’ll need them for a lot of these sites.

Then keep a list of which sites you have submitted to so you can check back to see if you’re listed. That way you will also avoid double submitting.

Wright knew that mobile use came first to Asia and Europe is now coming to America so, being a true entrepreneurial visionary, Wright set out to offer US businesses a way to set up a mobile storefront and get started selling physical goods via mobile. Within 24 hours a mobile store can be set up and launched using mPoria’s GoMobile! mobile commerce solution for retailers.

While mPoria’s big brand customers include GameStop, Buy.com, Moosejaw Mountaineering, GiftTree and many more what is really exciting is that mPoria has pricing that works for small to medium sized business. Any business that sells physical goods to mobile users should get a mobile store open now before the tidal wave of mcommerce hits the US. Frankly, I am thinking of figuring out how to get a mobile store going of my own.

Wright was not at liberty to share any specific revenue numbers from his vendors, but he did share that the average transaction from mPoria’s mobile stores is $120-$130 with a conversion rate of .8 – 1.5%. Recently one of his clients’ sold a diamond via a mobile order. I wonder if next we’ll hear about someone proposing via text message and then ordering up the engagement ring from their phone. (When you hear that story on The Today Show, remember you heard about it here first.)

My prediction is that by the holiday shopping season in 2008 we will be getting reminded when to order via mobile stores to get your gift shipped on time for the big day. And we’ll know that mPoria is the company making it possible here in the U.S.

The service is 100% opt-in and students can opt out at any time although I don’t know why they would. Any group to which they belong can text them announcements, updates or alerts. This could be their sorority or fraternity, athletic team, dorm floor or any other official group on campus. Professors can also create a group to stay in touch with their students.

Students can also sign up to get discounts sent to them via text message from local merchants or other folks who have something that appeals to students. Of course students get to choose exactly what kind of message is sent to them ensuring that advertisers are reaching just the right students. What a great idea!

Thanks to MobileCrunch for mentioning Mobile Campus.

Heads up to my friend (and kindred spirit) Lauren Hasson, The Resume Girl, to whom I dedicate this post.