People are so predictable.
A new trend surfaces and there are those that immediately begin to capitalize on it.
Being on the lookout for "the next big thing" is fine. But what do you do when you discover it?
For some people, they engross themselves in the new thing and learn the ins and outs so they can speak from experience.
For others, it's all a matter of discovering how they can position themselves as "experts" so they can profit from it.
In the online world, I've seen it happen a number of times.
As soon as word got out that you could make money with AdSense, the opportunists who never made a dime with AdSense began writing books and creating training courses.
When Facebook and Twitter became buzzwords the web became inundated with so-called "social media experts", many of whom had never truly discovered how to leverage social media for their business. Of course, they were all too happy to sell you their products or coaching to help you do what they were unable to do for themselves.
Brace yourself. It's happening again.
This time, the trend is in the mobile marketing niche.
I'm already seeing a number of products and training courses coming to market in the mobile marketing space. So far, I am very unimpressed.
I've had associates write and ask me to promote their mobile marketing ebooks, reports and training courses.
I usually ask them a simple question. "How have you made money in mobile marketing?"
Their reply is silence. Nothing but crickets.
That's because they AREN'T making money with mobile marketing. They are positioning themselves as "mobile marketing experts" by training others how to do what they haven't done themselves!
Beware, my friends. There is enough hype out there to choke an entire army of elephants.
If I present you with a product on AdSense it's because I have actually gone before and can demonstrate how to make money with AdSense. I'm STILL making money with AdSense five years after releasing my first book on the topic.
If I tell you that you can use Twitter to grow your business its because I have done it, and continue to do it. I'm engaged with social media and am continually looking for new ways to connect with those in my network.
And if I show you how to use iPhone applications or mobile messaging to make more money or enhance your brand, it's because I have already been there, done that. I've developed a number of iPhone applications, including a #1 best-seller. I've spent the last three years developing a mobile marketing platform that will bring great value to businesses.
So look out.
The parade of "mobile marketing experts" is coming to your town. Armed with little more than statistics and an opportunistic mindset, they are coming for your wallet.
It wouldn't surprise me if their business cards had "social media expert" scratched out and "mobile marketing expert" written in its place.
Be alert and watch for this to happen. Make sure and ask yourself if the person marketing to you has credibility in the space. Look for real proof.
If you don't find evidence of anything more than opportunism, be very careful.
Have you encountered this in your experience? Please leave your thoughts and comments below.
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I hear after mobile marketing that bathroom marketing is the next big thing. Then after that, swimming pool marketing. Get a message of your website to every person who uses a bathroom! Brilliant. Captivate them for their entire bathroom stay! Where else are they going?
Good call Joel. The crappy part is, people will get sucked in.
True...Mobile marketing is going to rock
I can see mobil marketing becoming a tool in the internet marketers arsenal, much like email marketing is. It can strenghten your brand, but will provide more value if the mobil users you are marketing to can access the internet with their phones.
Mobil to me stands for impatient and looking for quick entertainment, so, more so than ever will marketers have to market to ones impulses when creating apps and such to promote theironline business.
It will be interesting to watch this field progress, especially with all the easy app builders coming out.
yup your right... I can tell you that I have been doing mobile marketing for a while, just a little over a year. its just some people think they can claim their name once the buzz is being made.
Hey Joel,
So right, I'm getting bombarded with emails. One guy is sending me 3-4 a day with a private "insider's link".
I went to one of those mobile marketing webinars the other day. Thirty-eight minutes into it the guy is still pimping himself, talking more about me,myself, and I, and very little about mobile marketing.
He's going on and on and how he's at the front of the pack with all the new marketing technologies and nobody else is doing what he is doing. Mean while I KNOW somebody else not only has a course, but has a real book published and listed on Amazon on the topic of mobile marketing.
In a bad economy, desperation takes over reason, so remember to take everything with a teaspoon of salt. Otherwise you might buy a way over-priced "course", that leaves you feeling angry that you were taken again.
Bravo Joel!
Frankly, I think mobile marketing really works best with certain types of businesses (certainly not most internet-based businesses, in my opinion). Even though I have not made the opportunity for myself, yet, to use SMS marketing for my products, I can easily see the opportunity for other businesses to use it. In particular, I think local restaurants, bars, and clubs stand best to take advantage of mobile marketing, right now.
Now, even though I haven't used SMS marketing myself in my internet business (I question whether or not it would be appropriate), I believe that, through my email marketing and list-building experience, I would have the expertise required to consult with a restaurant or bar on how best to leverage this medium for their client base.
