33 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
33 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Will smart phones mean the end of email marketing?

by BillyBee
29 replies
It's clear that pretty much everyone will have a smart phone in the next few years. Which means people won't be chained to their desktop computers or laptops to read their email.

I mean, we can agree that laptops and desktop computers will either become extinct or begin changing or shrinking in use, right?

I had already begun to wonder if email marketing has become less effective because people get so much of it nowadays.

So the smart phone revolution brings up some huge questions for those of us building our businesses around email lists. Among them:

Do people read email on their cell phones in the same way they do on their desktop computers or laptops?

Will people buy at the same rates they do when they're reading email on a cell phone?

How will we marketers adapt to this change?

I don't have any answers, but these questions are interesting to me and I wonder what others think about this.
#email #end #marketing #phones #smart
  • Profile picture of the author George Wright
    No to most of what you said. However, I'm posting on my cell phone so this will be brief.
    Signature
    "The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book." Mickey Spillane
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826320].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author PaulaC
    I personally can't see desktops and laptops becoming "extinct". I for one couldn't see myself running my online business purely from a smartphone. It would annoy the hell out of me. I think 'changing' is more likely. It's only inevitable that they will become more compact, slimmer and lighter.

    I think smartphones are great for communicating whether it be via email or phone but in terms of using the internet it really isn't that great. It all comes down to screen size. I would much rather use my desktop computer with its big screen compared to my laptop and I would rather use my laptop compared to my iPod Touch.

    As for marketing, you only have to look at the Cellphone Cash fiasco to see why it's not that easy using these types of methods at least not at this point in time. I am certain it will progress however and we will all be marketing on cellphones before long.
    Signature

    My Blog --> Affiliate Blog Online

    Our New Membership Site - Affiliate Tools HQ

    Amazonian Profit Plan - Our Complete Blueprint for Making Money Online by Promoting Amazon Products - The Amazonian Profit Plan

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826350].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author BillyBee
      Originally Posted by PaulaC View Post

      I personally can't see desktops and laptops becoming "extinct". I for one couldn't see myself running my online business purely from a smartphone.
      Well, sure, but you're a businesswoman or internet marketer. I'm thinking of my CUSTOMERS. Yes, businesspeople will always have a need for computers, but what about the average consumer?

      Originally Posted by PaulaC View Post

      I think smartphones are great for communicating whether it be via email or phone but in terms of using the internet it really isn't that great.
      Yes, but that is changing rapidly. These phones will become the standard -- that's pretty clear.

      Originally Posted by PaulaC View Post

      As for marketing, you only have to look at the Cellphone Cash fiasco to see why it's not that easy using these types of methods at least not at this point in time. I am certain it will progress however and we will all be marketing on cellphones before long.
      You're proving my initial point that this is something to be concerned about for anyone selling products. I think it's probably a lot easier to sell through email when your customers are sitting at a nice big computer. I'm just wondering if that will get significantly harder when the average person is doing most of their email reading on the go with a cell phone.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826394].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author businessmatt
        Originally Posted by BillyBee View Post

        Well, sure, but you're a businesswoman or internet marketer. I'm thinking of my CUSTOMERS. Yes, businesspeople will always have a need for computers, but what about the average consumer?



        Yes, but that is changing rapidly. These phones will become the standard -- that's pretty clear.



        You're proving my initial point that this is something to be concerned about for anyone selling products. I think it's probably a lot easier to sell through email when your customers are sitting at a nice big computer. I'm just wondering if that will get significantly harder when the average person is doing most of their email reading on the go with a cell phone.
        I'm not sure that smartphones will ever replace PCs/laptops, no matter how powerful they become. As an example, people haven't stopped watching movies on their TVs, and yet most portable devices these days allow you to watch a movie anywhere at any time.

        Either way, technology changes all the time, and you need to change with it or you'll be left behind (the record companies are a good example - they are being left behind). Maybe you could market smartphone apps that can be purchased directly from the email.

        Matt
        Signature

        When life gives you lemons, at least you don't get scurvy.

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826431].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Silas Hart
      Originally Posted by PaulaC View Post

      I personally can't see desktops and laptops becoming "extinct". I for one couldn't see myself running my online business purely from a smartphone. It would annoy the hell out of me. I think 'changing' is more likely. It's only inevitable that they will become more compact, slimmer and lighter.

