five consumers shop using their smartphone, jumping on the mobile marketing
bandwagon sooner rather than later is a strategy webmasters cannot ignore.
Mobile marketing is not just trundling along - it's going at breakneck
speeds and is only going to get faster!
Mobile Marketing is the Future
With the way mobile technology is advancing, consumers will become more
reliant on their handheld devices to do their shopping. Indeed, mobile
marketing is the fastest growing industry EVER! According to Monetate
Ecommerce quarterly, the growth of consumers using their mobiles to shop is
steadily growing each quarter and has almost doubled from Q1 in 2012 to Q1
in 2013. Analysts estimate that mobile marketing will outstrip fixed
internet access next year.
The simple fact of the matter is that the world is going SoLoMo - consumers
are shopping socially, searching locally and using mobile devices to do it.
Larry Page, chief executive of Google, said: "With more devices, more
information, and more activity online than ever, the potential to improve
people's lives even more is immense."
Only 17% of Online Businesses can Effectively be Viewed on a Mobile Device
Given the statistics above, it may surprise you to find that only 17% of
websites actually work properly on a handheld device. There is definitely
room for improvement. At the moment consumers are being patient, but once
more website owners get on-board with mobile marketing, consumers will not
tolerate websites they have to scroll through to see. Make sure you are one
of the first to get on-board. Mobile marketing is an emerging market and to
take advantage you have to get in there early.
40% of Shoppers Consult Three or More Review Sites Before Making a Purchase
The internet has taken word-of-mouth marketing to another level. The ability
to leave reviews enables consumers to go online and find out what other
people are saying about a particular product. However, they do not settle
for one site as one voice cannot be trusted so register your products and
business with several consumer promotion sites. This type of behavior puts
the emphasis for quality on manufacturers which in turn helps small
businesses sell merchandise.
4 out of 5 Consumers use Smartphones to Shop
Access to the internet is very convenient for smartphone users and they are
using their handhelds to check out prices and reviews of certain products
while they are in your shop. You can use this to your advantage by offering
discount coupons for customers to download straight to their mobile and use
in your shop.
40% of Searches have Local Intent
A couple of years ago, Google identified that the larger percentage of
searches were local. The same pattern is emerging using handheld technology
and as mobile marketing continues to grow, this figure will grow with it. If
you own a local business on high-street, it is imperative to make your
website stand out on portable handsets.
Mobile Marketing is Predicted to Overtake Desktop Internet Usage
According to the digital analytics firm Comscore, there will be more people
surfing the net on portable devices next year than there will be using
desktop computers. The stats show that mobile use is growing 14 times faster
than desktop devices. The increase is largely thanks to 3G and 4G technology
becoming more widespread on smartphones and tablets - especially in emerging
mobile phone markets such as China and India.
Young People use Their Phones More Than Their Mouths
Young people don't talk anymore - they chat. Okay, that's not strictly true,
but they do use their mobile phones to communicate and share online content.
A recent survey showed that 61% of young people refer to social media sites
to decide where to go and what to buy. The same survey showed that 78% of
small businesses attract around a quarter of their new customers through
social media networking and nearly all teenagers that own a mobile phone use
Facebook.
70% of Mobile Searches lead to Online Action within an Hour
Given that mobile users are on the go while they are browsing for bargains,
it makes sense that conversion rates are a lot faster than someone searching
on a laptop. That's because people searching on desktop computers are
usually at home and have time to ponder their purchase options and continue
their searches. Mobile shoppers are ready to spend and will buy on impulse.
Mobile Communication helps Your Employees reach Your Customers More Easily
Moving away from consumers finding you - how about you finding consumers! A
study conducted by SAP found that small to medium-sized businesses that
implement mobile technologies can reach their customers more easily and
enables employees to work from home or on the road - thus increasing
productivity. Let's not get into the telecommuting argument here, but
managed correctly, if you equip your employees with smartphones, tablets or
phablets, you can increase productivity and find an easier route to your
customers.
Smartphones are More Convenient than Laptops
It goes without saying that you can't carry a laptop with you everywhere you
go. Smartphones on the other hand slip easily into a pocket or handbag and
people carry them all the time. Thus, it makes sense that there is a greater
likelihood that people will use their smartphones to look for information on
the internet. Nightlife venues and restaurants benefit from this immensely.
Some restaurants have reported a 90% conversion rate from people using their
mobiles to look for a place to eat.
Conclusion
The case for mobile marketing is compelling given the attractive
statistics - and the good news is it will only get better. However, with the
industry growing at such a fast pace, it is imperative that enterprises,
especially web owners with high street stores, make their businesses visible
on portable devices. Mobile marketing is more likely to provide the key to
online success moving forward if you employ strategies that make mobile
users act on impulse.
Let us know if you are using mobile marketing strategies and how they are
working for you in the Comments section.
my motto is "Keep it simple" and "don't leave anything for tomorrow that can
be done today."
Regards Gerald Crawford
Stellenbosch South Africa
Cell: +27-0720390184 (mobile)
E-mail: gerald@webcraft.ws
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