Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that virtually everything these days is going mobile. This is definitely true of marketing. Many businesses have already launched a mobile marketing strategy to capitalize on a growing number of mobile users. In recent years the smartphone industry has exploded making it possible for millions around the world to be constantly online wherever they go and whatever they’re doing. And one activity that people do a lot of is perform mobile searches. It is predicted that by 2015, mobile search will surpass traditional search. In other words, more online searches will originate from mobile devices than from PCs and laptops. If your business isn’t ready for this mobile shift, you’ll be missing out on more than 50% of potential customers. So if you’ve been putting off mobile optimization, you can’t afford to wait any longer.

Here are a few helpful tips to help you prepare your small business for the upcoming mobile takeover.

Create a mobile website

Having a mobile website is Mobile Marketing 101. If you are relying solely on a traditional website, then nearly half of all of your web traffic will be trying to view a site designed for a computer monitor on a four- to five-inch screen. Though some will be patient enough to pinch and zoom to find their way through your website, many others won’t and will simply look elsewhere. A mobile website is different in a number of ways. It is much more simplistic and is easier to navigate. It condenses down all the basic information so that a person on the go can find what they need quickly.

Use mobile ads and offers

Not all mobile users spend a lot of time on web browsers. Many are content to use their smartphones and tablets for the thousands of available apps. In order to reach these consumers who spend most of their time in apps, you can invest in mobile ads. In-app advertising allows you to display ads for your business to people who are using another app. In-app advertising works best when the app you’re advertising in is in some way related to the type of business you are advertising.

Optimize social media marketing for mobile

One of the most popular activities on smartphones and tablets is social media. Because mobile users are spending so much time on social media, it’s important to make it easy for them to connect with you via social media. Provide links to your social media accounts from your mobile website. Have “like” and “share” buttons that are clearly visible.

Make mobile marketing personal

Like every other advertising channel, mobile marketing should be personal. In creating a mobile marketing strategy for your businesses, make it your own. There are lots of different marketing strategies out there. Experiment and find which ones work well for your businesses. Continue to fine tune your marketing strategy to make it more effective.

Source:  Biz Journals