      I think smartphones are great for communicating whether it be via email or phone but in terms of using the internet it really isn't that great. It all comes down to screen size. I would much rather use my desktop computer with its big screen compared to my laptop and I would rather use my laptop compared to my iPod Touch.

      As for marketing, you only have to look at the Cellphone Cash fiasco to see why it's not that easy using these types of methods at least not at this point in time. I am certain it will progress however and we will all be marketing on cellphones before long.
      Desktops for sure will be close to extinction within the next ten years, without a doubt. Laptops as we know them now will falter soon after. Computers will be a merge of what we think of a cell phone now, and a laptop. Soon we wont need a keyboard, a mouse, and processors and motherboards will become much much smaller and connections like the USB will become extinct, and an image will be larger than available on most laptops now, and best of all, more mobile.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826889].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Hess
    I think e-mail marketing will always be around simply because if you're doing it right people will actually want to open up your e-mails and hear from you. Whether that be on a smart phone or anything else.

    Also, one small way I started adapting was to install the WP Mobile Edition plugin on all of my blogs:
    WordPress › WordPress Mobile Edition WordPress Plugins
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826365].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author PaulaC
      Originally Posted by Mark Hess View Post

      I think e-mail marketing will always be around simply because if you're doing it right people will actually want to open up your e-mails and hear from you. Whether that be on a smart phone or anything else.

      Also, one small way I started adapting was to install the WP Mobile Edition plugin on all of my blogs:
      WordPress › WordPress Mobile Edition WordPress Plugins
      Nice...thanks for the link Mark. I am going to check this out.
      Signature

      My Blog --> Affiliate Blog Online

      Our New Membership Site - Affiliate Tools HQ

      Amazonian Profit Plan - Our Complete Blueprint for Making Money Online by Promoting Amazon Products - The Amazonian Profit Plan

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826372].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author larryburr
      Originally Posted by Mark Hess View Post

      I think e-mail marketing will always be around simply because if you're doing it right people will actually want to open up your e-mails and hear from you. Whether that be on a smart phone or anything else.

      Also, one small way I started adapting was to install the WP Mobile Edition plugin on all of my blogs: (link removed)
      I agree Mark. I think the question asked is a good one as we must always plan for what ifs. I appreciate your sharing the plug in info. I will look into it. It may be needed if the cell phone does start impacting email methods for our businesses.
      Signature
      Have Fun Making Money:

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826445].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
    To be blunt no! no! no!

    People use mobile phones to cure a quick borefom fix, they are not going to spend hours at home viewing a tiny screen...they will continue to use their laptops and computers.

    And I doubt people will buy things as often on a phone compared to using their laptop/pc, they have a level of "trust" and most would prefer to buy something sitting on their ass viewing on a larger screen.

    Dont worry
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826392].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author BillyBee
      Originally Posted by PaulaC View Post

      I personally can't see desktops and laptops becoming "extinct". I for one couldn't see myself running my online business purely from a smartphone. It would annoy the hell out of me. I think 'changing' is more likely. It's only inevitable that they will become more compact, slimmer and lighter.

      I think smartphones are great for communicating whether it be via email or phone but in terms of using the internet it really isn't that great. It all comes down to screen size. I would much rather use my desktop computer with its big screen compared to my laptop and I would rather use my laptop compared to my iPod Touch.

      As for marketing, you only have to look at the Cellphone Cash fiasco to see why it's not that easy using these types of methods at least not at this point in time. I am certain it will progress however and we will all be marketing on cellphones before long.
      Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo View Post

      To be blunt no! no! no!

      People use mobile phones to cure a quick borefom fix, they are not going to spend hours at home viewing a tiny screen...they will continue to use their laptops and computers.

      And I doubt people will buy things as often on a phone compared to using their laptop/pc, they have a level of "trust" and most would prefer to buy something sitting on their ask viewing on a larger screen.

      Dont worry
      I like the "don't worry" part! Seriously, you make some very good points, Ernie.

      Maybe another good analogy is TVs --- I am sure people will be able to watch TV in a high quality definition on their portable devices, but no way will that mean the death of regular flat TV screens in people's homes. For obvious reasons.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826403].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author yankche
      Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo View Post

      To be blunt no! no! no!

