A Need For Mobile Security

The massive popularity of smartphones has changed the way the marketing game is played. Businesses are constantly developing new ways to communicate with customers through their phones. It is also becoming easier for people to make purchases via smartphone. Mobile users can access their bank accounts, PayPal, and email from anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, so can smartphone thieves.

A Rise In Smartphone Theft

Smartphone theft is on the rise. Every minute more than one hundred smartphones are lost or stolen in the US alone. While many thieves may only be interested in the hardware, many more aren’t looking to sell the phone for a couple hundred bucks, they’re looking for access to its owner’s personal information, bank accounts, and credit cards.

Protective Measures

It is apparent that smartphone companies and app developers are going to need to come up with protective measures to keep mobile device owners’ personal information safe. But in the meantime, there are a number of things smartphone users can do themselves to protect themselves from credit card fraud and identity theft:

·         Make sure any personal information such as bank account numbers or social security numbers are not easily accessible

·         Protect your device with a password

·         Don’t allow any apps that deal with personal information to automatically sign you in. Make sure a password is required before being able to access any personal information

·         Don’t keep a smartphone in a shallow pocket or a place where it can easily fall out and into the wrong hands

·         Never leave a smartphone unattended, even for a few seconds

Taking these simple steps can protect you from identity thieves looking for an easy target.

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Source: http://www.mobilemarketingwatch.com/mobile-security-becoming-a-crisis-in-great-britain-28240/

Is Mobile Advertising Getting Noisy?

As the concept of mobile advertising continues to grow, mobile users are going to continue to get more and more advertisement texts. Some people are already starting to complain about all the mobile ad noise. One of the greatest advantages of mobile marketing is the incredibly high open rate. Unlike junk emails which are discarded without look twice, text advertisements are almost always looked at. The last think mobile marketers want is to see mobile advertising become like email advertising.

LoopMe, a new company in the UK says they have a simple solution to the problem, an “ad inbox.”

The Ad Inbox

On the surface, it sounds like more bad news for mobile marketers: all their advertisements getting dumped into a separate inbox that might not be viewed. But LoopMe CEO, Stephen Upstone puts those fears to rest. According to Upstone, about 5 to 10% of people with the ad inbox actually go into that inbox. And while that’s nowhere near the open rate of a message sent to the regular inbox, this next part makes up for it. The response rate for ads sent to the ad inbox is ten times higher than other ads. So while less people will see the ads, those that do are far more likely to act on them.

There are some pretty interesting implications if the ad inbox works as well as Stephen Upstone claims. It could have the potential to benefit both mobile marketers and the consumers they’re targeting, which is something that just doesn’t happen. This might be the answer to the mobile ad noise that marketers are searching for.

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Source: http://www.mobilemarketingwatch.com/have-mobile-ads-become-too-noisy-28371/

Mobile Marketing And The Restaurant Industry

If you think that mobile marketing doesn’t have a place in the restaurant industry, think again. Never has mobile marketing been such an important priority for restaurant owners. In fact, almost 70 percent of consumers have ordered food online using their mobile device. Many of these do so frequently. Not only are people ordering food online but they are using their phone’s geo-locating service to find nearby restaurants, check hours and menu options, and look at customer reviews.

With such a powerful connection between mobile and the restaurant industry, it is critical for restaurant owners looking to expand their business to launch a mobile marketing campaign.

The Mobile Marketing Advantage

Mobile marketing is already playing a huge part in the success of many restaurants. For instance, nearly a third of all orders from Domino’s and Papa John’s are done online or from mobile devices. Text message marketing is especially effective because 99% of those texts are opened and 25% are redeemed. No other advertising media packs that kind of punch. Restaurant owners who have learned how to take advantage of mobile marketing are reaping the rewards.

Launching A Mobile Marketing Campaign

There are a number of things restaurant owners should consider in launching their own mobile marketing campaign. The strategies that have proved to be the most effective in the restaurant industry are text-to-win campaigns, mobile coupons, and reservation reminder texts. Implementing these strategies helps customers feel connected and will keep them coming back again and again.

Now is the time for restaurant owners to start incorporating mobile into their marketing strategy if they want to capitalize on this growing trend.

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Source:  http://www.mobilemarketingwatch.com/sms-marketing-is-it-right-for-your-restaurant-33621/

Prepare For Remodeling Surprises

In 1785, Robert Burns, the famous poet, penned the words, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” The words are as true today as they were over 200 years ago. This maxim is especially apt when referring to the home renovation schemes of homeowners. Unfortunately, unexpected mishaps are par for the course when people attempt to update their homes.

A Home Full of Unexpected Guests

Case in point: Keith Stivers, a contractor and president of Stivers Design LLC of Columbia Station, told a pair of homeowners that before he would repair their water-damaged ceiling, he wanted to inspect the roof for what he suspected was going to be a host of other problems. His prediction proved correct when during the course of his inspection he “uncovered a family of mice, a nest of centipedes and—as he suspected—lots of rotted wood and crumbling plaster walls.” Luckily, the family had planned in extra money to their renovation to cover this unwelcome surprise, but not all homeowners are so forward thinking.

Budget In An Extra 5-10%

With this and other cases in mind, Stivers has suggested that all homeowners “set aside 5 percent to 10 percent more than their budget for those unexpected discoveries.” And it won’t always be rotten wood or pests—Stivers said sometimes he runs across the remnants of past renovation projects that were poorly done or incomplete and he has to spend extra time and money repairing those.

Cheryl Reed, spokeswoman for Angie’s List, recommended, “Never pay for a project with cash. Always use a credit card so you have recourse in case something goes wrong.”

