Mobile Marketing

I'm not a huge mobile person really. Hell I didn't even own a cell phone until less than a year ago. Even now I only use the thing like once a week and it usually just sits there dead waiting for me to finally recharge it. Ergo I'm really not the target audience for any sort of mobile advertising. I can't deny that it's becoming a huge part of advertising though.

Even the mobile ads I do see, I'm not very receptive to them. Usually any text message I get that involves any level of advertising is immediately deleted. Half the time I don't even bother to read the entire thing. Offhand I can only think of one mobile activity I took place in that I enjoyed. Back when the movie Snakes on a Plane was about to be released, you could fill in something on the website, provide your cell phone number, and then you would get a phone call from "Samuel L. Jackson." I can't say it was really effective, I just thought it was well-done. I knew I was going to see that movie anyway.

I believe it's in Japan only but I did see one cool mobile feature where by taking a picture of a movie poster on your cell phone, you are immediately shown a trailer for that same movie. I can't even begin to understand how that technology works, but it's a great idea.

One application a friend of mine is essentially a full recipe book contained right on the cell phone. There are hundreds (maybe even thousands) of recipes to choose from, each one broken down step by step. There is even a list of ingredients for each one, so you can just look at this on your phone while you are out grocery shopping. This is one of the cooler things I have seen in the world of mobile applications.

I think mobile campaigns have been integrated into just about all of our past projects, at least on some level. We did a campaign centered around Nokia that was very heavily focused on mobile. I won't lie I don't remember a lot of the details, but there was definitely texting involved.

It always seems easy to incorporate mobile devices into a campaign, even on a very basic level. Whether it's texting a number to enter a contest or taking a picture on the phone, it's an effective method and I feel has a place in just about every marketing campaign.

I honestly don't have a lot to say about mobile applications since they honestly don't interest me much. I do think it's an important part of advertising however since I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority with those feelings.