The thought of using mobile marketing can be both exciting and intimidating at the same time, especially if you have little to no previous experience in doing so. Use this article to help you get a good background both on what it is and how to best use it.
Shorten your URLs, both in text form and for QR codes. The more difficult and lengthy the URL is, the more complex your message or QR code will become. Make these simpler for people to access by using a URL shortening site, and customers will be happier with the end results.
Link to specific parts of your website. If you are having a special sale on one part of your site, you should link directly to that site. Mobile sites can sometimes be difficult to navigate, but if you give customers direct access, they are more likely to take the time to look, and possibly buy.
Some mobile marketers get out of hand with their messaging and can send five to six messages a day per customer. Doing this sort of aggressive campaigning, will simply turn customers off to your business, especially if they have to pay for each individual text that they receive from you.
Let customers give you feedback. Some mobile marketers have outgoing only messaging, meaning that a customer cannot text them back without going through a lot of hassle. Let your customers talk back to you to improve the focus of your plan, and know if you may need to do something differently.
Do not send pointless messages to your customers. Ensure that your message is relevant each time you actually do message them. Nothing will crash your marketing campaign faster than annoying your customers with random things. Customers can get all the funny, cute messages they want from their friends; what they expect from marketers is useful information.
Hire a consultant. Not everyone is technologically savvy, so if you are not so inclined, it may be best for you to hire someone to do your dirty work for you. You should look heavily into this person’s background to make sure they are respectful and professional, especially if they will be a permanent member of your team.
Don’t forget to use QR codes on your printed advertisements to appeal to smartphone users. That way you make it easy for those who use smart phones to visit your website and access your coupons. QR codes should appear on business cards, brochures, catalogs and posters. If a potential customer is really interested in what you are selling, the QR code will give them the ability to learn more.
Engaging with your customers is incredibly important in mobile marketing, so it’s a good idea if you have some line of contact open with them. Whether they can reach you via a forum, your IM handle, or by some other method, make sure you’re keeping the lines of communication open with your customers.
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.
Even though you’re marketing in the mobile world, you still have to make sure that you keep improving your efforts outside of this realm. Allowing other areas of marketing to lapse and putting too much focus on mobile marketing will hurt your business, no matter how well your mobile marketing is doing. Use your calendar and task list to allot regular times for each kind of marketing campaign.
Playing to the status of your customers is a huge deal and a surefire way you can improve on your mobile marketing campaign. People wait out in line for days to get an high-end Phone in part for the same reason people wear a Gold Watch: It’s a status symbol. Offering status-boosting incentives is a great way to keep your customers on the hook.
It is important to remember that not all people use the same mobile platform. In a world where people use cellphones, tablets, laptops, and other mobile devices, it is absolutely necessary to make your advertisements span across multiple platforms. This way you will be able to reach more people.
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.
Mobile marketing is a fun and exciting way to get your message out to your target audience. It is something that when done right, will be an excellent addition to your advertising arsenal. Start today, and use the great tips provided in this article.
