Nowadays, more people consume content on devices like laptops, desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones. Although television, newspaper, and radio are still popular mediums, mobile device users have a clear advantage of getting up-to-date information anywhere. To ensure they capture the attention of these users, brands and marketing professionals have shifted their focus in creating content with mobile devices in mind. This modern marketing strategy is known as mobile marketing.
Mobile marketing is a digital marketing strategy that aims to reach the intended audience through their mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, with the use of short message service (SMS), emails, websites, and mobile apps, among others.
With mobile marketing, brands and businesses are also able to connect with their audience efficiently and quickly. Thus, businesses need to rethink how they can engage customers who are heavy mobile device users.
Whether you’re developing mobile apps, connecting through social media, or using drivebuy technology, businesses from different industries have various opportunities to maximize their audience’s mobile usage. Here are some examples of how businesses can use and benefit from mobile marketing.
Real Estate
In real estate, agents can use mobile marketing tools to generate leads and connect with potential buyers. For example, DriveBuy technology is a digital flyer solution that directs the audience to the realtors’ website and their directory of listings. Additionally, it automates the spread of information about real estate listings to interested individuals. This tool works when real estate agents assign a text ID and local phone number to a listing, found on the sign rider together with the “For Sale” sign in front of the property.
Interested buyers can then send a text message to the provided number and they will instantly receive more details about the listing. Meanwhile, the agent is also notified of the action and receives the contact information of the potential buyer. With this, the realtor can easily communicate with the buyers—facilitating faster sales as a result.
E-commerce
If your business involves selling products online, you must ensure your business caters to the needs of your customers, especially those who prefer to buy items using their smartphones or tablets. Aside from designing your e-commerce site to be mobile-device friendly, you should also consider launching a mobile app for a more convenient shopping experience. Through the app, your customers can quickly browse through your merchandise, save any favorite items they would want to return to later, and complete their purchases. You can even include a feature in the app to remind users they have left an item in their digital shopping cart.
Retail
The retail industry can take advantage of mobile marketing in different ways. Brands can use mobile marketing to foster customer loyalty, promote sales, and inform customers about special offers. Businesses can use mobile apps to digitize their loyalty reward system and allow customers to access their loyalty accounts, which can get updated for each successful purchase. To encourage using their apps, many retailers also offer special discounts.
But retailers are also making sure they reach customers who have yet to download their apps. Through mobile marketing, brands utilize text messaging to inform their customers about promos and direct their audience to their websites.
Tourism
In the midst of the current public health crisis, many hotels and resorts have shifted to using mobile marketing to promote their business. Aside from sending customers emails and SMS offers, most of these establishments have an app that provides visitors with information about the hotel, its amenities, and nearby attractions. Similar to the retail industry, hotels and resorts also use the apps to improve brand loyalty by giving points each time customers checks in, which can be typically exchanged for promotional items or discounts. More importantly, these apps can help visitors stay safe with features like digital check-ins, online payments, and digital room keys.
Restaurants
To promote safe and enjoyable dining experiences, restaurants utilize mobile apps and websites for customers to make reservations on selected dates. Apps can be used to view the menu, reducing the risk of the spread of infections when holding physical menus. The apps are also handy for people who may want to order in advance for takeout. Additionally, restaurants can maximize mobile marketing by encouraging diners to post photos and reviews. With more people talk about your food, the better chances that your restaurant will appear on top of the search results.
Finance
Almost every major bank has its own app that its clients can download and use for all transactions. Even before digital transactions became the preferred process due to the spread of the global pandemic, many financial institutions have been promoting the convenience of online banking through their websites or apps. Individuals will no longer line up in long queues at the bank. Customers now have the option to pay bills, monitor their accounts, get loans, and even open a new account with just a few taps on their smartphones.
Healthcare
Healthcare providers can utilize mobile marketing to enhance the experience of their customers. They can send doctor appointment reminders along with other valuable information including fitness routines and dietary tips. Through the use of mobile apps, customers can access their laboratory test results and medical records. It can also help facilitate direct communication between patients and caregivers.
Brands and businesses need to constantly improve their marketing strategies to ensure that they meet the evolving needs of their target customers. If your business has not yet explored the advantages of mobile marketing, you may want to rethink if you are truly engaging your intended audience. To ensure your brand stays relevant in this competitive market, consider integrating mobile marketing into your current marketing strategy.