Smart business owners are gearing up for the holiday shopping spree by ramping up customer engagement through mobile marketing.  The reason is simple.  Mobile sales are skyrocketing.

Take a look at the numbers.  In 2008, mobile sales were about $1.6 million.  In just one year, that number jumped to almost $25 million.  This year, mobile devices are expected to generate over $119 billion in sales.  By 2015, mobile sales are expected to be between $650 and $900 billion.

According to David Hewitt of Sapient Nitro (a publicly traded marketing company), we will see a big increase in mobile spending for the 2011 holiday season.  And his prediction is supported by a recent study conducted by search giant Google:  15% of all “Black Friday” searches will be from a mobile phone and 44% of total searches for last minute gifts will be from a mobile device.

Given the mobile sales windfall that is expected this holiday season, small business owners must position themselves to take advantage of the mobile wave.

Even though the mobile web is growing 4 times as fast as the Internet, most small businesses don’t have a mobile infrastructure in place.  They don’t have a mobile website, they don’t have a database of their customers’ cell phone numbers, and they don’t have an interactive coupon offer.

Savvy business owners are taking advantage of mobile sales opportunities by meeting the expectations of their customers.  Customers want quick and easy access to information, AND they want a fun and engaging shopping experience.

The bottom line is this; we see a huge increase in demand for mobile shopping from customers.  Yet, small businesses are not going to keep up with the demand this holiday season unless they jump in now.  If you give your customers value and fun, they will respond.  So don’t put it off.

Go Mobile Now!

PS. Here are the benefits of going mobile:  Great Visibility, Increased Sales, Build Customer Loyalty, Generate Quality Leads, and so much more!

To Pad or to Tablet

When Apple launched the iPad almost a year ago (April 2010), writers and enthusiast were certain that laptops and netbooks would be pushed aside.  One article I read stated that it was the end of the netbook as we know it.

Instead, what happened is that the market became flooded with copycat tablets. By the end of 2010, there were over 200 “tablets” available for sale.  App developers have jumped on the Android bandwagon so much so that more android apps are hitting the scene than iphone apps, which is adding more fuel to the tablet fire.

To Pad or to Tablet – Consider this before you buy

1. Operating System – Mobile devices like tablets and smart phones have an operating system just like the computer does. Be sure you understand the difference between them so that your choice will be relevant to you.
2. Storage Space – Depending on how you will use your tablet, the amount of storage space will definitely matter. Some tablets have an SD slot for added storage and transferring files.  Others may not. If this is a convenience that you will need in order to watch video or add photos to your device, check it out beforehand.
3. Battery Life – The manufacturer may not mention this because some of the newer devices have a very short battery life.  If you plan to use your tablet to keep a child entertained while you are on the go, for example, you don’t want the battery to conk out on you right in the middle of a movie.
4. Screen Resolution – In an effort to keep the price down, some tablet makers have dropped the ball on resolution. I have found that it is better to pay a little more for a higher resolution. This will make all the difference when you are showing off your treasured photos.
5. Back Light – If you plan to use your device for a lot of reading, be sure to check the specs before you buy. Some of the reader devices have no back light which makes reading in low light a challenge.

BTW, if you are curious about what tablet I am using, check out What’s In My Tech Bag! It’s first on my list.

Let’s face it. Our lives are more active than ever before. And we want access to information no matter where we are or what we are doing.  Combine this with a proliferation of apps being developed and the result is definitely explosive!

The fact is, mobile users want quick and easy access to information. And chances are, your current customers, as well as potential customers. are already visiting your website using a mobile device.  Therefore, if your web based site takes too long to load, you could lose them.  Besides, a website that was designed for a 10 to 15 inch computer screen is just not going to show well on a small 2 or 4 inch cell phone screen.

As the demand for a mobile lifestyle continues to grow and prosper, small business owners must position themselves to benefit from this growth. Check out these numbers.

