Mobile Marketing Predictions for 2013 “Here Comes the BOOM!”

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Have you ever taken a quiz or a survey of any sort and they ask you a question pertaining to your “theme” song? For example, “If you were to pick any song and label it your theme song, which song would you choose?” I couldn’t even begin to tell you how many times I have been asked this question in the communications field. People like to know about you and believe it or not, your favorite song or “theme” song says more about you than you think.

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For Mobile Web and Mobile media though, I believe if they were to pick a theme song they would choose a song by P.O.D. Many of you probably already know which song I’m talking about too. It goes a little like this… “Here comes the Boom! Ready or not, how you like me now?” Yes, Boom! by P.O.D. would be their theme song.

Yahoo! News recently released content titled “5 Predictions for Mobile Tech in 2013.” The first paragraph of this article states, “if denial isn’t just a river in Egypt, then mobile isn’t just a city in Alabama. And if 2012 proved one thing, it’s that there’s no denying mobile is the present and future of technology.” The article goes on to explain it’s five predictions, about brand wars (Apple vs. Samsung), “wearable” tech, flexibility, future of cameras, and “e-wallets.”

Here are a few predictions for the coming year:

-More than half of emails will be opened through a mobile device.

-Worldwide email accounts are expected to rise form 3.1 billion to 3.6 billion in just two years.

-Mobile devices will become the most common web access tool, passing up PC’s.

-80% of retailers will invest in mobile commerce.

-Every 2 seconds a sale on eBay comes from a mobile phone.

-Consumers will by over 230 million tablets, of those users 71% will be iPad users.

-Twitter will boost to over one billion registered users. 53% access through a mobile device.

-42.8% of marketing executives plan on increasing their mobile marketing spending budget in 2013

-31% of all mobile users have activated Foursquare and use it regularly.

-51% of Google+ unique views come from a mobile device.

-In 2011 there were a total of $241 billion mobile transactions, that number is expected to double by 2015.

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Random Mobile Facts:

-Out of the six billion people in the world, 4.8 own a form of mobile device, while only 4.2 own a toothbrush. Really people?

-We interact on our mobile device 40-80 times a day on average.

-The United States has the greatest number of active iOS and Andriod devices (181 million) while China is second (167 million) and Great Britain is third with (35 million).

-China has the fastest growing mobile smartphone market. Grossing over 293% from 2011 to 2012.

-Mobile web access will overtake PC and continue their dominance.

Many have stated that 2009 to 2012 was ruled by the Social Media world, and now 2013 to 2015 will be known as the Mobile world. The rate at which the mobile industry is growing is outstanding, it’s almost at the point where it’s unheard of. The total amount of Internet traffic from mobile devices is around 10% right now, where in 2009 it was a measly 1%. Meaning mobile devices are popular and people are using and responding well with using a smartphone along with other devices that have access to web-based content.

With the rising mobile web usage the total number of Internet user’s globally will grow from 2 billion in 2010 to roughly 2.7 billion in 2015. An estimated 40% of the worlds population will then have access to the Internet’s vast amount of resources.

With the predictions provided how can we deny Mobile web it’s opportunity.

Go Mobile or Die, 8 Reasons Why It Should Be In Your Marketing Plan

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How many of you have a Facebook or Twitter account? How many of you access that account from a device other than a PC? If you do, are you using your smartphone or tablet? If so, you are considered “part of the norm.” Over two thirds of facebook and twitter traffic already comes from mobile devices. Most of you are probably reading this blog post from a mobile device.

We’ve officially entered a world where having a PC is no longer part of the norm. We can access the web from almost any handheld device and from almost any part of the world. Mobile is no longer a “wanted” support medium, it’s now a necessity. Mobile has became the GO TO medium of today’s world. george_bernard_shaw

With the ever so rising demand of mobile technology, we as humans must adjust to the fundemental shift that comes along with it. We must make and take new innovative approaches to understand and adapt to the new uses. North Social states, “without your brand promotions being accessible from any device (smartphone, tablet, or PC) you’re failing to reach 60-70% of just your social media users.”

If companies don’t adjust and accomodate a mobile strategic plan into their business plan now, then they are failing with the mobile wave opportunity. Consumers who are not happy or do not have a great experience with an accessible and well thoughout mobile site will bail and head straight to your competitor giving them the edge over you. Companies can no longer go without having a mobile plan in place, it’s now essential to succeed.

Have I convinced you mobile is the way to go? Have you realized mobile is here and its here to stay? If not, I understand. Here are 8 more reasons why marketers must add mobile to their strategy in 2013.