Really, there is nothing 'magic' about mobile marketing. It's just another medium to reach somebody. But, with the right offer for the right business, it could be huge. How great would it be for a restaurant to send an SMS out to its list (on a slow night) saying that if they come in for dinner they can get 20% off of their bill? It's immediate and is much more likely to get a response than an email given that only about 20% of the people on an email list will read it within the first hour of dissemination.
Am I selling an eBook on this? No, I'm not. Could I write an eBook on mobile marketing for bar and restaurant owners? Probably. Would I want to test my theories out with at least one client before I think of charging $50+ for the eBook? Definitely.
Personally, I'm dying for the opportunity to work with a restaurant to build an SMS marketing strategy. It would be so much fun to see it work!
Joel, I agree with your analysis of new things on the market and many jumping on the bandwagon to promote them before they themselves have even used them or become truly successful with them.
I don't even use my cell phone that much, but I do see mobil marketing as a viable way for companies to brand themselves and promote products and particularly notify customers of specials.
So far as Jay's comments about bathroom advertising, that has been happening for at least 2 or more years. I have been in bathroom stalls where there was a frame on the inside door with various size ads apparently paid for by the advertiser to the company who got approval (and probably funds) from the owner of the establishment to post their picture frame of advertisements inside the bathroom stalls. Needless to say, they do have a 'captive' audience, particularly of women !!
Yes, I won't mention his name, but he is out there again hyping the crap out of being his next "apprentice". Buy his course for a couple grand and he makes you a mobile marketing genius. He did this all last year pushing his SEO apprentice stuff. Now, on his website promotion he touts mobile marketing, but has no mobile marketing testimonials, just the future "hype". Beware, this guy is good at taking your hard earned money.
You are so right!!!
Hey Joel,
Thanks for the heads up!
You make a great point.
"If you can't do it yourself, teach others how to do it" is a common thing in the Internet Marketing world.
I wrote an article about getting the phone number from your new email subscribers back in 2008. I knew it was coming.
I think location based SMS messaging will be huge, yet if it were email, it would be considered spam to get unsolicited messages. It will be spooky for some that are not into "big Brother" watching them and sending them an offer for the restaurant across the street from where they are walking.
Also a current fad or trend is selling products to learn how to sell marketing services for small local business. I was on two webinars this week with people selling a product to help you get started. At least they are doing it them self or so they say. I am currently doing Search Engine Marketing for local business owners and enjoy it a lot. I plan to expand the business and then get back to building web sites for myself because that is my other favorite thing to do.
Thanks for the heads up and warning.
Clay
I are definitely with you, there are opportunist out there.
This is a great post. I worked in a senior marketing position for a mobile marketing technology company last year, and it was clear that mobile advertising was in it's bare infancy and wouldn't make any real money for many years. There are many reasons for this, but the most important thing to understand that it's all still a lot of hype and potential.
I was recently on a video conference call with an "Internet Guru" who was pitching mobile marketing as the next big thing, and when he took questions, I asked him very direct questions about the reality. He became uncomfortable, and said that Google wouldn't have bought AdMob for so much money if they weren't convinced they would make money, and then became very vague about the facts.
Mobile Marketing is growing and will continue to grow, but it will take time to make real money...and anyone who says that isn't true is simply lying.
Hey Joel,
Great point! Th IM niche is full of con artists, and Wanna Be's! I would bet the majority of them have honest intentions. They don't realize that the PLR product they bought was written by someone with no experience, and hence the ball starts rolling downhill!
Is tehre a lot fo money to be made in Mobile Marketing... I would bet - YES! But you need to learn from someone that has some skin in the game....
As always the best rule to follow is "la caveat emptor" Let the buyer beware!
Thank God that Surgeons and the like actually have to prove they know what they are doing before they get to cut.... imagine having your hip replaced by a guy whose friend told him how to do it, and his friend read an ebook that someone said he should buy online!
It's a jungle out there kiddies!
John
Excellent article Joel. Old adage Those who can do, those who can't teach. I have bought both of your books. I have had lunch with you at the Big Seminar and watched you and bought products from you. I know that you have done what you say and I have profited from it also. It is easy to know,like and trust you because of your actions and deeds. Most of the new mobile marketers are not in the same camp. But long term success comes from making good product that you can stand behind. Short term infamy, which demeans their credibility is wrong and stupid. And unfortunately people get sucked in. When the light shines in the crap s exposed.
not new at all ... always there for a quick buck... and then they are rockstar.... nothing new... sad ... ethics does not seem to exist in this industry... very sad
We all appreciate your heads up, Joel, on this next wave. Seems ridiculous for the recent launch on mobile marketing by HS to cost $1997.
