We’ve come a long way since the first mobile phone call was made in 1973. Back then, the mobile phone weighed a hefty 2 pounds and cost nearly $4K! Fast-forward to 2012 and 70% of the world’s population has a mobile phone. That’s more than 5 billion mobile subscribers, and in the US, that’s 9 out of 10 people!

Mobile phones are a way of life that enable us to communicate and interact with each other in real-time. Does this change the way you market your business? It should. Here are 4 tactics to try to connect with customers in ways you never dreamed possible:

1. Create a mobile site
About a year ago we launched a mobile version of our website to capitalize on the roughly 69% of consumers that are using their smartphones for Internet access. This way, when someone is searching for our site on a smartphone, they’re presented a mobile-optimized version of our website that is streamlined for mobile usage. We include a call-to-action to sign up for an account to capture any new customers that may be browsing for an email service provider, and we’ve had thousands of signups as a result. Not bad considering these folks might not’ve signed up otherwise. A little effort can go a long way. And, while slightly less than 5% of our overall traffic is coming from mobile users, we know this is an important channel that will continue to grow.

2. Get Listed
Is your business listed on a mobile directory? Say what, you ask? Yes, that’s right, there are directories specifically for mobile search and if your business isn’t listed, you may be missing out on valuable opportunities. Some of these listings and directories include Google Places Mobile, AroundMe and Yahoo! Local Mobile. When someone is searching on a mobile device, it’ll recognize where the user is and will deliver search results based on that location. Get your business listed and capture the potential of mobile search.

3. Click to Call
If you’re sending out emails to promote your business, good for you. We’re big fans at VerticalResponse because that’s what we do! We’ve penned a ton of blogs with tips for designing your emails for mobile devices which is a must-do. Heck, we’ve even written an entire guide about it. But, have you thought about simply including a “click to call” link in your emails? It’s a powerful “touch” because with a single click, the recipient can immediately be connected to your business. Quick, simple and effective.

4. Get Social
Social networking websites like Foursquare and Facebook Places use the smartphone’s GPS to enable users to “check in” at different locations around their neighborhood, or around the world. If you haven’t already, set up your business page on these sites and others like them so customers can actively engage with your business and help spread the word when they post their check-in to their social networks. Then, their friends will see the check-in and see your business. It’s simple word of mouth marketing, without the mouth.

There you have it. 4 things to take action on with your marketing to get mobile-friendly. Let me know how it works for you!*Stats via Digital Buzz & Google

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