1. Accessibility = Intreaction

The average American spends 94 minutes per day using mobile applications versus the 72 minutes of web-based consumption. The number is growing rapidly, while the percentage of web traffic in the United States is 7.96% that number skyrockets in Asia where the web traffic there is at 17.84%. Many have stated it’s only a matter of time before mobile usage surpasses television as the go to access point for media and I mean ALL media. Most consumers access Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn through a mobile device.

2. Statistics can prove anything – even the truth.

Just like in the business world, where numbers are key. The same goes for the communication world. We thrive off numbers and statistics.

  • There are over 1.2 Billion people accessing the web from their mobiles
  • 1.08 of the world’s 4 billion mobile phones are smartphones
  • 91% of all smartphone users have their phone within arm’s reach 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
  • 60% of Facebook’s 1 billion users access Facebook through a mobile device. These people are twice as active on the social media site than those who do not have mobile access.
  • Facebook has 543 million monthly active users on mobile
  • By 2016 mobile marketing will account for more than 15.2% of global online ad spending.

3. Maturity takes time

Imagine putting together a fundraiser. You just throw your fundraiser out there and nobody shows up. You put the whole thing together but forgot one crucial step. Promoting and awareness. Same thing with brand promotions. You cannot just create a brand and toss it out in to the world and hope people visit. You have to plan and campaign your brand. Promote it and get people aware of what you are all about.

The good thing about this is that the mobile ad market it no longer “immature.” There is such a large inventory out there of the tools companies have access too. They are able to target and connect their messages to their consumers this way. For example, Facebook. This company has gone all in. They put all their eggs in one basket and it has paid off. In 2011 Facebook had a big goose egg on the board in the mobile ad revenue area. Where in 2013 they’re expected to pull in an outstanding $850 million for mobile ads.

4. So, Lo, Mo – Repeat it till you remember it.

Social, Local, Mobile. Remember social is mobile, local is mobile, mobile is social and local. As stated earlier, 60% of Facebook traffic is mobile and growing rapidly. Then we have twitter where most of their user base is mobile. Throw in Foursquare where the location-based service allows users to inform friends where they’re eating, drinking or gathering at right now – this confirms that mobile and social make great partners. Social media has the power to bring people all over the world together.

5. Flow Easily

Have you ever woke up at dawn to go skiing out on the lake, when its the most calm almost and has a glassy like look to it. It’s the best time to go skiing, right? That’s what you want it to be like when you launch a promotion. If it goes smooth and easy most likely it will be successful. You never want to go skiing on memorial day weekend at two in the afternoon. The more waves you hit the more likely you are to fall. Same goes for promotions. The more hoops you have to jump through in order to participate in a brand experience the more likely you are to fail.

So what about QR Codes (aka Quick Response Codes). These are nauseating just like the your fathers flag shirt that he wore in the 70’s. (Every dad is entitled to one ugly shirt though.) Any person in the communication sphere especially brand marketers need a reality check when it comes to QR Codes. It may look good but it’s not inviting to a perspective client whatsoever.

6. Rapid Response, Rapid Reward

I’m like a little kid when it comes to prizes in cereal boxes and Cracker Jacks. I just want to know right away what the special prize is. Smart mobile apps allow you (the business) to collect data from your consumer and turn around and hit your customer with rapid response emails. These emails can include coupons, lines, certificates and more. The way business play the distribute and redeem game has changed, because our consumer behavior has changed. All because of mobile. Statistics show mobile coupons are ten times more likely to be redeemed than traditional coupons.

7. Why is a Smartphone called a Smartphone?

I often find myself asking this question a lot and no it’s not because I’m a blonde. I often wonder how many things get their names. The reason a smartphone is called a smartphone is because it is the “brain” of you as the customer. We use mobile phones for essentially everything. Whether it be entertainment, exercise to even googling ptential purchases. North Social states, “71% of mobile consumer do research on their smartphones after being served a captivating television or mobile ad? … while more than 59% of B2B purchase decision makers and influencers turn to their smartphones to gather intel when purchasing products or services.”

8. There is no failure, only feedback

To be successful you want and need to know how your consumer likes your product. Brands are constantly in communication with their consumers picking their brains to find out exactly what they want and how they can improve their business. To get a large ROI from your consumer you must partake in certain initiatives.

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  • Properly incent them
  • Quick and convient feedback
  • Understand your target
  • Measure customer awareness
  • Learn more about the customer and their specific buying habit

Inorder for a customer to get a discount on a future purchase, ask them to give you instant feedback. I quarantee it will outpreform a traditional survey via email every time.

Have I convinced you now? Good. I hope so. If your a little worried about being jumping into the mobile world, dont worry. It’s always good to be late then never there. Just follow the steps and slowly ease your way in. I promise you, you will be glad you did it.

How to Sell Mobile Friendly Web Sites & Mobile Apps for Profit

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Mobile Marketing Reseller Platform creator TJ Kirgin talks about how to Pitch and Profit from selling mobile friendly Web sites with our Mobile App Reseller Tool.

