Once upon a time, a long long long time ago, all a business owner needed to do to stand out and be revolutionary even, was to have a webpage. And if they wanted to be really fancy, they might even do some email marketing. Well, fortunately or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it), the age of smartphone mobile marketing is upon us, and although that means as a business owner you may have to do a little more to stay on the cutting edge of marketing, there has never been a better way to connect with your customers.
Customer Communication
Most smartphone users never keep their phones more than a pocket or a purse away, so your message will get across exactly when you want it to. If any of our relationships to technology can be perceived as intimate, it’s the connection we share with our smartphones. For better or for worse, for many people, their smart phone is the first item they grab upon waking up, and the last item they use at night. That’s why communication through smartphones is seen as friendlier and more personal in nature than bulky emails. Your text to your customers will be right next to the message from their mother and significant other. Higher response rates are also apparent in mobile marketing; users are five times more likely to reply to a text message than they are to an email. Now your marketing can become a two-way conversation.
Phone Numbers Are The Holy Grail of Contact Info
Unlike with email addresses and even social media accounts, most people have the same phone number for a long time. It’s a waste all around to invest time and money in creating content only to have it fall on death ears (or blind eyes if you prefer to be more literal). You can also use location-based services to provide geographically relevant information directly to your customers. Text them about a promotion you’re running and invite them to stop by when they’re in the area, interacting with your customers has never been easier.
The Rise of The Smartphone
More and more people are accessing the Internet from their smartphone than they are from their laptops and desktops. Mobile users are much more likely to use social media than laptop or desktop users. They are also many more global mobile phone owners, so you’re potentially able to reach a wider audience. “Shareability” on mobile content also increases dramatically, content is much easier to share on smartphones, often times it’s as simple as pushing a button. Create beneficial content and your customers will practically do your marketing for you. In general, it’s good idea to optimize your webpage content for mobile viewing. It isn’t enough to just have your content accessible on mobile; it needs to be a pleasant viewing experience for the user. Social media marketing and interaction is also an avenue that you should use to promote your business. Post regularly and interact with customer base, and watch it grow.
Tabitha Jean Naylor, Clearwater FL
Tabitha Jean Naylor, Clearwater FL is the Founder of Successful Startup 101, a digital magazine that provides answers to today's most pertinent questions facing startup founders, and the Owner of TabithaNaylor.com, a marketing firm that delivers 'big agency' quality at rates that are affordable for startups and small businesses.
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You have made some great points here Tabitha. I am never too far away from my phone and I have the same number I had when my cell phone was more like a brick. I live in Australia and mobile marketing has been a little slower here but that means it is good time to jump on. I think more than 50 percent of people now do most things on the smart phone rather than a computer. Thank you!
Great Post Tabitha, You are so right, my phone in in my pocket all the time. When eve I sit down on checking my phone.
Everything seems to be moving toward the smart phone now and farther away from the computer. Some businesses are even sending out offers that you can take advantage of from your smart phone…such as coupons that can be scanned in store from your phone. Your right, my phone is always at my side. Thank you.
Point on my friend, as the smart phone has now become just a part of someones everyday life
and they just can not seem to leave home without it…So why not utilize through social media
engagement.
I love how accessible things are becoming. Thanks for the reminder to make myself mobile friendly, I know I need to work on that. I love that I can run most of my business from anywhere! Great post!
My phone is with me everywhere I go and I am constantly getting offers via Text or through apps that I’ve downloaded. I am also able to use my phone to send out offers to people in my business, so mobile marketing is definitely something every business should be taking advantage of. Great info!
Yes, I believe our smart phones will soon have veins because they feed us with constant communication nutrition and are usually never more than an arm’s length away. So it’s very important that your website is also optimized for mobile devices and there’s no reason we can’t be marketing via text message if we have their phone numbers. Thanks for sharing this helpful insight.
I’ve used texting to close lots of sales and provide immediate customer service. It really is so powerful!
How many times do we see someone with a friend at there house or out to lunch or such and they are pretty much ignoring the person who they were supposed to be with because they were glued to there cell phone.
Look how many things that a smartphone has basically made obsolete.
My day goes like this:
Alarm clock
Check the weather
Look at my calendar and see what I need to do today
Read my e-mail
Check my bank to see if a check I wrote has cleared yet
Use the calculator to do some figuring
Use the flashlight to look in a dark area
Take a picture of what I found and send it to my face book wall
Use the GPS to find where I need to be
Check my stock value at the moment
Make a phone call
Etc. Etc. Etc
All done with my smart phone
Posting content often is something i am working harder on! I have really slacked over the last few days and I plan to pick it up! I was watching Neal P. in the 6 All in Library and picked up a few tips that I will include in my marketing.
I just read an article the other day about how (on average) more people are spending time on their smartphones than they are watching TV. There are now more eyeballs on smartphones than ever before. If we are savvy entrepreneurs, It’s business suicide to neglect implementing a solid mobile strategy! Great info Tabitha. Thank you 🙂