Mobile marketing has become this years buzz word, and with good reason! More than 90% of the American population is a mobile phone subscriber, and more than 54 million of them have smartphones, a number that is rising lately at at rate of more than 10% a QUARTER! Add that to the fact that by 2013 it is predicted that more people will access the Web by mobile phone than any other method, and you have a recipe for opportunity!

So just what makes mobile marketing so great? Despite these staggering numbers, many have trouble seeing the deal. The main parts of the mobile marketing opportunity have to do with SMS and local business, as well as making sure your sites are optimized for the mobile Web so as to take advantage of this shift. Here are just a few ways this is unfolding as we speak!

• SMS Marketing – This is the use of text messaging to get your offers and opportunities in front of a local crowd. You’ve seen offers to “text  PIZZA to 12345″ and perhaps have wondered what this was all about. What this does is get you in front of a special offer, as well as getting you involved in the pizza parlor’s loyalty program — a great way to build local, instant business and a solid buying customer list. Given that there are some 4.3 billion text messages sent a DAY, along with a more than 90% open rate within 15 minutes, (as opposed to 7-15% for email), you can see why this is a huge piece of pie!
• Building Mobile Optimized Websites – If you’ve ever tried to view a site that wasn’t optimized for mobile on your phone, then you can see the glaring need for people who can construct simple mobile optimized sites, which sometimes is simply a matter of installing a WordPress plugin!
• Mobile Ad Networks – Utilizing mobile ad networks, such as AdMob or iAd, is another great way of marketing your products and services.

There are scores of other ways to market via mobile and more are being discovered every day. When more than 83% of us would not have their mobile phone more than an arms reach away 24/7, you know something seminal is going on!

Look here for an announcement in the coming weeks about our course on mobile marketing! It will take you by the hand and show you the various opportunities presented in mobile, and how you can not be left behind!