Mobile marketing exploding to new heights…daily

Mobile wins … it’s got my attention now

As a marketing person, I can no longer ignore the mobile marketing frontier … and neither should you. And the verb "ignore" is no accident. That is, literally, what I was doing for a while. Every time I had receive a mobile marketing related email in my inbox, I was only too happy to hit "delete" to turn off the noise and get back to my marketing world. That was months ago. Given the recession, however, this field has become extremely creative with mobile marketing solutions … so much so that I can no longer ignore the incredibly innovative, highly-targeted opportunities that are rapidly unfolding before our very marketing eyes.

Just today, MediaPost reports that Google has launched a one-to-one mobile marketing and ad tool that speaks directly to consumers. Specifically, this newly launched, add-on social network service called Latitude "could easily adopt mobile marketing applications that target users with special deals and ads at specific locations such as in front of Starbucks or McDonald’s as they drive or walk down the street."

Using mobile devices to scan bar codes?? *omg!*

The other day, while presenting my Digital Marketing Frontier session to broadcasting and media folks in Hebron, Kentucky, I also highlighted other powerful mobile marketing innovations as of late. The image above highlights a recent development as cited by SALT’s Brand Trends Report for 2009 which basically blew me away with the endless possibilities presented to marketers. Think about it … going to the store, using your cell to scan the bar code of your Del Monte® canned peas and instantly having coupons and discounts for other Del Monte canned goods or food products, links to recipes and other resources show up on your cell?? No matter what you think of this, the possibilities are *truly* endless.

Something old, something new … mix ‘em together and whaddaya got?

Another creative example SALT cites where mobile marketing can help to re-purpose traditional billboard advertising is being used by Crunch Gym in New York. Bring a snapshot of a Crunch Gym outdoor billboard to one of their gyms and get a free pass for yourself or a friend.

Ingenious.

Hardly the guru … but curiosity has been sparked!

Look, mobile marketing is *the* next big thing. I think 2008 was the year for social networks. I think 2009 will be the year of mobile marketing. Like social networks, mobile marketing is still relatively new grounds with massive untapped opportunities. What I’ve shared here in this very small blog post can’t even begin to scrape the surface of what is up and coming in this highly creative, highly measurable and highly efficient mobile marketing arena. I have definitely developed a curiosity about this exciting channel for marketing and encourage marketers seeking to embark on truly innovative, targeted and integrateable outreach endeavors to consider adding mobile to the marketing mix.