There are millions of users all over the world (and MANY in your local market) who use mobile devices on a daily basis to communicate with friends, research companies and BUY products and services.

Mobile marketing is a whole new realm for many business owners when compared to standard “old school” advertising methods. Technology is moving so fast and prices are so reasonable, that mobile marketing can truly be the “holy grail” for many business owners.

Businesses now have the ability to reach their customer base in real time and provide them with what they want right now, and the cost is minimal compared with the return most businesses see running mobile marketing programs.

Here are just a few of the perks of going mobile for your business marketing:

1. Higher Conversion Rates
   Who doesn’t look at their phone when it makes a noise? I know I do. By reaching your target market through mobile, you can readily promote your products or services to the right audience right away. The response rate is higher than any traditional marketing campaigns like radio or TV, meaning more customers and profit for you.
2. Readily Engage Customers
   Most every customer who has a mobile phone can receive updates of your latest offers or services, helping you engage them. This is amazing for customer retention and obtaining new customers. Build a good relationship with your customer base, and they’ll keep coming back (and referring you to their friends).
3. Get Honest Feedback
   Mobile marketing can also be used as a two-way communication between you and your customers. Getting feedback on a new product, feature or event is easy. Understanding what rings a customer’s bell helps narrow down your marketing efforts, focusing your energy where the money is.
4. It’s Cost Effective
   Mobile is one of the most cost-effective campaigns you can run for your business, and the ROI is high when the campaign is professionally run. Your costs include a small setup fee and a nominal monthly maintenance fee, and the rest of your proceeds are pure profit in your pocket. Mobile marketing campaigns can also be easily integrated into your existing advertising to boost their ROI as well.
5. Wide Range
   You can reach your audience anytime, anywhere. It doesn’t matter if your customers are on vacation or right next door, they’ll get your message. Even better, if your offer is good, they can forward it to their friends. When your message goes viral, that means more customers for you.
6. Easy to Start
   Don’t know much about mobile technology? That’s okay – you don’t have to. If you know how to send a text message, you can do this. All you need to do is tell your customers about your mobile program, and they’ll jump at the chance to get your offers.

Mobile marketing is not the wave of the future – it’s the wave of NOW. Many of your competitor’s are taking advantage of the ease and high ROI of mobile programs. Will you be left in the dust, letting them take your future customers?

First of all, you want to actually understand the needs of your target market. Each business niche is different, and the misconception is that only the young and hip use web-accessible mobile phones.

This is simply not true anymore.  Many business owners themselves, of varying age groups, use their Smartphones daily to connect with their own customers and find information.

Are your potential customers using mobile website features?

The fact is that there are over 5 billion mobile subscribers: That’s over 77% of the world’s population, and many mobile users only use their mobile phones to access the internet rather than a traditional computer.

If your business involves connecting with other business owners, it would make sense to invest in a mobile website.

For those of you who have a more consumer based business, you’re going to have to really look hard into how your business comes in. If you do get sales and traffic to your website, chances are you’re going to have some people who will happily purchase via mobile if they have the right environment to do so.

For instance, Amazon.com has a fantastic, simplistic mobile website which allows users to view everything they would normally on their desktop but in a smaller, unified space. Amazon has not missed a thing; a complete, secure shopping cart and a recommendations list are available on their mobile website. As you know Amazon gains huge revenue from their main website, but they also understand that users need information and assurance that their payment information is still secure when used on a mobile phone. Amazon has come up with a solution for this by having an extensive FAQ section for mobile device users.

Mobile website considerations for local business

If you have a local business without doing any direct selling online, realize how many people are using their mobile phones to search for businesses just like yours. Not only that, many users take advantage of the GPS Smartphone features as well, so you could certainly be leaving foot traffic outside your door if you don’t have a mobile website.

This may have answered your question as to whether you should have a mobile website. You may feel you’d gain nothing from having one, but the fact that seventy-one percent of Smartphone users will search for more information on their Smartphones when they see a TV press or an online ad; you have to wonder if you’re leaving money on the table by not incorporating a mobile website into your marketing plan.

Like it or not, mobile usage is growing and ninety percent of the world lives in a place where they can get mobile access.

So think carefully before you dismiss the idea of having a mobile website. If you want to run a poll with your current customers that may help you decide – but when doing so you’ll want to provide them with a full fact list of the benefits, since most may have a few warranted objections regarding mobile data safety that they’ll want to discuss before offering you a true answer regarding their potential use of a mobile website.

