Lets get mobile – Social media of the future

The divisions between the Social Media world and the real world are becoming increasingly blurred. Just look at how the breaking news happens: Breaking News! and even looking at Andy Murray brilliantly winning Wimbledon recently – how many smartphones can you count?

So where do you start?

Mobile and associated tools such as QR codes (scan my business card below!) and Augmented Reality is starting to happen (sites such as Blippar) have turned everything from brochures to business cards into gateways to the Social world. Why not give them a go?

Gateways can either give you the edge on your competitors or leave you trailing in their wake.

Some stats are saying that half of Smartphone users are browsing Social Media and 50% are using it for local business searches, so mobile browsing is already big business and I think that this can only increase.

To get you started in this new way of marketing here are a few things to think about.

1. KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid.

Highlight your Social Media presence on all your communications.

Facebook, Twitter and the other major networks are mobile-friendly so even without the respective apps (of which there are well over 150m in use) customers and prospects will be able to reach your pages.

2. Create an app.

Apps can be built for relatively little these days and as well as making access to your Social Media a tap away, you can also integrate a quote service, email newsletters, claims and customer service into it too.

App creation requires specialist knowledge so talk to your website development agency and see who they recommend.

Some examples of finance apps are shown here for different operating platforms.

http://www.money.co.uk/misc/best-mobile-apps/mobile-finance-apps.htm

3. Google places.

This is a free tool that you can make part of your Google+ page and integrate into paid search.

Google state that 97% of consumers search for local businesses online and with mobile predicted to be the biggest web platform it’s an opportunity not to be missed.

4. Invest in local Social Media advertising.

Facebook also offer all sorts of free targeting tools for local businesses within their page functionality such as, your hours of business, location and even public transport directions.

You can augment this presence with some relatively low-cost local Facebook advertising.

Facebook is tight-lipped about the number of local business searches they receive, but Borrell Associates claim it represents 74% of their advertising revenue.

Add to the fact that around 33% of Facebook’s traffic was mobile in 2011 (which can only increase) and it’s definitely worth investigating.

5. Mobile media.

Mobile media is no longer the future of the web: it’s the present.

Mobile will overtake desktop browsing this year according to Google, and with UK membership of Social Networks having topped 30 million in 2011 the opportunity is huge. 

I think that absence in this area will raise more questions than not, so jump on board and embrace the future.