      People use mobile phones to cure a quick borefom fix, they are not going to spend hours at home viewing a tiny screen...they will continue to use their laptops and computers.

      And I doubt people will buy things as often on a phone compared to using their laptop/pc, they have a level of "trust" and most would prefer to buy something sitting on their ass viewing on a larger screen.

      Dont worry

      I agree. Don't worry.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826899].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KhirRahman
    Different people have different perspective, some love portable smartphone, anywhere anytime. Some may love the big screen laptop/pc. The changes in how people use the technology will no transform immediately, it's sooner or later maybe 4-5 years later.

    Just my opinion
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826467].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mukul Verma
    I have been using email on my smart phone for almost 6 years now. As people get more start phones, maybe that will be more emails
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826518].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Eric Louviere
      There's a way to take advantage of smart phones, and people using them more and more IMO...

      Branding!

      But - also, entertainment aspects to your marketing (personality)...

      How many have smart phones and also check the WF on that smart phone?

      Is it downloaded on your home screen for quick access? Do you tend to visit the same sites over and over? During commercials on TV, do you check your smart phone? What do you check?

      Emails?

      certain sites?

      Games, applications?

      How can you take advantage of this?

      Besides, how can you deny looking at a text you get? I believe texts have like a 99% open rate. (until we get hit with text spam). lol

      All this makes the story line, the personality, branding, building anticipation, entertainment, etc more powerful. And - if people are checking their emails more, maybe I'll get off more emails to people more often

      However, I do think this is a valid question. But, when in doubt, always fall back on to the fundamentals of direct response marketing.... 'cause those will always work.

      Eric
      Signature
      Get the recordings to a sold out workshop I did in Austin, Texas completely FREE. ~The Million Dollar Marketer, Eric Louviere
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826649].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Mukul Verma
        Originally Posted by Eric Louviere View Post

        There's a way to take advantage of smart phones, and people using them more and more IMO...

        Branding!

        But - also, entertainment aspects to your marketing (personality)...

        How many have smart phones and also check the WF on that smart phone?

        Is it downloaded on your home screen for quick access? Do you tend to visit the same sites over and over? During commercials on TV, do you check your smart phone? What do you check?

        Emails?

        certain sites?

        Games, applications?

        How can you take advantage of this?

        Besides, how can you deny looking at a text you get? I believe texts have like a 99% open rate. (until we get hit with text spam). lol

        All this makes the story line, the personality, branding, building anticipation, entertainment, etc more powerful. And - if people are checking their emails more, maybe I'll get off more emails to people more often

        However, I do think this is a valid question. But, when in doubt, always fall back on to the fundamentals of direct response marketing.... 'cause those will always work.

        Eric
        Eric, I use WF on my G1, I would LOVE an app for that
        Signature
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826656].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Eric Louviere
          exactly. apps.

          know this too... technology will always evolve. Maybe we'll all have our own individual apps soon (like blogs) or facebook walls.

          I watched the CEO of INtel and he said, look forward to smart TV's and smart CARS...smart houses... etc.

          technology will evolve and get faster, quicker, better... and what's important in my view is STILL and always will be... human psychology and direct response marketing, period!

          Those are just avenues of delivering your messages.



          Eric
          Signature
          Get the recordings to a sold out workshop I did in Austin, Texas completely FREE. ~The Million Dollar Marketer, Eric Louviere
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826660].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Eric Louviere
            anyone have Apple TV?

            I got it a while back... and when playing with it, clicked on podcasts... then searched Internet Marketing and low-and-behold, I saw Arman Morin... Mike Filsaime... Tellman... Pierce... others.

            I listened to Deepack, others.

            I was sitting on my couch, eating pineapples and listening to marketers on my LED TV.

            BTW, those LED tv's rock! damn, I love it. much better than LCD or plasma

            Imagine, when you can sit on your couch and click a button, tune to "Louviere TV" and watch my TV show (rated R). lol

            just kidding haters

            sort of.

