Mobile marketing is more than just a trend, it’s now a necessity. Mobile device use has exploded over the past decade and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. In 2013, there were about 4 billion mobile users. By 2017, that number is expected to be over 4.75 million. It’s not surprising, then, to learn that the number of mobile Google searches surpassed the number of traditional desktop searches for the first time ever in 2015.
Clearly, mobile is here to stay. To help you connect with this customer base, here are five critical mobile marketing tips and tricks:
1. Make Sure Your Mobile Website is Friendly
If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, traffic falls quickly. Over half of your users will leave if your site doesn’t load within 3 seconds or less. Here are some ways to ensure your site is mobile-friendly:
- Cut down on unnecessary graphics and videos, especially on landing pages.
- Leverage responsible design so that your website can adjust to screens of any size easily.
- Increase the size of your buttons and text so that users don’t need to zoom to read or click them.
- Constantly test on as many devices as you can.
2. Leverage Near-Field Communication
Near-field communication, NFC for short, has quickly gained traction for use in mobile payments. However, there are plenty of applications for marketers, too.
For example, you can set-up NFC tags at retail locations or even on print media that automatically load a video or additional information onto a user’s mobile phone.
You can even use NFC technology to provide information face-to-face instead of having to send an email or a text message.
3. Stay Up to Date with the Technology and Trends
Technology is constantly growing, and that’s especially true for mobile devices. As mobile becomes more and more powerful, new trends and uses will constantly emerge.
One good example is that search engine results are starting to show web pages less often and media such as pictures or videos more often. In the future, we may even see social media pages or mobile applications.
Another interesting trend is the growth of wearable technology and what that means for the way people use mobile applications each day.
4. Keep Your Marketing Message Short
Keeping your message short and sweet is important for reaching all users, but it’s especially important for mobile users. Smartphones and tablets are smaller, so there’s less room to grab somebody attention before they start scrolling.
Considering that mobile users are often on the go and have lots of other options, like mobile applications, you need to grab them immediately. Additionally, white space makes your page more attractive and easier to read overall. When it comes to mobile marketing, less is almost always more.
5. Optimize Email
If you aren’t considering email marketing as a critical piece of your overall mobile marketing plan, it’s time to change your tune. 66% of all emails are now opened on mobile devices. Make your emails short, sweet, and void of too many graphics or fancy HTML. Make sure your landing pages and call-to-action buttons are easy to use on mobile. If you include your phone number, make it clickable so that users can reach you with a simple press of their phone.
Optimizing your marketing efforts for mobile users isn’t always easy, but it’s essential if you want to connect with a modern audience. If you need help with mobile marketing, make sure to click here to reach out to us here at Ballantine. We can help you with mobile marketing tasks like search engine optimization, content marketing, social media marketing, PPC, email marketing, and much more!
I'm the Director of Digital Services and Partner at Ballantine, a family-owned and operated direct mail & digital marketing company based in New Jersey. and started in 1966 by my great uncle!
