How important is mobile to your small business? Network Solutions did a survey and found that while most SMB’s are aware of the possibilities, few of them are actually using mobile for marketing.
The first line item is a tricky one. Text messaging can be seen as an invasion of privacy for some mobile users, so this probably isn’t the best place to start.
Listing your company with a location-based website, however, is a quick (and most effective) way to get a mobile boost. Setting up an engaging profile with Foursquare, Google Places and Facebook Places is a good way to start (see our previous post on setting up a Places page). This is an easy one and should be way higher than 19%.
Placing ads, creating an app and making your site mobile are all a little more involved both from a time and money standpoint, so it’s easy to see why the actual usage numbers are so low. Still, if you’re in a business that gets foot traffic, you’re missing out if you don’t have a mobile plan.
Another point to consider is making your inventory or portfolio easily seen via the customer’s phone. Potential customers might not always feel like walking into your store, have the time, or are walking by after hours. Not engaging these types of customers is a quick way to lose out on potential sales.
Here are the stats from Network Solutions.
One in three searches on mobile is local. After searching for a business: 61% call the business, 59% visit the business; 88% take action the same day.
Jumping into mobile marketing sounds easier than it is, I get that. Most small business owners are already stretched thin just keeping up with the day-to-day. But the numbers on mobile just keep rising, so at some point, you’re going to have to take the plunge or get left behind. For the future of your business, make it sooner than later.
-Patrick