Mobile marketing is expected to hit record-breaking growth in 2025. Recent predictions for mobile marketing state that it’s set to be worth over $26 billion in 2025. It’s also projected to have a compound annual growth rate of over 18% through 2033!
People of all ages, belonging to almost every target market imaginable, are glued to their mobile phones. There’s rising ad spend and endless tech integrations, so marketers know they have ample opportunities to connect with mobile audiences.
In-app advertising is expected to completely dominate the business landscape, and mobile spending in the US alone is expected to cross $200 billion.
Who wouldn’t want to make the most of that?
Each of my clients at SLINKY with a mobile-first marketing approach managed to pocket incredible success with in-store visits and sales. Let’s get you on track to join the mobile marketing success club. Ready?
Mobile-First Website Design
Let’s talk about mobile-friendly websites. Google now follows mobile-first indexing, which translates to a process where your website’s mobile version is what Google primarily uses for indexing and ranking your business website.
Gone are the times when website optimization was a luxury and choice. Want to get considered for search engine rankings? Mobile-first design is the way to go.
Some key elements of mobile-first design:
- Responsive layout that work well with various screen size
- Fast loading times (aim for under 3 seconds)
- Easy-to-click buttons and links
- Simplified navigation
- Readable text without zooming
App Development
Every business does not need an app. However, for many, it can be exactly what they need to get their sales rolling. Wth an app, you’re creating a communication channel directly to your customers. Key considerations for app development include having a clear value proposition, user-friendly interface, regular updates and improvements that optimize your app, and integration with other high-converting marketing channels.
SMS Marketing
This is one of the oldest mobile technologies, but SMS has managed to survive through extreme evolution and still remains a hugely effective marketing tool. SMS can be a powerful way to reach your audience, and still shines with open rates as high as 98%!
Tips for effective SMS marketing:
- Get explicit permission before sending messages
- Keep messages short and to the point
- Include a clear call-to-action
- Timing is crucial — don’t send messages too early or late
- Provide an easy way to opt-out
For one of our clients, we sent flash sale alerts and birthday offers via SMS marketing. They delivered with a 25% conversion rate, which is a lot higher than what their email campaign brought in.
Location-Based Marketing
The ability to target users based on their location is one of the most unique advantages of mobile marketing. This can deliver remarkable results for businesses that have one or more physical locations.
Types of location-based marketing:
- Geofencing: A virtual boundary around a specific location
- Beacon technology: Send messages to nearby devices via bluetooth
- Check-in deals: Users who check in at your store gain an incentive
Mobile Search Optimization
It’s not really a secret that optimizing for mobile search is now a necessity. You already knew, right? But what some businesses miss out on is the fact that this optimization entails more than just a mobile-friendly website.
Here’s a list of most important aspects of mobile search optimization you’d want to know:
- Focus on long-tail, conversational keywords (think voice search)
- Optimize for local search with Google My Business
- Use schema markup to help search engines understand your content
- Ensure fast loading times (again, it’s really important!)
Mobile Email Marketing
Some of my clients have famously come in and cringed at the words ‘email marketing.’ They think it’s old school — and it is! But just because it’s old, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. In fact, email marketing is still a highly effective channel because mobile use continues to explode. We once revamped one of our client’s email templates to be mobile-first. It resulted in a 30% increase in open rates and a 25% increase in click-through rates.
46% of all emails are opened on mobile devices, so here are some tips for mobile-friendly emails:
- Use a responsive email template
- Keep subject lines short (30-40 characters)
- Use larger fonts and buttons for easy tapping
- Minimize image file sizes for faster loading
- Always test on multiple devices before sending
Social Media Marketing
Social media use is all about that little screen in users’ hands. 99% of social media users get on social platforms through their mobile devices. Needless to say, social media and mobile go hand in hand.
Key considerations for mobile social media marketing:
- Create vertical video content for stories + reels
- High-quality, eye-catching visuals
- Platform-specific features e.g., Instagram Shopping, Twitter Polls, etc, should be utilized
- Engage through comments and direct messages and let your audience know you’re worth interacting with
- Use social listening to understand your audience better
Mobile Advertising
A myriad of targeting options and ad formats designed specifically for mobile users, mobile advertising delivers. Enter in-app ads, mobile search ads, social media ads. In fact, in-app ads will account for 82.3% of the $200 billion ad spend projected for 2025.
Some types of mobile ads to consider are:
- In-app banner ads
- Mobile search ads
- Social media ads (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.)
- Video ads
- Interstitial ads
QR Codes Bridging the Physical and Digital Worlds
QR codes bring businesses a way to connect users’ offline life and events with online content. The codes regained attention during the pandemic when everything became hands-free and touch-free, and then it never went away.
Here’s how you can use QR codes in your mobile marketing:
- Link to your website or app download page
- Offer exclusive discounts or content
- Ensure ease of payment
- Gather customer feedback
- Provide additional product information
Augmented Reality (AR) For Immersive Experiences
AR technology allows you to bridge the distance between reality and the digital world. Some of the most proactive and futuristic brands have already integrated AR into their mobile apps. This has allowed them to amp up brand loyalty, giving customers an exciting experience — one they’ll want to keep coming back to.
How can you integrate AR into your mobile marketing plans?
- Fashion and beauty products can offer virtual try-on options
- Pick and drop furniture visuals to design a space
- Create product demonstrations that offer an interactive element
- Attempt to ‘gamify’ how your customer experiences your brand
Effective Mobile Loyalty Programs
Effective mobile loyalty programs have some important elements that can make a difference in how well they deliver results. By facilitating a process where points/rewards are generated with ease, and redeemed in a fuss-free and fun manner, can make or break a loyalty program’s effectiveness.
Tailor rewards specific to consumer behaviour patterns. You can also add an element of entertainment or gamification, which can have a massive impact on engagement.
Last but not least, iterate the rewards program with other elements of your mobile marketing strategy. Think: app, push notifications, discounts.
Optimize Mobile Marketing For Voice Search
Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant — Virtual assistants have completely changed what we knew about consumers and how they use language to search for solutions. Once your marketing is optimized to work with voice search, floodgates of new avenues in reach and consumer engagement open. Customers are all about convenience, and activating for voice search in terms of conversational tone of voice, long-tail keywords, FAQ pages to target common questions will drive engagement. Is your Google My Business listing up-to-date? Local businesses can benefit magnanimously from voice search integration. Use structured data markup to help search engines understand your content.
Mobile Payment Integration
Platforms like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal have got customers hooked to making purchases on their smartphones. The benefits of a more prompt checkout, heightened security attract customers. The potential for unlocking higher conversion rates for your business is awaiting mobile payment integration.
Personalize For Mobile Marketing Success
To deliver personalized experiences that delight customers and amp up a personal sentiment for your brand, businesses to many great lengths — and enjoy the results. Your best friend in business? Data and insights. Use this information to add personal touches to your mobile marketing.
- Add location information to provide more relevant offers
- Look at user behavior and personalize notifications to grab their attention
- Consider data of past purchases made by a customer, and create a system of recommending products for next purchase
- Look at each individual user, and see how you can customize for different segments
Once you put in the work to actually nurture and build stronger connections with your unique customers, you’ll get massive rewards in terms of sales, and more loyal brand advocates that can’t stop talking about your business.