The growth and use of mobile marketing for business is huge. Want to know why?

1. MobiThinking shows that over 77% of the world’s population now has a mobile phone, that’s over 5.3 billion mobile subscribers. In places like the US, it’s 9 out of 10 people.
2. It is predicted that mobile internet will take over desktop internet by 2014.
3. Apple has sold almost 60 million iPhones worldwide. Google’s Android OS is growing at 886% year on year and the are now activating over 160,000 devices a day.
4. It is predicted that mobile internet will take over desktop internet by 2014
5. Americans spend over 2.7 hours/day on their mobile devices

The use of mobile devices results in action. Need proof?

1. Half of all local searches are performed on mobile devices
2. 70% of all mobile searches result in action within 1 hour (Source: Mobile Marketer)
3. Mobile coupons get 10 times the redemption rate of traditional coupons (Source: Borrell Associates)
4. It takes 90 minutes for the average person to respond to an email. It takes 90 seconds for the average person to respond to a text message (Source: CTIA.org)
5. Text-messages have an opening rate of 95% compared to 8-10% for email

Now you know mobile is big, it’s growing, and it’s action-oriented. How do you turn that into something useful for your business? As with most things, you start with a plan, you don’t just dive in.

Some logical steps for your business to take advantage of the mobile marketplace.

1. Start by determining the purpose of you mobile campaign. Some examples could be to:
   • Increase calls to your business
   • Drive traffic to you website
   • Drive traffic to your physical location
   • Drive SMS and/or email opt-ins to improve communication with your customers
   • And of course to increase sales
2. Decide what is in it for your customers. If there isn’t something in it for your customers, stop right now because you will be wasting your money. You could be:
   
   • Saving them time or money with coupons or click to call numbers
   • Providing them location based information such as maps and directions
   • Useful information such as FAQs
   • Social interaction with check-in applications on Facebook, Foursquare or others
   • Recognition such as VIP treatment for repeat customers
3. Choose the tactics to achieve your objectives and provide your customers what they want or need.
   
   • Are you going to create a mobile website specific for your mobile visitors and what will be on that website. I strongly recommend you do this if you are serious about mobile marketing.
   • Claim your mobile location on Google, Foursquare, and others.

   

   • Collect customer lists for your campaigns using QR (quick response) codes, mobile advertising, and promotions in your physical location. How about a free drawing once a month for customer that provide you their mobile number? Don’t forget you MUST have an opt-in/opt-out process for mobile advertising.

   

   • Build a lasting relationship with your customers: Use SMS and Text messages with mobile coupons or loyalty points directed to loyal customers (e.g. text KINGS to 99000), use location based services like Facebook Places and Foursquare, drive them to you mobile or full website for more information or deals, remind them you are there and that you care, but DON’T ever SPAM them.
4. Think about the things that really draw people in and use them: mobile coupons, hours of operation, map/directions, click to call phone no, menu/product/services list, reviews/testimonials, discount offers, event info, interesting content, fast facts/FAQs, Twitter, Foursquare/Facebook links, opt-in for mobile info, link to website, and/or a link to recorded message.

Mobile marketing for business is a growing field and you should definitely consider it for part of your overall marketing strategy. With a little SMS how to and QR code and text messaging marketing, you can get started with this exciting way to improve your business. I am happy to assist you in laying out your strategy and getting it implemented, just contact me.

And remember, mobile marketing is about building relationships, you wouldn’t spam your friends, don’t spam your customers!