Mobile Marketing Trends - Don't lose your Digital Wallet!

Android, iPhone, Blackberry - No matter your smartphone choice, the trends in mobile marketing are advancing faster than Steve Jobs can cure your hunger for the next version of your favorite piece of technology. As consumers, we are constantly on the go. Making deposits at the bank or using a desktop PC to update Facebook or to send a tweet is becoming a thing of the past. For many it already is.

Here are five strong and growing trends in mobile marketing:

Digital Wallets - You can review checking account balances, pay bills, even locate the closest ATM with the latest mobile banking applications. And, mobile check scanners mean you never have to visit a bank to make a deposit. The banking industry is expecting mobile banking users to grow around 30 million in the next few years. In recognition of that, Discover Financial is scheduled to launch a smartphone payment system next year by teaming up with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. They'll offer phones that make use of RFID technology. A simple wave of your phone at checkout will pay for purchases at your favorite mall store, supermarket or restaurant. Similar technology debuts this month in New York City with a partnership between Bank of America and Visa.

Consumer Purchasing - Say that you've found a great deal on a new flat-screen TV.

Click to View ShopSavvy Demo

Will the instant gratification bug get you, or will you go home and do your exhausting research to be sure? Smartphone to the rescue! Just scan the bar code using the ShopSavvy application, and in seconds it provides online reviews, the best web and local store prices, and directions to the closest stores. Unfortunately, there's no "How do I explain this purchase to my spouse" app - yet.

Facebook Innovations - Foursquare with it's recent takeover of Time Square, Gowalla and Booyah have been blazing new ground with location based social media marketing. Facebook won't be left behind - it recently announced the ability for users to "check in" and establish Places on their accounts. It will be interesting to see how the competition pans out with Facebook joining the group. Once some obvious privacy issues with such applications are resolved, retailers, restaurants, theme parks, resorts and other venues will ultimately drive the success of checking-in with quality "checkincentives."

Hospital Trends - There are several online and mobile marketing trends showing strong results for hospitals in 2010 as close 400 hospital Twitter accounts and more than 200 YouTube channels have been created. Application builders have caught on with the creation of successful apps like Medical Encyclopedia and Universal Doctor Speaker. Additionally, BeWell Mobile Technology has created smartphone-based patient engagement software. It collects real-time patient data, allowing healthcare providers to track patient progress. In turn, patients can access information about their treatment, medications, doctor notes and more.

Hospitals are also using online and mobile resources to manage their own reputations and market their physicians by using YouTube to broadcast bios and available services. As more patients research their healthcare online, hospitals optimizing their web presence for smartphones and embracing mobile technologies will reach this audience first.

Retail Marketing - There are more than 4 billion mobile technology users worldwide. That fact alone should make anyone interested in reaching consumers take notice. The National Retail Federation certainly has, launching its "Mobile Retail Initiative," which offers best practices for retailers entering mobile space. And, on the back of the initiative, 74% of online retailers either have in place - or are developing - mobile commerce strategies. The NRF expects consumers to use their mobile phones to purchase goods and services worth $120 billion by 2015.

Smartphones are quickly reaching into all business sectors. You might not need a custom app, but at the very least your website should be optimized for mobile viewing. How are advances in mobile technology going to affect your businesses?

Crafting "mobile marketing initiatives" and mobile website development are just a few of the services we offer (and if you DO need an app, we can help with that, too).

James C. Conrad, Principal
Axon Design and Marketing
207-780-1700

Twitter: Why Do People Use It? (Part 2 of our 3-Part Series on Social Media)

If the impact of Twitter has you puzzled, consider this: when Twitter crashed for a couple of hours in August, the outrage of tweeters was unbelievable.

Like Facebook, Twitter creates an experience that stimulates addictive behavioral patterns. It builds relationships around short interactions based on day-to-day chit chat, cool discoveries, and updated news and events.

In part because it was built to work with mobile devices, Twitter is much more immediate than Facebook. It demands urgent attention and prompt response.

But differences aside, it draws users for many of the same reasons. Last month, we discussed Doug Firebaugh's "7 A's of Social Media." To recap, Firebaugh's Seven A's are:

• Acknowledgment
• Attention
• Appreciation
• Acclamation
• Approval
• Assurance
• A part of...
  

