In a recent “Small Business Technology Poll” from AT&T, one-fifth of small businesses said they “could not survive” without mobile and 43% more claimed it would be a major challenge. This isn’t to say they could not survive without mobile marketing, but it does show how crucial mobile and wireless is becoming to business functions and society in general.
Other findings in the AT&T study were that one-quarter of respondents reported the same wireless usage as in 2007, while a monstrous 74% of small business relied on wireless at least somewhat more. Additionally, nearly three-quarters plan to increase their use of mobile and wireless, including 37% who say they will use the services “much more.”
To business owners and marketers, this shows increased integration in the business world for mobile and wireless products and solutions. As an example, a small business may increase their dependence on wireless checkout/cashier solutions (while potentially also decreasing operating costs). This immediately allows the opportunity to invite customers to use wireless, SMS/MMS based coupons. Shopping at this small business is now more convenient than its competitors and consumers are always willing to pay for convenience. The small business wins two-fold!
As I write, Ballyhoo Mobile is creating several solutions for small businesses to increase the ease with which their customers shop and decrease the cost the business incurs in reaching them. For more, check out our website and product solutions here.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Grow your mobile list for free
Readers of this blog are a solid mix between marketers interested in entering the mobile space and marketers already allocating budget to mobile. I try to keep a mix of articles to serve both parties.
In this article, I am sharing a tactic we have seen work well (for free!) as a way to shape a mobile strategy and grow your mobile database. Use your employees!
Watch how your employees use their mobile devices. Ask them if they participate in any mobile marketing or mobile communication with another business and ask them why they do/do not. If your employees share any characteristics with your customers, use this information to shape your mobile strategy.
Furthermore, if your employees are your customers and your employees are passionate about what they do, have them spread the word. Let’s use a restaurant example: no server is interested is out with friends and going to say “Hey, go to our website when you get home and download and print this awesome coupon” or “You know? You should really join our newsletter list when you get home.” But, they will say “Want to save a few bucks? Text FOOD to 72239.” Simple, easy, inviting, and it doesn’t make your employee feels “salesy.”
Very simple strategy but it doesn’t cost you another dime and can help escalate your positive word of mouth!
For more tips and strategies, click here.
In this article, I am sharing a tactic we have seen work well (for free!) as a way to shape a mobile strategy and grow your mobile database. Use your employees!
Watch how your employees use their mobile devices. Ask them if they participate in any mobile marketing or mobile communication with another business and ask them why they do/do not. If your employees share any characteristics with your customers, use this information to shape your mobile strategy.
Furthermore, if your employees are your customers and your employees are passionate about what they do, have them spread the word. Let’s use a restaurant example: no server is interested is out with friends and going to say “Hey, go to our website when you get home and download and print this awesome coupon” or “You know? You should really join our newsletter list when you get home.” But, they will say “Want to save a few bucks? Text FOOD to 72239.” Simple, easy, inviting, and it doesn’t make your employee feels “salesy.”
Very simple strategy but it doesn’t cost you another dime and can help escalate your positive word of mouth!
For more tips and strategies, click here.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
SMS Used to Increase Facebook Fans
Every business is looking to increase their Facebook fans. We just had a client utilize their mobile database to do this! Through our web-based software, they sent their database a push SMS message reading “Hi loyal Mobile VIP! Become our fan on Facebook and you could win $1,000…help us reach 2,000 fans!”
By then inserting a tiny url link to the Facebook page at the end of this message, people can take action instantly. Since many consumers who interact with businesses via SMS are on smartphones they can also access their social networking sites via the mobile internet.
This business had already accumulated a mobile database through previous promotions and was able to send a push message to every member in a matter of moments. If they did not yet have a mobile database, it would be easy to create one with promotions such as Text to Win, Text to Join, Text to Vote, Text to Chat, Text to Screen, etc. Often times these promotions cost pennies per person, are turnkey, and easy to implement. Then once you have an opted-in database you can send them push messages from software to keep them engaged and keep them spending time and money with you and not the competitors.
Any questions on more details of this campaign, please feel free to ask!
I can be reached directly: dave@ballyhoomobile.com
By then inserting a tiny url link to the Facebook page at the end of this message, people can take action instantly. Since many consumers who interact with businesses via SMS are on smartphones they can also access their social networking sites via the mobile internet.
This business had already accumulated a mobile database through previous promotions and was able to send a push message to every member in a matter of moments. If they did not yet have a mobile database, it would be easy to create one with promotions such as Text to Win, Text to Join, Text to Vote, Text to Chat, Text to Screen, etc. Often times these promotions cost pennies per person, are turnkey, and easy to implement. Then once you have an opted-in database you can send them push messages from software to keep them engaged and keep them spending time and money with you and not the competitors.
