With the popularity of mCommerce growing and with so many people using their smart phones for product information while mobile shopping, it’s time merchants and mobile marketers realize they need to be incorporating video into their mobile marketing campaigns. Video is huge in the purchasing decision process because you can actually show a prospect exactly what your product’s benefits are at the very moment they’re considering its purchase, and does so in a manner that a static image, text, or audio simply can not do. There is no better way to drive sales and increase conversion rates for your mobile marketing campaign.

So what do you put in your video? Social media interaction, a call to action to download a product coupon via SMS text message marketing, product reviews, and viral components all come to mind as important ingredients in mobile video. The best part about video is that smartphones and tablets have evolved to such a degree where adding video is indeed a reality that works well, translating into a real opportunity for merchants and certified mobile marketers who design their campaigns.

In fact, more than half of mobile video is being viewed via a WiFi connection with smartphones and tablets being the primary sources of mobile video viewing. Adding video on a mobile optimized website or within a branded mobile application lead customers to spend more time on a merchant’s site and bring them closer to making a favorable purchasing decision. Case study after case study proves this to be true over and over again.

Customers are not only preferring mobile video content, but actually demanding it as smartphone adoption rates soar through the roof. You wonder why your competition is having so much success with their mobile optimized site? You can bet they are closing the deal with video. You can use text message marketing, email marketing, or video email marketing to actually drive a prospect to your offering page, but once they’re there, you better have something compelling to make them pull the purchasing trigger. That component is video – and it better be featured prominently so users easily see exactly what you want them to see with a clear call to action or all your hard work will be wasted.

Video testimonials from existing customers work best. Show the product being used in everyday life or create an aura of what life would be like using the product instead. The options for video engagement are limitless. And although mobile devices do present many challenges in terms of video formats (HTML5 video, Flash videos, 3GP/3GP2 support, etc.), opportunities for using video still result with much higher conversion rates and sales than does static alternatives.

In other words, if you’re seriously about driving overall sales and increase your brand loyalty on the mobile web and via mobile apps, video isn’t an option at this point – video marketing is a requirement.

Share on Facebook

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

QR Codes continue to get more and more popular among mobile marketers since the adoption rates of bar code scanning are rapidly increasing.  What’s great about QR Codes is that it turns un-trackable traditional advertising into trackable data, so marketers immediately know if there mobile marketing campaign is successful or not. The big problem with QR Codes is that unlike the internet, where many “industry standards” have woven themselves into our surfing habits, there currently isn’t one with 2d bar code scanning and QR Code mplementation.

Because of that, one bar code application reader may not read the QR Code that is compatible with another mobile application from another bar code developer. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to perform a QR Code scan from your smartphone without having to download an application to do so? ScanLife seems to have successfully solved this issue and have just announced an industry first feature that brings mobile barcode scanning to the forefront through their “Scan & Send” feature which allows you to now reach 190 million people in the US alone (3 times more than just Smart Phones) through MMS marketing. The 3-step process is as follows:

1. Take a normal picture of a 2D or 1D bar code (QR Code) from your cell phone’s camera
2. Send that picture to ScanLife via their text message marketing shortcode of 43588
3. ScanLife then decodes it on their server and delivers the featured content immediately to whatever smart phone you use.

This system works on bar codes such as QR Codes, Datamatrix, EZcode, and even UPC Codes with an auto-focus camera on US carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. Outside the US,  you can send the picture to scan@scanlife.com, and you’ll get a link back by email instead. Watch this video for more details on how the entire process works:

Click here to view the embedded video.

This is big, because now you can publish a QR Code and reach millions of people that have already downloaded a 2d bar code application, AND now another 100 million that haven’t – the bottom line is no mobile application is required for cell phone users who want to scan a QR Code and have relevant content delivered directly to their phones. More info on this announcement can be found on the  Mashable and Fast Company blogs. You can also read the QR Code announcement on the ScanLife blog here.

Share on Facebook

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The DROID INCREDIBLE is the eagerly anticipated Android 2.2 phone from HTC for Verizon Wireless. Make it uniquely yours by customizing with Android Market’s thousands of apps and widgets. The advanced 8 megapixel camera/camcorder captures your favorite moments with auto focus and a 2x power LED flash. Use special effects to edit your images, and then post your pictures directly to your favorite social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.

