Ever wanted to reach your customers where they are at? We know they are on Facebook and Twitter, but comScore found that access to Facebook via mobile browsers grew 112% in 2009 and Twitter access by 347%! And globally there are more mobile phones than TV’s, cars, and credit cars.
Note also a wrinkle. Gartner noted that globally in 2009 versus 2008, mobile phone sales flattened worldwide while smartphone sales, still a fraction of mobile phones, rose dramatically–24%–to reach a total of 14% of mobile handset sales for the year.
In other words, the wave has begun. Competition among smartphone manufacturers is stiff, putting deflationary pressures on prices. More affordable smartphones will drive sales up. Dan Hollings of Stompermobile (that’s Dan in above the picture) finds that click through rates are ridiculously high (and advertising costs relatively cheap), as if smartphones today were like the internet of the 1990′s. The wild west is open for business … again.
However, there are protocols for smartphone ads. Double opt-ins are required for list building, at least in the US. Social media generally works best when you add value to the social conversation and don’t lead with a “for me” sales pitch … like spam. Expect short attention spans to be even shorter for users of smartphones. After a relationship has been built and buying takes place, the buying process should be quick and easy.
Further, screen size dictates short messages, like Twitter. Links should be shortened such as one sees from bit.ly or tinyurl.com. And websites built for desk top or lap top screens are not ideal for smartphone size, so web developers are going to have new tasks in modification … although it would be nice now to have your Facebook fans see your status updates while they are out and about! 
Another trend, using online technology for local business, can also use smartphones. One application, Foursquare, particularly caters to geotagging and local (but not only local) marketing with mobile phones.
In summary, smartphone sales and the use of smartphones on Facebook and Twitter suggest a new trend integrating smartphones and social media in marketing is in its early stages.
P.S. A no-doubt growing list of sites similar to Foursquare includes: gowalla, dopplr, plancast, brightkite, and tripit.
Tags: Facebook, marketing trend, smartphones
