When’s the last time you looked at your phone? If you’re like most Millennials, the answer is probably not more than five or ten minutes ago. Cell phones have become an all-encompassing master device, if you will. No longer do you need a newspaper to read the daily news, a computer to check your email, and a Discman or MP3 player to listen to music. Your phone truly does it all, so it’s no surprise that marketing practices have also emerged in the mobile scope. Mobile marketing includes everything from downloadable applications to SMS texts.
Ever received a text from a strange five or six digit number? Companies use SMS, or Short Message Service, to send out mass texts from a bank of phone numbers to communicate information to consumers. Often times, these will include coupons or special offers and only go out those on this new-age mailing list, of sorts. To some, SMS marketing may be considered annoying or invasive, but it’s arguably one of the fastest forms of advertising. Everyone is quick to open a text when their phone chimes, and whether or not the receiver is disappointed in who the sender is, they are exposed to the brand’s message.
The largest form of mobile advertising involves applications, or apps, and everything associated with them. By now, most large companies have developed an app that makes accessing the brand very convenient and user-friendly. Apps can include an online store, website content, or special games and features. Users can receive push notifications that alert them when something goes on sale or when they haven’t engaged with app in a while or really, anything the brand wants. You’ve probably heard someone say, “There’s an app for that!” and marketers have been quick to jump on this bandwagon in order to reach audiences.
Location-based services and GPS tracking are another important part of mobile advertising. Marketers are able to track where you are using the GPS chip in your phone and send you custom advertisements based on your current location. Ever been listening to Pandora in your car and a Burger King ad plays between songs? It’s no coincidence that a Burger King lies half of a mile down the road. Advertisers are using the new technology in mobile phones to drive business through a means of convenience for the consumer.
Mobile marketing is important because it’s one of the most personal ways to reach consumers. Our phones have become our own individualized portals to the outside world and are never more than a few feet away from us. The customization of mobile marketing also presents challenges, as consumers can easily pick and choose what brands they want to engage with at the tap of a screen. The team at Transformation knows how to build the app that is just right for your business and place ads that will thrive in the mobile channel. We realize that media is changing and we want to help your company stay relevant in a society driven by mobile devices!