Posts Tagged ‘Texting’

Top Mobile Advertising Predictions for 2010

June 28th, 2010 1 Comment

A recent article in Advertising Age magazine outlines the top 5 predictions for Mobile Advertising in 2010. This interesting predictions will effect every aspect of marketing a business, whether it’s a local auto shop or a fortune 500 big wig. Here are the top 5 predictions from Adage, along with ideas on how you can be proactive with your advertising plan to include mobile media.

Mobile Advertising will Revolutionize how local advertisers connect with customers- Location based advertising, which is offers/search results targeted to a customer’s actual location is on the rise. In fact, Google now offers a service to local businesses called Place Pages, where customers can scan a QR Code (a decal that looks much like a bar code placed on your establishment’s window) with their mobile phone and instantly gain access to coupons, reviews, and specials. They can also “star” your place, which saves you info in their phone so they can visit later.  Local businesses should be sure to have a fully optimized mobile website, that is listed in every mobile directory to ensure they are appearing in mobile searches. The potential that mobile advertising presents local businesses is huge.

Further adoption of in-store shopping applications- In store shopping applications are going to make mobile a significant part of the decision making process in retail stores. Here’s how: There are several price comparison apps that allow consumers to compare prices (other retail store prices and online prices) on items while they are literally looking at them on the shelves. There are also applications where consumers can see reviews of products and services. Lastly, mobile coupons are starting to really take off, meaning you can drive foot traffic to your store via mobile device. The best way to make mobile technology work well for you is to have a strong mobile presence, with not only an optimized website, but also an active mobile social media presence. Build a strong opt-in list and send valuable coupons to your customers regularly.

Outdoor Advertising will become Measurable- By driving consumers to text on outdoor ads like billboards or window signage, companies will be able to get a solid read on results almost immediately. With the capabilities of mobile advertising, tracking results is as easy as counting texts, computing conversion rates, and calculating cost per order. Plus, often texting is a more attractive option  than calling to the mobile consumer, as they are likely to be on-the-go and would rather have a quick, to the point interaction.  The next outdoor campaign you have, try driving texts instead of visits or calls. Consumers can text to receive a coupon from you or be admitted to a special event or sale.

Social Media will be more important than ever- With mobile media, consumers have the ability to voice their opinions in real time. People are using mobile versions of social media sites like Twitter to instantly voice their opinions on products and services as they encounter them. Again, it is extremely important to have a strong social media presence in the mobile sphere. Some companies are even creating platforms specifically for consumers to comment on. For example, a taxi company in New York City has an app that allows users to comment on taxi service in real time. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you are present and are interacting with your customers frequently via mobile device. A great way to keep your mobile media organized is with the Mowbi Platform. One of the neat features of the  free one page website is links to all of your social media networks all in one place. Your blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc. are literally at your (and your customer’s) finger tips. For more information about Mowbi call 1-800-985-9277 or e-mail Bill@mowbi.com or Jordan@mowbi.com

Posted in Mobile Commerce Tags: , , , , ,

Mobile Marketing Tips for Restaurants

June 22nd, 2010 No Comments

If you own or manage a restaurant, you should strongly consider adding Mobile Marketing to you business plan. Not only can you generate more traffic to your venue, but you can build a strong, loyal customer base. Here are some mobile marketing tips for restaurants:

Build a solid opt-in list- The first step in your mobile marketing campaign should be building a strong opt-in list, made of customers who agree to receive promotional messages from you on their phones. Building your opt-in list doesn’t have to be hard. You can use print efforts to gain interest in your mobile marketing program. For example, you can use table tents or on table displays with contests or special deals to drive texts. Your customers can then be asked to join your list in order to be informed of the outcome of the contest, or to receive the special discount at hand and promotional messages in the future. You can also use radio advertising to drive texts and build your opt-in list. The next time you advertise a contest or promotion, just drive listeners to text instead of calling or filling out a card. Whatever you choose to do, remember that it is imperative that you are working with a list of opted-in customers for all mobile marketing efforts.

Pre/Post Service Perks- Offer special perks for your mobile customers. Allow them to make reservations from their mobile phone and send reminders as their visit date nears. Is it a busy Friday night? Send your mobile regulars texts as your waiting list fills up- let them know wait times. Better yet- allow them to place their name on your waiting list via mobile phone, so that when they arrive, they move to the front of the line. If your establishment offers entertainment, send early alerts to your customers and allow them to purchase tickets at a discount. Post visit, you can send customer surveys so they can rate their visit. Send a survey specifically on service, or food quality. Let customers know that your value their opinion, and want to exceed their expectations with every visit.

Mobile Promotions- Once you get a strong opt-in list, you can offer even more services to your customers in order to increase sales and loyalty. Have a mobile customer’s only signature drink at the bar. Send texts with links to your special drink, and name the drink something unique, that only your mobile customers will know. Hold a mobile customer reception or exclusive mobile customer’s special night. Own a bar or grill? Why not have a game of trivia for your mobile customer’s via their mobile devices? The possibilities for cool restaurant promotions using mobile marketing are endless.

