'Tis the season to go mobile! With Black Friday and Cyber Monday slowly approaching, several online retailers have already begun customizing a mobile marketing strategy to prepare for the holiday onslaught. This is crucial for any eCommerce business expecting to win over new customers this holiday season.

However, here are 4 crucial reasons why your online shop can no longer go without investing a mobile strategy this Christmas:

1. Mobile Commerce will Boom This Holiday Season

Mobile will definitely play a pivotal role in boosting e-tail sales this holiday season. According to eMarketer, mobile purchases will account for 16 percent of sales, reaching $41.68 billion by the end of this year. This trend will continue well after we ring in the New Year. eMarketer predicts mobile commerce to increase by 25% and reach well over $100 billion by 2017 in the United States.

2. Your Competitors Are Investing in a Mobile Strategy

More than half of your competitors will be preparing for the holiday season by investing in a mobile strategy. According to a Baynote survey, 53 percent of respondents expect mobile transactions to account for a significant part of their holiday revenue this year. This survey shows that investing in a mobile strategy means keeping up with your competitors.

3. Mobile Interaction with Online Retailers Continues to Increase

Mobile traffic and interaction with online retailers via mobile devices is increasing. A recent report released by comScore and Shop.org actually concluded that mobile consumer interaction with online retailers surpassed online retailer interaction via PC and laptop in June 2013. In fact, consumers spent more than half (55 percent) of their time interacting with online retailers via mobile devices.

Predictions indicate that mobile commerce and interaction will continue to be significant in the future, which means having a mobile-friendly website crucial for your online shop. Although your online shop may be easy to use from a large desktop screen, it usually is harder to use on small mobile screens. Mobile-optimized website usually have large and legible navigation buttons, less content, and resized images that make shopping easier for mobile users. This will make sure that agitated holiday shoppers will convert.

4. Missing out on a Large Chunk of Your Annual Revenue

If you are not engaging with your customers during the most profitable time of the year, then you are missing out on a large chunk of your annual revenue. According to the National Revenue Federation, holiday season sales account for up to 40% of the majority of retailers annual revenue and mobile-optimized sites increase revenue! In fact, an Econsultancy study concluded that the majority of companies that specifically designed a mobile website increased sales by 62%.

These statistics show that 'tis the season for going mobile! If you would like any further advice or tips on how to prepare your e-commerce business for the holiday season download and read Shopgate's free eBook titled "2013 Holiday Guide for Online Retailers: Top 10 Practices & Monthly Checklist" today