Business Texting, SMS, Mobile Advertising, small business owners can’t afford to ignore the available marketing tools and applications available today for small business owners and for brick and mortar. These tools and applications is another method to drive traffic to your store front and create brand awareness. Leveraging these tools and applications enables your customer to ‘know, like, and trust you” as people buy from those they know, like and trust, and let’s not forget how they also influence their networks. People are turning to their mobile phones to conduct searches
Mike Maunu, UpYourVisibility.com shares valuable tips on integrating mobile marketing for your business.
I took some clip notes for your convenience.
What is mobile marketing? The Mobile Marketing Association has an in-depth glossary of Mobile Marketing terms available as a free download from their website: www.mmaglobal.com
“Claim your business listings at Google places, Yahoo local, Bing Local, Hotfrogs local listings.
1. Claim your site on local listings (google places, yahoo local, bing local, best of the web, hot frogs)
- Your listing will rise to the top with client reviews/testimonials
- Set up a system or Mike’s business has a system where you can gather testimonials while they are on the premises
- Important to update your listing with new reviews
- Google will link your citations to Google places (411 directory, Judy’s book, Merchant Circle)
2. Leverage Different Mobile Apps
- There are tons of mobile apps (iPhone and newer ones for Android)
- Utilizing SMS – they are read within 4 minutes
- There are 242 mil SMS user
- You can create SMS leads
- Average age is under 50
- MMS – upload photos, videos, audios – great for engaging brands
- There are currently only 50 mil smart phones so target audience is limited
3. Internet Advertising
- This is a new marketing tactic, still on the fence about approach, but the idea is when you enter a store, an ad will appear on your phone offering you incentive to buy (with a discount)
- Works Bluetooth/wifi, location based
4. Text Messaging, a new way to build your customer list
- same set up as IDOL or Dancing with the Stars
- Have your customers text you which will opt them in to receive Text specials
- Same orientation as email marketing for building lists and sending out targeted and timely messages
- example: slow time at restaurant: text out to list “first 20 people will get a free appetizer or 20% off of …..”
- case study: a retailer texted her list of 1200 people the night before about a major sale from 9am-12pm, the next morning there were 232 people waiting in line and $20,000 in 3 hours.
- Lesson: use Text Messaging to build a list
5. Integrate QR codes
- You can create QR codes for different products in the store
- Create a QR code for the entrance of your office or store so people can scan in your info (office hours, services, specials)
- Create a QR code for events, seminars, listing our speakers/agendas/social networking details
** I tried Delivr.com – you can create a QR code and embed video, photos, URL, Text, can add google analytics
Contact Mike if you’re in a position where you could use some help setting up mobile marketing activities, especially text messaging, give Mike Maunu a call by visiting http://www.upyourvisibility.com and Like and comment on his Facebook page!
Below is an interesting report on how people are using mobile:
Survey: Mobile News & Paying Online