It’s no secret that the public adoption of smartphones has successfully grown at a rapid rate. According to Nielsen’s Top Tens & Trends, 40% of all US mobile consumers own a smartphone. And as new and improved devices continue to emerge, the public has become increasingly interested in reading about, testing and owning the next generation of mobile devices.
For example, many US Apple fans eagerly anticipate the arrival of the iPhone 5, but we can only begin to speculate what new features the device will have in store. Rumors suggest the release date is right around the corner and consumers are anxiously waiting to be the first to place their orders. Although the phone is already on its 5th generation, the new development only marks the beginning of the smartphone revolution.
How does the mobile revolution impact PR and communications pros?
As the popularity for mobile devices continues to grow, digital marketing strategies also have a great opportunity to evolve. New smartphone developments create new channels for us to share content and news. By optimizing our work for mobile, we now have the ability to reach audiences at distinct times and in a diversity of locations.
Not sure if your marketing and PR plan is ready for the smartphone revolution? Here are four tips to help you prepare for the future of mobile:
1. Optimize Websites for Mobile Viewing
Most websites are NOT optimized for mobile. Although many are accessible on smartphones, small text and Flash embedded images are not always mobile-user friendly. Be sure your mobile site is maximizing the limited screen space that current smartphones have. Include easy to access button-links to help viewers navigate and don’t run videos or images on platforms that are unavailable on mobile operating systems.
2. Understand the Differences in Mobile Search
Mobile searches do not always share the same results as desktop searches. When a user is searching on mobile, local results are more likely to be shared, image results rank higher, and social search (i.e. Google +1s and social recommendations) are not accounted for. Be aware that SEO for a website can be drastically different from optimizing a site for mobile search.
3. Invest in Mobile Advertising
Recent reports from Google’s quarterly earnings suggest that mobile advertising is on the rise. With access to 300,000 mobile apps via Google AdWords’ AdMob network, mobile advertising can help reach audience members via the apps they use most. Ramp up your PPC campaigns with a mobile addition to share your message with more users.
4. Research Emerging Mobile Trends
Like social media, mobile technology is always changing. By keeping a close eye on emerging mobile trends, we can begin to evolve our digital strategies to better communicate with target consumers. Adjust your campaigns accordingly with every smartphone update and be weary that mobile phones are used for different purposes dependent on location, age and culture.
As mentioned earlier, the popularity and consumption of smartphones can only grow from here. Preparing for the future of mobile starts now. Are you ready for the revolution? Share your mobile marketing tips below!
Tags: digital tips, mobile advertising, mobile marketing, mobile search, mobile website, technology
