What's the new trend on the Internet? Everyone's going mobile and that's where your business should be too!
With almost half of America on smartphones, it's no wonder that almost 90% of all mobile users notice mobile ads according to Google's Our Mobile Planet report -- how could they not on a smaller screen where your ad shows up front and center? And the mobile revolution is only expected to increase with predictions that mobile Internet use will soon bypass Internet access on desktops. But Google mobile advertising is a different breed from AdWords for desktops and laptops.
Why Google Mobile Advertising? We'll let Google tell you themselves -- this short Google video clip with statistics about mobile users outlines why you, as a marketer or business, need to "mobilize"!
These are the top 5 tips to keep in mind for your Google mobile advertising campaign:
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Jump on the bandwagon now to get your ads in the top spots!
Imagining screen sizes of even the largest smartphones, there's physically less space for ads on mobile phones. Thankfully, the world of mobile ads is still relatively new and if you start your mobile ad campaigns now, there's a high chance that you can bid your way to establishing the top position for your keywords that would be near impossible for desktop and laptop ad campaigns. Your competitors are still catching on, so get in on the action first while you still have time!
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Target local customers in your mobile ad campaign.
Not only do mobile users frequently use their phone to look for local information, but they are also much more willing to buy from, contact or visit the business. You can cater both choice of keywords and ad content toward local customers. Consider including a map or address, and using terms unique to your area such as names of neighborhoods and popular venues. Google Mobile Advertising will do all the work, linking you up to customers looking for businesses in their area and leveraging the mobile phone GPS system to inform mobile users how close they are to your business.
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Design a mobile website.
Mobile consumers are ready to take action, but it's important to note that they're also more impatient considering their on-the-go attitude. That's why you need a mobile-optimized website. How likely will someone make a purchase on the desktop version of your website that loads slowly and improperly on a mobile phone? Potential mobile consumers may also be annoyed with having to zoom in and out just to navigate through your web pages. A mobile website will be geared specifically toward your mobile audience, meeting their needs and interests.
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Optimize your keywords for mobile phones.
Keeping in mind that the mobile phone user is of a different mindset than a desktop user, it's expected that their online searches are different as well. You can check how often your keywords are searched for by mobile users by filtering your results in the Google AdWords Keyword Tool. Under "Advanced Options and Filters," choose "All Mobile Devices" for the field "Show Ideas and Statistics for..." During your keyword analysis, you'll notice that monthly mobile search queries are higher for local search terms and shorter keywords (because it's such a hassle to type on tiny smartphone keyboards).
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Include mobile ads with clickable phone numbers.
The people in your target audience are no longer seated at a desk. They're on the go and on their phones. Make it as easy as possible for them to get in contact with you by designing ads with a link to your business phone number that will automatically dial when clicked. A call to action to a phone is more likely to convert into sales than to a website. Furthermore, with Google Mobile Advertising, you can monitor the number of clicks and therefore the number of calls.