Any questions on more details of this campaign, please feel free to ask!
I can be reached directly: dave@ballyhoomobile.com
Use SMS and Win Business!
Twenty percent of U.S households no longer own a landline phone in their home. The University of Illinois just built a dorm with no landlines…period. Meanwhile the number of mobile subscribers has grown to over 270 million. As mobile explodes, companies are turning toward SMS campaigns because they offer personal, instantaneous and active content to a specific audience.
Businesses who use short code campaigns can offer coupons, polling, incentive programs, feedback, alerts and specials all through text. They are versatile yet user friendly and inclusive, in that nearly all mobile phones are text message capable; this is in stark contrast to the necessity of a smart phone to access other mobile technology like mobile applications and mobile sites.
SMS campaigns also have a higher rate of positive opt-ins, with most campaigns having a 90 percent opt in rate, as compared to only 20 percent for email.
Plus SMS is an incredibly cost effective way for a business to identify their market and best potential customers, patients, members, etc. For example, a regional furniture store used a sleek text to win SMS campaign that resulted in increased revenue while building their database at the same time.
SMS campaigns also serve as great way to increase brand recognition. It has been reported that consumers better recognized businesses that incorporate SMS and other mobile campaigns than businesses that advertise exclusively through another type of medium.
Ballyhoo Mobile is seasoned in jumpstarting mobile campaigns from SMS to mobile websites and applications. The professional team at Ballyhoo can help collaborate with you to determine what kind of content will be best suited for your customer’s needs.
Though SMS campaigns can stand alone Ballyhoo Mobile is able to maximize a businesses marketing tactics by interweaving mobile with print, radio and any other advertising platform that a particular business uses.
If you are in the market to build your business using the latest technology while engaging a larger potential customer pool, contact Ballyhoo Mobile and watch your business expand.
Businesses who use short code campaigns can offer coupons, polling, incentive programs, feedback, alerts and specials all through text. They are versatile yet user friendly and inclusive, in that nearly all mobile phones are text message capable; this is in stark contrast to the necessity of a smart phone to access other mobile technology like mobile applications and mobile sites.
SMS campaigns also have a higher rate of positive opt-ins, with most campaigns having a 90 percent opt in rate, as compared to only 20 percent for email.
Plus SMS is an incredibly cost effective way for a business to identify their market and best potential customers, patients, members, etc. For example, a regional furniture store used a sleek text to win SMS campaign that resulted in increased revenue while building their database at the same time.
SMS campaigns also serve as great way to increase brand recognition. It has been reported that consumers better recognized businesses that incorporate SMS and other mobile campaigns than businesses that advertise exclusively through another type of medium.
Ballyhoo Mobile is seasoned in jumpstarting mobile campaigns from SMS to mobile websites and applications. The professional team at Ballyhoo can help collaborate with you to determine what kind of content will be best suited for your customer’s needs.
Though SMS campaigns can stand alone Ballyhoo Mobile is able to maximize a businesses marketing tactics by interweaving mobile with print, radio and any other advertising platform that a particular business uses.
If you are in the market to build your business using the latest technology while engaging a larger potential customer pool, contact Ballyhoo Mobile and watch your business expand.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Restaurants Maximize Mobile Marketing via SMS and the Mobile Web
Restaurants have long used direct mailing coupons as a tactic to increase brand awareness and entice perspective guests to dine with them. With mobile quickly becoming the “it” medium, national chain restaurants to mom and pop joints are all trying to cash in on mobile coupons, mobile sites and other mobile tactics to increase restaurant traffic.
Ballyhoo Mobile has experience in creating such coupons as well as coming up with a concurrent marketing strategy to make the most of a particular mobile promotion. Mobile coupons make sense because it allows a dialogue between the business and the consumer through their most intimate possession: their phone. Very seldom do people not have their phones on them, which creates a direct line to the consumers and businesses at virtually all times.
So how can your business be one of those savvy businesses that consumers think about while out and an about in a purchasing frame of mind? The answer is stand apart by offering them something the competition isn’t. For example, a couple is out shopping at an outdoor mall and they decide they would like to take a break and grab lunch. They use their smart phone to find restaurants in a one-mile radius and find restaurant X, Y and Z.
Restaurant X doesn’t have a mobile site and the pair quickly moves on to Restaurant Y.
