The phenomenon of walking, commuting, or existing with a smartphone in hand is no longer a limited occurrence.
A 2015 PEW Research study found that 46 percent of American adults say they “can’t live without their smartphone.”
Combine this data with eMarketer’s prediction that by 2017 over 59 percent of digital search ad dollars will be spent on mobile devices, and suddenly the conclusion is clear: mobile marketing is a key foundation to successfully connecting with consumers.
Go Mobile With These 7 Critical Marketing Tips
Mobile marketing is made easier, and more effective, with the following seven tips.
- Timing is Key: Marketers need to know when to end mobile advertisements to their customers. Ask yourself the following types of questions: when will my customer be most receptive to a text message; are my SMS messages targeted for the right time of day; have I given my customer enough time to react to my text messages? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you to gain valuable insights into your customers’ mindset(s), which will help you to send the mobile messaging at the right time.
- Use ‘Click to Call’ CTA: A recent Google study revealed that 61 percent of mobile users will make a phone call almost immediately after performing a local business search. With this in mind, make your call-to-actions into a click-to-call icon. Whether you are sending out an email blast or connecting via text message, make it easier for your customers to reach out to you.
- Engage With Nearby Customers: Create hyper-targeted ads that are based on a user’s location and intended actions. For example, if you own a restaurant you might send a “walk-in lunch special” to a user who is only 4 blocks away from your establishment. Additionally, your website should be optimized for mobile devices, so that users can browse your products and services while they are on-the-go.
- Opt-In To Target Interested Customers: Mobile marketing success occurs when you give the customer a chance to choose to engage with your brand. Just because a customer has provided you with their phone number, doesn’t mean that they want to be bombarded by text messages. Instead, try sending one test text message with instructions about opting-in for future messages. Conversely you can also create a simple webpage where customers can opt-in to your SMS list.
- Social Media Connecting: The majority of American adults consult social media on a daily basis. An active presence on your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts will help you to connect with current, past, and potential customers on a daily basis, while simultaneously improving Google rankings and brand awareness.
- Get Responsive: Responsive web design is a must-have for any mobile marketing strategy. According to comScore, 4 out of 5 consumers will use their smartphone to shop. This means that 80 percent of consumers are relying on their mobile devices for purchases; failing to create a mobile-friendly platform is a failure to connect with this large buying presence.
- Engage with Customers via Mobile Apps: Mobile apps offer a new way for customers to quickly contact your business. Improve your customer service approach, create an open line of communication, and let customers know that their requests are being heard. When you improve customer engagement you open the door to turning customers into ROI increasing brand ambassadors.
Using these seven tips can help you to improve the effectiveness of your mobile marketing campaigns. Remember to use helpful mobile marketing technologies to help you send out mobile messages and analyze all results for the most effective results.
Author Bio: This article was submitted by Sophorn Chhay, an Inbound Marketer specializing in attracting targeted visitors and generated sales qualified leads.