Taking a step into the wondrous and complex land of mobile marketing for the very first time might feel a tad bit intimidating, but by keeping the helpful tips listed below in mind, you will soon find yourself marketing on par with some of the best marketers in the field.
Use dedicated short code. The can be pricey, but they insure that you keep your brand intact. Avoid shared short codes if you are a larger company. Not only because you want people to recognize your own code, but there may be some legal consequences if the other company sharing the same code abuses the system.
Only add telephone numbers from customers choosing to receive messages to build your mobile marketing database carefully. If you add telephone numbers of customers who have not elected to receive mobile marketing messages, you are likely to see a high volume of complaints and requests to be removed from your list.
Steer clear of texting abbreviations. When you shorten your messages using chat speak, you make yourself and your business seem less professional and credible. Take the time to spell everything out to make sure your messages are clearly understood, and that you come across in a professional and polite manner.
Never copy someone else’s mobile strategy. Just because they may be doing well does not mean it is the right method for you. Customers like innovation, and if you are sending out similar messages or styles as your competitor, they may not be interested in making a change to you.
Know exactly what you want to offer your customers before you start out. Mobile marketing encompasses everything from simple text messaging to instant mobile coupons. Planning ahead on what you are going to offer them can make the actual implementation much easier than if you were indecisive in the long run.
Although every marketer out there should develop a mobile marketing plan, you should never rush into this type of marketing. Just think, you’ve gone this long without mobile marketing, why would you need to instantly jump into it now? Take your time and take baby steps, working your way up the ladder.
A time tested and proven method to get a leg up on competitors is to be mindful of what they are doing. To truly gain an edge, you need to make your campaign or site stand out from all of your competitors.
Social media is not a buyer’s market; it’s essentially a large, ongoing conversation that you will need to participate in as a mobile marketer. You cannot be the proverbial salesman here. Instead, you really have to be a mobile user much more than a marketer. This means you need to focus more on communication and less on being authoritative.
Focus on a new type of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for your mobile marketing campaign. Search engine optimization in the mobile market really focuses primarily on using one search engine and also emphasizes your location more than regular SEO. Most of what you know about SEO remains unchanged, but there are new aspects to learn with mobile sites.
Sometimes you have to ride out a storm with your marketing campaign, so remember to sit tight and not to do anything drastic. There will be times when a product takes a dive in popularity or when your customers are too cash-strapped to purchase. Just sit tight and keep doing what you do.
Your mobile ad campaign must be cross-platform compatible, on every major device to maintain your customer base and their attention. If your ad only works on Android, then those are the only customers you will reach! If those with a Blackberry see a jumbled mess, your message is lost. Be sure to keep the compatibility, far reaching with every mobile ad.
Be sure to lay claim to your business in each social network’s location pages. In mobile marketing, it’s all about location, location, location. Smart mobile devices, all have location awareness built into their systems, so users can tell what is around them. Make sure they can find you by claiming your page on sites, like Foursquare, Facebook Places, Gowalla and Google Places.
If you often have great sales or give-aways, consider using SMS to get the word out. Text messages shine in their ability to cut through the clutter of an otherwise busy, application-filled mobile device. The messages usually trigger a pop-up notification on the system, making SMS a terrific choice for getting the word out about a sale that can’t be missed. But be careful to only text message customers who have signed up to receive them, as many people feel SMS mobile marketing is invasive. It could have the opposite effect than your intent.
QR codes are the wave of the future when it comes to advertising. QR or quick response codes use an image that is scanned into a mobile device and hold a bit of information. Use QR codes to link mobile exclusive discount coupons or product information for your business.
Inform folks that you have special promotions on the mobile-marketing platform. Use fliers, business cards and social media to get the word out about your mobile-marketing campaign. Blog about your promotions and urge people to fire up their favorite smartphones to get in on the exclusive fun, coupons and discounts.
Set goals for your mobile marketing plan. Put together a plan so you know how many messages you will send out each day, which people you will target with which promotion, and what promotions those will be. Setting goals allows you to track your success and to focus on what you want to accomplish so you will build your business.
Consider using a special offer or a discount code as your mobile ad campaign. By doing this, cell phone users who view and interact with your ad will feel like they are being rewarded for doing so. This will entice users to visit your shop or website in order to redeem their reward.
So, after reading and applying the helpful tips listed above, you should feel a bit more at ease in the land of mobile marketing. You have the tools; it’s time to use them. You should feel empowered and ready to begin your mobile marketing journey to help better promote your business.