Joel, what is the status of the mobile marketing platform you spoke of in your post?
thanks for another solid post.
I agree, it's time for another 2,ooo plus course. I really hate it. You think cell customers will like being bombarded by text messages. I don't. As you say way more sizzle than steak.
They had better not start sending text message "offers" like they do in email. Some of these pathetic monkeys send "offers" 3 times a day or more. Then some of them get you on 2 to 4 lists so your inbox is constantly bombarded with useless trash.
If they start sending text message "offers" to people's cell phones so that you hear your cell phone buzzing and ringing all day long and all night with notifications it's going to be over before it begins!
NOBODY and I mean NOBODY is going to put up with that! The first of these clowns that starts doing that is going to be shut down as the complaints to the proper authorities will be endless. I guarantee you they'll try it.
Funny, I just watched a webinar replay earlier today about exactly this subject... and the statistics were impressive. Mobile marketing does look like a huge opportunity. But, I don't really want to spend $2k for information that I can probably get someplace else for free. I want to learn about how to set up and optimize a mobile website, how to get opt-in's for sms messages to mobile phones, and how to deliver them (does it work with Aweber? how do you set up an sms or text autoresponder to cell phones?) I would greatly appreciate it if you could direct me to where you think is the best place to learn more on the subject. Thank you.
Joel, you do some really cool things and you're an obvious leader in the IM niche, BUT I think this is a really cheap shot at someone who you have an obvious distaste for. Maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong.
We all know that you have written books about every hot marketing item, and quite frankly not everything you write hits the mark either, but you do always lead the pack when it comes to writing about the latest, greatest super duper...I will say at least you price your knowledge for the average person to share. Even if it's not all that...
I'm just saying ~:-)
no name no hate.. but someone goes hard as THE mobile marketing guru... at least I receive a webinar replay too the other day... it's all bla bla and less solid fact you can apply... for $2k ... you can use that money and test it yourself...
after that people wil ask why the FTC is in .... it's sad to make money like that... personnal opinion
Now hang on just a second. I didn't mention names. I am discussing a trend that I see. There are plenty of products out there related to mobile marketing. Don't assume I am pointing the finger at any one person or business in particular. I'm saying that I have seen products out there from those who have no credibility. I'm NOT saying that everyone out there has no credibility. You must evaluate each person and product based on his/her and their own merits before coming to conclusions. Just be aware. And be prepared for a coming FLOOD of mobile marketing products.
I sat in on two webinars this week, one with Mr. "hand over 2 grand and I'll teach you the new thing cause internet marketing is dead" this is the same guy who said I would be a millionaire if I gave him 2 grand to teach me how a couple of months ago, (with Internet Marketing) another said if I give him $500 he'll show me how to become a star with CPA and would also guarantee an account with EWA (cpa network) who I thought before was an
honest broker oooooh well.....
The reason that this type of thing always happens is because most people only listen to people who have selling skills even though in reality the salesperson may know little about the product or service that they are promoting.
Most people, and this includes you dear reader, often do not listen to the person who has the in-depth technical knowledge. This is because such information is rarely wrapped up in a pretty package and is often presented in ways that require effort to comprehend. Technical information often overwhelms non technical listeners, who then reject the new information because they don't immediately understand it and they can't be bothered to conduct their own research (don't make me think).
The capable sales person by comparison speaks to prospects using only words and phrases that the prospects can easily comprehend, and makes the information sound so simple, obvious and inviting. While the technically capable person often speaks in terms to which the majority of people can't easily relate and so prospects often reject the new information out of hand.
This is the human condition, it is the way that it has always been and it is the way that it will always be.
We have a new application which we are releasing. However, I know that if I start to promote the application to prospective end users myself it will be an uphill battle because I am not a salesperson.
So I get smart and develop a business plan that will appeal to capable marketers who want to make money (that is usually most capable marketers main motivation) and identify those marketers who are looking for products to promote.
We provide the salespeople with information about the product and invite those who are interested in promoting the product to identify prospective clients to whom they can sell the product. We then provide the ongoing service to clients, and the marketer moves on to either find more new clients to who they can sell the product, or the marketer finds new products tthat they can promote to their existing client base.
All that a salesperson is usually interested in is having a product that they can sell to prospects and make a good instant profit. Often they don't care if the product even works because they are not looking to develop long term client relationships, and they only care that they can identify potential clients to who they can sell the product that they are currently promoting.
Just as an entrepreneur would employ a capable visual designer to create a brand image for a new business and employ a capable programmer to create a database to help maintain client records, so the entrepreneur should also look to employ capable salespeople to market and sell the products that the business provides.
