Mobile Strategies?

[un]

So I'm barely grasping marketing on traditional web platforms and I can't keep from thinking that there is a wide open mobile market just waiting to be won...but I can't think of any type of site for mobile browsers that could be a money maker.

I'm sure there's some warriors out there who work in this market. Care to share any tips or advice?

Thanks

[kellysharali]

Type in sms marketing in google and just review the companies on the first page. Check out their product, pricing, and platform and look into getting a private label program (ranges anwhere from $395 and up a month).

SMS Marketing is definitely going to take off here in the U.S. and you just have to be on the front of the wave.

[James B. Allen]

People are already winning in this market. I just spent my Saturday at the Apple offices in Ginza Tokyo attending a workshop with a company that develops apps for the iphone.

These things sell for a couple bucks a piece and from what I saw, folks are making a killing with them. Best of all, with the new development platforms available, anyone can make and sell these apps.

In fact, these guys walked me through creating my first iphone-ready app in under an hour. Only downside is that these quality app building services can require an expensive upfront fee - but not always.

Can't wait to see it in the itunes store - and I can't wait to make more of them!

As far as mobile sites go - if you are selling apps, you can create a mobile site listing and describing your apps and linking back to your apps sales page in the itunes store. Your apps include links back to your mobile site to generate follow-up sales. The entire sales, delivery, download, and followup sale process happens through the phone's interface.

BTW: There are over 6.4 million active iPhones in the USA alone.

Cha-Ching!

Sincerely,

James B. Allen

Here I am learning how to build iPhone Apps at the Apple offices in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
Saturday Jan. 30 2010

Originally Posted by un

So I'm barely grasping marketing on traditional web platforms and I can't keep from thinking that there is a wide open mobile market just waiting to be won...but I can't think of any type of site for mobile browsers that could be a money maker.

I'm sure there's some warriors out there who work in this market. Care to share any tips or advice?

Thanks

[un]

I know that apps are becoming huge money makers but I really not at that level right now. What I was more aiming at is a content driven mobile website. I'm just struggling to come up with any ideas of what content people would actually want to view on their mobile device.

Aside from apps, news stories, local weather, movie times...pretty much big categories already owned by big name companies. Just don't know what else could be workable.

[ramprof]

I have been doing quite a bit of research on this - figuring out what works and what does not. What works:

1. Selling apps (duh) - but obviously you would need one to sell
2. Click to phone offers

That's it.

Anything that requires filling out a form (even for ringtones), getting out a credit card, or viewing a site that is not optmized for mobile does not work right now.

If anyone has had a different experience please let us know.

[un]

Yeah I remember reading one time someone complaining that they had thousands of amazon clicks on one of their mobile sites but no sales...well duh. People might browse for items on their phones but they're not gonna fill out forms like you said.

adsense for mobile content is pretty easy to use. still need to have a mobile site that people have a reason to visit though.

[silho]

Hi Everyone:

I just wanted to jump in and lend a hand here. My name is Silho and I am an 11 year mobile marketing exec. I've worked with small mom and pop businesses and dozens of large Fortune 500 companies. I can tell you why most people here in the the WF are having problems with mobile marketing and what to do as an entrepreneur to avoid those same problems.

In the US (because our market has not matured in the mobile space like our counterparts in the Eastern Hemisphere) mobile web sites should not be used to try to make money. If you happen to have a great number of users/readers/subscribers and you see the value in making an extension of your Internet web site (going mobile) then you should do it; and place ads on it. If you have time sensitive information (stocks, news, traffic) or location specific information (weather, news, traffic, movies, events, etc) or entertainment based information (news, games, apps) then it makes sense to go mobile. Make money sites should only go mobile if you can offer a tip-of-the-day kind of thing in a small bite sized chunks. Use this to strengthen your brand with your customers. You cant sell to your customers every single time you reach out to them. It's the fastest way to alienate your list and burn them it out. And selling biz opps on a mobile phone does not fill a time sensitive or location based need so it will not sell.

I think everyone's problem with the mobile space is that they want to make money right away, do not take the time to learn what mobile marketing is about. You cannot simply take your web based offer and slap it on a mobile site/mobile banner and expect the cash register ring. Many times going mobile is about extending your brand, showing your customers the value of being everywhere they are, and reaching your customers in different ways so that you strenghen your brand. If you have a large enough database that sees the value in visiting your mobile site then join an advertising network and get some ads on your site. But dont expect your list to pull out their credit cards and buy a $97 ebook while on their cell phone. Its not going to happen.

SMS is the best way to go and the fastest way to make money in the mobile space. I'll share some more information on how to get started with mobile marketing in about a week. I have a very, very, very simple but highly effective and profitable system that has made me some pretty good money with mobile marketing and I can share the same information with everyone here.

If you have any questions please dont hesitate to ask.

[miellas]

Un, as per amazon, they decided that they were not going to honor affiliate leads made from mobile devices which was detrimental to many who were generating large amount of traffic through their mobile versions of the site. Cannot quite figure out why amazon would do this since their site automatically renders to their mobile version when visiting via mobile.

James, can you keep us posted on the app your were able to develop.

[Rob Barbour]

As Silho said above - you really should learn the mobile market. I set up an SMS business in Africa 5 years ago and learned tons, but it took me a solid 3-5 months to learn the hardware and software.

If you're looking to promote offers, you need to find something that's easy for a phone user to take action on.

[kellysharali]

Mobile marketing is still in its infancy here in the U.S. You do need to find a good platform and it is very important that the end user has a very easy time to subscribe and get an offer instantly.

Do some research on sms marketing and the different platforms available in the market today. You will learn a lot. It will give you an idea of how you ca utilize this market to make some money and some good residual income.

[kellysharali]

Mobile Marketing is still in its infancy here in the U.S. Do some research on sms marketing platforms and just the general scope of what people use this technology for. You will find that there is good money to be made along with a good residual income.