Another interesting note is that 50% of current mobile ad spend comes out of online budgets, while 27% comes from specific mobile budgets. This is also projected to change, thanks much to the excitement over the iPhones, the huge cross-demographic use of SMS, and the explosion of the app store(s). It is projected that soon 43% of mobile ad spend will come specifically from budgets earmarked for mobile only.

Of agencies who have not run a mobile campaign, 71% expect to do so soon. And when they do, the majority are reaching out for outside mobile expertise which is exactly why we see the boutique mobile firms flourishing.

For agencies using outside mobile firms, it is important to use a group familiar with both traditional and new marketing. Additionally, it is important not to hire a group that only focuses on the technology; find a group with excellent tech integration but also a focus on creative delivery, flawless execution, and revenue generation for your client.

Let’s Text Together is an edgy, leading mobile provider. We’re aggressive in helping you meet your mobile marketing needs by providing industry-leading software and campaign management at incredibly inexpensive prices. Our SMS packages start at an astoundingly affordable $39 per month. Visit us today, browse our Wisely Asked Questions page, and view different campaign features.

Trend #1: Apple. Period.
They are not necessarily the leader in actual process innovation, but they are indeed the leader in creating a frenzied demand for mobile products and hugely increased data consumption. Apple makes people desire wireless, fast, engaged devices. This allows brands to create marketing campaigns that strongly deepen brand equity.

Trend #2: The rapid transition to smartphones.
Partly fed by Trend #1, the world has an increasingly rich appetite for smartphones. More apps and mobile websites are being produced everyday because of this trend…and rightfully so. The numbers on mobile web growth are staggering! This smartphone revolution may be the most influential trend of all relative to the effects on the rise of mobile marketing.

Trend #3: Brands are including mobile in multichannel marketing.
As with anything, once big brands start playing ball, all the small- and medium-sized markets want to join. We are seeing this first hand this year through an influx of interest in mobile marketing (namely SMS marketing and building iPhone applications). Business owners are steadily recognizing their audience is mobile and they need to be there. If they aren’t, then they are not speaking to their customers…a recipe for failure.

Trend #4: Mobile commerce is primed to take off and make a major impact.
M-commerce is exciting since almost every test being done (Ebay, Starbucks, etc.) is seeing excellent results. Consumers are much more willing to enter their billing information into their phones and make a purchase than many retailers anticipated.

Trend #5: Location-based services will spur concern from privacy advocacy groups.
The good thing about this is, as privacy concerns are ironed out, more mobile marketing strategies will come to light. Better mobile marketing strategies will be understood by both brands and consumers and that is always a positive.

Speaking specifically to SMS, a study from late 2009 shows that 37 percent of people say they would participate in a mobile customer loyalty program from a brand they trust. However, 83 percent say their favorite brand has not yet marketed to them via their mobile phone. This is changing in 2010. We have felt the increase in business since January 1. Brands who had no interest in mobile in 2009 now have interest in more than one tier of mobile marketing, such as tying both SMS and a mobile website into a campaign.

I bring this up to focus on one major point. As brands do gravitate towards a mobile interest, they face a steep learning curve. Even if they had never purchased a radio schedule or newspaper ad they could figure out the parameters, variables involved, and make a purchase fairly easily. But with mobile, all companies price differently, package differently, etc. and the industry still sits in a Wild West mentality of pricing and selling.

For this reason, we put our recent focus into publishing one whitepaper simply discussing how to price mobile.

For a marketer this will help them compare apples to apples and ensure they dodge the silly setup fees, maintenance fees, etc. that some mobile companies charge. If you’re a marketer who is interested in reading this whitepaper, please email me, as we are not posting it very many places but rather on a per request basis. My direct email is Dave@LetsTextTogether.com

A blog about text message advertising, sms marketing, mms marketing, mobile internet, methods for free marketing and free marketing consulting, and the evolution of the mobile marketing industry. Visit us at www.LetsTextTogether.com or email us at Sales@LetsTextTogether.com.

With the rabid popularity of fantasy sports, the opposite is happening; fans find themselves rooting for specific players rather then specific teams. Even die-hard (insert name of best team ever) fans will cop to rooting for players who are members of (insert name of rival of best team ever) if they are part of their fantasy roster. Football is at the top of the fantasy phenomenon, and fantasy football’s effects have been two-fold on the sport. First, it has nationalized football in that more fans have an interest in every game regardless of which teams are playing. Second, it has impacted those who play fantasy football in that during the season it is imperative they are connected at all time, spending hours every week online managing their fantasy team.

Mobile has responded to the demands of these fans with applications, mobile sites, and SMS campaigns that do everything from supplying real time game updates player by player, to offering advice and statistics on draft day. This makes mobile the optimal way to reach fantasy football team owners, who tend to be middle- to high- income married males who have a reasonable amount of disposable income. The average fantasy player is also more likely to research and buy their purchases on-line, and they also spend almost twice as much on football then non fantasy-playing fans via tickets, purchases at the stadium, and television satellite packages.

Because of these factors, many companies found that advertising on fantasy mobile sites is not only cost effective but also far-reaching. Many have even begun creating their own mobile sites directly marketed toward fantasy football players, making sure to intertwine their product with the mobile needs of the fan.

If you’re an advertiser who would like to directly market to an audience with disposable income, Let’s Text Together can help you achieve this goal.

Whether through a mobile website, smart phone application or an SMS campaign, Let’s Text Together will help organize and create a strategy that fulfills the needs of a fantasy football player as well as raises brand awareness for their product.

Contact us today to see how we can help with all your mobile needs!

Other findings in the AT&T study were that one-quarter of respondents reported the same wireless usage as in 2007, while a monstrous 74% of small business relied on wireless at least somewhat more. Additionally, nearly three-quarters plan to increase their use of mobile and wireless, including 37% who say they will use the services “much more.”

To business owners and marketers, this shows increased integration in the business world for mobile and wireless products and solutions. As an example, a small business may increase their dependence on wireless checkout/cashier solutions (while potentially also decreasing operating costs). This immediately allows the opportunity to invite customers to use wireless, SMS/MMS based coupons. Shopping at this small business is now more convenient than its competitors and consumers are always willing to pay for convenience. The small business wins two-fold!

For more on mobile product solutions check out our website here.

Let’s Text Together has experience in creating such coupons as well as coming up with a concurrent marketing strategy to make the most of a particular mobile promotion. Mobile coupons make sense because it allows a dialogue between the business and the consumer through their most intimate possession: their phone. Very seldom do people not have their phones on them, which creates a direct line to the consumers and businesses at virtually all times.

So how can your business be one of those savvy businesses that consumers think about while out and an about in a purchasing frame of mind? The answer is stand apart by offering them something the competition isn’t. For example, a couple is out shopping at an outdoor mall and they decide they would like to take a break and grab lunch. They use their smart phone to find restaurants in a one-mile radius and find restaurant X, Y and Z.

Restaurant X doesn’t have a mobile site and the pair quickly moves on to Restaurant Y.
Restaurant Y has a mobile site but it is a bit pricy for lunch, but the couple decides it will be perfect for an upcoming anniversary. Restaurant Z not only has a mobile site where the couples able to peruse the menu, but also offers mobile coupons. The couple is sold and they happily dine at restaurant Z, confident that this is where they were offered the most for their money.

It is important for business owners to stand in their customer’s shoes when creating marketing campaigns, and no one understands that more then Let’s Text Together Marketing, with our attention to detail as well as a desire to anticipate a business’s needs, which ultimately aids the restaurant in coming from their customers perspective.

Let’s Text Together is able to create a mobile campaign including but not limited to a mobile site that incorporates mobile coupons for restaurants, as well as innovative ways to increase communication between restaurant and guest. The campaigns Let’s Text Together creates will not only increase diners’ perceived value, but also increases their likelihood to walk through the door of their particular establishment.

Business owners and marketers often have questions about the simple steps in getting started with mobile. If that’s you, read this article and enjoy! Then visit Let’s Text Together for a great price on SMS marketing plans!