According to a new report from BIA/Kelsey, mobile payment options are rapidly picking up steam with 40% of small businesses surveyed reporting they are now using mobile point of sale options. PayPal and Square are two of the top mobile payment options that brands are embracing. Beyond the 40% who report they are now using mobile point of sale, 16% say they will add the option within the next year.
Steve Marshall, director of research at BIA/Kelsey, states “A closer look at the data shows adoption of mobile and social varies across SMB industry sectors. The LCM data reveals professional and home and trade services are embracing mobile in a big way, with service providers essentially becoming walking POS terminals.”
Steve goes on to point out how mobile and social media are working together to transform small business, “Together, mobile and social tools are transforming the way SMBs acquire and retain customers,” said Marshall. “With the heavy use of social media, SMB marketing is quickly becoming a two-way engagement rather than a one-way promotion.”
As for how small businesses are engaging in social media, BIA/Kelsey’s report found that those that responded say they are ‘responding’ to comments, blogging, Tweeting/Updating social pages and pushing a loyalty program.
Clearly accepting mobile payments is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to utilizing mobile with small businesses as great opportunities exist for virtual displays and other ingenious ways to market products and inform customers. Augmented reality options will soon become the norm in retail rather than hovering out there as the next big thing.
Are you looking to take your marketing to the next level? Are you looking to have a mobile app for your business that generates huge excitement and big sales numbers?
Augmented reality is most likely the answer for you then. Augmented reality generates massive consumer interest and big sales. Check out this exciting app from Heinz Tomato Ketchup that takes their products packaging to the next level.
Businesses that are taking the plunge with augmented reality mobile apps are generating excitement and interest in products that is interactive and effective. This interest has a long tail that continues to produce results in ways that standard ad campaigns are unable to match.
The buzz around augmented reality mobile apps helps turn your customers and general users into brand advocates as they share your app and their experience with other users to compound the effect of these promotions.
What are some of your favorite augmented reality mobile apps?
Nothing builds buzz like Augmented Reality mobile applications.
Augmented reality apps give forward thinking businesses a unique opportunity to take engagement with customers to new levels that previously were not possible. Rather than just having customers see an ad in a magazine, read a press release or see a quick web ad, you can now let customers and potential customers interact with your products in exciting and eye-catching ways.
Businesses that are pushing to produce massive buzz for their products are reaching for augmented reality mobile applications right now and it is paying off for them in a big way. One that recently created massive attention was the Toyota 86 World’s Largest Augmented Reality Car app.
Augmented reality apps like this create a big splash on the market and have exceptional ROIs. If you are looking to create massive buzz or take your engagement with your customers to a whole new level, augmented reality mobile applications might just be exactly what you are looking for to fill that spot.