subject: Mobile Marketing Sends You Timely Information & Saves Trees [print this page] Mobile Marketing Sends You Timely Information & Saves Trees
Can't think of where to eat tonight? Wish you had a reminder to use your local web coupons? Hate coupon clipping? Enter mobile marketing. Coupons, promotions and recommendations for restaurants, shops, and services all from the town you live in, direct to your cell phone. If you live in Europe, you're already savvy about advertisements showing up on your cell phone. Here in the United States, some are still a bit skeptical about receiving ads to our phone. Luckily, most advertising platforms or apps allow you to "opt out" or set privacy settings, if you so desire.
Mobile marketing is becoming more and more mainstream as a way to market a business' brand or message. It is commonly used by advertisers to increase brand awareness, generate databases, and drive customer attendance to specific sales, events and locations. Most consumers today have their phones not only somewhere deep in their bags, but right in their hands at all times. We're too afraid to miss a text or a call or even the opportunity to snap a pic of what we're doing right then and there, and then send it to our favorite social networking site. Ever love to text in your vote for shows like "American Idol" or "So you think you can Dance?" You will sometimes get a text back saying "thanks for your vote," successfully adding your phone number to their data base. If you've ever "checked in" at a place you love, you're basically doing a bit of mobile marketing for that company. Your friends will see where you are and take note of the name of the place in their heads. New media branding at its finest!
Consumers love texting and companies know this. And if you're in their target demographic, they want to appeal to you right there on that tiny handheld screen in your pocket. Mobile marketing is appealing to consumers in more ways that just a straight text message. Marketers are getting creative with gaming, music streaming and surveys to get you to take note of them. Ads are so targeted and relevant that consumers many not even realized they are being marketed to. In the not-so-distant future, mobile marketing campaigns will feature more campaigns using coupons, loyalty programs and deals. Want to use that "free coffee" coupon you heard about but can't be bothered to print it out? Just whip out your cell phone and show it to the barista. Advertisers will continue to utilize this extremely effective channel for advertising, so get on board and save some cash while you save the environment!
