People love their cell phones, and the number of users with smartphones and social media accounts prove it. Globally, 1.2 billion people are accessing the web via mobile devices.
In the US, 61% of men and 57% of women have smartphones, with Hispanics and African-Americans making up the largest ethnic groups who are smartphone users.
This calculates to many mobile opportunities for the business owner, when considering marketing, mobile SEO, design and communications.
As the digital web evolves through 2014, entering a new year means that efforts in building strong mobile marketing strategies is advantageous to any business interested in growth and expansion.
As illustrated to the left, mobile users are consuming more than social media. They’re also sending and receiving text messages, surfing the Internet, sending mail, using apps, listening to music, discovering new locations, navigating and video.
With such a wide range of mobile activities available on one device, the mobile phone has evolved to be a personal source for entertainment, communication, productivity and exploration.
Finding a space among these activities will be unique for every company, with care and consideration necessary to deciphering the best outlet and strategy for joining the fun and sharing the good news about your business.
However, to get off the bench (and remain in the game), companies must adapt accordingly for 2015, as consumption will naturally increase as technology continues to evolve, but so will expectations.
SEO Impact
Mobile users are on the go and require quick access to information on-demand. With the advent of this digital phenomenon, businesses are expected to adjust by improving their content marketing, optimizing their websites for search engine discovery, and adding long-tail and semantic keywords into their branded content.
Create A Winning Game Plan
Start the game clock with these tips and your business might just make it to the championship:
• Mobile offers easier access to reach potential buyers, clients and related sponsors
• Consumptions usage generates an opportunity to create personal brand experiences and interactions that reel in customers
• Increased outlets to connect with consumers using email, text marketing, social media and apps. The opportunities here are endless.
• Reach and engage with mobile consumers 24/7, not just during media buys
Flag on the Play
These characteristics of mobile consumers, if not tended to, will diminish your mobile and digital content efforts:
• On-demand need for fresh content; more pressure to maintain new content
• Shortened attention span of consumers
• Users may be inundated with mobile or social ads, and marketing
Best Practices
Mobile consumption will only increase in 2015 as more users demand convenient access to their favorite brands, services and activities. To make the most of the new digital world, below are a few best practices you can utilize to ensure that your company is taking every opportunity to build customer bases and communicate with your clients.
• Make sure your business site is optimized for mobile (and tablet) users. Build a pleasant user experience for your mobile viewers that ensures easy navigation among your site’s pages, and include click-to-call options to add a convenient way to reach your company’s team for urgent inquiries
• Take advantage of social media. Choose the best outlets for your brand. You won’t need Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube AND Instagram. Use your resources wisely and carefully curate brand messaging powered by a relevant content strategy to touch your customers and fans on social media.
• Do you offer a service or product where an app would be helpful? Consider building an app for your business to provide another outlet for customers to reach you when desired.
• Diversify your content. Mobile consumption occurs in all tax brackets, neighborhoods and age groups. Carefully consider the wide range of people your company will be exposed to and speak on behalf of your brand accordingly.