The Basics Of Mobile Marketing

Its no secret that mobile marketing is quickly taking over. The problem is that most businesses have no idea what mobile marketing is or how they can use it to benefit their business. Let’s first define what mobile marketing is.

In simple terms mobile marketing is the use of mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones to get your marketing message out to the masses. Now before I break down the various strategies you can use for mobile marketing let me first go over the basics.

Mobile Websites

The majority of websites aren’t mobile ready. They are designed for viewing on laptop and desktop screens. But with so many people now visiting websites from their smartphones and tablets, it is a smart idea for every business to create a mobile version of their site.

And don’t worry, this can be done very easily. Here are 3 ways you can make your website mobile ready.

1 – Reformat your existing content with an automated system.
2 – Use a plug and play platform to create a separate, mobile version of your site.
3 – Add a line of code that can detect the screen size of the device and automatically adjust.

Location Based Platforms

The first step in mobile marketing is to claim your business on various location based sites. The most popular location based sites are Google Places, Facebook Places and Foursquare.

By claiming your business on these sites you will make it easy for your customers to connect with you from their mobile devices. One of the best ways to leverage this platform is to offer special discounts or coupon codes to those who “check in” with your business.

You have to be very creative here. Think outside the box. The more creative the better.

Mobile Ad Campaigns

Mobile ads have become extremely popular these days. Just about every app and every program uses mobile ads. And unlike traditional advertising campaigns, mobile ad campaigns are much more defined. With a traditional ad you have no control over when people will see your ad.

With mobile ads you have the opportunity to reach a potential customer at the very moment they are in your area looking for your particular products or services.

Let me give you an example. Let’s say you own a hair salon. When someone uses their mobile device to search for “hair salons near me” and they happen to be in your area, your mobile ad will pop up. Mobile ads put you in front of your target market better than any other form of marketing.

QR Codes

Have you noticed little black and white squares that resemble barcodes popping up everywhere? These are known as QR, or quick response, codes. They can be scanned by mobile devices and deliver any information you want to the potential customer.

Many businesses will offer coupons to potential customers in a effort to drive up sells. There are plenty of sites online that allow you to create a QR code. And the best part is that you can use it on just about any marketing material you can think of.

As the saying goes, experience is the best teacher. So if you are new to mobile marketing why not try it out for yourself so you can see how effective this form of marketing is? Once you see firsthand how powerful mobile marketing is you will be ready to implement it into your business.