Most sales professionals eventually become accustomed to not knowing who all their competitors are or how satisfied our customers really are with the competition's service and product quality. Now let me compound that for you with the competition’s new identity as a “thing” instead of a person. That “thing” fits in everyone’s pocket and can go anywhere, 24/7! It’s called a Smart Phone with Mobile Apps.
Whatever you do, do not expect these to go away. They won’t, they are here to stay. If your business doesn’t have a sales app available, you need to get one up and running right now.
Get mobile or get left behind!
A report by the CODA Research Consultancy and ABI Research values the 2010 mobile commerce revenue at approximately $4.4 Billion. Seriously, that is just the MOBILE sector! The same study goes on to chart a near parabolic line that shows an estimated total in 2015 of $23.8 BILLION.
Do I have your attention yet?
The apps today are incredibly smart! Not only do they search, locate a web site or a physical store near where you are right now, but they can tell you to hang a left at the second light to stop in at the store to pick it up!
Peter Sheldon writes: “Retailers today are experimenting more with third-party location-based services including foursquare and Shopkick to roll out location-aware mobile coupons.” Forrester Research writes that other retailers including Target, Best Buy, J.C. Penney, Apple and Barnes & Noble, have dedicated mobile shopping apps that allow consumers to research and purchase products directly from their phones, are adding more functionality such as nearby product availability lookup and pick-up in a store close to one’s current location. But it says that’s just the beginning of location-based offerings.
Forrester says retailers should use location-based mobile offerings to attract new shoppers and generate more sales. It suggests retailers that have mobile shopping apps ask consumers if they would like to opt in to receive location-based notifications. Then it suggests leveraging users’ preferences and other profile data to understand a shopper’s intent and send her relevant messages and store notifications.
But it cautions not to bombard shoppers. For example, a consumer who enters a defined geo-fenced area should only receive a store notification if she has previously made a purchase there in the past six months and the store is currently open, Forrester suggests.
A few years ago, I don’t think anyone could have predicted that stiff sales competition in our own territory would become a 24 hour process, especially one that originates out of what we loosely refer to as a “phone”. But, it’s here, it’s real, and it’s staying. My charge to you is to get on board as soon as you are able and start selling into your share of that $23.8 Billion market!
As I said earlier, “Get mobile, or get left behind!”
You can do this!
By K.B. Elliott
K. B. Elliott is a freelance writer for Salesheads.com. Working both sides of sales desks in the Detroit area for over 30 years gives him a unique perspective on the process. His networking interests as an entrepreneur connect him with many new venture start-ups in Southeast Michigan. To read more of his blogs, please go to Salesheadsblog.com, and be sure to check out the postings for jobs in nearly any industry at Nexxt.
K. B. Elliott is a freelance writer for Salesheads.com. Working both sides of sales desks in the Detroit area for over 30 years gives him a unique perspective on the process. His networking interests as an entrepreneur connect him with many new venture start-ups in Southeast Michigan. To read more of his blogs, please go to Salesheadsblog.com, and be sure to check out the postings for jobs in nearly any industry at Nexxt.
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