Smartphones. Not just for calendars & emailSmart Solution
Just like the recovering alcoholic that feels all his friends have a drinking problem, I have recently seen the light and now believe that all clients should have … no wait … must have a mobile application or mobile website component to their marketing communications mix.
Still think smartphones (i.e. handheld, web-enabled mobile devices) are just for yuppie, business types to check their calendars or send an email? Or think mobile applications are for silly parlor tricks like pouring and drinking an electronic beer. Well, think again, because these devices and their mobile applications have gone mainstream and are rapidly becoming one of the most preferred and widely accepted methods that consumers use to get their entertainment, stay informed and manage their daily lives.
Think I’m crazy? Well, just look around. Right now, you’re literally surrounded by throngs of seemingly innocent-looking consumers who are discretely packing a smartphone equipped with an iPhone, Google Android or BlackBerry operating system. And if you think the millions of smartphone-toting consumers are simply using these devices for silly games and texting, you’d be dead wrong. They’re doing their banking, checking their Facebook, receiving promotional information and discounts, sending/receiving Tweets, contacting customer service, scheduling a doctor’s appointment, ordering a pizza, navigating a theme park, preparing a grocery list, watching a movie, viewing a webinar, listening to a podcast, checking the headlines or sports scores, posting a rant, booking a business trip, or calling an exotic, faraway place for free. In short, consumers are using this technology to simplify and manage their daily lives.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve ignored or overlooked the idea of a mobile application as part of your company’s marketing communications mix, then you definitely need to reconsider. Smartphones, with their thousands of mobile applications, are a reality and they’re not going away anytime soon. Instead of fighting the inevitable, spend some quality time thinking about how your company could be leveraging its power to connect directly to your audience, enhance their experience, create efficiency and build a competitive advantage. Better yet, just give us a call and we can chat about the possibilities.