• 50 million Americans use a mobile device to surf the web
• 122 million Americans say that they now purchase a phone based on their interest in getting online
• Mobile search on Google is growing by 160% per year
• Mobile devices generated 1.6 million in sales in 2009
• Time spent on the Internet is up now that users have access via a cell phone
• Mobile web is growing 4 times as fast as the Internet
• One out of seven minutes of media consumption takes place on mobile
• The price on mobile devices like phones and tablets is down
• JQ Public (Jane/John) is no longer adverse to learning how to use mobile devices
• App development has added flare and fun to the game!

Want to know more about a mobile website? Click here!

Want more information on mobile marketing? Contact us today for a complementary consultation.

• 50 million Americans use a mobile device to surf the web
• 122 million Americans say that they now purchase a phone based on their interest in getting online
• Mobile search on Google is growing by 160% per year
• Mobile devices generated 1.6 million in sales in 2009
• Time spent on the Internet is up now that users have access via a cell phone
• Mobile web is growing 4 times as fast as the Internet
• One out of seven minutes of media consumption takes place on mobile

So, with those numbers in mind, you have to ask yourself, can I afford not to jump into the mobile market? The answer of course is a resounding NO. Small business owners who want to see growth in their company can not afford to let the mobile market pass them by.

Mobile Friendly Website

In my article Where to Start with Mobile Marketing, I mention that a good place to get started is with a mobile website. A mobile optimized website will give smart phone visitors the option to interact with your brand in much the same way that they would if they were using a computer.

Mobile Pays Off

There are plenty of benefits to having a mobile website. Your existing customers can stay connected in ways that are convenient for them. Your web content can be optimized to match the messages you want to offer. Plus you can…

• Maintain and build your brand
• Attract new clients
• Boost your sales
• Increase foot traffic

DIY Mobile Website

DIY Resources

There are free resources like Onbile, UBIK, and Mippin if you want to build your own mobile website. Also, you can check out plugins like MobilePress and WordPress Mobile Edition – both of which are designed to work with your existing WordPress site. In any case, keep the following tips in mind as you move forward with your mobile site.

• Your mobile website should be short and simple
• Avoid a lot of links
• Scrolling should be one way only
• Use images sparingly
• When you do use graphics, make them jpeg
• Test and recheck links
• Include the option to visit your web based site

Not sure if you want to do it yourself or not? Either way, we can support you. Click here to check out how.

Small businesses should be in the front of the line to tap into the massive growth that lies ahead. Why do small business owners need a mobile website now?

• Enter new markets
• Attract new customers
• Get more foot traffic
• Improve customer service
• Build brand loyalty
• Increase profit potential
• And more!

We know what it takes to make your mobile website effective. Smart phone users want fast and easy access to information, products, and services. We know what it takes to keep them browsing once they land on your mobile home page. And perhaps more important, we know what not to do to run your mobile surfers away. Don’t under-estimate the power of the mobile web. Microsoft predicts that in the near future, users who cruse the Internet for the first time will do so with a smart phone, not a computer. Just last year (2010),  there were 91 million people in America alone, who used a cell phone to access the Internet. Worldwide, there are currently more than 4 billion cell phones in use. The handwriting is on the wall. Don’t delay the inevitable! If you are a small business owner and you want to remain relevant in the market place, you must offer a mobile friendly browsing experience to stay top of mind of your most profitable target market. Let us show you how to leverage the power of mobile to grow your company.

Reach customers on the go! Build it yourself or let us build it for you!

DIY Just the Structure Want to do it yourself but you need a little help to get started? We will install a WordPress Mobile Theme on your server and you can take it from there. We’ll coach you through the basics of what makes a mobile site work and we’ll coach you through what to avoid with your mobile website.

Here’s what you get when you select the DIY option:

• WordPress Mobile Theme Installation
• 60 Minute Coaching Session
• 2 Weeks of Text Support
• Mobile Website Checklist
• Mobile Website Resource List
  

  Contact Us Today!

• Guide to Mobile Website Copy, Graphics, and Color

Contact us now to get the ball rolling.