1. Well, here is my two cents number one I'm not giving out my cell phone number
I don't care how great the program is that is the only personal part I have.
2. I have seen a company put out some cell phone marketing info on Friday
5th March 2010 rank when I got the email was 5,740,229 on Saturday March the
6th rank was 287,344 as of 7:40pm. so will it work yes look at what market was done with ringtones. Lots of money was made on ringtones.
Now I'm not going to get another phone unless it is for marketing and I don't have to answer it.
Also who's paying for the call? If you deduct from my phone bill twenty cents per ad I will look at and answer the
phone. This cuts out the middle man in advertising or if a offer like pay per click pays 21.00 per click or sign up on the web pays 10.00 to Ad company and 10.00 for the person answering the ad. Mobile Market is going to work. Things will change just like Who Moved My Cheese Book get ready
for change. Google did not create the Google Phone saying cell phone is
dead it has plans and see a market.
Hello,
No truer words have ever been spoken. This is a continuing trend that brings out the opportunists like nothing I have ever seen. I have received no less than 8 different promotions from so called mobile marketing experts in the last few weeks. These guys find a buzz word and jump all over it even though many have never put any of this to work in real every day live.
My opinion is that if you are really do this then why is there a need to sell the hottest greatest new hyped up mastery made simple solution.
Hey in 2007 my partner's ad I won an award for the best online marketing campaign in California. We never mentioned it to anyone or sold some great product new product we just keep on doing what we do below the radar. Why give away secrets or perceived secrets. It's the bottom line theory that there will always be another fool ready to buy.
Ron
What if social media "experts" had a governing body that required CEU's (continuing education units) and a state mandated board exam to prove minimum competence?
My experience comes from health care, where the average practitioner spends four years in school to earn a degree, several months to study for the exam, and then thousands of dollars on CEU's to keep up their expert edge. If anything near that were required of social media "experts", more than half the people would drop out just from the cost of the process to obtain credentials, and of the remaining people, we would probably make decisions about their expertise based on their track record (how many people you've helped, what kinds of things have you written, what kinds of projects you've been able to launch, etc).
An example: did you know that you can put the word "coach" on your website with no credentials whatsoever? But you cannot use the words "certified coach" unless you have engaged in a formal coaching program, such as "Coach U" and passed their minimum requirements and hours of supervised but unpaid work. Yet, I noticed lots of people using the words "coach" or "consultant". That doesn't seem to mean anything anymore. You can be a consultant of face cream too.
Maybe if people took a little time to research credentials or track record, the "experts" would thin out. As long as people are gullible or lazy, these so-called experts will stay in business.
I am very new to Social Media. I am so new, in fact, that I started blogging about my "Year in the n00b" the day after I launched an idea and came up with a Twitter handle. i would rather people know that I'm a n00b in the best of senses, than to be mistaken for a person who truly misleads people into thinking they know and achieve more success than they really do.
Yes, there are definitely going to be a lot of mobile marketing products coming out. Last year my wife saw this coming so I bought up a bunch of domains mobilemarketing.org, mobilemarketing.net, etc. but if I do anything with them it won't be until after I have run successful campaigns for my clients, and it will probably just be free information or services rather then a course, although I can't rule that out yet.
It's definitely going to be a big topic this year in the IM world, but right now it's mostly useful for local businesses.
Joel,
I was just thinking the same thoughts just the other day. I think you are spot on. Thank you for the conformation of how I was feeling.
Of course this is mostly hype. I don't ever enter my phone number on websites anymore because I'm being inundated with unsolicited phone calls. And that's mostly on my landline. I try to set my cell phone ringtones to fit my friends and groups, just so I know if the person calling actually knows me or not. I agree that some types of business could benefit from mobile marketing, but I would go insane if everyone who sends me email suddenly sent me texts or made calls. There are a lot of them who make mistakes with emails, including having autoresponders that send several of the same messages every day. Besides, it's hard to believe that Everyone who is marketing this right now has made a fortune already.
I'm wary of people who don't shave. On Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, the three-day shadow looks good. Not on Howie.
It's a shame that all you get from that HS $1997.00 junk is a pitch-fest
webinar. Outrageous claims on all his stuff. NO CONTENT,Training or real useful skill sets just time wasting jaw-jacking.What a waste........
Thanks for the heads up, Joel. We are very much aware that there are people who do these kinds of things. The fact is my husband has already gotten an email about this very thing. Then people wonder why some people are afraid to do any business on the web. Those of us who are trying to make an honest living and offer great customer service have to work even harder to do the right things for the customer so they know they can trust us and will want to be our customer over and over again. Thank you.
