xbiz world
xbiz premiere
educational

What Is Mobile Marketing?

You may have heard of the term mobile marketing. So what does it mean and how does is apply to your business? Although there is no standard definition, mobile marketing basically refers to marketing on or with a mobile devise such as a cellphone.

Here are some of the different types of mobile marketing and their applications.

Services like text messaging and QR codes can be set up easily and inexpensively allowing you to test various campaigns and their effectiveness.

Text Messaging.Text messaging allows you to send SMS messages to a user’s cellphone. A major advantage of text messaging is that most people have their cellphones with them at all times. Unlike email marketing, text messaging will not result in messages getting lost in the clutter of an inbox or a junk/spam folder. Another advantage of text messaging is that both online businesses and brick-andmortar businesses can use it to send discount offers, promotional codes, reminders and event announcements.

Companies like Hustler, Dating Gold and Romantix have already used text messaging to help increase sales as well as to build customer loyalty and brand awareness. Text messaging can also be used to send links to a mobile site, easing the process of having to type the URL into the browser. Text messaging is a cost-effective way to reach users and has the benefit of reaching people regardless of where they are.

2D Barcodes.These are the small barcode squares that are making their way into an increasing number of print ads, billboards, business cards and other media. A 2D code allows the user to scan the code and then be redirected to a website (or preferably a mobile site) a coupon, a phone number, a special announcement, etc. 2D barcodes are perfect for advertising materials as they provide readers with a more interactive experience, suggesting that more information is available if they follow the code.

The most popular types of codes are QR (quick response) codes and Microsoft tags. To access the information, users need a camera-equipped cellphone and a scanner, which is available online for free. QR codes have started gaining a lot of traction in the U.S. companies like TitanMen and Digital Playground are incorporating them into their packaging and advertising.

Although there are some sites that will allow you to create the code for free, you will need the services of a platform provider for the reporting and analytics.

Mobile Sites/Mobile Apps.A mobile site is a website that has been optimized for viewing and navigation on a cell phone. And because of the wide variety of different phone operating systems and handsets, a mobile site ensures a good user experience. A good mobile site not only provides information, but also allows you to sign up for and/or purchase content and products. A mobile app is an application designed to run on a specific mobile device such as an iPhone, Android or Blackberry phone. These apps require you to download and install them on your phone. However, mobile apps generally have higher development costs and some argue that they are better suited for gaming, social networking, and other lifestyle type applications. There is also the issue of getting your app approved with the different app stores which can be challenging if not impossible.

Mobile Advertising.Mobile ads allow you to target mobile users by placing ads in search results, apps and videos. You can choose either text or display advertising. Mobile advertising has a greater reach than regular online advertising due to a larger mobile audience

Other Emerging Technologies.New technologies that are starting to catch on are location-based services and augmented reality. A location-based service (LBS) allows you to market to users based on their specific location and time. Augmented reality works with a cellphone’s camera to add graphics and sound in order to digitally augment the environment around you.

Services like text messaging and QR codes can be set up easily and inexpensively allowing you to test various campaigns and their effectiveness. As such, you may want to consider incorporating a mobile strategy into your traditional marketing efforts. When used properly, mobile marketing can leverage existing advertising, make your static ads interactive with a call to action and provide a more effective way of reaching your customer.

A good way to start is by examining your existing marketing strategies to see if some of them would benefit from a mobile service. Set some goals and develop a strategy to leverage your marketing. Then, you can see if mobile marketing will help your overall efforts.

Steven Levine is president of Mission Mobile, a mobile solutions company specializing in text messaging and QR codes. He can be reached at steve@missionmobile.net, or (310) 396-5577, ext. 115.

Related:  

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

How Adult Businesses Can Navigate Global Compliance Demands

The internet has made the world feel small. Case in point: Adult websites based in the U.S. are now getting letters from regulators demanding compliance with foreign laws, even if they don’t operate in those countries. Meanwhile, some U.S. website operators dealing with the patchwork of state-level age verification laws have considered incorporating offshore in the hopes of avoiding these new obligations — but even operators with no physical presence in the U.S. have been sued or threatened with claims for not following state AV laws.

Larry Walters ·
opinion

Top Tips for Bulletproof Creator Management Contracts

The creator management business is booming. Every week, it seems, a new agency emerges, promising to turn creators into stars, automate their fan interactions or triple their revenue through “secret” social strategies. The reality? Many of these agencies are operating with contracts that wouldn’t survive a single serious dispute — if they even have contracts at all.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Building Sustainable Revenue Without Opt-Out Cross-Sales

Over the past year, we’ve seen growing pushback from acquirers on merchants using opt-out cross-sales — also known as negative option offers. This has been especially noticeable in the U.S. In fact, one of our acquirers now declines new merchants during onboarding if an opt-out flow is detected. Existing merchants submitting new URLs with opt-out cross-sales are being asked to remove them.

Cathy Beardsley ·
trends

How to Handle Payment Disputes Without Sacrificing Trust

You can run the best-managed and most compliant website out there, but that still doesn’t completely shield you from the risks tied to payment disputes. Buyer’s remorse, an unclear billing description or even a simple misunderstanding can lead a customer to dispute a transaction. Accumulate enough disputes, and both your reputation and revenue could be at risk.

Jonathan Corona ·
trends

WIA Profile: Taylor Moore

With a 70-person team and a growing slate of tools for content creators, the Teasy Agency has developed a reputation for putting talent first. That commitment owes a lot to co-founder Taylor Moore’s own experiences as a cam model.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

WIA Profile: Cathy Turns Creator Platform Experience Into a Model-First Playbook

As both a model and industry executive, Cathy lives in two worlds at once. “Since I do both things, I can act as the liaison between the model community and the rest of the SextPanther team,” she tells XBIZ.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

From Compliance to Confidence: The Future of Safety in Adult Platforms

In numerous countries and U.S. states, laws now require platforms to prevent minors from accessing age-inappropriate material. But the need for safeguarding doesn’t end with age verification. Today’s online landscape also places adult companies at uniquely high risk for inadvertently facilitating exploitation, abuse or reputational harm, or of being accused of doing so.

Andy Lulham ·
opinion

What Adult Businesses Need to Know About Florida's Age Verification Law

The rise and proliferation of age verification laws has changed the landscape for the online adult industry. A recent and compelling example is the state of Florida, where Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed multiple complaints against major platforms as well as affiliates accused of violating the state’s AV law.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Maintaining Brand Trust in the Face of Negative Press

Over the last year, several of our merchants have found themselves caught up in litigation over compliance with state age verification laws. Recently, Segpay itself was pulled into the spotlight, facing scrutiny over Florida’s AV statute, HB 3. These stories inevitably get picked up by both industry and mainstream news outlets.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

How to Switch Payment Processors Without Disrupting Business

For many merchants, the idea of switching payment processors can feel pretty overwhelming. That’s understandable. After all, downtime can stall sales, recurring subscriptions can suddenly fail, or compliance gaps can put accounts at risk. Operating in a high-risk sector like the adult industry can further amplify the stress of transition.

Jonathan Corona ·
Show More