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Source: http://www.cleveland.com/insideout/index.ssf/2013/06/build_your_renovation_budget_w.html

The Challenge For Mobile Marketers

The mobile tech industry presents difficult problems to marketers that other forms of media don’t. Before the popularity of mobile devices, marketing was much easier. There was one type of advertising that worked for TV, one type for computers, and one for radio. But with mobile marketing, one marketing strategy won’t fit all. Currently there are smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and ultrabooks. Then there are upcoming technologies such as Apple’s iWatch and Google’s Glass. The problem with marketing is that it isn’t about the device itself but the concept of a gadget that people take with them.  Marketers need to be able to create a marketing strategy that works across multiple devices and operating systems and that will be effective regardless of the environment the consumer is in.

The Biggest Mistake

By far the most common mistake that mobile marketers make is treating the mobile industry as a unified whole. For example, they rely on the classic banner ad strategy because it works on all devices. While it does save money and reaches the widest audience, it fails to take advantage of the various strengths of each device. As a result it is a less effective strategy.

Liquid Creativity

The secret to successful mobile marketing is “liquid creativity.” Liquid creativity is creating a mobile marketing strategy that capitalizes on the opportunities each mobile device offers. The difficulty in achieving liquid creativity is taking into account the sheer number of mobile devices. One key could be a web server capable of recognizing each separate device and adjusting the advertisement for that device. Another challenge for marketers is learning to measure consumer behavior when they are using so many different devices in so many different ways. Answering some of these tough questions will make the difference between successful and unsuccessful mobile marketers.

Mobile Technology News brought to you by: http://www.businesstexter.com/

Source:  http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/mobile-a-screen-device-behavior/242024/

Text Message Marketing Is Constantly Improving

Text message marketing is the cornerstone of mobile marketing and has been for more than a decade. But despite its proven effectiveness as a marketing strategy, it continues to evolve and develop to become even more effective. Here is a look at five ways in which text message marketing continues to develop in 2013.

More Relevance

As the technology behind device targeting continues to improve, text message marketing adapts by offering the ability to tailor campaigns according to people’s interests and needs. More relevant messages means more effective and affordable marketing campaigns

More Industries

Gone are the days when just a few industries were using text message marketing campaigns. As the effectiveness of mobile marketing continues to prove itself, more and more people are unable to ignore it. Whether it’s a Fortune 500 company or a family-run bakery, text message marketing has something to offer. In 2013 SMS marketing will continue to spread into new industries.

More Loyalty

Another huge advantage to text message marketing is maintaining customer loyalty. 75% of smartphone users report being interested in texting-based loyalty programs. To sign up a person needs only to send a text and from then on they receive special promotions and discounts. This year will see more and more companies adopting these types of loyalty programs. They help customers stay in closer contact with their favorite companies and keep the customers coming back.

More Value

Text message marketing got its start in the form of mass texts that included a call to action to many potential customers. Now there are many more effective ways that businesses are using the technology. Businesses use texts to say thank you after a purchase, send customers special deals, send order confirmations, and inform customers that an order is ready for pick up. As businesses continue to find more ways to use texting, there will be more and more added value in text message marketing technology.

Less Is More

Finally, businesses are learning to follow the age-old advice: less is more. They’ve realized that customers don’t take well to receiving an excessive number of texts. Instead companies are working to make their messages as relevant, timely, and concise as possible. As they continue to refine their strategies, text message marketing continues to grow in effectiveness.

These are just a few of the ways you can expect to see text message marketing change in 2013.

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Source:  http://www.mobile-financial.com/news/sms-marketing-how-it%E2%80%99s-changing-2013

Eight Ways To Use Mobile Marketing Wisely

Mobile marketing has grown to become one of the most widely used, most effective marketing tools in the world. It has even surpassed online advertising as a medium for marketing. Despite all its benefits, however, mobile marketing is still only as good as the thought and planning that goes into it. Businesses that hope to capitalize on this lucrative marketing tool need to employ some smart mobile marketing practices. Here’s a look at eight ways businesses can use mobile marketing wisely.

Have A Mobile-Optimized Website

Few things are as damaging to a company’s image as a website not formatted for mobile devices. Many won’t take the time to try and zoom in and read content on a webpage that doesn’t fit on their device’s screen. If you need to hire a professional to design the mobile-optimized website, it’s well worth the investment.

Keep The Message Relevant

While people may put up with silly emails from friends or family members, they won’t stand for those kinds of messages from companies. Any message that’s worth sending to hundreds of customers, or potential customers, will be clear, concise, and purposeful. Take the time to carefully tailor these messages.

Do Market Testing

Remember that it’s much better to have employees or coworkers find your errors rather than your customers. Have employees and coworkers test out marketing campaigns before launching them. Make sure mobile pages are user-friendly and easy to navigate through. You can also pay an outside consultant to evaluate the quality of your mobile marketing campaign.

Stay On Top of New Technology

Change is the nature of the technology industry. Your marketing strategy can be made obsolete almost overnight as a result of new technology. Make sure you are staying on top of mobile technology and adapting accordingly.

Consider An App

Apps can be a valuable tool, but they’re not for everyone. Don’t design an app just to have one. Make sure it serves a purpose for your business. If an app won’t add anything to your company’s marketing efforts, don’t waste time and money on it.

Make It Easy To Share

Social media has made it easier than ever for your customers to become your advocates. Make sure it is easy for your customers to share your business with their friends via social media.

Take Advantage of Texting

There is no better way to get a timely message to your customers than text messages. The majority of texts are opened and read within seconds of being sent. Don’t overlook this extremely powerful communication tool

Don’t Forget About Email

With all the hype about texting it’s easy to forget about email. But don’t. More and more mobile users are accessing their email on their mobile devices making email marketing campaigns more effective than ever before.

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Source:  http://www.imediaconnection.comb/content/34543.asp