If you’ve read predictions about the future of Online Marketing over the past 3-4 years, you’ll undoubtedly find “mobile” mentioned in each one. For example: Mobile ecommerce is predicted to increase 65% annually through 2015.
With smart phone sales to pass personal computers, the smart phone race between AT&T and Verizon iPhones, Droid powered phones and everyone else, the impact of mobile devices on our daily lives has elevated to unprecedented levels. 2011 may finally prove to be a breakout year for mobile marketing and mobile commerce.
Mobile phone usage goes far beyond making calls and texts. There’s been significant increases in mobile social networking activity, the use of mobile phones to send email and other social/geo apps like Foursquare. It’s a compelling task to stay on top of mobile marketing / advertising opportunities, so here are 5 mobile marketing resources that will help keep you up to speed:
Mobile Marketer – Let by Editor in Chief Mickey Alam Khan and a great team including Giselle Tsirulnik and Dan Butcher, this publication covers 360 degrees of mobile marketing and commerce.
Another useful mobile marketing news site is Mobile Marketing Watch, which offers a variety of news on the mobile space and is a great example of content marketing from it’s owner, mobileStorm.
Mobile Marketing Association – The MMA is a global organization headquartered in New York with over 700 members and a charter to promote, educate, measure, guide and protect the mobile marketing industry worldwide.
The MMA also hosts 5 global forum events each year called the MMAF (Mobile Marketing Association Forum) in Singapore, New York, Sao Paulo, London and Los Angeles.
Google Mobile Ads Blog – With the acquisition of AdMob, Google’s mobile advertising resources have expanded significantly and this blog provides great insights into the world of mobile advertising. Also check out the companion Google Mobile Blog.
Another hand mobile advertising blog worth checking out comes from the folks at Mobivity.
The Marqui blog recently curated a nice collection of PowerPoint decks on Mobile Marketing like the one above covering future trends and innovation in mobile marketing and advertising.
Also check out DMA Retail Roadmap to Mobile Marketing- a presentation by Joel Morrow of Mobile Fusion giving numerous case studies and best practices for retail mobile marketing.
Finally, here is “the book” on Mobile Marketing, written by Cindy Krum. “Mobile Marketing: Finding Your Customers No Matter Where They Are“. Getting this book is a no-brainer if you want a great foundation for mobile marketing as part of your online marketing mix.
There are many other resources including research reports, but few of value are available without requiring registration, so we can’t link to them directly. What are your favorite newsletters, blogs, events/conferences and resources for mobile marketing and advertising? Would you like Online Marketing Blog to cover more mobile marketing topics, tips, interviews and best practices?
Marketing tips would be a great addition to your regular features. There’s always something new to learn regarding online marketing, and I’ll bet most of your readers would appreciate the more thorough coverage of the topic.
Feedback appreciated David – mobile is one of those areas we’ve touched on but do not get deep into. I made my first WAP site in 2000 🙂 but didn’t do too much after that.
Brain cramp – missed including Cindy Krum’s book – just added. Maybe it was because she turned down my editorial offers – twice? Ha ha. No, it was an oversight due to a rushed post. It’s a great book.
I always think Steve Smith from Mediaposts’ Mobile Insider is right on the money. I’d also consider Kim Dushinski’s Mobile Marketing Handbook. For podcasts, try the IM-Mobile or Mobile Beyond podcasts. For beginners, I recently did a presentation to the Newport Interactive Marketers group on mobile marketing that you can find on Slideshare http://www.slideshare.net/tamaragruber/intro-to-mobile-marketing-6653729.
Thank you Tamara, I know this post was a bit short and there are many more resources. Thanks for the slideshare link!
I will differently keep these in mind as soon as I start doing mobile marketing for my business
Great information about Mobile Marketing as a student at Western Michigan University I can tell that the love and usage of so called smart phones is increasing like mad. I know I will be obtaining one soon enough I already feel left out and lost without one saying how many ways you can use one to benefit yourself and your company. I studying Internet Marketing with @dr4ward at Western Michigan University and also subscribe to your blog. I appreciate all the helpful information here. #mkt3730
Thanks David, glad you find the post and info on our blog useful. We do plan to cover more mobile topics.
Lee, this is both informative and timely for me as I just hosted a Chicago Booth Marketing Roundtable event last night featuring the topic of Mobile Marketing. I already forwarded this link to all of the attendees to give them even more info to use for their small businesses. Thanks for making this stuff available! I look forward to seeing more great Mobile content discussed here.
Tamara, thanks for your Mobile Marketing suggestions too!
Thanks Kyle, here are a few more recent Mobile Resources:
DMA Mobile Marketing Day in NYC
http://tprk.us/f5pwWD
Best Buy Mobile Marketing Case Study
http://tprk.us/fbboiK
The firm I work for is just starting to get around to developing mobile apps – about time.
They’re also currently looking for a free online branding app. We like this one: http://mindflashad.com/branding-concept-quiz/posts
but are looking for something that’s a little more in depth in the actual quiz part. Any recommendations?
Thanks
These guys specialize in surveys, maybe they have a solution:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Mobile-Surveys/
Great post Lee. The future of online marketing is most definitely in social media an mobile marketing. Especially in major cities, people are constantly blocking out the noise of their surroundings and are plugged in to their smart phones through their commute. It’s the main mode of communication and their is a lot of space for marketing growth.
Yes, it’s true. Everything is changing even the uses of mobile today. Even the uses of mobile, as you said in your blog that “Mobile phone usage goes far beyond making calls and texts”, but for now it use marketing instrument by some of the company. And it seems great and friendly use. Nice information at all. Thank you – http://mobilemarketingvenue.com/
That was a great blog. Thank you for sharing the resources. Didn’t really like the fortune 50 ad but that’s ok. It’s about getting the consumers attention
Thanks for mentioning my book!!! I am also launching a mobile marketing tool set – With emulators, simulators, seo stuff, code graders, etc. Check them all out at: http://www.mobilemoxie.com/mobile-tools
Hi Cindy, I have just started reading your book a couple of days ago really good read, so interesting ideas and great information.
I starting a internships at http://www.fetchmedia.co.uk/
This is a great set of materials and resources, thanks for putting it together!
One area that doesn’t seem to get a lot of attention in this roundup is the changing nature of the conversation with your customers. With more brands creating mobile websites and mobile apps, how are they using those channels to talk to their customers? That’s a huge area of opportunity and seems to be a natural next step when investing in these assets. We’re seeing a lot of larger brands realize that they can reach a large and highly engaged audience of their customers through these channels in a personal way.
This is a new ‘executive summary’ book on the topic of Mobile Marketing that we have out:
http://amzn.to/LLxDLF
Hey Cindy After reading your book, I discovered many things about Mobile Marketing, as we are running a similar niche business http://www.quicksalemobile.com