Yes Mobile Can

Let's take a look at how Mobile Marketing is unique in many ways for consumers ... and the marketers that want to be loved by them. Watch the video below from Google, "The Mobile Movement: Understanding Smartphone Consumers."


Of, course you have POP (Plain Old Phone) but because it is always with you, consider the UMPH (Unique Mobile Phone Happiness) capabilities for your employees and your customers that have a personalized, interactive computer in their hands...
- Camera - still shots and video
- Grab a barcode or pic for instant info
- Microphone to save and share audio
- Location awareness
- Sensors that instantly can assess and react
- Calendar access and updates
- Contact list a click or two away
- "Call me now" customer service with a click 


You know you need to sell your stuff through mobile phones ... because your customers are as glued to their device as you are and InMobi predicts 2011 sales to reach $9 billion. If you need more stats on the importance of Mobile Sales and Marketing, check out this amazing list.


Unbound Commerce is one vendor that is helping our partners build their Mobile-Commerce experience correctly. More on them HERE. Contact us to discuss your needs.


The mobile buying experience is different from a stationary browser-enabled one. There is magic in a customer's location... 
- instant gratification to buy
- at the "point of highest desire" (including in-store product availability) 
- destination/store finder/store maps
... all with pin-point location accurate incentives like coupons ... and how about game-play points... what fun!


BUT first there are some questions with the technology before you can successfully engage, scale and keep more profit.


The first decision is to choose from these two tech platforms:   
1- "Native Apps" are all the rage with their quick lush content only a few swipes and pokes away (after an App Store search which is a different product for iPhone, Android, Blackberry, etc.). 


2- Your more efficient and effective choice is an integrated (to your existing eCommerce system) "Web App" that is easily found through any phone's browser. Plus html5 now allows for rich experiences.


Here are several issues you need to keep in mind:
1- User experience (always first and should be)
2- Bandwidth availability wherever the customer is
3- Content rendering speed and with camera, GPS, mic,+
4- Findability of Web sites versus App stores
5- Leverage existing site promo - SEO, etc.
6- Updateability of new content
7- A/B testing of content (hard w/ Native Apps)
8- Security (always last and shouldn't be)


Here is Google's The Mobile Movement: Understanding Smartphone Consumers: