7 Reasons to Go Social and Mobile

Look around you. Chances are, you’re bound to see someone with a smartphone, tablet or even a phablet (those curious smartphone-tablet hybrids like the Samsung Galaxy Note) in tow. Heck, there’s also a huge possibility that you might own a unit or two of these ultra-mobile gadgets yourself – you might even be reading this article on one at this very instant!

Obviously, these mobile devices are slowly becoming an indispensable tool in our day-to-day lives. It has essentially become a lifeline.

Need directions? Google map it.

Want to make a picture look more interesting? Instagram it.

The Mobile Social Media Powerhouse

Brands have become verbs themselves but aside from getting directions and prettifying images, these mobile devices are also breaking new ground into other areas, especially in the field of social media. The problem though, is that a lot of social media marketers haven’t really caught up on the trend, and are still stubbornly ignoring the mobile phenomenon. Don’t make the same mistake of missing out like they are.

Here’s why:

1. Sales of mobile devices have been skyrocketing year after year

In 2011, the sales figures for smartphones and tablets went way over and beyond than those of personal computers (PCs). This feat can be attributed to a number of reasons namely how they can handle simple computing tasks like word processing, web browsing, and basic image editing; how they are small and can be easily carried around; and how they cost much lesser  than a low-end laptop.

Mobile gadgets have also been edging out PCs as the public’s main device of choice for web browsing. According to a report by  a business analytics firm comScore, social networking users from Facebook and Twitter spend more time on social networking sites from mobile devices than on desktop PCs and laptops. From the numbers alone, you would definitely be able to imagine out-populating human beings in only a quick matter of time.

2. Mobile devices have become more sophisticated than traditional phones

There are also other factors why mobile devices are gaining the appeal of the masses:
a. Instant Internet connection – To maximize their potential, smartphones and tablets need a constant Internet connection. This is the reason why most smartphones have the capacity to connect to a WiFi connection and are often bundled with data subscription plans. I think it’s safe to say that mobile device owners are constant web surfers too.
b. Real-time expression – No need to go home to your desktop PC just to check someone’s Twitter feeds. With mobile devices, people can stay updated with each other almost in real-time.
c. Easy Accessibility – Mobile devices can be carried around anywhere. They’re handy and do not take up much space like laptops do.

3. Mobile devices enable greater interaction

A mobile device’s wireless connectivity options (such as NFC and Bluetooth) provides a lot of room for creative innovations. McDonald’s Pick n Play campaign lets people play a Pong-like game on a giant digital billboard. Anyone can join in, as long as they can access the game’s website on their devices. This is a very good example of how marketers can utilize mobile technology to promote their products.

4. Mobile devices also have a greater chance to incite people to action

The interactivity does not stop there. According to DudaMobile’s Internal Data for 2011, users are more likely to take action on mobile-friendly websites. This means that companies that have already optimized their websites for mobile browsing possess a distinct advantage over their competitors who haven’t.

5. Mobile devices are promising platforms for social media marketing

According to online marketing pundits, mobile advertising expenditure is projected to reach up to $6.5 billion by the end of the year. The number of people accessing social networking websites from their mobile devices are increasing with each day and there seems to be no slowing down in sight. For social media marketers, this is very good news.

Cross media marketing (like image snapping and QR codes) is also making waves of its own along with the rise of mobile devices. Take Korea’s example and shop for groceries just by using your mobile, at a train station!

6. Location-based services are blooming

Foursquare is a prime example of a location-based service that depends mostly on mobile devices. By using the GPS hardware in smartphones, it allows people to check in at places, earn badges, keep up with friends and unlock rewards all at the same time. Other Foursquare-like apps are also making their mark on the mobile world.

The cherry on top is not the fact that you allow people to stalk where you are, but the social aspect that each place you check into gets reviewed by you. For example, you checked into that Thai Restaurant and gave it 4 stars out of 5. People are more likely to venture into restaurants that get more highly recommended by fellow foodies.

7. Google has a separate and relatively lighter index for mobile content

Beat your competitors early to it! Google’s mobile content index is not that populated compared to their index for normal web content (those that only can be accessed from desktop versions of web browsers). The best thing to do here optimize your website for mobile browsing ASAP, and dominate the social-mobile marketing industry.