People like to make changes every here and there for any new things that surfaces on the internet. When video recording came on , it was every where and selling them as if that will be the last NICHE online.
And these people never in their lives made any dim from these niche they are selling to other people. There is a saying that you have to Learn any model first, then Do it very well and before you Sell it to the public.
Infomarketing is the lazy man way of online earning........
Let me reiterate, since names are being named. I was NOT specifically referring to Howie. I have not seen his product, but from what I understand is less to do with mobile and more to do with local. I don't know what it in the training and won't comment any further.
The point of this entry was to say that you are going to see a LOT of people call themselves mobile marketing experts. That's all.
If I feel it is necessary to point to specific people or products, I will. I didn't see a need for the purpose of this entry.
Joel
As usual you are the voice of reason and always "walk the walk and talk the talk". It is very easy to get swept up on the wave of "lets get in first" before the hordes.
The old adage of scarcity always rears its head and we blindly grab at what ever comes out so as not to miss the latest opportunity. And then there are those who milk it for all its worth with a monthly fee probably adding as they "learn" it, themselves.
I look forward to your contribution as I know we will have an expert opinion on this new side of internet marketing.
Regards
Bonnie
Lots of complaining, not a whole lot productive ideas here. Does anyone think that mobile marketing isn't going to get bigger? It is a really cool way to reach people. People will make money with it and there are probably some good courses and some bad courses. I sure would like to see someone recommend what IS working, because complaining about what isn't working or shooting down the authors of some of these courses (because of lack of experience actually earning profits) isn't going to help anyone move forward with something productive.
So, a challenge to all, who has a good course on this topic? Where can we learn more from someone who knows what they are talking about?
Justin
@ IMIE
A degree is thirty or forty years of someone elses " real life hands on" experience crammed into a three or four year course of "non hands on" formal study. We do not have the advantage of that here because of such a new industry. This will be one where the we will mostly find out the hard way who really knows what thay are talking about. These are pioneering days.
Good point Justin! mobile marketing is still very much in the infant stage as far as I am concerned. I have been in the mobile space since about 1998 and I can remember when we were talking about getting ready for 3G. With every new thing there are those that want to take advantage of it just to make money. And there are those that want to take advantage of it to help others and companies succeed at mobile marketing. We want to help other companies succeed at mobile marketing. Are we experts? We I do not and won't claim to know everything at mobile marketing. But I can say this.
We have finally found and partnered with a company that had the same idea as we did - combining social networking and mobile proximity marketing. I say all this to say, I plan on learning and helping as much as I can about mobile marketing and helping others along the way.
And if our company makes a decent return also then great. Joel's article is RIGHT ON POINT! and I prefer to focus on solutions and techniques that will make a strong and profitable mobile marketing strategy for our customers. I think mobile marketing has some huge returns if done correctly and methodically. Just my opinion, I'm interested in hearing about good courses also. Our company is thinking about putting together a FREE seminar for business interested in persuing mobile marketing. has anyone attended any good courses??? Again thanks Joel for the article!
Great post Joel! It is so refreshing to hear the truth! I have fallen for so many "snake oil" sales pitches over the last 4-5 years and it's cost me a lot of money. Some of them were from so called "reputable" on line marketers. The price of ignorance is expensive, believe me. And I now understand why the FTC moved in to halt some of the robberies.
At times it seems there is only one niche on how to make money on the internet. And that is "How to make money on the internet".
Keep telling it like it is, Joel! And Thank You!
Don
I too have noticed a huge trend in so called "marketing experts" and "coaches" on twitter. Seems there are many people out there following me that want to be my coach.
I see a few good ideas here and there, but mostly hype.
Hi Joel,
I spent a lot of time a few years ago trying to educate myself about real estate. Even in a small country like New Zealand, the number of shysters was astonishing. But with a journalist's built-in BS detector, I found a guru and still follow him. While I'm new to this patch, I already rate Joel Comm and am reading your ebooks and Twitter book. There's clear separation between you and the 'spruikers'. Appreciate your integrity and wisdom. Yep, do good stuff.
Bill
@Bonnie Ginger Beer Recipes
Thanks for your response. Yes, of course SM is very new. I wanted to throw it out there that because of its newness, there are few ways for the unknowing consumer to gauge the validity of one person's content from the next without recognizable credentials.
Unfortunately, not all people value the concept that if you're going to put yourself out there and make claims, that same person should have the skills and experience to back it up. I'm very glad that someone like Joel is sharing his wisdom and experience without the need to attack, yet being quite clear about where he's coming from. Not everyone does that.