• 77 percent of the world’s population subscribe to mobile web: That’s 5.3 billion people.

Now objectively, we don’t know exactly how much time people are spending on their mobile phone – surfing the mobile web, but the statistic below gives us an indication of what is predicted in the future.

• In 2009, half a billion people accessed mobile Internet worldwide. Statistical data given by analysis companies such as Gartner indicate that usage is expected to double within five years as mobile overtakes the PC as the most popular way to get on the Web.

It’s very telling that Gartner believe that mobile will overtake PC usage, and we only have to look around to see that in effect. You can walk down any busy street and see at least one person glued to their Smartphone. They could be sending or viewing an SMS or email – or they could be mobile surfing to find the address of a store?

Quite possibly, they could be making a purchase. Gartner also revealed some staggering predictions for ad revenue and this would indicate that businesses placing ads on mobile websites feel there is huge value in this sector.

• Gartner predicts mobile web ad revenue will be $3.3 billion in 2011. This will explode to $20.6 billion in 2015. It will double each year and will continue to grow thereafter.

Sources: Gartner.com | MobiThinking.com

What are your thoughts on this? Do you use your mobile phone to surf the web? Would you purchase from a link placed on a mobile website?

These startling statistics for mobile web surfing show that mobile web use is on the up and up and predictions show it’s not slowing down.

Facebook is always changing, and possibly the biggest change they have ever made becomes compulsory on March 30th. Gone are Landing Tabs, 520px wide Fan Pages and many other things businesses know well and rely on.

You’ve probably seen some of your Facebook Friends using the new Timeline page structure. Well, on March 30, every page will automatically use this structure, whether it’s for business or personal. How will your page look?

Facebook pages will also be a full 810px wide. They used to be only 520px. How will your business take advantage of this increased social media real estate?

This is one of many changes that can transform social media interaction for your business.

Don’t get left behind while your competitors start taking advantage of the opportunities presented by these changes. Contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation. Let us help you make the most of your social media campaigns!

When I was first asked to work on a project which involved mobile website design and QR codes a few years ago, I had to research these strange looking patterned codes. To my surprise, I discovered they were more becoming more popular than I’d imagined.

QR (quick response) codes have been around for a few years and were invented by the Japanese and from their humble beginnings in the car industry they’ve grown in world wide appeal.

The reason for this is because the QR code is designed read contents quickly by a  QR reader on a mobile phone (with a camera attached), and that makes it very appealing for business owners who are utilizing the fast-growing mobile web market.

The patterned code is free for anyone to generate and use, and there are various places on the web you can do that. However, they do look a bit boring, so the latest craze, which I think will be around for a while, is to actually customize the QR code.

Customized QR Codes

QR codes have a thirty percent error rate. This means you can redesign certain areas of the code with color and even logos and the code will still scan.

As someone who likes to put their mark on things, I love using customized codes, but my practical nature makes me just as happy with the plain black and white version. Both have there places and are truly functional for small business owners.

Some QR codes go directly to websites, some send text messages and others can be made to show phone numbers. This gives businesses a chance to really connect as well as be creative.

A Variety of Uses for QR Codes

Imagine these codes on your marketing literature with a chance to get people to your website, call you directly, or present them with a special message: That’s pretty amazing. Think of having QR codes printed on your store fliers or restaurant menus, where people can opt in to your text coupon list or visit your mobile website while they’re waiting for service. QR codes can be amazing for realtors and car dealers as well: Put them on a house sign or a window sticker, and let your customers take a virtual tour all on their own.

Once you start using QR codes, you may well be addicted too.

Mobile websites are becoming more and more popular as the use of Smartphones picks up at a fast pace.

But one big question is – how do you design a mobile website?

I’m going to explain very quickly the elements you need in order to make a mobile website design functional and easy to use for your visitors.

Your main website colors can be incorporated into your design as can your main logo or graphic header. The point of a mobile website is to make it as quick-loading and simplistic as you can. The first step is to make sure the header graphic you use is re-sized to fit a mobile screen.

In regards to information, I recommend you take only the most vital information and actually have some simple tabs or menu items for each section on the front page of your mobile website. What you have listed depends on your business, but don’t forget, you don’t need every tab showing on the front page.

By all means list categories on the front which lead to other pages on your mobile website. This will make the mobile website easier to use for visitors.

You should, without a doubt, place your contact information on the mobile site as well as all the places you are listed on social media, such as, – Twitter, Facebook, Google + and LinkedIn, and not forgetting a link to the desktop version of your website. A touch to call button is a nice touch so visitors can call you right away.

