People are nowadays spending a larger fraction of their time on mobile phones. The new world of marketing now stands on the terms like SEO, smartphones, geo-location, mobile sites, digital and social marketing. Also, as the attention span of people is decreasing and their need of getting everything with a click of button is escalating, marketers and brand managers are also testing new tactics to reach their customers. Technologies emerging in the mobile space are sure to help brands leverage their identity by reaching out to a much larger audience and that too across the globe.
Of the World’s 4 billion mobile phones in use, 1.08 billion are smartphones and around 3.05 billion are SMS enabled. It is believed that this year mobile internet should take over desktop internet usage. Mobile revolution is here!
As the use of mobiles is increasing, their adaptability is also growing. From search to research, everything is happening on this device.
What is the state of social and mobile media marketing?
In a report by Microsoft tag,
- · 1/3rd of Facebook’s 600 plus users use Facebook Mobile
- · 50% of Twitters 165 million users use twitter mobile
- · YouTube has over 200 million users and YouTube views occur on mobiles everyday
- · 30% of smartphone owners accessed social networks through mobiles
- · Women between the age group of 35-54 are the most active when it comes to socializing via mobile
Many brands and businesses have already entered the mobile development and many are still thinking. What they need to understand is that mobile is the new territory of business. Brands are already planning their strategies well keeping in mind the mobile marketing tactics.
What about you? Have you started doing it yet? If not, then maybe you are late as it is where your customers are these days. This is indeed the year of mobile!
- · Most brands and businesses are new to mobile marketing and those using it have not been in for more than a year
- · Many are not aware whether a mobile marketing strategy will benefit their brand and business
- · A lot of them do not know if they can measure the ROI on mobile marketing
- · In most cases, time, money and knowledge about mobile marketing is what they are lacking
- · Step one to mobile marketing is a mobile website and many brands and businesses do have their websites optimized for mobile visitors though
The big fact is that if your customers are not confined to their homes, then why should your marketing be? The time to break the silence and refresh your marketing mix with mobile marketing is here.
Moving on, there are a few types of mobile marketing that you need to keep in mind while crafting a mobile marketing strategy. They are:
Mobile Website Design
Mobile devices, like smartphones & tablet computers have smaller screens. Hence, many regular websites are not readable on mobile devices. Mobile website specially designed to display on a mobile device is vital for reaching mobile customers.
App-Based Mobile Marketing
Mobile apps have mushroomed lately and are extensively used in marketing. the ads are hosted within the application design and consist of virtual machines, widgets and applications enhancing the user experiences.
Mobile Image/Banner Ads
These are just like the standard banner ads for web pages but are small enough to fit the mobile screen sizes.
Mobile Surveys
Just like online surveys help marketers improve their marketing efforts. Mobile surreys can also be done for those on the go. This helps in getting instant responses from customers at anytime from anywhere.
SMS (text messaging)
This involves sending a text messages for marketing to the customers using mobile phones. These marketing messages can include an offer, link to your website, promotional code, discounts etc. For SMS marketing it is very essential to have a mobile website which is responsive in design.
QR Codes (quick responsive barcodes) 
These are those patterned squares that have been quite visible since quite some time now at various places and mediums. QR Codes can be easily scanned by any mobile device with a camera or a QR code reader application. The customer can get all the information on promotions, business information, and so on. This gives businesses a powerful way to drive traffic to stores and mobile websites. QR Codes can be incorporated in business cards, flyers, ads and in your email signature
Voice Marketing 
This is the type of marketing in which the voice broadcasting calls numbers from a computerized list and plays a recorded message to the customer
Mobile Video
Mobile videos are the most powerful types of this form of marketing adding a personal touch to the marketing messages. The video created should be mobile optimized.
Pay-Per-Call or Click-to-Call
In this type of marketing, the user can directly click or tap the number on the mobile ad for which he will not be charged. After this, the customer will be lead to an automated pre-recorded message, a customer care representative or the location for which the number was given.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth marketing is the one in which the mobile device links into a hotspot with an access to a high transfer speed. It is normally, free of charge and can be used in shops/exhibitions in order to promote the products/services.
Moving on, brands can also:
Encourage Check-ins amongst their customers by persuading them to use Foursquare, Google+ location sharing and offer incentives to them for checking in, including discounts, special recognition and gifts.- Grow their e-mail list through a mobile device by texting people and asking people to join an app that directly integrates with your brand’s e-mail marketing program, business card scanning app, QR Code etc.
- Join a few Mobile Directories and directory listings should include a simple description of your services, phone number, hours of operation, address and a link to your website.
Hence, the mobile landscape will continue to grow with the reforms in the content marketing in the coming days. There’s something interesting you need to know, we are sure you know that already but, the six elements of mass media print, cinema, radio, television, recordings and television are followed by the seventh element which is ‘Mobile’. All these are called mass media elements as they reach masses.
Then what is about the Mobile? Well, its capability of doing everything that the other elements could do make it stand out and accurate.
Not only mobile marketing is the fastest growing marketing method, but it also has a potential to help brands implement the same strategies as used in internet marketing techniques. Therefore, businesses and brands should consider this medium in times to come! So, what are your thoughts on this blooming marketing technique? Have you gone mobile yet? Do share your comments with us!
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Tags: Mobile Marketing, Mobile Revolution, Mobile Technology, Social Media