Still, I wistfully wish that there was some way to regulate this for consumers, but with the word "regulate" comes a whole bunch of other problems most of us don't want to deal with. Until that day, SM will look like vitamins and supplements: necessary and really helpful, yet unregulated and thus subject to placebos and snake oil.
fortunately i didn't fall for any expert yet
I am kind of conflicted on this topic. Part of me says "watch out for people out in front of these opportunities" and the other half of me says "if you are going to find new markets then you are probably going to have to trust someones research and put up with their false income claims". When a new opportunity is truely new, prbably not a lot of money has been made in the market yet their forward thinking might be worth concidering.
My two cents worth.
All the best,
Gregg Zban
The Guru Hub
Saw you on Colbert, we wanna be there too.
Reading Literacy are strong subjects, and the country is failing.
Let's make some inroads together.
www.montessorihome.com
we have 620,000 views of the Lady Bug song on youtube.
we just released our first iPhone free app.
914.472.9849 bob korngold
Im not so sure mobile marketing will be the next big thing. Personally I would not be comfortable giving my credit card details over the wireless network but thats just me, and I've had bad experiences with services that charge my phone bill so I'll be sticking to the old way for a while longer. Still that won't stop these marketers from having a go. Thanks for the warning.
Hi Joel,
Thanks for the message received from you.
My problem is worst not know English so well ! ! !
I think there is a market of almost 4 billion mobile devices
ready right now. . .
Best regards,
Irinel Lazarescu
So true, but it is in the human nature ... Freud said ;"Give human being option to choose between two things and usually will choose wrong one ! "
Thanks, again, for the heads up, Joel. Many have expressed valid pros & cons on this subject. Actually, mobile marketing has been around for quite some time, just that now, it's becoming popular. My first exposure to it was over ten years ago. The Sprint PCS cell phone I had, at the time, was very basic & didn't have a lot of features. Though they offered things like weather, news, sms, etc, etc, the price was ridiculously high. I found the same services, via MSN, for free. Within a month, I kept getting sms spam from Miss Cleo!!! Remember her? "...Call me now for your free tarot reading..."
Thanks for the insight Joel. I have been wondering what all the hoopla is about. I get a bunch of emails for related products, but the income potential has always been too questionable for me to bother shifting my focus in that direction. I am constantly fighting the Next Shiny Object Syndrome, so I appreciate the straight skinny from a fellow Coloradan. Going up to Dead Guy Days this weekend?
OK, Let me jump in here, because this topic is near and dear to my heart. I live in a city that has a rap for being "backwards and slow". Businesses here are constantly trying to stay ahead of the big cities, or at least not be left in their dust. As an Internet marketer in this type of city, being able to offer our clients the "next big thing" is huge. So huge in fact, that I can see their eyes light up when we mention bringing SMS texting and mobile optimized web sites to their business!
People want to be on the cutting edge. The problem is that you absolutely must do it right, or you will lose credibility - and in my market, that actually means lose your job!
So, I believe, as someone mentioned, mobile marketing has to follow a specific plan. It must offer benefits that people are willing to subscribe to, without interrupting them with offers that the recipient will see as a huge waste of time. It must be cost-effective and it must must must bring customers to the business directly as a result of the marketing tactic being used.
Now, bandwagons are a dime a dozen, but this one, as Joel points out, actually has merit. The caveat is not jumping on to a bandwagon that is full of promises and lacks the ability to deliver.
I'd love to see a follow up to this thread that offers solutions, not just warnings. What system works, what is just hype, who actually can prove themselves before this actually happens?
I think creating iPhone apps is brilliant. I know offering this to local businesses will get their attention. However, just like we can't ignore Yahoo/Bing with SEO, we can't ignore the other mobile phones! I think a system is needed that optimizes the use of the cell phone as a way of reaching customers... I am hoping we will find the right system, develop it and attract businesses to our company because we offer mobile marketing in addition to other excellent and important services! Another tool in the arsenal, another way to bring customers to our business, because we offer it and no one else does... yet!
Thanks for this advice, Joel!!
Too right mate! funny thing was I had an email from offer vault about a mobile marketing webniar then your email was right after it lol I didn't watch the webinar and I totally agree with you. You need to explore these things yourself first to see if you can profit fromthem and if you see an area that you think mm i could improve something here with a bit of knowledge then have a look for the ifo not before.
Thanks Joel, your expertise is valuable.
In late 1880's and early 1900's Cars came, Telephone's,Electricity,TV, Radio's Air planes and they improved to rockets to the moon came. In the late 1900's came computer widened used and microwave stoves, cell phones...
Marketing on mobile phone's is coming.
