4 Mobile-Marketing Tips for Your Next Holiday Promotion
Developing a special promotion for a holiday does you no good if you don’t let your customers know about it. But with so many new tools and social-media platforms, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to decide how to get your message out.
Whatever you decide is your best promotional platform, keep in mind the importance of your customers viewing your communications on a mobile device, such as their phone or tablet.
Marketing statistics report that, in 2011, more than 70 percent of the world’s population (5 billion people) relied on mobile devices. And you can bet lots more have joined their ranks in the year since. So make sure your message doesn’t get lost by following these four tips from Vocus (an online marketing services company):
1) Create content to fit the “8-minute rule.”
Empirical evidence has shown that people have difficulty focusing on one topic for more than 8 minutes. To fit that small window of time, mobile content must say more with less.
Combine this aspect with the reality of users on the go who don't even have 8 minutes to spend, and it's obvious mobile messaging must do four things simultaneously:
2) Remember that sharing is caring.
From Facebook and Twitter to email and SMS, mobile is all about sharing information. Take advantage of users’ natural affinity for sharing by:
The desire of humans to connect with each other is an innately powerful tool you can leverage with your mobile content. Studies show that the more engaged prospects become, the more likely they are to buy and spend more. Sharing is your entrée to prospects’ engagement.
3) Make subscribers feel special.
The best way to motivate users to stick with your mobile content is to reward them. You can create any number of reward programs specially designed to grab subscribers’ attention and keep them inviting you back for more.
Try incorporating QR (Quick Response) codes into your marketing materials. Subscribers who utilize their smart mobile devices to access your content can receive exclusive rewards and offers.
4) Build friendships via mobile content.
Become a trusted friend to mobile subscribers by creating campaigns that build upon the natural friend-factor of mobile connections:
Keep in mind, though, that the best “friends” don’t overstay their welcomes. Be sensitive to subscribers’ needs; limit your mobile content to relevant, timely information.
Mobile devices present a multitude of opportunities to market on a more intimate scale. It’s no longer “if” you should incorporate mobile into your online marketing but “how.” Make sure your message is device- and user-compatible, and you'll notice a healthy uptick in your brand's following.
Developing a special promotion for a holiday does you no good if you don’t let your customers know about it. But with so many new tools and social-media platforms, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to decide how to get your message out.
Whatever you decide is your best promotional platform, keep in mind the importance of your customers viewing your communications on a mobile device, such as their phone or tablet.
Marketing statistics report that, in 2011, more than 70 percent of the world’s population (5 billion people) relied on mobile devices. And you can bet lots more have joined their ranks in the year since. So make sure your message doesn’t get lost by following these four tips from Vocus (an online marketing services company):
1) Create content to fit the “8-minute rule.”
Empirical evidence has shown that people have difficulty focusing on one topic for more than 8 minutes. To fit that small window of time, mobile content must say more with less.
Combine this aspect with the reality of users on the go who don't even have 8 minutes to spend, and it's obvious mobile messaging must do four things simultaneously:
- Invite users to read content through compelling language.
- Provide relevant information that users find valuable.
- Fit all types of screen sizes (think smart phones vs. touch pad technology).
- Overcome mobile barriers such as spam filters and display limitations (for example, can subscribers see your content or do their devices block your images?).
With mobile-friendly content, you must shrink every aspect—from headlines to text to graphics—while keeping the message robust.
2) Remember that sharing is caring.
From Facebook and Twitter to email and SMS, mobile is all about sharing information. Take advantage of users’ natural affinity for sharing by:
- Providing special offers for those who “like,” “share” or “tweet” about your content via their mobile devices.
- Inviting users to share their videos/pictures and comments.
- Creating mobile networks of users who can connect to each other through your brand (such as a boat dealership could invite boaters interested in the newest sailing technology to join their mobile “what’s new on board” community).
The desire of humans to connect with each other is an innately powerful tool you can leverage with your mobile content. Studies show that the more engaged prospects become, the more likely they are to buy and spend more. Sharing is your entrée to prospects’ engagement.
3) Make subscribers feel special.
The best way to motivate users to stick with your mobile content is to reward them. You can create any number of reward programs specially designed to grab subscribers’ attention and keep them inviting you back for more.
Try incorporating QR (Quick Response) codes into your marketing materials. Subscribers who utilize their smart mobile devices to access your content can receive exclusive rewards and offers.
4) Build friendships via mobile content.
Become a trusted friend to mobile subscribers by creating campaigns that build upon the natural friend-factor of mobile connections:
- Create SMS messaging with personal greetings.
- Design email campaigns based on subscribers’ needs (provide additional fields in email campaign registration allowing prospects to share interests/problems).
- Provide your friendly content for various devices. (Mobile phone users may need briefer content to keep up with their on-the-go behavior, while touch-pad subscribers may enjoy more extensive messaging to fit sitting and reading.)
Keep in mind, though, that the best “friends” don’t overstay their welcomes. Be sensitive to subscribers’ needs; limit your mobile content to relevant, timely information.
Mobile devices present a multitude of opportunities to market on a more intimate scale. It’s no longer “if” you should incorporate mobile into your online marketing but “how.” Make sure your message is device- and user-compatible, and you'll notice a healthy uptick in your brand's following.