REGULAR PRICE: 549.99
TODAY’S PRICE: FREE
SHIPPING: FREE

Always know exactly where you are and where you’re going with apps like VZ Navigator and Google Maps supported by the integrated GPS. Check email, surf the web, and switch between different apps at lightning-fast speeds with the 1GHz Snapdragon Processor and 8GB internal flash memory. The next generation HTC Sense user interface includes fun new features and widgets. Incredible by HTC is a trademark of HTC Corporation. DROID is a trademark of Lucas

Highlights

• 3.7″ Hi-Definition Display With A Full Virtual QWERTY Keyboard
• Access Your Exchange and Gmail As Well As Mobile Email Like Yahoo! And AOL
• Advanced 8MP Camera/Camcorder With Auto-focus And 2x Power LED Flash
• Android Market Offers Thousands Of Apps And Hundreds Of Widgets To Make DROID INCREDIBLE Yours
• Control Your Home’s FrontPoint Security System From This Phone
• HTC Sense Organizes All Of Your Incoming Texts, Emails, Tweets, And Facebook Messages By Sender
• HTML Browser Supports Adobe Flash 10.1
• Integrated GPS Supports Location-based Services Like VZ Navigator, Google Maps, And Geo-tagging
• Integrated Visual Voice Mail Allows You To See A List Of Your Voice Mails
• Lightning-Fast 1 GHz Snapdragon Processor And 8 GB Internal Flash Memory
• Live Wallpaper, Animated Weather Widget, and Multiple Themes
• Make It Uniquely Yours With the Android Operating System
• NFL Mobile Application Keeps You In The Game

Compatible Rate Plans

• Device Supports Voice Plans – Yes
• Available For Purchase Without Service Plan – Yes
• Device Supports Add-on Line Upgrade Plans – Yes
• Device Supports Add-on Line Plans – Yes
• Early Termination Fee – Early Termination Fee $350 (2 yr contracts)

Compatible Features

• Verizon Wireless 3G Mobile Hotspot 2GB Option – Yes
• Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Connect Option – Yes
• Verizon Wireless Visual Voicemail Compatible – Yes
• Verizon Wireless TXT+PIX+FLIX Plan Options – Yes
• Verizon Wireless Voice Plan Options – Yes
• Verizon Wireless PDA Plan Options – Yes

What’s In The Box

• Additional Items Included – Battery, Wall Charger, Quick Start Guide, 2GB MicroSD Card Included

Messaging Features

• Email Client – Yes, Access Your Favorite Mobile Email and Sync To Microsoft Exchange Email
• HTML Web Browsing – Yes, Surf The Web On The Full HTML Web Browser Which Supports Adobe Flash 10.1
• Instant Messenger – Yes, Access Your Favorite Instant Messenging Such As Windows Live, Yahoo, and AIM
• Multimedia Messaging – Yes, Send and Receive Picture Messages
• Text Messaging (SMS) – Yes, Send and Receive Text Messages

Entertainment

• Custom Ringtones – Yes, Downloadable
• Customizable Graphics – Yes, Downloadable
• App Store – Android Market
• Facebook – Yes, Your Facebook Friends Are Integrated Into Your Contacts
• FM Radio – Yes, FM Radio Capable (Wired Headset Required For Use, Not Included)
• Games – Yes, Downloadable
• MP3 Player – Yes
• MP3 Ringtones – Yes, Downloadable
• MySpace – Yes
• Photo Apps – Yes, Upload Your Photos Directly To Your Favorite Photo Sites Such As Flicker, Peep, and Picasa
• Picture Caller ID – Yes
• Polyphonic Ringtones – Yes
• Ringer Profiles – Yes
• Streaming Multimedia Support – Yes, Watch Videos and Listen To Quality Music
• Twitter – Yes, Accessible Via HTML Web Browsing

Digital Camera

• Camera Megapixels – 8MP
• Camera – Yes, 8MP Camera Also Has HD 720p Video Capture
• Geo-Tagging – Yes, Advanced 8MP Digital Camera Uses Integrated GPS To Tag The Location Of Your Photos
• Self-Timer – Yes
• Video Capture / Camcorder – Yes, 8MP HD 720p Camcorder Captures Videos To Share Via Multi Media Messaging

Advanced Features

• Use This Phone As A Modem – Yes
• Google – Yes, Android 2.2 OS
• GPS Services Support – Yes, Integrated GPS Supports Location-based Services Like VZ Navigator, Geo-tagging, and Google Maps
• Attachment Viewing (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) – Yes
• PC Synchronization – Yes, Sync Your Droid Incredible To Your PC Via USB Cable
• Attachment Viewing and Editing (Word, Excel) – Yes
• Upgradeable – Yes
• Bluetooth Stereo Headset (A2DP) – Yes, Stream Music Wirelessly With Stereo Bluetooth-enabled Headset (Not included)
• Bluetooth Wireless Technology – Yes, Connect Wirelessly To Other Bluetooth-enabled Devices Including Car Kits, Computers, and More

