Did you know that 86% of Americans own a mobile phone? And that there were 1.56 trillion texts sent last year, of which 97% were opened! Text messaging is more popular then ever, and because of that there is a new form of advertising that is on the rise: mobile marketing.
To be fair, mobile marketing is not a new phenomenon. It has existed for several years, but we have only seen it’s presence scratch the surface of possibilities. One reason for this is that there has yet to be any major players in this field. The providers essentially purchase a short code, the equivalent of a mobile domain name, such as 45107 or 99143, and allow their clients (or business owners) to purchase keywords from them which they can use for marketing campaigns. For example, the San Francisco Giants tell fans to text “GIANTS” to 56418.
The key to mobile marketing is that the consumer must opt in to the service. Most mobile providers demand a double opt in from the consumer and all require the ability for the consumer to opt out of the service at any time.
Who could benefit from mobile marketing?
Any business that is trying to reach their target market with promotions, discounts, specials, giveaways and events could benefit from mobile marketing.
How does it work?
Business need to give incentives to get poeple to opt in to their mobile marketing. You can think of the opt in as a sort of VIP club that receives special deals that are not openly advertised. Your business will want to choose a keyword that is either your business name or a product that you offer for people to remember you by. This is what customers will be texting to the short code. For example, if you have a night club called ‘The Lounge’ then you’d want the keyword “lounge.” Otherwise consider the keywords such as “cocktail” or “beer.”
Here are some steps for executing a successful mobile marketing campaign:
1) Brainstorm discounts and deals: This where you get creative. If you are a bar owner, consider offering $1 beer and well drinks night, a buy one get one free beer night, or a $2 you-call-it shot night. If you’re the owner of a deli consider a free bag of chips with any sandwich purchase, a 1/2 off specialty sandwich, or a free upgrade in sandwich size.
2) Create a persuasive offer: This is a crucial step because you need to make sure that your signs and banners (and social media promotions) clearly indicate the value added for the customer for opting into your service. Make sure your signs indicate that there are “freebies” or “giveaways.” Simply indicating that you have specials may not be enough for people to opt-in. The only thing that customers like more than discounts is giveaways or freebies. The difference between a successful campaign and an unsuccessful one can simply be the way you promote your mobile marketing.
3) Promote your VIP club: This is a no-brainer, but can also be the difference in a lot of opt-ins versus a few. First, create signs that bright and colorful, that also match your branding, and place them throughout your place of business. Place them at the door, near the cash register, in the windows, in the bathrooms, everywhere! Then use social media to also get the word out.
It’s as easy as 1-2-3! Mobile marketing can benefit a variety of businesses. All you need to do is to create a carefully crafted offer in order to get people to opt-in. Then you alert your customers of this offer and monitor the success. Remember, you might check your email or Facebook periodically throughout the day, but the one way you can reach your customers at nearly any time of the day is through their mobile phone.
Turbo Social Media has partnered with iZigg, owner of arguably the most universal short code available, 90210, to provide mobile marketing services. If you’d like more information about how mobile marketing could benefit your overall social media marketing strategy then contact Turbo Social Media today or give us a call at 877-673-7096.
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About The Author: Tom Sullivan is the senior account executive at Turbo Social Media. He has managed accounts for a wide variety of businesses, from small “Mom and Pop” businesses to multi-million dollar corporations. His success in business stems from his entrepreneurial drive and his desire to do “whatever it takes” for his clients to be successful.
Tom received his BA in Business Management Economics from the University of California at Santa Cruz. He is a former collegiate rugby player and he enjoys playing softball, golfing, camping, and snowboarding in his spare time. 
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Adaptation of new technology are the most convenient tool in creating a powerful social media. Mode of communication caters to the need of fast and accessible line. Mobile marketing are the newest innovation that will surely bring a major growth in social marketing.