Perfect Life

Both large and small businesses are quickly learning that one of the fastest ways to directly reach consumers is through their mobile devices. A recent report by Borrell Associates, a media research firm based in Virginia, has revealed that small businesses in the United States are on track to spend nearly $ 800 million in 2011 in mobile ads. Half of the cost, approximately $ 400 million, will go to the creation of mobile promotions that offer contests, coupons and other incentives.

There are more than 64 million mobile users in the U.S. and they often use their devices to buy goods and services. Consumers prefer to use mobile devices for banking, travel, shopping, watching videos and listening to music. They also prefer to pay their financial transactions through them. The mobile payment or m-payments as they are known in the industry will be worth 240 billion dollars worldwide in 2011 and is a trend that can reach over a trillion dollars by 2015.

So how can you make the most of this growing trend? Small business owners need to plan specific campaigns that reach consumers on their mobile devices. Text messaging or SMS is a great way to do so. It offers instant communication and instant gratification. It is imperative that customers receive something of value. What else can you do to maximize their mobile marketing efforts with limited resources?

- Be useful: you can do things like create links within the store, for example, “Can not find the perfect gift? send the text ‘help’ to 1234 to receive a link to the guide gift for the holidays.” Such information is valuable to the consumer. Links can be promoted through signs with QR (Quick Response) codes that you place in different places within your business.

- Reward your best customers, you can always send a coupon for a group of generic mass of consumers through a text message. But why not focus on rewarding your best customers with targeted coupons instead?

- Retain your customers: large brands are doing something great with mobile marketing and rewarding local customers. For example, a restaurant can send a text message to a number of consumers who live or work within a one-mile radius with a coupon for a free drink.

Jump on the mobile marketing band wagon and get your business to the next level. The opportunities available for mobile marketing are endless. Brainstorm with your team the technology is there just waiting for your brilliant ideas to be implemented.

Success on your mobile marketing initiatives!