With more and more businesses developing their own mobile apps and technology platforms, it is becoming more important than ever to keep up with the trends and offer your own specialized mobile marketing strategy. The advice in this article should provide you with insight that can suggest an effective starting point for your mobile marketing campaign.
Consider starting a short code campaign to increase your mobile marketing database. Asking customers to text a code to enroll in message updates can generate significant increases in your database and also ensures that only those wishing to receive communications do so. Advertise your short code campaign through social media sites, your web site and any print marketing materials.
Understand that mobile marketing is necessary for your business. You need to have a direct method of communication with your customers, and mobile marketing is an immediate way to do it. Setting up mobile marketing is also a great way to truly understand what your customers are interested in, and how to cater to that.
Keep track of a customer’s buying habits, and use those results. Personalize your messages to a customer based on their actual habits and you will find that people become more interested in your business. When you take the time to make a person feel important, they will become return customers much more easily.
Understand the regulations for mobile marketing. Mobile marketing campaigns are heavily regulated, just like anything that has to do with mobile phones. Look up your local and federal guidelines, and make sure you stay well within them. If you do not, you can face penalties that range anywhere from fines to jail time.
Decide now whether you’re going to use QR or 2D codes in your mobile campaign. Your audience may not understand how to leverage certain technology out there, so you need to ensure that you’re going with something current, popular and people-friendly. You’re marketing to basic folks; not everyone will be tech-savvy.
Make sure that your company and brand are instantly identifiable from the beginning of a mobile marketing message. If your consumers have to read though the entire text to find out what company it is from, they will be annoyed and possibly see it as a sneaky marketing ploy.
No matter what type of features you’re thinking of adding to your mobile marketing campaign, you need to remember that it’s all about the execution here. Mobile users are growing at a faster rate than PC users ever have, so everyone’s attempting to go mobile. Stand out by focusing on quality execution rather than just expansion.
Unless it is absolutely necessary, avoid large files such as photos in your mobile marketing message. When including a link in the message, make sure to use a URL shortener. These steps will help you keep your message short and concise, which greatly reduces loading time and helps to keep your customer interested.
One great way to see how you can blend mobile marketing with social media is to pay attention to other people who are doing the same thing. This will allow you to see how things are done correctly. You won’t want to copy their formula verbatim, but it will help to emulate their style a bit.
Use scannable QR codes to introduce your brand to customers. Link a QR code with a discount or coupon that is only found on the mobile application, product information, short video or another relevant item of value to the user. This is effective at getting customers familiar with your brand.
Include audio and video in your mobile marketing strategy. Mobile marketing is more than text messages and e-mails. Today, with faster mobile download speeds, audio and video are key components to any successful strategy. Consider offering audio or video podcasts, short audio interviews or live, on-the-scene video to your media mix.
Create an opt-in database. Don’t sabotage your business by holding customers hostage. Allow customers to choose to be a part of your mobile marketing campaigns, and make opting-out an easy process. Customers don’t mind receiving communication from you through their phone, but don’t take advantage of the kindness they show, unless you want to lose them.
Ask for feedback. Feedback from customers about your mobile marketing methods can let you know what you’re doing right and what you are failing at. Don’t forget to note absence of feedback as well. Analyze why you may not be hearing from everyone and take steps to rectify that. Ask for feedback often and your business can only get better.
Keep it short. When advertising on a mobile platform, keep your messages short, crystal clear, and insistent. While more and more mobile devices have the capability to display long messages, the longer the message is, the less likely your potential customer is to read it. A brief and concise message is much more effective in engaging a reader.
Ensure your website is mobile-friendly. Visit your websites and blogs using various mobile devices. You may be surprised how bad they look on the small screen. Having a site that is mobile-friendly or has a designated mobile landing page is crucial for reaching customers who are on the go if your site is not viewable, they will quickly find another.
Make movement user-friendly for all makes and models! Many of the new mobile devices can be difficult to navigate. Make your mobile marketing messages easy to navigate. While some customers may be viewing your content from cell phones, tablets, and laptops, others might be using a well dated cell phone with limited capabilities for movement within your marketing messages. Design your marketing to reach a wide range of customers!
With the handpicked tips and tricks that you have just learned, you can start to devise a competitive, engaging mobile marketing platform to drive sales, create more loyal customer relationships, and ensure that your brand, products, and services are always within reach. Use these concepts to stay ahead of the game and succeed in your mobile marketing efforts.