Mobile thinking: getting smarter with our smartphones for strategic marketing
Two out of three of our digital minutes are spent on mobile phones, so it’s fair to say they’re a big part of our everyday lives.
Consequently, businesses looking to differentiate themselves from competitors should be harnessing the various (and constantly emerging) capabilities of modern smartphones in order to more effectively engage with their customers.
While growing your business through a device that’s in 84% of the population’s pockets is no simple task, it’s also not one limited to Fortune 500 companies.
Mobile marketing can be (and very well should be) embraced by even the humblest of SMEs.
Here are 3 ways your businesses should be ‘thinking’ about mobile:
1. Think artificial
Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most popular new pieces of technology available to consumers, thus providing an interesting marketing opportunity for companies.
Apple’s Siri, and other forms of AI-powered personal assistants such an Messenger’s new ChatBots, present new ways for marketers to interact with their customers in innovate ways. Ever asked Siri to find a restaurant for lunch? Marketers can utilise geo-location to push their business directly to the customer via ‘suggestions’ in a seamless and effective way.
As the technology becomes more heavily adopted and invested in, we will see new creative ways for marketers to target their audience. If you’re interested in learning how to create a Facebook messenger ChatBot, head over to one of my favourite blogs >> Social Media Examiner.
2. Think social
With 91% of social media users on mobile, it’s a no-brainer business should be using these platforms to their full potential. The exciting thing about social media is there are constantly new features and services offered to its users, and therefore a continuously renewed range of opportunities for savvy marketers.
Snapchat Ads, Instagram Stories, Facebook Live – these are all new additions to existing platforms that keep them fresh and creative for users with even more marketing opportunities.
Although these popular platforms present a very attractive and large audience reach, it’s important to remember that algorithms can only do so much to send your message to your customers. Here, the creative becomes imperative to sticking out from the crowd and beating competitors.
3. Think beacons
Beacon technology has a huge role to play in the future of mobile marketing strategy, especially when considering its ability to create hyper-personalised experiences.
With eight out of ten smartphone owners now using their devices in-store to help with their shopping, a priceless opportunity for businesses to capitalise on mobile marketing is presented.
Marketing to smartphone users directly during their shopping process, beacon technology allows marketers to reach their target audience more easily, and in the process facilitate growth by creating a space of constant interaction and awareness of the brand itself.
CASE STUDY: Brauz is a mobile application and retail platform that uses beacon technology. Brauz are re-defining and re-imaging the shopping experience.
Whilst there are an array of other daring and innovative marketing strategies in today’s world (Outdoor, e-mail, events, etc.) it’s important not to explore the digital innovation world.
How much ‘mobile thinking’ is in your marketing strategy this year?
