Mobile marketing and advertising trends continue to keep growing, much like that of a SUPER NOVA. Mobile to overtake fixed Internet access by 2014†had been the bold prediction clear back in 2008 by Mary Meeker, an analyst at Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers who reviews technology trends annually. We are WAY past the tipping point on that incredible prediction.
Mobile Friendly Web Site :
With the advent of mobile usage literally going off the scale it’s very important that your business have a mobile friendly website. When consumers are searching for a specific products or service generally using their smartphone and if they have to do a lot of extra work like zooming in to be able to read text of your web site, they will most likely blow off your site and find one that is easier to navigate and to use
Responsive web design (RWD) :
An approach to web design aimed at crafting sites to provide an optimal viewing experience easy reading and navigation with a minimum of resizing, panning, and scrolling”across a wide range of devices (from desktop computer monitors to mobile phones). A site designed with RWD adapts the layout to the viewing environment by using fluid, proportion-based grids, flexible images, and CSS3 media queries. By making sure your site is the most mobile friendly of sites to be found, will increase the odds in you favor of people actually using your products or services
Text Messaging :
By utilizing text messages you can get your products and services in front of customers quickly and on a regular basis. Most people check text messages several times a day, even an hour, which ensures they have immediate access to your hopefully up-to-date company info and product specials, helping entice them to utilize your company. Shop around and look for plans that will serve your needs. Here is an example: Trumpia
Email :
Yes email marketing is still a BIG thing and used heavily by consumers. When utilized properly companies are STILL benefiting from the simplicity that email offers. Emailing special offers, in store events and product information keeps your company’s name front and center, and this can cause increased business. Emails that are short and to the point, perform best, and that is the type of email that customers generally don’t mind seeing in their in box.
While email is a terrific way to attract business, it is vital that you remember to never overdo it. Your customer doesn’t want to be bombarded with tons of email messages from one company, and if they are, it may usually result in a spam like appearance for your company, what usually happens is that potential customer will OPT OUT from receiving emails from you and that will definitely cause a decline in business. There are many providers to handle your email marketing and their prices and offerings vary, here are a few: iContact, Benchmark Email, Pinpointe, Get Response, Constant Contact, Vertical Response.
Social Media :
With the Tsunami called Social Media pounding on us from every angle, finding a reasonable balance of representing your business online has become, well, quite maddening. You may even say is too much confusion . . . I can’t get no relief (hmmm, that sounds strangely familiar). But in this chaos can be found marketing excellence.
There are literally 100’s of social media platforms one could use for their business, to start out I recommend only using 2.
Facebook and Google+ :
I always prefer to use the Kings of the jungle. Facebook still remains king of the social media realm and is improving for business usage (yes they still have a long way to), but they are providing a very cost effective way to get the word out about your business. Google+ is Google’s response to Facebook, since Google still is handling 70% plus (no pun intended) of all searches, it would be advised to have a full and vibrant presence on that platform as well. In only a year and a half it grew exponentially and established itself as the second biggest social network.
A final thought, I work with 100’s of businesses and the most common issue for all of them is they all have lots of social media accounts setup, but at least 85% of them have not posted or used any of those accounts in 1-2 years. So if you are going to have a Social Media presence, BE BOLD and bring your A Game and use it well!