Mobile is an action-oriented medium. Mobile shoppers are moving targets, so stationary forms of traditional branded engagement need not apply. Effective mobile marketing strategies accentuate the unique strengths of the medium and must work to solve the numerous elements of variability associated with marketing in the moment. The mastery of managing this volatility will prove to be of great worth as the opportunity to engage consumers in a contextually relevant manner, based on knowledge of both time and space, with campaigns that provide increased interaction and social relevance, is unrivaled in any other communications medium.
The variables associated with a successful mobile marketing campaign are the immediacy, mapping, interaction, and collective aspects. Each variable must be planned for to deliver a relevant experience between brand and customer, and to strengthen this mutual connection. Today’s digital-native consumer is empowered with more information and access to brands than ever before. They are also hyper-connected to an influential social graph where tribal knowledge is constantly being shared. As such, successful marketers can no longer simply market at consumers. They must learn to market to context and, in turn, remain (or become) relevant. The margin for error in any connection is slight, so considerations must be made for each changeable element to ensure the experience is on brand and on point.
Immediacy
The mobile medium is in the moment. Unlike other communications vehicles that are stationary and heavily presentation-oriented, the mobile medium is actionable, time sensitive, on the go, and always on. Given the limited time intervals of engagement opportunity, brands must ensure that communications are crisp and the call to action is clear, concise, and quick to participate in.
Mapping
One of the primary differentiators of the mobile medium is location awareness. Engaging in a contextually relevant way assumes an entirely unique perspective when brands can determine the location of a consumer. Brands are then able to interact with customers instantly, with location-based relevance, through the intensely personal smart device that is always within arm’s reach.
Interaction
Today’s hyper-connected customer actively seeks out true engagement with the brands they most admire. A unidirectional, one-size-fits-all approach to marketing, from a mobile perspective, undermines the strength of the medium and fails to deliver truly interactive experiences between the brand and the consumer. Successful mobile strategies encourage customers to participate in the connection encounter with the brand.
Collective
Mobile marketers must learn to market within the social graphs of their consumer base. A natural byproduct of increased access to information in the hands of the digital native is shrinking levels of brand loyalty. Word-of-mouth is still the most effective form of marketing. Providing contextually relevant, engaging experiences with consumers compels them to share. It draws upon a very basic human need to be altruistic and communicate experiences that help others.