Let's look at a few of these. Many people - and businesses, for that matter - tweet primarily for attention. All well and good, but watch your step; content devoid of value, and/or constant tweeting, can be a real turn-off to followers. Success with Twitter is much more likely if you provide links to interesting articles or post engaging questions that are good enough that your followers retweet them. A retweet drives far more positive attention, which is exactly the type of attention a tweeter should strive to accomplish.

Retweeting indicates assurance and acclamation. If you're gaining momentum in followers or responses, your tweets are having a positive impact.

Being accredited is important on Twitter. Most likely, some of the people who follow are friends; indeed, many people tweet purely to keep in touch with chums. But in order to be successful using Twitter to drive an organizational agenda, there needs to be a larger group of followers that you don't know (and who don't get the pleasure of commenting in person about that last tweet). Gaining a following beyond your immediate contacts positions you as knowledgeable in specific areas.

Here's another difference between Facebook and Twitter: even though successful Tweeters are communicating with thousands of people they never met, Twitter's immediacy makes it more like a face to face interaction. Etiquette is hugely important. And that means understanding your audience - their interests, their likes and dislikes, and what it is that prompted them to follow you in the first place.

Using Twitter as a direct sales mechanism can be risky. Think of it this way: if you run a deli and use Twitter to advise your customers what today's special is, all well and good. Your followers signed on for that reason only. But otherwise, it's better to think of it as a soft-sell tool - one that establishes your credibility (there's that acclamation thing again) as a current or future resource.

At its core, Twitter is a tool - and like any tool, using it carelessly or for other than its intended purpose can create problems. That means having a plan, and sticking to it. Know who you want following you, and why. Plan and deliver content accordingly. To the extent possible, try to stick to a schedule, even if it's no more specific than "two Tweets per week."

Talk to us. Axon can help you identify goals and strategies for using Twitter and other social media tools.

Facebook: Why do people use it?

Whether it's the desire to stay updated with friends, voice opinions or simply gain attention, millions of people worldwide are joining social media networks. Businesses are, too. There are myriad of social networks out there, but only a few stand out from the crowd. Lets take a look at one of the heavy hitters: FACEBOOK.

Facebook creates an experience that stimulates addictive behavioral patterns. It creates a community that you can interact with repeatedly and encourages relationships outside of your immediate circle of friends and colleagues. Joining or creating Facebook groups can also help promote a cause, business, or event.

Doug Firebaugh, a Social Media Strategist for socialmediablogster.com, wrote an article identifying the "7 A's of Social Media." We think his insights are very helpful.

Firebaugh's Seven A's are:

• Acknowledgment
• Attention
• Appreciation
• Acclamation
• Approval
• Assurance
• A part of...
  

For purposes of brevity, we'll focus on four of these seven A's. And we'll take the last one first: we all want to be a part of something, The fact that the iPhone sold so well coming out of the box - before anyone knew if it even worked well - lies in the fact that all those early adopters like to be in the first wave.

Interpersonal relationships thrive on the ability to acknowledge someone for an accomplishment, or life event. This act of engagement is something that we as humans relish - even if it's only dozens of people we know casually wishing us a happy birthday.

Acclaim is one of the larger motivators. When people talk about us in a positive light or feature our names in a conversation, it gives us more incentive to take action. It makes a difference when people can recognize us for something we did.

There is a calming effect that takes place when a friend or colleague approves of something we did as individuals. Approval inspires people to continue down their path to success and continue their pursuit. This motivation keeps our clock ticking everyday.

For businesses, the value in Facebook lies in understanding your stakeholders - your audience, really - and distinguishing what niche of the market can produce the best results. There are certain things that remain constant in user interactions with Facebook; that's part of its appeal. As a business, you need to provide information that holds their interest.

Alternatively, you can create a group and attract followers by offering a free service, posting pictures, or written information that people want to respond to.

Successful Facebook pages Involve active conversations. Businesses should provide updated news and remain current with what's happening in and around their operation.

Companies that have successful Facebook presences touch one or more of the 7 A's, and consistently provide relevant company information that people can respond to and appreciate.
Failure with Facebook marketing results from an inability present your company as a leader, hone in on the right niche for your market, or provide an ever-changing stream of news and ideas that's relevant to your audience.

It's a lot of work. But consider this: people are already talking about you. It's best if you help steer the conversation.