Despite the “mobile-first” mindset dominating in digital strategies, it’s interesting to note that B2B buyers still prefer desktop. This is especially the case when it comes to research, pricing solutions and tools and conducting demos.
Mobile is great for discovery, but desktop drives the decision-making process. Therefore, your campaigns should reflect that.
Is mobile-first still the right approach in B2B marketing?
Mobile-first design is essential in B2C and does play a key role in B2B, especially for early discovery when buyers come across content via social media platforms and digital display ads. But when it comes to the serious decision making, e.g., comparing vendors, reviewing technical specifications or exploring pricing tools, B2B buyers still turn to desktop.
Why do B2B buyers rely on desktop for key decisions?
In its simplest terms, because B2B buying is:
- Research-heavy
- Collaborative
- Detail-orientated
Buyers need to open multiple tabs, read specs, use comparison tools, and work across multiple screens. This just isn’t practical on a mobile phone.
What Desktop-First Really Means
When we say “desktop-first,” we don’t mean to ignore mobile. We are referring to designing key experiences with the desktop user in mind. That includes:
- Making complex tools easier to use on larger screens, e.g., software demos or platform dashboards
- Designing interactive tools for accuracy and full visibility allows users to interact with them fully
- Supporting long reads, comparisons, and collaboration
How Should You Balance Mobile vs. Desktop?
|
Use Case |
Best Device |
Why It Works |
|
Social Ads or Top-of-Funnel Blog |
Mobile |
Casual discovery and quick reads |
|
Pricing Tools or Technical Docs |
Desktop |
Precision needed and allows for cross-tab and multi-screen usage |
|
Demos or Presentations |
Desktop |
Screen-sharing and multitasking |
|
Lead Forms |
Hybrid |
Varies by urgency and user preference |
What Should You Prioritize in a Desktop-First Strategy?
When building your desktop-first strategy, there are some key requirements to keep in mind, such as:
- Optimize screen layouts for 1440px+
- Use your website real estate for clarity, not just white space
- Keep CTAs and menus visible without scrolling
Mobile gets attention. Desktop earns decisions.
It’s not about choosing one over the other, it’s about understanding where the key actions happen and optimizing for that. Within the B2B environment, those key decisions are still on desktop.
For B2B marketing teams, being “desktop-first” doesn’t mean your marketing is outdated. It’s smart, strategic and aligned with how the modern day buying group and the decision makers work.