You may have heard about mobile marketing. Businesses can employ a variety of methods that use mobile devices to promote their products. With so many different directions to go in you might be confused on where to start. Try beginning with the tips below.
Social media is what people do most when they are using their mobile devices, using it when you are marketing is essential. Use a TwitPic promotion to get your customers to spread the word about your store. This is a great way to generate buzz about your product.
Make sure you research who your audience is. Get to know their likes and dislikes, and their habits using their phone before investing a significant amount of money into a mobile marketing campaign. Don’t just guess. Are they using cellphones more than computer? What software operating systems run their phones? Find out all you can about those you wish to reach, so that you can reach them.
Have a clear strategy and goals when you venture into mobile marketing. Get some feedback from your customers to find out how you can reach out to them. Are you trying to increase sales through your existing sales base, or are you trying just to keep them involved and retain them for the long term?
It is vital to be sure that your customers can access your mobile marketing, regardless of what mobile device they are using. Make sure your messages look good on all of the major mobile phone technologies – Android, Blackberry, and iPhone. It can also save time and effort if you write simple, non-customized messages that suit every platform. This KISS principle applies here.
Watch the competition to see what techniques they use for their mobile marketing to get an edge on them. It is important that you are distinguishable from your competition.
For a great way to bring in customers and help your brand become more well-known, use QR codes in your campaigns. These QR codes are an excellent way to expand and entice your customers by offering coupons and discounts. All they need to use your QR codes is a cell phone. You can contact your customers in a easy way and with good information.
Should SMS messaging be a choice in your mobile marketing plan, let your customers know by having an opt-in device and be truthful about the number of messages you might be sending every month. When used improperly, SMS can do more damage than good. Most people will get tired of receiving messages from you if you intrude too often. Therefore, make sure that only your opt-in customers receive your SMS texts, and never send more than the maximum number of messages specified in the opt-in terms. This honesty will go a long way to building trust in your brand.
It is always worthwhile to ensure everything works correctly, before officially sending anything out. This test will determine whether your content is properly visible to your customers after you send it. Limit your testing over specific devices and set up a testing account where you can ensure they are coming through correctly. You can have employees, family or friends be your testing group.
You should begin your mobile marketing efforts by constructing a database. Avoiding just adding cell phone numbers to your mobile marketing database. Allowing users to opt into your database will provide you with a level of legitimacy as you continue forward. Permission can be obtained through a form over the Internet or by text.
Provide a value to the right audience. If you are sending messages out to customers, you should think about giving something away. Offer something that corresponds to the interests of your audience. For instance, business executives will enjoy receiving a coupon for a nice restaurant. If your audience primarily consists of families, send them offers that are family-oriented.
Get people in your store by posting mobile-friendly maps to your site. Your maps can let them find your location quickly on their phone.
Older cellphones cannot properly display the same sites as newer smartphones or tablets, so your links need to lead to different sites for different phones. Depending on the age of the phone your customer is using, they may not be able to access sites that use flash player.
Stake your claim by creating an online presence on the leading social networking sites. If you want your business to be more accessible, then this is necessary. Stick to the basics, and then grow your marketing strategies from there. It’s essential to establish a presence on Facebook and Foursquare, at the very least.
Make it easier for one recipient of your mobile marketing ad to send it and they probably will! Prior to polishing your promotions, make absolute certain that they are simple to forward to others and even include some incentive to the original recipient for doing so and you will have an instant ad booster!
Use every practical venue available to keep your customers informed about an upcoming event. You could, for example, send an email to tell your customers of an upcoming sale, like a limited time half-off sale. Email your customers a little while before the event, then send then an SMS on the day of the event.
A home base is essential for your standalone mobile platform. If you have a mobile presence, it should be a way to stay in contact with current home based clients. Do not focus your business on your mobile marketing endeavors solely.
It’s important to have your social networking links on your website. Today, people are very into social networking, so giving them another option to find you will be good for your business. You can almost guarantee that your customers will not take the time to search for you, but if they know you are on a site, they probably will take the time to check you out.
Mobile marketing is an extensive subject! Missions and marketing strategies vary from one business to the next. What works well for one person may not for another. The information above will hopefully provide you with a base on which to begin your own strategy.