 

By tj kirgin

New Compliance Information for SMS Mobile Marketers

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On August 1st, 2011 the CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association) will beginning audits on common short code resellers to make sure that they are in compliance with the MMA’s (Mobile Marketing Association) best practices. This video tells you everything you need to know to avoid penalties or suspensions of your common short code business or clients’ businesses.

Below this video you will find link to the compliance sheet issued by the CTIA and a link to the MMA’s Best Practices document.



Compliance Sheet Link:  http://www.anchormobile.net/CTIA.pdf

Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) Best Practices Document: http://mmaglobal.com/Consumer_Best%20Practices_6.1%20Update-02May2011FINAL_MMA.pdf

UPDATE: New Compliance Changes With CTIA!!

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PLEASE READ THIS. IMPORTANT INFORMATION INCLUDED.

It has come to our attention that CTIA (http://www.ctia.org) is going to start performing large scale compliance audits on short codes.

In order to prepare for this, we must take the following precautionary measures:

1. You must be absolutely sure that all your campaigns are in full compliance. This applies especially to keywords and campaigns displayed on yours or your customers’ web sites, as well as on signs, printed materials, etc.

2. We have performed preliminary audits on several white label sites and have noticed that in some cases, the default opt-out instructions have been removed or replaced with a non-compliant message. The current approved opt-out message is: “TXT Stop to end. Help: Rply HELP. Msg & data rates may apply. 3 msgs/wk”.

3. Your site has to be in full compliance by 7/25/2011. At that point, we will start to perform audits on sites which are displaying our short codes 41513, 94932, 49798, 59769, 32020, 75880, 63975, 54500. The CTIA compliance rules can be found on http://www.anchormobile.net/CITA.pdf. In many cases, it may be easier to completely remove the short code and keywords from your site rather than make all the changes required by the CTIA and carriers. Failure to comply can result in your account being suspended or campaigns being deleted.

4. Effective immediately, the opt-out instructions can no longer be removed from keyword functions which add users to groups.

5. It is your responsibility to verify that all your customers’ campaigns are in compliance. Non-compliant campaigns may be subject to immediate termination. If you need to see a sample of a site in full carrier compliance, please visit: http://www.anchormobile.net.

PLEASE REPLY TO THIS EMAIL: If you have received this message, please reply in agreement with these new terms.

Below was received from CTAI as to what platform changes are being implemented:

Dear Short Code Marketers:

In recent months, CTAI has made significant progress implementing and consolidating an industry monitoring program capable of assessing text messaging campaigns (short code campaigns) compliance with established consumer best practices. The monitoring initiative includes inspection of both advertising creative used to encourage consumer opt-in as well as inspection of text message flows over the carrier networks documenting the interaction between campaigns and consumers. With these important pieces now in place, we are publishing the playbook used to guide the monitoring process along with the timeline of next steps leading to the launch of monitoring enforcement August 1, 2011.

Over the coming month, aggregators and content providers will receive login credentials to access monitoring audit reports as they are published. The attached playbook details the process parties will follow in responding to audit and maintaining compliance with consumer best practices. A significant piece of the audit process includes a comparison between campaign details submitted to the registry when leasing codes with details obtained in the open environment including the advertising promoting audits and the text flow details. ANY DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN CAMPAIGN DETAILS FOUND IN THE REGISTRY AND THOSE OBTAINED IN THE OPEN ENVIRONMENT WILL BE VIEWED AS SEVERITY 1 INFRACTIONS AND MAY RESULT IN YOUR REGISTRY ACCOUNT BEING SUSPENDED. Suspended accounts will be unable to add new campaigns to active codes, make changes to existing campaigns running on active codes, or lease new codes. Please take the time now, before enforcement begins, to make corrections to any information in the registry (www.USShortCodes.com) that is out of date or inaccurate.

Listed below is a complete timeline outlining the various milestones of this implementation, leading up to the start of enforcement provisions, which are set to begin, August 1, 2011. Please be advised that aggregators received this information several weeks ago in preparation for this launch and may be able to provide assistance with specific questions you may have. In the coming days, additional resources will be provided to assist you and your teams as you become more familiar with the process.

We express our sincere thanks to all providing critical feedback to help us reach this milestone. It is our goal to provide a very robust monitoring solution capable of mitigating noncompliance of short code based mobile campaigns with the industry’s consumer best practices developed by the MMA and protect consumers. We believe that this step is critical to reaching the broader objective of expanding and stabilizing the marketplace, making it a long-term valuable investment to external organizations. If you have any questions related to these documents, please feel free to contact me at your convenience. Thank you again for your continued interest and support to develop this framework.

Best regards,

Jeff

Director, Technology Programs