DFY – Done For You Don’t have time or interest to do it yourself?

Select this option and we’ll do it for you from start to finish.

Contact us now to get the ball rolling.

Tablets, Pads, eReaders

I went on to share information about all of the mobile units hitting the market recently. There are 7 inch tablets, 8 inch tablets, the 9.7 inch pad, and dual screen tablets.  Some of the tablets are designed to read digital books – known as readers only. Others are smart tablets that include an app for reading books, in addition to the capacity to read photo, video, and music files.   Some tablet makers have teamed with a bookstore and that means the tablet comes pre-installed with that particular bookstore’s software. In these cases, the owner must register with that bookstore to download books. Other tablets are open source which means you can download and read books from the bookstore of your choice.

The Operating System

I went on to explain that there are basically three operating system categories that the tablets fall into: the mac operating system, the android operating system, or the blackberry operating system. Then, the conversation moved to smart phones. My visitor injected, “this is all so confusing. How do I know which is which” Again, I mentioned that there has been an explosion of smart phones on the market with features that mirror the iphone. And like the tablets, those same three operating systems drive how the smart phone works.

What Made Us Laugh

As I was working through my explanation of tablets, cell phones, and operating systems, I could see that my visitor was beginning to understand. It was the answer to his earlier comment/question that made both of us laugh so loud that others turned around and looked to see what the ruckus was. When he said, this is all so confusing; how do I know which is which?” my response was, “whenever you see products with an “i” in front of them, you know those are Apple products driven by the mac operating system. My visitor then said, “I thought “a” was for apple!”

Yes, Ted Williams, the homeless man with the golden voice knew that if he was to change his status, he had to go on a mobile marketing campaign.  He did and he ended up attracting his most profitable target market. And his most profitable target market offered him millions of dollars worth of voice over work.

It’s not new really. New York Times Square is filled with mobile marketing campaigns.  Most every major freeway is lined with mobile marketing messages. Then there are bus stop benches, automobiles, well you get the message.  Thus, with so many businesses using and profiting from mobile marketing, what is holding small business entrepreneurs back from using this powerful tool?

Perhaps they think mobile marketing is only for big companies.  Well Ted Williams showed us that it works for solopreneurs on a limited to no budget. Perhaps they think it is too complicated.  Again, Ted Williams showed just the opposite.  He took a simple yet powerful message and turned it into real dollars.  Perhaps they think mobile marketing is only for the younger generation.  Wrong again.  Ted Williams is a mature man with grey hair and 14 grandchildren.

The bottom line is this.  Mobile marketing is not rocket science, and mobile marketing works.  If you are a small business owner who wants to employ the power of mobile marketing, go for it!

What Small Business Owners Need to Know About Marketing Messages

There’s probably very few people who are unfamiliar with the comeback story of radio announcer Ted Williams. The news media, facebookers, bloggers, and tweeters alike have told and retold the awesome sequence of events. Homeless man Ted Williams stands on corner holding a sign, lands on YouTube, and the next thing you know, he is on the Today Show with work offers, from New York to Hawaii, pouring in.

The story that hasn’t been told however, is a lesson that entrepreneurs and small business owners can learn from. @Felecia Slattery picked up on part of it in her blog post pointing out the ability to communicate his message.

The other side to the untold story is the mobile marketing side.  Ted Williams took his message to the streets with his own mobile billboard.  It wasn’t a fancy billboard like the ones you see on New York’s Times Square or the digital billboards popping up on freeways everywhere.  It was, however, an effective billboard because, as Felecia pointed out, the message was clear and effective.

When small business owners combine a powerful message with a mobile billboard, the results can be phenomenal. And it doesn’t take a freeway billboard or hundreds of words to work. For example, take a business card. With a shift of the mind, this small 3×5 space can be an effective mobile billboard if it has an effective message printed on it. And that same principle applies to the small space allotted for social media status updates. A simple shift of the mind coupled with an effective message can turn that space into a powerful mobile billboard that gets results.