Hyper Local Mobile 2011

I recently have been talking with local business owners about marketing strategies in 2011. The addition of Mobile App / Mobile Web marketing seems to be a category of interest to many small business owners.

The questions that small business owners have about mobile marketing seem to resonate around three issues: 1) Will anyone really want to down load an app for my business? 2) How will I use it to market and grow business? 3) Can I afford it?

So let me offer up a few quick tips on making your local business Hyper Local in mobile marketing.

Start with knowledge that the time to start is now.

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones, in comparison to the overall cell phone market, makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical, must-have marketing tools. By now, all the “savvy customers” have already migrated to smartphones, and the rest of the market is following right behind.

This 2011, smartphones are expected to outsell conventional low-feature cell phones. And as this shift continues to take place, the use of Apps and Mobile Web browsing will become the new standard by which YOUR customers engage with the brands and businesses they patronize.

Don’t simply hand over your customers to your competition – just because you fail to recognize how important Marketing Apps and Mobile Websites are. Take note: consumers are quickly adopting new mobile standards, and marketing to your customers is forever changing right before your eyes.

§ PERSISTENT EXPOSURE: With your app’s icon residing on their phone’s home screen, your customers are constantly reminded of your business. With your own iPhone App and Mobile Website, your business is able to “persistently reside” in your customers’ phones – available to them anywhere, anytime – where they can access your information with a simple click of your app icon. Absolutely no other marketing tool can deliver the same “real 24/7 exposure”.
§ Your Customers and future customers will not only down load an app but they will find your business more valuable with a mobile website that allows them to connect with you from where ever and when ever they desire.
So how does your business market your company using a Mobile Website?
§ Hyper Local will take on new meaning again with mobile websites in 2011. Consumers will communicate and learn about local services and business offerings with their mobile device. Local business will be able to create fresh content about their business or promotions easily and routinely. Business owners will have a mini traveling brochure of their business available to customers 24/7.
§ As a local business owner you will need to create monthly marketing strategies when developing your mobile website. Are you offering content or information that is helpful for your client’s lifestyle? Are you offering VIP only discounts to mobile members? Are you providing links to your Social media outlets via your mobile site? Can clients use a mapping feature to find your location?
§ Is your mobile site set up to communicate changes or alerts to your clients? Does your site utilize SMS Text Marketing in either broadcast format or Bounce Ad format?

Can you afford Mobile Marketing?
§ There are options for every business. Most small business owners don’t need to invest in Mobile App using OS technologies. In many cases local business owners can us a web based app program to build a Mobile App and Mobile Website for their business. http://www.wcmobi.com offers a three tier system including a Mobile App + Mobile Website and SMS text marketing all for under $100 a month.