            Rock on

            Eric
            Signature
            Get the recordings to a sold out workshop I did in Austin, Texas completely FREE. ~The Million Dollar Marketer, Eric Louviere
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826669].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
            No need to speculate: amongst my high school daughter and her friends, email is dead. It's viewed as being as ancient. They text.

            Myself, I have been tending to send more messages through Facebook instead of worrying if an email gets delivered amongst all the spam.

            Predictions:

            - Emailed communications will continue to shrink, especially given the spam hassle

            - Use of desktop computers will drastically shrink. Perhaps not from smart phones, but from ipad type devices.
            Signature
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826684].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author Eric Louviere
              Originally Posted by kindsvater View Post

              No need to speculate: amongst my high school daughter and her friends, email is dead. It's viewed as being as ancient. They text.

              Myself, I have been tending to send more messages through Facebook instead of worrying if an email gets delivered amongst all the spam.

              Predictions:

              - Emailed communications will continue to shrink, especially given the spam hassle

              - Use of desktop computers will drastically shrink. Perhaps not from smart phones, but from ipad type devices.
              I agree. My niece is 10 and she used to email me and my wife (well, mostly my wife)... now she texts and does not even check her email anymore.

              10 freaking years old.

              I 100% agree man
              Signature
              Get the recordings to a sold out workshop I did in Austin, Texas completely FREE. ~The Million Dollar Marketer, Eric Louviere
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826690].message }}
              • Profile picture of the author Mukul Verma
                Originally Posted by kindsvater View Post

                No need to speculate: amongst my high school daughter and her friends, email is dead. It's viewed as being as ancient. They text.

                Myself, I have been tending to send more messages through Facebook instead of worrying if an email gets delivered amongst all the spam.

                Predictions:

                - Emailed communications will continue to shrink, especially given the spam hassle

                - Use of desktop computers will drastically shrink. Perhaps not from smart phones, but from ipad type devices.
                I was at a conference about 2 years ago and saw some kids outside in high school and they all had blackberry and I was talking about if it was popular. They said that the instant chat (Pin I think, not a BB user) was very popular and like 80% of there friends had Blackberry.

                Cheers,
                Mukul
                Signature
                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826699].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
              Originally Posted by kindsvater View Post

              No need to speculate: amongst my high school daughter and her friends, email is dead. It's viewed as being as ancient. They text.
              Yeah, and not only that, but hardly anyone in high school has a job. Even the people who have them only have part-time jobs. I'm telling you, the days of the full-time job are numbered, and it won't be all that long before nobody has a job at all.

              Okay, sarcasm aside? Don't predict future business trends based on what high school kids are doing, unless your product is targeted at helping people get laid.
              Signature
              "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826718].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
            Originally Posted by Eric Louviere View Post

            exactly. apps.

            [...] Maybe we'll all have our own individual apps soon
            Actually, some people already have!

            I just found the other day an app by/for this guy Mark Leonard (playwright, producer, preacher etc.) that has so much info: bio, media, photo, video, book, audio, tweet for you to RT... you name it - all in his personal app!

            (Not that I am a fan of his, didn't even hear about him before but the app is superb!)
            Signature

            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826735].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mukul Verma
    Rule of thumb for the last hundred years has been that technology has developments in the last 10 years, more then the 40 years before that, so we are expediting pretty fast
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826666].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Eric Louviere
      Originally Posted by Mukul Verma View Post

      Rule of thumb for the last hundred years has been that technology has developments in the last 10 years, more then the 40 years before that, so we are expediting pretty fast
      Right!

      Every 13 months the Intel CEO said. They are creating now, what will be released later, and it's a 13 month cycle. Soon, robotic computers will speed that up even faster and my mind just exploded even thinking about that.

      Everyone thinks they've seen the technology boom in the recent past.

      We have not seen anything yet.

      I personally (just my own futuristic trend spotting thoughts) think the bad economy we're in will actually be saved with a huge BOOM of new technology. Energy and technology will fuel the new boom.

      AND - anytime there's a boom, people look to find angles to make money... sparking other trends... and so on. But, always focus on direct response marketing. humans are humans.

      If you show a Mexican fighter bull a red flag, he'll charge. His brain is so small it can only comprehend that. Us humans are smarter, but we've also created certain socialistic triggers for taking action and making the right decisions.

