Why is mobile so important?
Ignore Mobile at Your Peril – Stats That Prove the Power of Mobile Marketing
Everyone is connected
Mobile search is growing Mobile consumers want local
Mobile marketing is the future. Any marketer, or marketing firm worth their weight in invoices knows that the key to future success is adapting to and optimizing for the mobile market. When you’re in a public place, you don’t have to look far to find someone pre-occupied with a smartphone. This very same occurrence that you see on a day-to-day basis also happen1s at home, with tablets. Tablets and mobile devices are taking over the market and that makes for an exciting piece of Internet history that many are recognizing, but few are really cashing in on.
The following 7 statistics will give you an idea of just how big this is, and how much bigger it’ll be over the next few years. Pay close attention.
75% of Americans admit to bringing their phone to the bathroom.
More than ever, Americans are attached to their devices. So much so, that they take the device with them wherever they go, even the bathroom. While the majority of time spent on mobile devices is checking email, browsing social media sites or playing games – this leaves a crap load1 (see what I did there?) of time to reach your potential customers.
Why is mobile so important?
40% of shoppers consult 3 or more channels (often while shopping) before making a purchase.
This same stat was less than 10% in 2002. That’s mind-boggling growth in just over 10 years. Even more astonishing is the fact that 52% of Americans user their devices while browsing in-store in order to research the product online. This type of behavior will ultimately lead to an increase in the importance of online reputation management, fair pricing and transparency from retail outlets.
Why is mobile so important?
4 out of 5 consumers use smartphones to shop.
This should surprise no one. Mobile users are shoppers, and we’ve got data to prove it. Smart retailers (like Target) are recognizing this trend and incentivizing the use of mobile phones within the store with discounts and coupons targeted at mobile users. Many restaurants are doing the same thing by offering a free drink, appetizer or a coupon code to those that check in using Foursquare, Yelp or Facebook.
Mobile is arguably the closest you can get to the consumer. There is no other device that is aspersonal (everybody has their own phone), as pervasive (is with you all of the time), and provides the opportunity for proximity. As marketers seek to understand – and leverage – a consumer’s path to purchase, mobile devices have the potential to be a tremendous enabler. The power (in the future) to determine that a target consumer is driving in the proximity of your restaurant and then feed them an immediate message or coupon is unprecedented. In a 2011 study, Americans spent 2.7 hours per day socializing on their mobile phones – more than twice the time they spent eating. 75% of the globe now has a mobile phone offering access to developed markets as well as emerging regions. Mobile will truly enable marketers to connect at the right time, in the right place, with the right individual.
Why is mobile so important?
By 2014 mobile is predicted to overtake desktop Internet usage.
This is largely based on the developing world having access to cheap smartphones and data plans as opposed to having to buy a laptop or desktop device to access the Internet. The rise in 3g and 4g data in countries like India and China proved to be a massive shift in the dynamic of mobile web usage due to the poor infrastructure in most major metro areas (and especially outside them). This poor infrastructure leads to slower and more expensive at-home connections thus providing a real opportunity for smart phones in these markets.
Why is mobile so important?
As of 2012, 116 million Americans owned smartphones.
This figure is up from 93.1 million just a year earlier. 2013 will prove to be the tipping point as smartphone usage is expected to reach nearly 60%. This figure alone should justify the expense of a mobile strategy by most businesses.
Why is mobile so important?
70% of mobile searches lead to online action within an hour.5
Mobile users that find your business online have a conversion percentage nearly three times higher than the same search done on a desktop or laptop. Why? Mobile users are on the go. When you’re browsing, you grab the laptop and start researching or just satisfying curiosity for products or services. When you grab your smartphone to search, you have a specific intent in mind, whether it be food, clothing or an oil change for your car. Mobile searchers are buyers, assuming you can meet their needs.
Why is mobile so important?
78% of retailers plan to invest in mobile this year.6
The figure is expected to top 220 million within the retail market alone. In marketing, retailers drive trends, and if they’re spending that kind of money in mobile, maybe it’s time to evaluate your strategy.
Still not convinced?
If these stats aren’t mind boggling enough for you, try this one on for size. If you take a look at the world’s 7 billion plus people, more of these people own smartphones than toothbrushes. How’s that for mind boggling?