Call us to discuss more great mobile marketing tips for your restaurant. 800-985-9277 or E-mail Bill@mowbi.com or Jordan@mowbi.com

Posted in Mobile Commerce Tags: , , ,

Great Mobile Marketing Ideas for Traditional Media

June 7th, 2010 No Comments

One of the many excellent aspects of Mobile Marketing is that you can use it to augment your existing marketing mix. Radio, TV, Print, Signage- Mobile Marketing can be used to drive results to campaigns across all channels. The great thing about using mobile marketing to augment your advertising or marketing campaign is that results are measurable immediately. Here are 6 Mobile Marketing Ideas that incorporate traditional media channels. To discuss your unique ideas for marketing your company on a mobile scale give us a call at 800-985-9277 OR e-mail Bill@mowbi.com or Jordan@mowbi.com

Radio- There are exciting ways to integrate mobile marketing using SMS messaging. Radio is especially attractive for mobile marketing because most listeners are off site when they are exposed to your radio message- meaning, they are likely to respond to your call to action via mobile device.  Driving listeners to text or to your mobile site, eliminates the extra step of calling or browsing the net for your website from home.   Make your radio promotions interactive, with text based contests. Drive texts to your mobile commerce website with radio ads . A great way to do this is to offer exclusive coupons, or a text only area for a special sale event. You can present this offer through a radio spot or through a DJ endorsement. Either way, radio and mobile marketing not only compliment each other as far as driving response, but you can also get a read on results immediately.

Television- TV’s relationship with mobile marketingand mobile commerce is growing increasingly interesting. With technological advances and consumer demand, the prospect of mobile television becoming a popular vehicle of TV consumption is not entirely far-fetched. The demand for mobile TV is growing, and when it gains it’s true potential, there will be many implications for advertisers. It will absolutely mean significant changes for those in the Direct Response industry.  This  interesting topic gets a bit off subject for this post, but watch for it in future posts from us. For now, we’ll stick to the basics. For TV, SMS messaging is also a great mobile marketing tool. Programs such as American Idol and entertainment giant MTV are already texting in their programing. Not only can you use texting as part of your call to action in a TV spot; you can also insert your message into programs directly. For instance, American Idol now has voters texting in to place their votes. MTV drives their audience to opinion polls via text. If you’re running a major promotion, a great idea to consider is driving texts. You could also consider hosting a mobile website for audiences to place votes, or opinions about their favorite TV shows.

Print- Perhaps the oldest form of advertising aside from word of mouth, print ads are moving into the 21st century quite gracefully and you should be sure that your print ads are too. You can drive your target audience to text or to your mobile website. A great way to build your opt-in list is to drive your target audience to an exclusive mobile website that gives them access to special events, sales, and promotions. With mobile marketing, you can turn your print ad into an interactive tool to make sales and build a strong opt-in list.

Signage- You can incorporate mobile marketing on billboards or in store displays. Retail big wig, Bloomingdale’s was able to use a text call to action on the window of their Lexington Ave location to drive votes for their new window display. They received hundreds of votes each day, proving that consumers are willing and are ready for this kind of interaction with retailers. You can take this idea even further by driving texts for a contest or special promotion. If hundreds of consumers are willing to text in to vote- imagine how many people would be willing to text for a chance at a prize. Another great example of signage incorporating mobile marketing is Mobile Loaves & Fishes, a non-profit agency that offers services to the homeless and working poor in Austin, Texas. MLF had a billboard sign, with a local homeless man literally standing on the billboard, with the words, “I am Danny. I am Homeless. I am here.” right next to a giant call to action asking viewers to text a designated phone number to donate to Danny. Through this campaign, MLF was able to raise enough money for Danny and his wife to buy a house. Again, this shows that consumers are willing and ready to participate in traditional to mobile media. Billboards can be a great tool for driving texts traffic to your mobile website.

Give us a call to talk about how to incorporate mobile marketing into your traditional marketing mix. Call  800-985-9277 OR e-mail Bill@mowbi.com or Jordan@mowbi.com

Posted in Mobile Commerce Tags: , , ,

Portland, Maine Uses Text Messaging to Squash Violence

May 29th, 2010 No Comments
Text Messaging has new uses

Text Messaging has new uses

The police chief in Portland, Maine has  found a new use for text messaging. The increasing violence in the Old Port district, had local police and  bar owners questioning to keep overly intoxicated individuals off the streets. They found the answer in technology. Bar Tenders will now use a text messaging program to inform other bars of rowdy, or over intoxicated patrons that may be headed their way.

Here is how it works: A patron at Bar X has been drinking for the past 3 hours and he has become loud, abrasive, and belligerent. The bar tender refuses to serve this patron any more alcohol, and the patron is asked to leave the establishment. As this unruly patron heads to Bar Y, the bar tender or security guard sends a text message to other bars that participate in the texting program (all texts are sent to one designated phone number that all participating bars and the police have access to), warning them about the potentially dangerous customer. This same text messaging system sends a message with the patron’s description to police officers who are patrolling the area. There is even an option to capture the patron’s digital pictures, so police and security know exactly who they are looking for.

This program is called “Text a tip and pic” and Portland police and bar owners are optimistic that this text messaging system will significantly improve safety in the Old Port. Read more about this groundbreaking program here: http://www.pressherald.com/news/to-quash-rowdiness-craig-says-bars-can-send-text-warnings_2010-05-28.html

Text Messaging and the use of mobile devices are becoming more mainstream as we become more comfortable with mobile technology. We can expect to see more innovative uses of SMS or Text Messaging like this in the very near future.

What are some unique ways that youcould be using SMS or Texting? The time to start thinking about it-is NOW. Call us to discuss how texting can fit into your business plan. 800-985-9277 or e-mail Bill@mowbi.com or Jordan@mowbi.com

Posted in Mobile Commerce Tags: , , , ,
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