      For example, social proof. If you decide to buy a widget online, I bet you check the reviews for it. If you see some good reviews, BAM! you buy it. human trigger (social proof)

      hang in there my peeps, good times are coming IMO

      Eric
      Signature
      Get the recordings to a sold out workshop I did in Austin, Texas completely FREE. ~The Million Dollar Marketer, Eric Louviere
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826686].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mukul Verma
    Living in such a nice city, okay no more talking to Eric for rubbing it in.....kidding
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826685].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    For those interested: there is also another free WP plugin for your blog to be fast on mobile devices: WPtouch: Mobile Plugin + Theme for WordPress BraveNewCode Inc.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1826703].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author silho
    Originally Posted by BillyBee View Post

    It's clear that pretty much everyone will have a smart phone in the next few years. Which means people won't be chained to their desktop computers or laptops to read their email.

    I mean, we can agree that laptops and desktop computers will either become extinct or begin changing or shrinking in use, right?

    I had already begun to wonder if email marketing has become less effective because people get so much of it nowadays.

    So the smart phone revolution brings up some huge questions for those of us building our businesses around email lists. Among them:

    Do people read email on their cell phones in the same way they do on their desktop computers or laptops?

    Will people buy at the same rates they do when they're reading email on a cell phone?

    How will we marketers adapt to this change?

    I don't have any answers, but these questions are interesting to me and I wonder what others think about this.


    I can tell you that if you have a great deal of people who are reading your emails from their mobile phone you have to now learn and really concern yourself with mobile marketing. You have to know where your customers are (time zones) so as to not disturb them at night.

    You will also need to know when (day as well as time) your customers are thinking about your products so that when you send your messages your subscribers are more likely to take immediate action. Mobile marketing is primarily about two things - location and time.

    Mastering location specific and time sensitive delivery will make your mobile marketing effort triple. Formatting your emails for mobile phone legibility is also key. No scrolling. No one wants to scroll left to right on their mobile phone.

    I've done dozens of mobile marketing campaigns for small mom & pop shops and countless of billion dollar companies. No matter the budget the greatest successes have always been shared by companies that adhered to mastering the time and location sensitivities of their customers.


    And to everyone that thinks that one mode of communication or marketing will kill another please understand this...

    TV was supposed to kill the movies
    TV was supposed to kill the radio
    Broadcast news was supposed to kill the newspaper
    The Internet was supposed to kill offline direct marketing
    Online publishing is supposed to kill print
    Online movies/TV shows was supposed to kill the real TV

    Email will never go away and neither will the desktop. Just like UPS delivers large packages to your doorstep the PC and email delivers large amounts of information and large files from one person to the next.

    One mode of communication will not die just because another has emerged as the new "It Girl." We are a multi-modal society and we will continue to consume media in as many ways as we choose. These industries will survive as long as we (as consumers) continue to buy and consume the media in that manner.


    I'm not trying to be preachy, I've been in interactive marketing and advertising for 12 years and 11 of those I've been involved with mobile. I've seen so many forms of communications come and go, but mostly stick. Mobile is the most promising and I can tell you that some of the biggest companies in this country are focusing on the growth of mobile and are dumping billions into it this year.

    Best Buy - shows that the are getting the besst conversions on theri mobile app (over all other modes of communique)
    Apple - duh
    Intel - more and faster mobile-based chips
    Microsoft - will be the most powerful mobile OS when it is released - even though they have a lot to prove, again
    Cisco - just made an announcement today of being able to transmit 322 terrabytes per second on hardlines and speed 12 times faster than what we all are currently getting on mobile networks.
    Google - everything they do this year will have a mobile tie-in to it.



    Let me know if that answer helped or if you need any more informatio
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1844574].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author BillyBee
      Silho, fantastic response, thank you.

      Everything you say makes sense, but don't kid yourself: the Internet killed newspapers. That is truly a dying industry. The home-delivered newspaper will go extinct just like the milkman did. They New York Times is already on record as saying that it can envision a day when it no longer publishes a print edition.

      Yes, newspapers may survive in some form online, but that will make them just another news-gathering website. Specialty newspapers like the Wall Street Journal might survive but they will be the exception that proves the rule. That will make them more like magazines.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1844722].message }}

Trending Topics