The Mobile Marketing Trends That Are Changing Ecommerce

Today is Black Friday.  It was interesting that one merchant 'hid' their Black Friday sales and only notified potential buyers that had downloaded their mobile app.  Does your business have a mobile app? 

You may wonder, "how do you know that?"  Well...the person I was with did not have the mobile app for this business and when I got the notificaiton of the "huge sale" they did not get this message.  So, I wonder...how many potential customers may you be using when you don't offer a mobile app for your website?

With a saturation of smartphones on the market more and more businesses are using a mobile marketing strategy for new innovative ways to reach customers. Smartphones have the high-end advanced functions required for mobile marketing. Smartphones can run third-party applications including merchant applications and GPS location applications. Combining smart new applications like QR Codes, mobile coupons with location-based applications are allowing the consumer to research, retrieve texts from businesses and receive local discount offers.

One of the popular mobile marketing trends is the use of QR Codes. QR Codes are an instantly recognizable code which when scanned with a smart mobile takes the user to a website which can provide videos, coupons, promotions and reviews on a particular product or merchant. Many smart mobiles like the Apple iPhone, Google's Android and the RIM BlackBerry, have the capacity to download a QR Code application which allows accessibility to the information stored in the QR Code.  Beach Bums Marketing will get you set up with a QR Code quickly. 

Through the use of loyalty programs, merchants can send interested users mobile coupons, texts of last-minute deals, promotions and weekly ads. In a recent mobile marketing strategy merchants keep many deals under wraps until after loyalty customers have been texted the information first.

Location based services on smart mobiles allow users to receive local discount offers along with local merchant information close to the area of the user. Smartphones have GPS navigation units and also feature many GPS location applications. This was the last piece of the puzzle required for location marketing as the user shares this information.

More mobile users than ever before are texting and sharing photos through smartphone applications. First only used by business executives now smartphones have reached a younger audience which are introducing an older generation to the benefits of smartphone use. Smartphones have opened new venues for consumers. They are also reviewing and buying products, checking out coupons and group deals through their mobiles by using an enhanced shopping experience and taking advantage of mobile marketing trends. Worldwide more than half of all mobile users are smart mobile users and in the US approximately forty-three percent of all mobile users have a smartphone. There is a growing dependence on the smartphone due to its capability to perform office tasks, check email, mobile banking, make purchases, along with countless online web services and third-party applications. Along with the increased use of smartphones mobile marketing trends are continuing to be developed for smartphone users.

Contact us NOW for a free mobile strategy consultation.....stop losing potential customers to your business!

www.beachbumsmarketing.com

Are you ready for mobile shoppers?

In a recent Mobile Insights biannual study that surveyed 20,000 consumers across fifteen top United States markets in June 2012 it was discovered that approximately 68 percent of U.S. consumers own a mobile device, which is classified as a smartphone, tablet or ereader. This is an increase from 57.2 percent in 2011.

Interesting Facts:

• Smartphone owners are equally split between males and females, per the research.
• More than half of smartphone owners have used their devices inside a store in the past three months. Thirty percent of tablet owners have done the same.
• Forty-seven percent of mobile owners have a QR code reader downloaded onto their device.
• The report also points to a study from comScore in July, which found that 81 percent of smartphone owners used their mobile devices to access a retailer’s mobile site or app. These users also tend to skew younger in age than desktop users and point to mobile becoming a primary medium for consumers to shop from.

With the holiday season upon us, it's important to have a mobile strategy in place for your clients.

Are you mobile ready?  Contact us today for a free strategy session!

www.beachbumsmarketing.com

College Kids Use Mobile During Thanksgiving

Mobile is also effecting college kids.

Did you know that two in five students – 38 percent – say they will do holiday shopping on Thanksgiving?

Moreover, 22 percent of students are more likely to decline a Thanksgiving meal invitation if they know they would not be able to use their mobile devices while there.

The Digitas study also revealed that 76 percent of those who shop by mobile device and computer say that it is easier to shop via computer.

Only eight percent of consumers surveyed said their shopping experience was easier via mobile and 16 percent said there is no difference between the two.  The reason?  Mobile businesses do not have their website mobile friendly....is yours? 

The big news for retailers is that the battle for shoppers is definitely getting beyond just getting them in the store or onto the ecommerce site.  It’s also about getting on people’s smartphones and tablets.

Mobile makes life shoppable – so retailers and brands need to focus on being a part of those moments when people are shopping on their mobile devices.  Honestly, the most surprising finding was that there were actually people who would decline an invitation to Thanksgiving if they couldn’t use their smartphones.

I thought that if there is one institution that could withstand our increasing need to always be connected, it would be Thanksgiving. But it just indicates how much mobile is changing behaviors, attitudes and culture.

According to many, mobile is going to play a very substantial role in the holiday shopping this season.

It’s going to play three key roles.  As a way for people to research and compare features and prices, as a way for people to transact and as a way for brands and retailers to proactively reach out with offers and information.

www.beachbumsmarketing.com

Is Your Website Mobile Ready?

Driving on the freeway today I see signs everywhere asking me to download the latest mobile app such as "download The Toll Roads mobile app today." 

On the radio I'm asked to download the Vons app for additional savings while shopping at their market....mobile apps are getting popular.

With most people using their smartphone over the personal computers to search on where to go for shopping or a meal out with family and/or friends, they will use the phone to find that special place.

Is your business website mobile ready?  Will they click on your site and browse or will they click away?

The choice is yours.....get mobile today with Beach Bums Marketing.  Your full service social media partner.

www.beachbumsmarketing.com