The US financial meltdown has greatly affected the economic ecosystem and no one can say for sure when this will be over. To avoid layoffs and closures, most companies have resorted to cut down on company expenses. Marketing budgets are usually the first one to experience such adjustments. Although this is not proven to be an effective approach, this area is easily targeted because it has the biggest fund allocation and can be adjusted easily without immediate effect on business revenue. Mobile marketing is a smart alternative, cost- saving solutionfor businesses in times of economic mayhem. To maximize the remaining advertising budget, companies should look into the benefits and key attributes of SMS advertising. Apart from Mobile marketing being an economical option, this can even be a more effective medium than using traditional media which tends to be very expensive.Here are more reasons why Mobile Marketing is greatly considered by businesses in tough economic times:
Convenient and Cost effective- a very timely marketing solution for businesses of all sizes, SMS advertising lets you promote your brand even if you have a small marketing budget, perfect for small and mid-sized business
Establish interaction and develop a one on one relationship with consumers that establishes consumer trust and loyalty
Permission based - Ability of consumer to opt in and opt out
Increase number of consumers realizing the value of Mobile Marketing during hard times , eg. Mobile Coupons
Can easily reach target audience anywhere anytime
Can easily be integrated to any existing marketing efforts, add SMS Marketing in your media mix and maximize the results
Turnkey solution in creating campaigns. Deploy SMS campaigns with ease.
Viral marketing, a plus to your business since most phones are capable of forwarding messages, it is most likely that your messages will be passed on to your clients’ contacts.
Track results of your campaign in real time, know which campaigns are successful . Learn from the unsuccessful ones
Enables you to run multiple text messaging campaigns at the same time
Be in control in creating, launching and managing your own campaigns, it is simple and easy to deploy, it doesn’t require any technical know how.
Mobile marketing is an innovative new dimension in the marketing mix. SMEs are catching up and are now heading towards the same direction as the big companies when it comes to promoting their business. Now with the financial conditions, large companies and SMEs share basic and equal opportunities in using SMS Marketing as an economical promotional medium to still carry out their advertising efforts despite budget cut-offs.
With all the promotional tools provided, Its up to the marketers to decide on how they will translate existing marketing plans into mobile campaigns. There are bunch of platforms, standard programs for different types of SMS promotion, you just have to look around, study your options and choose which works best for you.
For all we know, before giving birth to the brilliant idea of SMS mobile marketing, which is the concept of using SMS or texting in any type of promotion campaign, SMS was already being utilized by tons of mobile subscribers in expressing their emotions with each other.
If you are a handy phone owner, you probably used your mobile phone to send text message to any of your family, friend, or colleague during the following special occasions, to wish them the best as they celebrate these particular events.
Birthday
Wedding
Anniversary
Christmas
Thanksgiving
New Year
At present, the term texting or SMS has gone a long way, thanks to mobile marketing. In fact, a Spanish mortuary thought of combining text, emotions, and mobile marketing, and came up with an SMS service to express sympathy and grief to families who lost their loved ones.
Definitely, SMS mobile marketing has gone a long way, which benefits man. It continues to be the fastest and most economical way of conveying a person’s feelings, as well as the most efficient and effective tool businesses and organizations can use for almost all types of campaigns.
SMS mobile marketing has become one of the most useful modern marketing tools of the media sectors, particularly the radio entertainment industry. Through SMS mobile marketing, radio stations were able to facilitate participative-themed on air programs, from the simplest message and requests to polls and contests.
If you’re one of the radio stations that are not yet convinced of how SMS mobile marketing can be an asset to your programs, here are some of the many advantages you are missing out.
First, SMS mobile marketing facilitates real time on-air interaction between DJs and listeners, resulting to an increase in listenership and loyalty. Through SMS’ instant messaging facilities, listeners can instantly send in requests, greetings, comments and feedback to their favorite radio jockey.
Second, texting allows radio stations to provide its audience with timely and relative news about their favorite artists, upcoming music events, as well as advertiser announcements.
Third, SMS mobile marketing gives instantaneous on-air traffic for advertisers, who looking for avenues for promotions, thus, resulting to more on-air sponsorships and endorsements for your radio station.
Finally, despite being in demand, there are some mobile marketing companies providing free SMS solutions to radio stations. Most of these companies only require radio stations tosign upto avail of their texting platforms.
In this fast phased entertainment industry, keeping up with the industry trend and technology is one of the keys to stay in the business. And now that SMS mobile marketing is the most recent (and seems like it is here to stay) fad, and you’re still hesitant of integrating mobile marketing in your on-air programs, it’s time to think again. You don’t want to be left out, right?