In 1993 I used Microsoft Office to give my presentation in class I was told to use any source possible to give my presentation.
So I used the early Office to do it. Now the college charge to have a class in the use of Microsoft Office as a pre-request. So my point is you have to start some where as mention by
Bonnie @ Ginger Beer Recipes
These are pioneering days. Now when they become college classes and cost
you 45,000 to over a hundred thousand to study them is where I have a problem, and after 4years of college the job you thought you were going to
get is not there. Well maybe it would have been better to study that course
from some guru pioneer for 1997.00 compared to the debit and cost some have paid. Look at the Fortune 500 list of Billionaires many are college drop outs ,some high school grad, some high school drop outs.
What most of the people do is complain and yet they still do not take action in any form. Mr. Gates took action. Take some training, Do research
on Google on mobile marketing, Right now I'm sure Joel is doing research on
this blog. How should he come up with a product to sell related to mobile
marketing or should he stay away from it. Cell phone marketing is already here my dentist use text marketing to tell me what new in his office for teeth whiting. People hate change, test cell phone marketing buy a Boost
mobile phone test it out or any 50.00 a month pre-paid phone. As I said
before read Who Moved My Cheese and see what character are you. I find a
lot of the last character on this blog.
Wrhump
Funny how a self-proclaimed social media expert is talking smack against self-proclaimed mobile marketing experts.
Pot..meet kettle...he is black.
I agree with a lot of you and respectfully disagree with a few of some of your viewpoints. There's no doubt mobile marketing is going to change the way businesses communicate with their customers, and in some ways local businesses and "mom-and-pop" shops will have even more leverage competing against the "big dogs".
I just hope it isn't abused like email and end up resulting in having very little difference between the way we look at our junk-mail and our email in-boxes and be thrilled with a 2% return.
Mobile has the potential to communicate directly (1 on 1) from business to consumer, consumer to business, and even passed along consumer to consumer.
There are FIVE TIMES the amount of cell phones than there are computers being manufactured to keep up with demand. Next month there will be more text messages sent out than there are people on earth.
Is there potential? of course....will text messages from businesses become like banner ads on websites? only time will tell, however I do think sitting on the sidelines will most definitely leave you in the dust.
Well I'm not so sure I have a fancy schmancy phone and only use it for phoning. And truth is often I switch off because I don't want to be disturbed. I'm still all for the internet. I know my blog and my podcast id phone friendly. My daughters boyfriend reads it from his phone but geez sometimes i want to switch off. Phone marketing gurus don't impress me. I've got my favorite internet marketing gurus which amount to under 5 people and i stick with them, other wise I'll get confused and befuddled.
Mobile advertising certainly has a large number of eyes & ears for what you want to sell, but still there are certain products that will do better in different circumstances. You have to try it out to see if it's right for your product.
Hi everyone. I wanted to post a few points / facts
1) Joel is correct our course is about LOCAL SEARCH + MOBILE
2) My experience in mobile - I am also adding this to my sales page as per Joel's suggestion - and here is my quote from my page:
"Why Mobile? Why Now? Why Howie?
I believe the time for Mobile Marketing is NOW. Local Businesses are DYING for new ways to reach out and touch their customers and build
attention from new prospects.
To answer a question on WHAT makes me qualified to train you on Mobile . . .
This page is NOT about a half-baked concept or incomplete few weeks of training. We have been working on this coursework for the past
4 months.
Personally - I have been involved in the mobile space since 2000 (thats 10 years). I have invested in multiple mobile focused startups and spent
2001 - 2004 working with small businesses on their business strategy and integrating mobile into their marketing plans.
Mobile Marketing Leadership is based on my business experience well beyond the IM space :)"
- end note -
There ya go - just the facts :)
(note: I'm NOT going to use Joel's blog to answer support / product questions here - as its not the appropriate space. You can use the contact us form / link on the bottom of my sales page if you have a question for me)
Thanks Joel - I appreciate the opportunity to reply on your blog.
I agree that that every trend has its share of opportunists, and this is just the start of a big wave in mobile marketing. I like Joel's qualifying question. If I'm buying something to help me make money, then I'd like to see the proof. However, in the case of an emerging market, I'd also like to see the passion and depth of research dedicated to the specific field I'm investing in.
Technology is fast moving, but add regulatory agencies, and you have quicksand! The smart and nimble are the ones who are going to make it. I want to be able to get updates as soon as something changes, not just a stale,dead, sales letter, or a new " next greatest thing" email campaign.
I find that the true experts tend to stay true to their core passions. The various products and promotions are logical extensions of those passions.