Important Tip: Keep your mobile website simple.

When it comes to content, you don’t want to fill each page with a novel’s worth of writing: Keep it simple and straight to the point. Remember, users are reading your message on a very small screen.

Additionally, you can add an opt-in newsletter, but consider making a separate menu item for this such as ‘news and offers’; that way your website won’t look cluttered.

These few tips should get you thinking about what belongs on a mobile version of your website and what visitors can really use.

QR Codes Inspire Curiosity

QR codes are really enticing for people to scan and find out more, but sometimes you have to be a little creative with where you place them and what you do with them.

1. Put them on merchandise such as t-shirts and hats. This is a great way to take your QR code on the move with you. Strangers can’t resist scanning these codes so be prepared if you should happen to be wearing a shirt or hat with the code on – you may have a few people point their Smartphones at you to see where your QR code leads them.

2. Use QR codes on stickers. Have you ever given money to someone with a charity box and in return you get a sticker? Yes its old school but some charities and fundraising individuals still do it. What happens with the sticker? It’s normally discarded very quickly. Why make a QR code that directs people to the charity or fundraiser website.

3. Put QR codes on sales tags for clothes or tangible goods to explain more about the product. This really helps when you are low on staff but don’t want to lose customers. You can place little how-to scan cards on the counter or around the store, so people know how what to do in order to maximise the use of your QR codes.

4. Use QR codes on temporary tattoos. Yep you can go for a real one if you’re dare, after all some people have, but I suggest temporary tattoos are a fun way to get attention – especially at the weekend when you’re out with your friends – flash that tattoo and get think scanning your skin. Its fun, different and it will get you attention both online as well as on the mobile web.

5. Put QR codes on billboards. If your budget allows you to put advertising on medium size billboards then you can really get a lot of clicks to your mobile website. Now before you scoff at this idea, you’d be surprised how cheaply you can hire a billboard out for a short term to place the code on it. This form of marketing is best used when you have an amazing offer going on.

Hopefully this has given you some ideas of how to market with QR codes, and don’t forget QR codes don’t have to be black and white. Hire a designer to customize them for you. This makes them even more fun to use, and they’ll really stand out.

Meet Your Readers Where They Are with an Email List

Not all of your readers will find you through your blog or your website. In fact, many of your readers and potential customers will learn about you through word of mouth from friends and relatives. Those helpful friends and relatives may find it easiest to simply forward your newsletter, earning you some new readers once they sign up. Through your emails and newsletters, these new customers will eventually find their way back to your website or blog which they may not have done otherwise.

Targeted Audience

Your email list is full of people who are interested in what you have to say. You don’t have to worry about the hard sell with them, because they know you and your product and want to know what the latest information is. Your email list is also a valuable mine of feedback. These are the people whose opinions you care most about, and you have them as a captive audience.

Become an Authority & Leverage Your Expertise to your Email List

With your email list, you are now an expert in your field. Leverage that fact and bring your readers experts and information they can really use. Once your readers trust the information you bring them, your list will grow by leaps and bounds. Remember that your readers will share powerful information with their friends and families. An authoritative expert is far more likely to have their newsletters and email shared than someone who fails to leverage their expertise.

About Google Places

Google Places is a free service owned by Google itself. It serves free listings of commercial or non-commercial organizations. Free listings include the organization’s name, full contact details, and business type with a geographical map and much more. You can see the location of the business on a map making it a great marketing tool for local businesses.

Benefits Of Google Places To Your Business

Using Google Places is one of the best methods to promote your business on the Google search engine. Google enables business owners to list their name and all important details on Google Places free of charge. However, there are some specific details that a person needs to know to make the listing show up on page one and stay there. While searching, a list of local businesses are displayed on the screen with complete contact details and a map.

Visitors may click on relevant links of organizations to get more details about them. Having your relevant website or blog details there is critical so that people can go to your site to learn more. From a sales and promotion point of view, it has become essential that your business be listed in Google Places.

Let’s look at an example of how a user will find information on Google Places. If someone types “Chinese Food Mahnattan”, it will pull up all of the local information on Chinese food restaurants in the area of Manhattan along with a map and contact information.

It might sound like you can just head over to Google Places right now to input your information and get on page one. Unfortunately, that is no longer true. Now that so many business owners know how important it is, the service has become highly competitive.

In order to get to the top of the Google Places rankings, you need to create your listing in a very specific way. We can help you do that! Just contact us or give us a call today so that we can claim your spot.