Gone are the days when the phrase “talk to the (my) hands” is just an expression, thanks to mobile phone and SMS.
According to survey, US mobile subscribers prefer using their mobile phones to send text messages, rather than making a phone call. So, literally, these handy phone users’ hands are doing all the talking for them.
Another study revealed that US mobile phone subscriber, from ages 13 and 29, send an average of twenty (20) SMS or text message a day. Another confirmation that the “youth” and the “tweens” market are continuously embracing SMS as part of their lifestyle.
The question here is, is too much texting helpful or harmful to us, especially to the young adult audience?
What can you say about students talking to their friends using text language? You think shortened words will not affect their writing skills and will benefit them in the future? Are they losing the idea of having intimate, personal, and actual conversation with their peers?
However, on a brighter side, SMS facilitates faster (and cheaper) communication, compared to snail mails and emails.
With the increasing number of mobile marketing believers, there is no surprise why different businesses (of all sizes) are enjoying the idea of having SMS mobile marketing integrated in their promotion mix. And why not, when text platform advertising delivers accurate and simplified campaign message to well- targeted audience.
With big names from the food and beverage industry to popular automobiles, as well as from high earning clothing merchandise, mobile marketing has become part of their promotion and additional “come-on” feature to their market. Most commonly used form of SMS technology for profit-driven organizations are SMS Alerts, Message and Feedback, Mobile Coupons, Polls and Survey.
Other than income generating businesses, mobile marketing is also being utilized by tv,radio, and print for its interactive media programs. Also, growing non-profit organizations are using mobile marketing for their fund raising and information dissemination activities.
Besides being industry popular, texting or SMS has also become popular among the popular. Name it! From entertainment personalities, sports figures, to politicians, everybody is using and enjoying the benefits of mobile marketing.
Without a doubt, like it or not, deny it nor accept it, mobile marketing is here, for good.
There are tons of factors that influence the market on which product to buy, and whose service to patronize. Among the common reasons are cost, the customers’ needs and preference, service policy offerings, after sales benefits and other add-on features. However, with vast technological advancements, new influencers have added to clients’ list of buying behavior manipulators. One of those persuading aspects is mobile marketing.
By integrating mobile marketing in their current promotions mix, companies are aiming for a higher conversion rate, leading to more revenue generated from sales.
Mobile marketing comes in different forms, with SMS mobile marketing as the most widely used tool in the advertising industry nowadays.
SMS mobile marketing is being utilized by different organizations to promote, launch, and sustain brand loyalty among customers. There are specific SMS or text platforms that suites to what businesses and companies require. The most common of which are:
Feedback Messaging. It is the simplest, yet the most common SMS campaign being used particularly by radio, tv, and print media, as well as brands to get instant comments and suggestions.
Polls/Surveys. This platform intensifies the market’s involvement with a particular product or service by getting their pulse on experiences using or consuming a specific service or product. The information gathered from this campaign is relevant to the research and development to provide better offerings.
Contests. This solution intensifies clients’ knowledge about product or service. It also calls for active participation, resulting to stronger brand recall. Not to mention, an additional marketing come-on to stakeholders, anticipating for the prize.
Discount Coupons. It encourages buyers and patrons to maximize their purchasing powers. This SMS solution persuades the market to spend their money, purchase an item, and try new offerings.
SMS Alerts. It keeps targets updated of the latest and upcoming goods, services, and events, such as sale, product launch, and free samplings.
Among the proposed key SMS solutions, Discount Coupons and SMS Alerts directly influence the consuming publics’ buying power. In fact, a survey revealed that about 37% of the respondents said that they are willing to take action to advertising-based SMS campaigns if there’s an incentive waiting for them, such as coupons. However, with the warm acceptance of the market, expect the 37% to boom in years to come.
During the not-so-long ago days, we used “mobile marketing” to refer to any moving advertisement or billboard we see around the metro. But, with all the advancement in technology, marketing and handy phone experts gave a new meaning to “mobile marketing”, making it the new face of global promotions and advertising.
With the popularity of mobile phone usage particularly in North America, Europe, and Asia, experts came up with campaign techniques, using mobile phone as promotions gateway, SMS or texting as promotions tool, and mobile phone users as specific target campaign receiver.
Having global recognition for being one of the most effective endorsement instruments, mobile marketing is currently being used by different businesses, groups, and organizations as campaign platforms.