P.S. As a Canadian, it is frustrating to see the freedom most of the world has in mobile technology. Oh sure, we have it, but the gov't backed rates are a killer.
Hey Joel thanks for the post. I already received several emails from gurus telling me how I can get rich mobile marketing. You are right because lots of these people writing ecourses and books never really experience these trends themselves. They love confusing newbies. I'm in marketing so I understand who want to help me and who doesn't. Thanks again.
I have been doing some research and found this course by Mobile Marketing Association - MMA Track - http://mmaglobal.com/certification
Wow, this whole concept is rather fascinating. Just searching for "sms marketing" produced some interesting results. There are a lot of companies that can market via ANY wireless source - including laptops & wireless capable desktops. SMS is only one option. Some companies have the ability to send full-fledged video ads (one-way & interactive). Even bluetooth can be exploited for "drive-by" advertising.
I took have come across those "to good to be true" deals where they promise huge returns for little investment....a piece of advice...run quickly...
"The Most Powerful Advertising Medium Ever Invented"
The New York Times
Mobile marketing offers unique targeting abilities that are incomparable to traditional promotion and advertising media and is capturing the attention of marketers worldwide.
95% read rate (within seconds) and a 25% sales increase...
Now That's Powerful Marketing.
Thanks for the article, very helpful. I will study it.
Undoubtedly some people are making money with mobile marketing. I mean, *somebody* is buying all those apps. ;-)
One way to spot the smart mobile marketers is that their websites actually work on a mobile telephone, like say.... the iPhone, which takes up >90% of mobile web use.
A really cool Flash effect is awesome - but when a mobile marketing "expert" sends me a link to a Flash page in a text message... it's kind of hard to take them seriously.
As a consultant for a major telecommunications company, I can tell you that mobile marketing is for real -- but and this is a big but....you absolutely positively cannot alienate your customer. And trust me, you think you get spam complaints on your email campaigns? Just wait until you try a mobile campaign. My paid television service sends me an email message every day telling me what hots on that day. Do I read it? Hardly ever. Does it drive me crazy? Well, as my Dad used to say, that is just a short putt, but actually yes it does make me crazy. Every day I get the message, pick up my iPhone and casually look at it and hit 'close'. I'm already getting a few IMers sending me stuff through Twitter that gets redirected to my cell - it is all getting to be too much. There will be a market for mobile marketing but it will mostly for local marketing and for large brand marketing from corporations we know and love....not from the person who has a new ebook to sell. Let's save all of this for the Internet and let's wait until a solid plan that doesn't alienate comes out. But in the meantime, people have to be testing this so that some day a successful, needed product will come along an open this market up. But spend your money on a tried and true company who will do this for you with a guarantee, not a 12 week guru mega course that you'll never get through anyway.
Thanks for letting me voice my opinion.
It can be possible, mobile marketing can be that next big thing. But remember, not all who use the computer and internet for marketing are open for this, so this may not really work.
Joel,
Okay... wow.
So many negative comments.
The experts also drive me crazy. When someone calls me saying "Would you like to set up a 1 on 1 phone call coaching sessions with {insert name here}? He can help you a lot." I usually reply with "Sure, I'd love to be *HIS* coach!"
I don't quite have an hour to read all the comments here, but I'm guessing that no one that posted here so many months ago actually is a mobile expert.
My experience with mobile started January 18, 2001 when I launched my first website that interacted with alpha pagers. The site is still live at www.nj-singles.com.
Since then I have developed countless mobile technologies that used email to text messaging on cell phones. I even created my own mobile CMS some time in 2005.
When the .mobi TLD became available I bought and launched several sites.
The problem is that no body understood it. Even today people are still confused, and everyone is being bombarded with apps for their phone, LBS, check-ins... so much stuff that it's very confusing sometimes even for me to understand what's happening.
I'm a 10+ experienced mobile expert. It's my job to figure out how the next "big" mobile thing will benefit my clients.
Personally, I wouldn't trust any "mobile expert" either unless they carried around with them every mobile gadget and could demonstrate iron clad ways to use them. I practice what I preach since at all times I have carry an iPad, iPhone, Android and NetBook with me.
Great article. However the bandwagon is never full and even when people get kicked off or jump off they have a knack of getting back on...I know from experience...uh Im on it...haha. Have I amde a dime yet...(melancholy look) no. Will I make money? Results: approached 10 business yesterday and have 3 appointments...will probably close 1...for how much? Check back next week:)
The post starts with the words, People are so predictable. Then, to the left, I see this post, as good as few can be, receives so few tweets and likes.
Does it mean most people don't pay heed to Joel's warning?
I'm curious!