Restaurant Y has a mobile site but it is a bit pricy for lunch, but the couple decides it will be perfect for an upcoming anniversary. Restaurant Z not only has a mobile site where the couples able to peruse the menu, but also offers mobile coupons. The couple is sold and they happily dine at restaurant Z, confident that this is where they were offered the most for their money.
It is important for business owners to stand in their customer’s shoes when creating marketing campaigns, and no one understands that more then Ballyhoo Mobile Marketing, with our attention to detail as well as a desire to anticipate a business’s needs, which ultimately aids the restaurant in coming from their customers perspective.
Ballyhoo Mobile is able to create a mobile campaign including but not limited to a mobile site that incorporates mobile coupons for restaurants, as well as innovative ways to increase communication between restaurant and guest. The campaigns Ballyhoo Mobile creates will not only increase diners’ perceived value, but also increases their likelihood to walk through the door of their particular establishment.
Ballyhoo Mobile has experience in creating such coupons as well as coming up with a concurrent marketing strategy to make the most of a particular mobile promotion. Mobile coupons make sense because it allows a dialogue between the business and the consumer through their most intimate possession: their phone. Very seldom do people not have their phones on them, which creates a direct line to the consumers and businesses at virtually all times.
So how can your business be one of those savvy businesses that consumers think about while out and an about in a purchasing frame of mind? The answer is stand apart by offering them something the competition isn’t. For example, a couple is out shopping at an outdoor mall and they decide they would like to take a break and grab lunch. They use their smart phone to find restaurants in a one-mile radius and find restaurant X, Y and Z.
Restaurant X doesn’t have a mobile site and the pair quickly moves on to Restaurant Y.
Restaurant Y has a mobile site but it is a bit pricy for lunch, but the couple decides it will be perfect for an upcoming anniversary. Restaurant Z not only has a mobile site where the couples able to peruse the menu, but also offers mobile coupons. The couple is sold and they happily dine at restaurant Z, confident that this is where they were offered the most for their money.
It is important for business owners to stand in their customer’s shoes when creating marketing campaigns, and no one understands that more then Ballyhoo Mobile Marketing, with our attention to detail as well as a desire to anticipate a business’s needs, which ultimately aids the restaurant in coming from their customers perspective.
Ballyhoo Mobile is able to create a mobile campaign including but not limited to a mobile site that incorporates mobile coupons for restaurants, as well as innovative ways to increase communication between restaurant and guest. The campaigns Ballyhoo Mobile creates will not only increase diners’ perceived value, but also increases their likelihood to walk through the door of their particular establishment.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Auto Dealers Succeed with SMS!
Though auto sales may be in a bit of a slump as compared to recent years, many innovative auto dealers are retooling their marketing tactics to emphasize mobile, and the results have been staggering.
One British auto retailer used SMS and email marketing and drove sales skywards with a million dollar sale increase in one weekend.
Another auto group was able to reduce missed service appointments to less then 3 percent using texting, bringing in added revenue and increasing customer loyalty.
So how can you use these success stories and translate them into a real world application yielding higher sales and customer loyalty in your particular business?
Like many other businesses, auto groups are looking to better interact with its customer base as well as reach out to potential new clients. By using mobile they are able to reach both while alienating no one.
Everyone has a cell phone, and more over, anyone who has a cell phone is rarely without it, making it the most wide- reaching medium emerging
Ballyhoo Mobile Marketing understands when businesses like auto groups have the foresight to use mobile, they are able to tap into the all-inclusive cell phone demographic.
Auto dealers can also benefit heavily from a mobile site in that consumers are able to browse current inventory, specials and prices at their convenience, ultimately bringing more serious buyers in the showroom and closing a deal.
Many modern auto dealers are making mobile the jewel in the crown of their marketing campaigns, with mobile often being more cost-effective then other platforms while at the same time springing more results.
Ballyhoo Mobile is not only proficient and creative when working with the mobile platform, but we work with auto groups and businesses big and small to help create that ‘just right’ mobile marketing campaign that will best serve the company and its customers.
If you are looking to increase sales through incorporating mobile in your marketing, contact Ballyhoo Mobile Marketing to see how your business can benefit from a custom -made mobile campaign that will drive up both traffic and revenue.
One British auto retailer used SMS and email marketing and drove sales skywards with a million dollar sale increase in one weekend.
Another auto group was able to reduce missed service appointments to less then 3 percent using texting, bringing in added revenue and increasing customer loyalty.
So how can you use these success stories and translate them into a real world application yielding higher sales and customer loyalty in your particular business?