Core Features

• Calculator – Yes
• PDA Device – Yes
• Calendar – Yes
• Color – Black
• Color Main Display – 3.7″, 480 x 800 Pixels, SLCD Display
• Alarm – Yes
• Style – Candy Bar
• Speakerphone – Yes
• To-Do List – Yes
• Vibrate – Yes
• Voice Memo – Yes
• Voice-activated Dialing – Yes

Battery

• Standby Time – Up To 6 Days
• Talk Time – Up To 5 Hours
• Battery Type – Li-Ion

Technical Specifications

• 3G Data Speeds – Yes, Where Available
• WiFi – Yes
• Compatible Carrier – Verizon Wireless
• Data Download Speed – EVDO REV A
• Mobile Hotspot – Yes, 3G Mobile Hotspot Capable
• Processor Speed – 1GHz
• Dimensions – 4.7″ x 2.3″ x 0.5″
• Expandable Memory Capacity – Up To 32GB MicroSD
• Application Platform – Android 2.2
• Hearing Aid Compatible – Yes, M4/T3
• Manufacturer Model Name – DROID Incredible by HTC
• Micro-USB Port – Yes
• Multiple Numbers Per Name – Yes
• Network Compatibility – CDMA 800, 1900
• Phonebook Capacity – Dependant On Available Memory
• Platform / Operating System – Android 2.2
• Predictive Text Entry – Yes
• Processor Type – Snapdragon
• Standard 3.5mm Stereo Headset Jack – Yes
• Touch Screen – Yes, Full Touch Virtual Keyboard
• Weight – 4.6 Ounces
• Built-In Memory – 8 GB

Order the Droid Incredible by HTC TODAY

Share on Facebook

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The proliferation of smart phones can not be denied at this point when it comes to where to concentrate on marketing your business. Google’s Android operating platform and the Apple iPhone currently activate a total of 450,000 phones PER DAY! This is a target market that just screams opportunity – and there can be no doubt that you need to take advantage of this demographic right now by entering the world of mobile marketing.  You need to contact a certified mobile marketer and find out exactly what it takes to create a mobile application, or a text message marketing campaign, or how to integrate video to create brand loyalty, among so many other options available to your business that you may find quite affordable.

Big time brands are proving that mobile marketing works, which is causing smaller brands and advertising agencies to incorporate mobile into their marketing repertoire. The best part about mobile marketing is the many options businesses have to chose from. SMS text message marketing, QR Code and bar code scanning, mobile application development, mobile ad networks, mobile optimized websites, video marketing, banner ads on mobile applications,  etc – the list goes on and on. But one thing is for certain: you MUST enter the field in one or more of those options to stay competitive in whatever marketplace your company functions in.

What cannot be stressed enough is that at this point, mobile marketing is NOT an option – it’s a MUST-HAVE in 2011. Cross-channel marketing is becoming the buzz-word. mCommerce is something that needs serious consideration in your business strategy. Want to learn from the pros? Download the Classic Guide to Mobile Creative from Mobile Marketer for some really interesting tips on making mobile marketing work for you. Or contact a certified mobile text message marketer who can actually make your campaign a reality.

Share on Facebook

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Starbucks mCommerce via Mobile Apps and QR Codes

mCommerce just got a jolt of caffeine. Now you can buy that overpriced latte on your iPhone, iPad touch or Blackberry via Starbucks’ new mobile application that allows them to start accepting mobile payments on those mobile devices in approximately 6,800 of their stores across the country. The Starbucks Card Mobile payment program is yet another example of how mobile marketing continues to dominate the marketing industry.  The in-app purchasing capability of the mobile marketing app allows users to reload existing Starbucks Cards, find the closest Starbucks location, and track rewards via PayPal or credit card. After reading a QR Code 2d bar code scan at the store register, simply clicking “touch to pay” completes the mobile transaction.

And why is Starbucks going the app development route with mobile marketing? Because their customers are actually asking for it! The mobile app is the fastest way for customers to pay.

Now think of this: if Starbucks’ customers are literally asking for ways to incorporate mobile marketing and mCommerce, don’t you think YOUR customers are asking for the same thing?!?! Customers carry their mobile phones much more often than their wallets or purses, and mobile payment programs are a great way to reach consumers and build stronger relationships leading to greater brand loyalty. That’s the bottom line and you don’t need to be a multi-billion dollar organization to see that fact in action every single day.

