Many different ideas can be meant when someone talks about mobile marketing. For different businesses, the definitions of mobile marketing vary widely. In basic terms, mobile marketing means the use of a marketing campaign that is compatible with mobile phones. This article is here to help you learn more about mobile marketing and start designing a strategy for your business.
You must have a proper database built to start a mobile marketing campaign. You should not however, add phone numbers to the database without authorization of the owner. You must get their go ahead before you begin. Gaining permission can easily be done by either a web form that they can fill out, or by agreeing to it via a simple code based text system.
Mobile marketing messages should be brief and easily understood. They need to be able to quickly digest the message you want to convey.
Your friends can help you by viewing ads, emails, and your website on their various mobile devices. If you can, hire a professional to test and improve your campaign.
Spending money to create a successful mobile website is worth the investment, because it will optimize your site for a variety of mobile devices. Building an effective mobile website is a specialized task, considerably different from normal web design. If you need things to work in your favor and go smoothly you should outsource it to someone who knows what they are doing.
Use a mobile marketing strategy that keeps you visible and relevant. Changes in technology can have a dramatic effect on your business, so stay up to date on all of the latest advances in technology.
Mobile Marketing
Avoid texting your customers during odd hours, such as early mornings or late nights. Sending out text messages at bad hours will just annoy customers.
You will see a good rise in profits with mobile marketing. There are many more people that are using their phones to download apps or use social networking sites. Both of these areas are ideal starting points for expanding your mobile marketing campaign. You need to target your customers where they are congregating online.
If you’re going to get involved in mobile marketing, make sure your sites and communications are optimized for a mobile screen. Conduct extensive research on the most popular mobile devices; this allows you to see things from your target market’s point of view.
Before starting a new mobile marketing campaign, look at the success rate of the first one. Measure the success of your mobile marketing scheme by its longevity rather than how much extra business it generates. To build a plan you will want to look far into the future.
Aim high in your advertisements and seek out that hook that will catch the “viral” wave. If you can catch their fancy, then your viewers will pass it to their friends, and so on, until you have vastly extended your marketing horizon.
Make it your goal to have your ads go viral. Many times, these will get passed on to others, enlarging your mobile marketing audience.
Take advantage of dedicated short code. Although it costs a bit more, it is a wonderful way to protect your company name. A certain amount of legal coverage comes with it as well.
Although lots of people use their phones for Internet text, not all know the different kinds of abbreviations used online. If you send an advertisement to someone and they do not understand it, their opinion of you will go down and you will even lose their business.
In your mobile marketing efforts, make it easy for the recipients to forward the offer to others. To spread the word, offer an incentive to those customers who pass along your mobile marketing promotion.
Giving your mobile marketing ad viewers an opportunity to provide feedback can help you see how your campaign is doing, and help you build customer relationships. Many people tell you to get away, but you need to survey your clients as much as possible.
A/B testing could be helpful with a mobile landing page. User convenience and functionality testing is as crucial for mobile pages as for sites viewed online via desktops. Create two unique versions of your landing pages (A & B), then determine which page your visitors prefer. You can use this information to select the best landing page.
If you want to improve how you market products through mobile marketing, be sure to apply search engine optimization strategies to your mobile websites. Since most mobile searches are done through Google, you will want to SEO your mobile marketing materials using Google’s preferences.
In mobile marketing, understand that location is everything. Mobile marketing gives you the opportunity to broadcast your location. You will be able to find a new location that you were not able to find anywhere else. Brainstorm how you can take advantage of location-based marketing techniques to boost your sales.
If you plan on adding SMS to go along with your mobile marketing, be sure that you are honest about how many texts you will be sending out, and that you are set up with an opt-in mechanism. SMS, if used improperly, can really backfire because of its inherent ties into a mobile devices notification systems. It can seem like you are being pushy. This is why it is so important to only target your SMS campaign to customers who have agreed to receive messages. You should also stick to a limited number of messages per month. Honesty creates loyal customers.
Add features to your website like directions and maps, and make sure they are mobile-friendly. It has become a standard trend for individuals to use their cell phone to find directions to where they are going. Make yourself accessible to them. Verify that your map displays correctly and is usable on mobile devices. Your link should allow the visitor to see Google Maps and get directions.
Mobile Devices
Mobile marketing is less about expanding your customer base than it is about maintaining the customers you already have. They will be more open to your text messages and emails than new, potential customers. Too many texts or messages to new customers can backfire. Mobile marketing used for new consumers is often regarded as spam.
Add directions and maps to your site that can be used on all mobile devices. A lot of people use mobile devices to track down brick and mortar stores in their area. Create an easy way for consumers to reach your store front. Ensure that your maps can be easily read on the small screen of the average mobile device. Your link should allow the visitor to see Google Maps and get directions.
Before formally launching your mobile marketing campaign, conduct thorough usability tests among your target market. Poorly worded messages will not help you in your marketing campaign. Gather the impressions of friends and coworkers before you send your message to your customers, too.
Get to know your audience. It’s important to know what your target audience needs and wants before you waste any money on mobile marketing. Are they bigger mobile users than home computer users? Which OS do they use on their phones? Find out as much as you can so you can make a better connection with your audience.
Purchase dedicated short codes to ensure the authenticity of your company. It may be pricey, but you can link them to your brand. With enough use, existing and potential customers will associate the dedicated short code with your business. Buying your own codes will also protect you from legal issues relating to shared codes. You might get into trouble as well if a code sharing company you use has abused the system.
To get customers to your brick-and-mortar store, include a detailed map somewhere on your site that is accessible by mobile devices. When a person searches for a business on his or her phone, the map allows them to find it quickly.
Be sure to add a promo code to all your outgoing messages. Customers are more inclined to visit a website if they can get a discount.
As you learned in the first paragraph, the term “mobile marketing” means a variety of things depending on who you ask. There is no universally accepted definition, but it is accepted that it involves marketing via cell phones and mobile devices. By using some of the tips presented here, you can tap into that huge market. You can make mobile marketing work for your business.
Keeping your ears open is the key to building a successful mobile marketing strategy. Pay special attention to your customer feedback, as you want to make their needs a priority. Use your own mobile device to see what your competitors are doing. Learn from their mistakes and adopt successful strategies.
