The Marketing Innovation Blog

By Jenaleigh Landers

Are you a person that is glued to your phone all the time? More than likely you have answered yes. Today, it is a rarity to see anyone without a cell phone in their hand texting away. The truth is, the mobile market has grown so rapidly that it has allowed users to stay “connected” all day and every day. Today, as many people lead an “on-the-go” lifestyle, the most effective way to reach consumers is via their mobile devices. Below, are five mobile commerce trends making a splash in 2010 that are helping marketers effectively reach their fully-connected consumers:

1. BARGAIN HUNTING
Everyone loves a good bargain and it has become that much easier to find a great deal with mobile applications.
• The RedLaser application enables users to scan product bar codes to find out which retailer is selling the product at the lowest price.
• With mobile applications for Google and thefind, consumers can search for the lowest prices on their favorite products right from their mobile phone.

2. MOBILE TICKETING
Do you hate standing in line at the movie theatre on a Friday or Saturday night? Thanks to Fandango and MovieTickets.com, you no longer have to. Both are using mobile ticketing to make going to the movies a less stressful experience.
• According to Juniper Research, transactions, worldwide, from mobile ticketing are predicted to be over $100 billion by 2012.

3. BANKING
Even banking has gone mobile with customers accessing their accounts online from their phones. Now, customers at participating banks have the option to deposit their checks by using their cell phones, making a trip to the bank no longer a necessity.
• According to data from comScore, “13.2 million people accessed their bank accounts from their phones during the month of April alone, which is a 70% increase from a year ago. And similarly, the number of people using mobile banking apps more than doubled, to about 5 million in the last year.”

4. PURCHASING TANGIBLE GOODS
Not only are consumers using their mobile phones to find discounts and coupons and to purchase ringtones and applications, but they are also using them to buy tangible goods.
• eBay has come out with a mobile application that notifies bidders when they have been outbid so that they can cast another bid or keep track of ending auctions.
• Apparel, auto parts, cell phones/accessories, sporting goods and collectibles are the top categories of purchased items using the eBay mobile app where every two seconds there is at least one item purchased.
• From 2008 to 2009, there was a 200% increase in goods sold via the eBay mobile app, and it is expected to increase in the future.

5. MARKETING
If you have not realized by now, cell phones are where marketers are targeting consumers. In fact, the national Retail Federation states that, “74% of online retailers either have in place or are developing mobile commerce strategies, while 20% have already implemented their complete plans.”
• Not only are advertisements being sent via text message, but popular cell phone applications like Pandora are now displaying ads as well. (source:  www.mashable.com)

What do you use your cell phone for? Banking, purchasing tickets, bargain hunting, staying on top of your most recent eBay bid?

This entry was posted on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 6:24 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.