New Company Launches to Help Local Businesses Connect with the Mobile Generation

Carlisle, United Kingdom, July 04, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The last decade has seen the digitisation of all information: documents, photos, videos, music, books, and money have all gone online. “Now we’re witnessing the second digital revolution,” say LocalDirect, “as devices such as smartphones and tablet computers enable us to use all this information on-the-go. Google’s Mobile Wallet - announced last week - is the latest example of this phenomenon. Our mission is to help local businesses get the most out of mobile and to keep up with their national competitors, who have either started implementing mobile marketing already or will be doing so very soon.”

Last year, smartphone shipments overtook PC shipments for the first time, marking a shift in how consumers access the internet (Source: IDC, Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, 7 Feb 2011 vs Worlwide Quarterly PC Tracker, 12 Jan 2011). With ever cheaper handsets and network tariffs, the rapid growth in smartphone use is set to continue. Last month, industry leader Cisco’s annual Visual Networking Index, a comprehensive forecast of the data trends shaping the Internet, predicts that from 2010 mobile internet usage will expand 26 fold, eventually surpassing desktop usage by 2015.

LocalDirect's managing Director says: “Mobile marketing encapsulates a multitude of forms: from text-based SMS to sophisticated mobile websites. However, we believe that the key to successful marketing today is an integrated, synthesised approach – not over-relying on one particular channel but exploring all possible ways of communicating your message with your customers.

The key to a successful mobile marketing strategy is an integrated approach, linking together the different tools available. Shortcode Keywords (e.g., text JOES to 60777 to receive special deals from Joe’s restaurant) can and should be placed on existing marketing material, such as a website, Facebook page, poster or paper flyer, enabling businesses to build a list of customer mobile numbers as well as providing a convenient way for customers to get in touch. LocalDirect provide an intuitive and easy-to-use platform for businesses to set up SMS auto-responses and broadcast promotions. The great thing about SMS campaigns is that they can have an instant impact and boast a huge open-rate of more than 95% with over 80% opened within 10 minutes. Furthermore redemption rates on SMS voucher promotions typically average around 15-30%. Through the messaging platform provided by LocalDirect, businesses can instantly reach their customers - perfect for leisure industries such as nightclubs, theatres and bars. However the benefits go beyond increasing footfall as SMS also provides an environmentally friendly and low cost alternative to conventional mail. With the ability to schedule texts up to a year in advance, the system is also great for MOT or other appointment reminders.

Taking SMS marketing one step further, mobile websites provide a perfect way for businesses to encourage additional customer interaction with their brand. With customers expecting a streamlined mobile internet experience, if your existing website takes a long time to load or is not well suited to the smaller screen, then you could be losing customers who are trying to access your site on a mobile device. “A mobile website doesn’t just have to be about offering a scaled down way of making your existing website suitable for a mobile device.” says LocalDirect. “Mobile websites are best combined with either an SMS campaign which provides a link to a mobile website for a richer, more rewarding experience than that offered by a text message alone. Alternatively mobile websites can be combined with QR codes o that consumers can quickly access data rich content whilst on the go.”

For the uninitiated, QR codes, which are already incredibly popular in Japan, are starting to make headway into the UK market. Essentially they are 2D barcodes which, when scanned by a camera phone, can directly link to a website or to a person’s contact details. “The opportunities for small businesses are amazing,” adds Tom. “For a take-away using a QR code as a link to their mobile website, their entire menu and opening hours complete with click to call functionality, can be placed on a business card in an image the size of a postage stamp. Now, that take-away’s customers can carry around the menu with them wherever they go and an order is never more than a couple of clicks away. Combined with a well-timed SMS campaign the chance of an influx of custom is very high indeed.” There is also the added benefit that changes to the menu can be made easily without having to reprint a lot of new menus.

LocalDirect would love to hear from you if you are interested in learning how mobile marketing could be integrated with your existing marketing efforts. Please visit their website at http://localdirect.me or contact them at enquiries@localdirect.me for further information.

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