Like many other businesses, auto groups are looking to better interact with its customer base as well as reach out to potential new clients. By using mobile they are able to reach both while alienating no one.
Everyone has a cell phone, and more over, anyone who has a cell phone is rarely without it, making it the most wide- reaching medium emerging
Ballyhoo Mobile Marketing understands when businesses like auto groups have the foresight to use mobile, they are able to tap into the all-inclusive cell phone demographic.
Auto dealers can also benefit heavily from a mobile site in that consumers are able to browse current inventory, specials and prices at their convenience, ultimately bringing more serious buyers in the showroom and closing a deal.
Many modern auto dealers are making mobile the jewel in the crown of their marketing campaigns, with mobile often being more cost-effective then other platforms while at the same time springing more results.
Ballyhoo Mobile is not only proficient and creative when working with the mobile platform, but we work with auto groups and businesses big and small to help create that ‘just right’ mobile marketing campaign that will best serve the company and its customers.
If you are looking to increase sales through incorporating mobile in your marketing, contact Ballyhoo Mobile Marketing to see how your business can benefit from a custom -made mobile campaign that will drive up both traffic and revenue.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Mobile Marketing Myths Dispelled - Answers to SMS Questions
I don't have quite as much to share in this post; my main interest is sharing an excellent article found on Mobile Marketer.
Business owners and marketers often have questions about the simple steps in getting started with mobile. If that's you, read this article and enjoy! Then visit Ballyhoo Mobile for a great price on SMS marketing plans!
Business owners and marketers often have questions about the simple steps in getting started with mobile. If that's you, read this article and enjoy! Then visit Ballyhoo Mobile for a great price on SMS marketing plans!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Baby Boomers Adopt the Mobile Web
Another cue to business owners and marketers that it’s time to build a mobile-specific website and invest in mobile search is that baby boomers are increasingly accessing the mobile web. We now have Millenials, Gen Y, Gen X, and Baby Boomers all using their mobile phones for accessing the internet. This completes the circle of buying power and spending influence.
Any business owner wondering if mobile websites are essential is now officially left behind. And playing catch up won’t be easy.
Mobile web users are not searching as deep as they are on a computer for several reasons. First, the size of the screen does not allow for as many results to be seen without scrolling. Second, mobile web users are traditionally in more of a hurry than pc web users. This means you need to come up in the first several search results.
What this means to a business is that if your are not an early adopter, you are going to have more trouble catching up to your competitors than if you were a laggard in building a pc based website. Boomer adoption of smartphones and the mobile web is poised for much more growth. As carriers reduce the cost of data plans, more boomers will sign on.
So why is it important to have a mobile-focused firm build your mobile website? Mobile websites take a much different focus and strategy than a pc-based website. Aesthetics are a small portion of the differences…any web firm can figure that out. Where it counts to work with someone engulfed in the mobile industry is when we talk about strategy. Mobile web users think differently: they are most likely on the go so they want directions, store hours, today’s sales prices/inventory, or product reviews. Likewise, they have no interest in browsing staff photos or company history. At Ballyhoo Mobile, we build custom, turnkey mobile platforms for as little as $499. Email us if you’re interested!
Ballyhoo Mobile is a boutique mobile marketing firm, specializing in SMS marketing, SMS software, mobile websites, and custom mobile applications.
Any business owner wondering if mobile websites are essential is now officially left behind. And playing catch up won’t be easy.
Mobile web users are not searching as deep as they are on a computer for several reasons. First, the size of the screen does not allow for as many results to be seen without scrolling. Second, mobile web users are traditionally in more of a hurry than pc web users. This means you need to come up in the first several search results.
What this means to a business is that if your are not an early adopter, you are going to have more trouble catching up to your competitors than if you were a laggard in building a pc based website. Boomer adoption of smartphones and the mobile web is poised for much more growth. As carriers reduce the cost of data plans, more boomers will sign on.
So why is it important to have a mobile-focused firm build your mobile website? Mobile websites take a much different focus and strategy than a pc-based website. Aesthetics are a small portion of the differences…any web firm can figure that out. Where it counts to work with someone engulfed in the mobile industry is when we talk about strategy. Mobile web users think differently: they are most likely on the go so they want directions, store hours, today’s sales prices/inventory, or product reviews. Likewise, they have no interest in browsing staff photos or company history. At Ballyhoo Mobile, we build custom, turnkey mobile platforms for as little as $499. Email us if you’re interested!
Ballyhoo Mobile is a boutique mobile marketing firm, specializing in SMS marketing, SMS software, mobile websites, and custom mobile applications.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)