Small businesses need to start investing in mobile marketing before they lose potential customers. Almost everyone carries a smartphone, after all - and phones are often used for quick shopping when people find themselves with some downtime. You could be the owner of the best retail shop in your area, but if customers can't find you on their phones, they won't bother coming in.
The first step toward mobile marketing success is understanding why it's worth the investment. Here are just a few reasons:
Marketing campaigns need to reach all potential customers who might actually use them. It's no different than appealing to people who live near your store - it's just another facet of local marketing. Customers who use smartphones should not be neglected because "everyone already knows about them." They're often ideal customers because they're typically well-educated and busy enough that they don't have time to browse your storefront - but they also have a bit of extra cash to spend.
Marketing experts agree that no one should underestimate mobile marketing. When you sign up with an app developer or other professional service, be aware that this information will likely live online indefinitely, so it's important not to sign away rights you're uncomfortable with. It also helps to ask about money-back guarantees or free initial consultations. All professionals should offer these things anyway - but when investing in mobile marketing, take the time to shop around and compare prices and services before committing to anyone in particular.
Why do small businesses need to invest in mobile marketing?
1. It's the first place shoppers look when they want information about a product or service. People searching for local stores on their phones are more likely to buy something if they have easy access to customer reviews, directions, menu items and more.
2. If you're not engaging with customers through social media channels, your competition is - especially via Facebook and Twitter. Start updating your business pages with one post every day to stay relevant and gain new followers over time. Sharing photos of people using your products or visiting your store humanizes your company and shows potential customers that people genuinely like what you're offering.
3. Apps make it simple for customers to find you and your services, take advantage of special offers and share positive experiences with friends on social media.
4. You can target people who are likely to be interested in what you offer by using location-based mobile advertising. This is especially useful when you want to spread the word about sales or new products in a specific area, like during the holiday season or when opening a new location.
5. You never know when someone might need your services, so having mobile options available matters when they're in an urgent situation. For example, sending driving directions right away could turn someone into a customer instead of losing them because they got lost.
6. It's a good way to give back to the community and support causes that matter to you. You can create mobile coupons or run text messaging campaigns to raise money for a charity, encourage people in the area to donate toys for a holiday drive, or simply thank past customers. There are many ways to give from wherever you are.
7. You don't need to be an expert in mobile marketing right away - there are many free resources out there including podcasts, articles and blog posts dedicated to helping small businesses learn how to use these tools.
8. People are busy and may tune out TV ads or billboards, but they can still benefit from mobile campaigns even briefly. A customer waiting in line at the grocery store who gets a notification about a current offer might stop and take action before leaving.
9. At least 1 in 10 people who see your ad will take some kind of action, according to Business Insider; with mobile marketing, however, you could have up to 7 times as many people viewing your message and acting on it.
10: Mobile devices make people more inclined to spend - apps that surface deals give shoppers information they would otherwise miss. People who use their phones to check weekly ads and promotions end up spending 20% more than those who don't.
Small businesses need to start investing in mobile marketing before they lose potential customers. Almost everyone carries a smartphone, after all - and phones are often used for quick shopping when people find themselves with some downtime. You could be the owner of the…