According to a new survey from technology giant IBM, mobile device sales jumped up 15 percent in the past three months. This is despite sales from social media avenues dropping 20 percent in the same time period and overall retail sales dropping 0.5 percent in June 2012. IBM notes this year's June numbers are 3.8 percent higher than the same time last year.
"Shoppers today are shifting from a singular online approach to a multichannel experience that includes both mobile and social media. As a result, retailers must be prepared to connect with their customers on all fronts, or lose them to the competition," said Craig Hayman, general manager of IBM's Industry Solutions. "We will continue to watch how CMOs and CIOs tackle these challenges and create social media efforts that deliver value to the customers while driving revenue for the business."
Inc. Magazine recently found that there are a few things companies can do to capitalize on this upswing in online shopping. One example that fits very well with a small business internet marketing campaign is that of limited time-only offers (LTOs). This marketing technique allows companies to push product offers and deals that only last for a small period of time through their targeted internet marketing campaigns.
Companies can further increase the value and response of LTOs by limiting the offer to those who only purchase via a certain platform such as mobile or fan page. For example, some companies will have a Facebook-only sale where a product will be available at a discounted price only if the consumers like the company's Facebook page. Others may have them enter a certain code that customers could only find on their Twitter feed, while some could offer free shipping to those who order from a mobile device.
While the options are limitless, partnering with an online advertising agency can help companies become more creative with their internet marketing campaigns.