Confused by mobile marketing? Yeah, so is everyone else these days it seems.
Mobile is definitely a hot bed of marketing opportunity for brands, but with so many variables when it comes to ad sizes, units, phone operating systems, etc., it almost seems like the Wild Wild West (as it has for the last few years).
The reality as I see it, is that mobile advertising offers some pretty unique opportunities to engage with consumers 1 to 1 on a device that has become more of a part of their life (and quite frankly almost an extension of their body) than any other single piece of technology.
Prove it? 90% of the US Population apparently owns cell phones according to a recent study by CTIA Media.
That represents a pretty great opportunity to reach consumers through a variety of different channels, problem is everyone thinks a different one is the right one or THE avenue for mobile advertising success. Then there is the host of new mobile technologies that keep coming into play from Apps, to Geo-Location solutions, to Video and the hows and whats of marketing in this complex and very untouched landscape just becomes more and more fishy. From SMS, to Rich Media units, to video the opportunities it just seems endless and growing non-stop.
So, what’s the solution? I don’t believe that anyone really knows yet, but I do know that this story on the Top 5 Mobile Advertising Trends To Watch recently posted on Mashable provides a good analysis and look into what to keep a pulse on moving forward. My thanks go out to @tempspaz for sharing this with me.
One thing is for sure, with all the new technology coming our way in the mobile category and continued improves on data networks, the next few years are going to be a fun time for consumers and marketers alike.
CAUTION: Loyalty cards are going mobile. Companies such as Foursquare, Loopt Star, and Gowalla have officially turned cell phones into a one-on-one marketing device, simply rewarding you for checking in at places and doing things you already do. These apps allow companies to make current customers more loyal by encouraging frequent visits, while enticing new consumers with deals and savings available on their cell phones.