Besides using SMS mobile marketing in different income- generating promotions, text platforms are also being used by non-profit organizations in their crusade to collect donations and pledges, as well as to disseminate important news and information.
First, it is important to consider trends and current events. Taking advantage of the latest happenings can be one great contributing factor to the campaign’s success, since everybody is after fresh reports. One good example is the Olympics SMS campaign that brought significant Olympics highlights to sports fans.
Second, you should know your target. If you are trying to sell concert tickets, or gather a big crowd to attend a movie premier, mobile marketing might work for you since your target are GenY-ers, who are heavy cell phone users.
Third, have a good campaign objective and concrete message. A good example is the Obama mobile campaign, which aims to have all Obama supporters to go out, support, and vote Obama for President.
With mobile marketing’s involvement in different sectors’ promotion efforts, expect that SMS technology is here to stay.
With tons of blogs, news feeds, conferences and webinars on mobile marketing, isn’t evident that mobile marketing already found its niche in the business and entertainment industry? Or you perceive all these attention as indicators that mobile marketing is still on its seed stage and waiting for the perfect era to establish itself as the alternative, better yet, the preferred marketing media?
As mobile phone companies continue to develop different cell phone models, the more mobile marketing is reinventing itself to adapt to these gadget’s advancements. Thus, giving birth to mobile marketing via Infrared, mobile marketing via Bluetooth, In- Game mobile marketing, mobile marketing via MMS, mobile marketing via mobile downloads and of course, the most common mobile marketing campaign, via SMS or texting.
With these variety of mobile marketing techniques, the subject of mobile marketing’s current state and what holds in the future lies on its two main stake holders- the businesses and organizations, and the market. With tons of mobile marketing firms offering their expertise, it’s up to these companies to be bold enough and integrate it in their existing mix. As for the buying and consuming public, they have the power to embrace or refuse whatever this new marketing and advertising technology will feed them.
SMS mobile marketing continuously affects our lifestyle. Since becoming one of the most powerful tools intended for direct interaction with the market, more and more companies and organizations are integrating it in their existing mix.
Different mobile marketing campaigns are currently being used by artists and major record labels to influence music fanatics’ listening behavior. Sony BMG, EMI, and Universal Music Group are some of the major music labels who partnered with a mobile marketing firm or content providers to find its niche in the music and mobile market. Some artists launch SMS campaigns to keep followers aware of their tour dates, or simply to stay connected with them.
Mobile marketing also gives non-government and charitable institutions an alternative tool of sending and getting message of support to and from interested donors. Non-profit organizations may choose among different SMS platforms available to keep the donations coming in. This kind of SMS crusade is starting to create buzz in the entertainment business. In fact, there’s a lot of music personalities, like Ms. Keys, who supports SMS campaigns intended for good cause.
At present, the most influential mobile marketing tool is SMS or texting. So powerful that a USA Today published a crossword puzzle designed after mobile phone keypads.
Whether we accept it or not, we are all living under the influence of mobile marketing, changing the way we shop, listen, watch, and even the way we read.
Mobile marketing continues to become the most preferred marketing and advertising tool for most companies today. More and more businesses are acknowledging the effectivity and efficiency of SMS as the alternative, if not, their preferred new promotional medium instead of the conventional avenues, mainly because of the stiff advertising competition.
More advanced companies are taking advantage of new marketing tools in their promotional efforts because they know that it will let them tap more and well-targeted consumers. Also, because they are aware that conservative companies, which is still big in number, are still hesitant in adopting mobile marketing as part of their campaign efforts.
These conventional companies should start doing their research to know what the advantages they are missing. In fact, an online survey conducted with 800 mobile phone users as respondents revealed relevant figures that might serve as wake up call for businesses to integrate SMS mobile marketing in their marketing mix. It shows that 24 percent of the respondents actually took advantage of mobile offers.
If you’re one of the “not really into changes” companies who are still iffy why you should consider SMS as your campaign medium, here are some of the many reasons why you should:
It’s a paperless campaign, You’re helping the environment by sparing thousands of trees for paper coupons, perfect for corporate social responsibility campaigns.
Well- targeted audience. When you push a single SMS mobile alert to target, the receiver of your information are the actual recipients you want.
Hassle-free because there are tons of mobile marketing companies that are willing to provide their expertise, and some even offer it for free.
SMS mobile marketing is a good viral marketing tool. You can always forward text messages to other mobile users.
It’s portable. Your market’s mobile phones are your movable advertisement wall.
There’s nothing wrong with traditional marketing, but if you want to be ahead or at par with your competition, it would be better to embrace new technology and go where the market is leading.