And Starbucks has done their homework with the growth of the Android market as well. Android application is actually outpacing Apple’s iPhone and iPad, so there are plans in place right now to develop an Android application that will do the same thing for coffee-thirsty customers. Finally, here’s an interesting video on the future of mobile marketing for Starbucks and what they expect to have happen:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Share on Facebook

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

According to ABI Research, consumers worldwide will send 7 trillion sms text messages in 2011. Seven trillion is an unfathomably large number, and one that should convince you of the fact that mobile marketing is a huge opportunity for permission based marketers in the coming year. If you own a small to medium size business, it should also bring to the forefront the importance of getting mobile optimized, both with a mobile optimized website, an interactive mobile application for the iPhone, iPad, (or similar) and certainly the necessity of implementing text message marketing campaigns.

Yes, texting is more prevalent with the younger generation, but little by little, this technology is being warmly adopted by just about all demographics at this point. And it’s not just SMS text message marketing anymore either. The use of 2d bar code scans and QR codes is skyrocketing right now in which can only be described as the “Wild, wild west of mobile marketing opportunity”.

Trillions of messages will be sent across billions of mobile devices. In fact, there are more cell phones in the world than people and the mobile marketplace is almost 5 times larger than the internet. How many people leave their homes without their cell phones in tow? Could marketers ask for a better environment to communicate with potential customers? Seriously, if you haven’t implemented mobile marketing with your business, what have you been waiting for?

Using SMS is so much stronger than just the top-level text message either. With an SMS text message, you can connect the consumer with just about any form of media, including streaming video and video email campaigns, a mobile coupon, or a website landing page where you can collect customer data.  And the fact that consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable sending out SMS text messages translates into a strong mechanism for increasing sales and building brand loyalty.

While old-school marketers continue to send print postcards in snail mail, or even direct people to out-dated websites, ask yourself what would inspire you to opt-into a merchant’s offer: a postcard with an 800 number to call, a campaign where you have to boot up your computer to visit a particular website, or an opt-in text message campaign where you’ll see results immediately from your smart device? Now you’re getting it!

7 trillion is staggering. It’s clearly opportunity. But it also can be intimidating. That’s why you need to contact a text message marketing company that can hold your hand though the process and show you exactly how to produce results from mobile marketing.

Share on Facebook

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Mobile gift cards are here, and JCPenny is becoming somewhat of a pioneer in their employment via their latest mobile application where they offer monthly coupons and access loyalty programs to their opt-in subscriber list.

Brand names know more and more customers are using their mobile phones when shopping and providing them with relevant coupons and product information (especially since these shoppers are actually asking for that info) can only help increase conversion rates for their products and services.  In addition to viewing their JCPenny Rewards account, the JCPenny Swagg mobile application allows users to buy, customize, and exchange gift cards from their smartphones with the goal being the convenience of data and information at the exact time it’s requested and needed.

If a customer has a JCPenny gift card, they can be stored in the application to be redeemed either online or at the store itself, whenever the customer wants to. It’s the perfect way to implement a mobile gift card program, and from the results JCPenny is seeing over a short period of time, it works. Here’s the best part: if it works for JCPenny, it’ll probably work for you – whatever business you specialize in.

The point is, developing mobile applications can help you build a strong customer loyalty program that makes potential customers want to shop with your brand. Creating mobile gift cards is a way to incorporate the viral nature of a coupon with the fact that more and more people are leading the mobile lifestyle and are increasingly demanding communication via their mobile devices and smart-phones.

Share on Facebook

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

mCommerce (mobile commerce) is gaining popularity very quickly, especially now that the holiday season is upon us. However, many mobile users are expressing frustration with a number of mobile marketing applications from a variety of retailers for the simple fact that most are not very well thought out and that there are very few iPhone application developers that actually know what they’re doing.

Recent stats show that fewer than 5% of retailers have a mobile site and most mobile device users expressed frustration with retailers’ mobile applications. Folks, that’s known as opportunity for forward-thinking businesses and entrepreneurs. Coupons are largely considered the most useful part of an application. Here are some other ideas about what’s important to implement in a mobile application:

• The ability to view in-store specials of the day without actually entering the store.
• How to get directions to the nearest store.
• Get alerted to whether an item is in stock at that store.
• Have the ability to buy the product within the app without having to physically go to the store.
• Read user reviews of a specific product or service.
• Get alerts on products similar to ones already purchased by the user.
• List and review the purchases the customer already made at that particular store.

