Chew on this: 84% of U.S. small businesses using mobile marketing see an increase in new business activity.1
According to a study done by Web.com and Lab42 in May of 2012, early adopters are seeing a return on their investments while the majority of businesses have not yet taken advantage of the emerging trend.1 But while 85% of business owners said they couldn’t survive without mobile technology to manage their operations, only 26% have extended their mobile capabilities to their customers.2
Bridging this gap for your business could set you ahead of the curve and differentiate yourself from your competitors.
There are other benefits to making a leap to mobile. Primarily, you will have the ability to reach customers with a greater degree of accuracy. The new targeting technologies of local mobile search mean that you will have more control over what messages potential customers see and when. According to Pew Internet and the American Life Project, 74% of U.S. consumers use location based services on their smartphone and 46% of mobile phone users use location based services.3
But how can I use mobile?
Simply put, as a marketing tool, mobile can help you connect with customers. Here are some examples:
- Notify customers about new inventory or top products
- Send appointment confirmations or reminders
- Send “preferred customer” deals to drive repeat business
- Send weekly offers at no extra cost
- Ask customers for feedback or reviews
Time has not run out to start your mobile marketing mix. In a survey by Return Path, an email consulting service, it reported that they expect more people to be reading emails on a mobile device than on PC’s by 2013.4 No time like the present!
What are some of the ways you have taken advantage of mobile marketing? How well has it worked for you? We’d love to hear from you.
Still not convinced? Here is a link to a list of a multitude of statistics on why mobile is vital to your business and why you should get ahead of your competitors today. Mobile Commerce and Engagement Stats from Digby.com.
Do you use mobile marketing? How is it working for you? Let us know your thoughts. We’d love to hear from you. In the meantime, here are a few articles that may help you set up your mobile marketing plan.
Worldwide New Media Market Model: International Data Corporation, October 2012
Mobile Marketing: It’s About Convenience, Simplicity, and Proximity: Business 2 Business, Nov. 2012
A Quick Guide to SMB Success on Mobile: Street Fight, Nov. 2012
Sources:
1 Small Business Mobile Survey: Web.com and Lab42, May of 2012
2 Mobile Apps Are Revolutionizing America’s Small Businesses: Paychex, June 2012
3 Three-quarters of smartphone owners use location-based services : Pew Internet & American Life Project, May 2012
