In the 21st century, mobile marketing has come to the forefront as one of the most necessary forms of advertising. The majority of consumers are carrying a mobile device, and you need to do what you can to make sure your business owns a part of the mobile mindshare. In this post, you’ll receive some very useful ideas to help get you there.

First, as with any form of marketing, you need to market to your target audience’s behaviors. Mobile devices are very personal in nature. Consumers stay connected with their friends and family through these devices, and impersonal, non-relevant promotional messages will not fare well in this environment. Get to know your target audience. What do they like? What type of messaging do they normally respond to? Are there taboo subjects or words that are off-limits in your marketing communication? With this type of knowledge, you are now armed to make the most of your mobile marketing opportunities. Develop your messaging to fit in with their lifestyle, and you will reap the rewards!

Build a mobile marketing strategy that utilizes different mobile platforms. For many, mobile marketing begins and ends with SMS (text) messages. While SMS messaging is integral to a strong mobile campaign, don’t ignore the other mobile opportunities availabe to you, too. These include the mobile aspects of social media like Twitter and Facebook, the location-based opportunities presented by Foursquare or Whrrl, or the recommendation applications like Yelp for restaurants. Plus, don’t overlook email marketing as a mobile option. There are mobile marketing opportunities being launched nearly every week, so keep tabs on the options and choose the ones that best fit your target market.

Keep your copy short and strategic. How long do you take looking at an email or text message on a mobile device? If you are like most, you give each message only a few seconds. You are on a mobile after all and more than likely on the move. It’s therefore important to build a mobile campaign with short, strategic messaging in mind. Think of it like billboard advertising on a highway. You only have a few seconds of a driver’s focus before the sign passes them by. With billboards, a straegic usage of five to seven words can be much more impactful than a long paragraph. The same is true for mobile marketing.

Innovate in mobile marketing by testing QR codes and other image-based codes in your marketing strategy. QR codes are akin to bar codes you find on the back of products. Mobile device users can scan these QR codes utilizing a mobile app to discover a hidden message or offer. This is still an early adopter strategy, but it can add a layer of engagement and interactivity not found in other types of mobile marketing.

Always shorten any hyperlink in your message with a URL shortening service before sending. Hyperlinks can be very long and complex, and because of this, they can really deter users from taking action on a mobile message. Shorten those links using one of the many URL shortening services like Bitly or Tiny URL prior to sending. This will make your mobile message much more likely to be read.

Now you are more ready than ever to take on mobile marketing in your next advertising campaign. Use these ideas and keep researching, as there are always new innovations happening in this field.