“The majority of internet usage will be done via a mobile device and for most people, the mobile web will be their primary, if not their only, way of experiencing the internet.”

– Peter Rojas, co-founder, Gizmodo

Rojas’s words ring true today more than ever. Every year we see sleek supercomputer in our pocket increasingly becoming the lens through which we interpret and interact with the world.

2017 has been an exciting year for marketers. From marketing automation technology that creates workflows through personalized emails, to increased app development that merges the physical and digital through augmented reality.

However, there are a few k trends that are best left in 2016:

  • Pokemon GO: In the summer of 2016, this AR app was all the rage. It was hailed as a revolution in local marketing, but since then, 4 out of 5 Pokemon GO users have quit. However, there are still 5 million daily active users.
  • QR codes: Not long ago, a cashier would scan a coupon or discount on your phone. However, scanning glitches and an extremely low ROI lead to its demise.
  • Separation of customer service and social media: There is nothing unprofessional about meeting your customers where they are. Social media platforms like Facebook allow you to quickly respond to questions and complaints. This way you can respond to your audience in a timely manner and contain backlash.

The flow of new technologies can be dizzying. That’s why it can be hard to determine what will become a cornerstone of mobile marketing and what’s simply a fad.

To help you launch a successful campaign, these are the five most noteworthy mobile marketing trends of 2017:

1. Mobile Marketing Automation

Sending the right message, to the right person, at the right time – that’s marketing automation.

Mobile marketing automation allows for quick and easy compiling of contact information and segments email lists based on a variety of variables such as job title to ensure each engagement offers value.

27% of companies rate say they are at marketing automation maturity level “New” according to LeadMD’s “The 2016 Marketing Maturity Benchmark Report.” This is propelling adoption at an astronomical rate.

The market for automation software as a whole is set to reach $15.3 billion by 2019 at an average growth rate of 19.7%.

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2. Augmented Reality

Augmented reality glasses are still years away. However, this hasn’t stopped Facebook and Apple from fighting for dominance in this new tech market.

Facebook’s grand vision for AR is to create a platform that developers can use to build and distribute their own augmented reality experiences. On Facebook, developers can overlay info using facial recognition or virtual objects using a smartphone’s camera.

The opportunities for AR to “augment” marketing are endless. Nike, Star Wars and NASA already taking advantage of Facebook’s platform.

The social network’s capabilities, however, has stiff competition. Apple unveiled the ARKit in June. It allows developers to create AR apps on iOS 11 and signals the “Magic Leapening” for AR. Essentially, going from a toy to a tool with real-world applicability like virtually rendering furniture in a living room.

3. Big Data, Big Insights

Big data is what propels mobile marketing and the reward for the effort put into formulating any marketing strategy.

Data provides key insights into user behaviour. So even if the strategy is not producing the desired KPIs, the statistics compiled will allow for optimization. This is done by eliminating friction in your sales funnel.

The data is analyzed in HubSpot, a marketing cloud or Google Analytics. It is then segmented according to the appropriate device, channel, and time of day to contact a lead.

Although desktops are used by the most people for the longest time throughout the day, it’s mobile that amasses the most browsing time overall. According to comScore’s Global Digital Future in Focus study, desktop computers dominate online usage in the daytime (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Mobile devices dominate during primetime (8 p.m. to 12 a.m.).

4. Location-Based Marketing

One of the most powerful aspects of mobile for marketers is the ability for personalized, targeted and timed touchpoints.

Last year, beacon messages generated a whopping $44 billion worth of retail sales in the U.S. alone.

Steven Rosenblatt, President of FourSquare, predicts that location-based marketing will grow in 2017 through the rise of location intelligence companies and brands shifting towards location-based marketing. Rosenblatt says will allow brands to communicate with prospects/leads on a granular scale.

5. More than half of ALL email opens are on mobile

54% of emails are now opened on mobile devices. Followed by webmail at 30% and desktop trailing last at 16%, according to a report by Litmus.

While there is a misconception that email has become obsolete, it could not be further from the truth. Email is now central to most marketing campaigns. This comes as the number of email users is expected to reach over 2.8 billion worldwide by the end of 2018, according to Radicati Group.

Conclusion

Now that you know what mobile marketing trends are a sign of things to come. Implement these strategies and optimize how you engage with prospects and leads on mobile to get ahead of the competition.

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