The trick is to create a mobile application for your brand that actually functions as a loyalty card to keep the customer coming back and making more and more purchases.  This can be done by providing SMS or MMS coupons delivered instantly to the mobile device, having the ability to scan a particular 2d bar code (QR code) for instant information on any product or service, and using a smartphone to scan the price of an item and adding it to your in-app shopping cart at checkout.

You need to contact a mobile application developer and work with that mobile app development team to make this happen for your product or service and claim your piece of the mobile marketing pie.

Share on Facebook

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Looking to enter an industry with over a projected 600% growth rate? Creating revenue within mobile marketing applications employing credit card processing (which many are calling “mCommerce”) is real, it’s here, and it works. Expectations for in-application mcommerce are high, despite a relatively small number of businesses presently billing through its mobile platforms.  This fact alone makes mCommerce and in-application mobile marketing one of the best business models you’ll see in a very long time.

If you can showcase your brand through an app, and generate revenue via the mobile app as well, you’ve got a marketing piece to die for. And because a very small amount of developers are experimenting with this payment model, opportunity is there for certified mobile marketers to make a fortune in this “wild wild west” industry known as mCommerce.

In-app billing results in more money to the app owner, and depending on the content of the app, increases conversion rates to tremendous levels of success. Before, there were technical limitations on successfully implementing in-app billing, but now that these limitations have been removed, staggering growth is sure to happen in this field, which is the basis on why many analysts are forecasting growth rates in this sector as high as 600 percent in 2011 alone!

Now there’s technology that enables mCommerce applications to collect payment from mobile users for online content and services, while providing analytics for mobile marketers and the campaigns they implement. Demand for mobile applications is booming and will only continue to grow, which is why you need to contact an iPhone, iPad, or Android application developer about how your business can reap the benefits of mobile marketing before your competition does. In addition, the number of mobile application downloads from all sources is expected to rise to almost 50 million by 2012, while downloads TODAY number close to 2o million every day! Don’t you want in on that? Based on those numbers alone, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that you’d have to be crazy not to enter the mobile marketing arena!

But now it gets even better. With in-application marketing, you take your application, make it a free download, but then at some point in the future, initiate some “trigger” to charge the customer based on any number of triggering occurrences (timeframe, usage level, upgrade-ablility, etc.). This strategy allows for a maximum amount of downloads and further brand awareness, while the effectiveness of the app maximizes conversion rates based on whatever the triggering event is for the “in-app” payment. Until recently, app stores did not offer the functionality to enable payments from within the app. Can you see the opportunity now that that limitation has been lifted? No doubt more and more brands will be utilizing more in-app charging strategies, and today’s mobile marketing industry (which we’ve said time and time again is still in its infancy) is perfect for experimenting with mCommerce solutions.

The possibilities and opportunities here are endless. When users download a free app, they know at some point there’s a monetary endgame somewhere. In-app billing provides an avenue to create a payment gateway for that customer for them to purchase in a seamless manner, without ever having to leave the app, which in itself is enough to drive adoption of this form of mobile marketing – one that will probably be commonplace in just a year from now, yet undiscovered at present by a high percentage of “expert” mobile marketers. Opportunity? You bet! Learn more about mCommerce credit card payments by watching the video below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Share on Facebook

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

When analysts predict a 127% growth factor for anything, you need to take notice. That’s exactly what their forecast is for iPad growth for 2011, and while having an application developed for your business for the iPhone is seen as a no-brainer in today’s mobile marketing world, it would be wise for businesses to not stop there and make sure they have an app compatible for the iPad as well.

Most people think an iPhone app and an iPad app are one in the same. They are not – while quite similar in functionality most of the time, there are subtle differences in operating systems that make it crucial that you make it clear to your mobile application developer that you need an application that works on the iPad as well as the iPhone.

And going a step further, it wouldn’t hurt to get that same mobile app available on the Android marketplace too, as Android is actually outselling and growing faster than Apple’s iPhone and iPad apps in terms of demand and sales. Just about all data shows the world going mobile – if you’re not riding this wave, you most certainly will be left behind your competition. If the industry predictions are right, by 2012 nearly 41 million Americans will have some sort of a mobile smart device. That’s a lot of eyeballs and potential customers if you don’t snooze at this opportunity.

And more good news: research also shows that tablet ownership (such as the iPad) is significantly higher among affluent adults – you know, the people with the money to actually buy your product! Marketing to people with money seems like a good idea, right? Mobile marketing allows you to push your message and brand to a targeted demographic who embrace technology and have the resources to buy. Any other questions why you should have a mobile application created for your business?

Share on Facebook

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.