How "mobile" will change business in 2014

Mobile devices have steadily been changing civilization. Not only are people able to use mobile devices to stay in touch with family while traveling, they can use the same devices to update social networking sites, send emails, and watch movies. It’s important that business owners catch up with current MSOL students and understand how the same mobile devices, along with assorted apps, can change the way they do things in 2014.

Decrease the Number of Business Trips that Need to Be Taken

Business trips can be very time consuming and expensive. They also take a toll on your employees. Mobile devices and apps like Skype make it possible for you to have business meetings with clients who are located on the other side of the globe. The money you save can be reinvested in your company. When you or one of your employees does have to go on an extended business trip, mobile devices make it easy to stay in touch with the home offices.

More Efficient Marketing

It’s a good bet that a majority of your customers use a smart phone. The popularity of the smart phones makes it possible for them to access your marketing material immediately. Not only will your customers have immediate access to your marketing material, but they can easily pass on the information to people they’re close to.

As a business owner you need to make 2014 the year that you devote yourself to putting together the best mobile marketing plan possible. Your marketing campaign should include:

• User friendly apps that make it easy for your customers to access information about your business

• Stylish banner advertisements

• A website designed specifically for mobile devices

• QR codes

Get Immediate Feedback about Products and Marketing Programs

There used to be a large delay between the time you introduced a new product and when you were able to collect data from your customers. Thanks to mobile devices, this is a costly delay that can be avoided. When you start to launch a new product, you will be able to use mobile technology to let your customers know about the product and also invite them to share their opinions. This immediate feedback makes it possible for you to determine if you should order more of the item, or if you should try something else.

Many companies, including Panera, have found that they were able to use mobile devices and networking to quickly determine when an advertisement campaign offended a portion of their customer and were able to pull the promotional material before it did too much damage, something that was difficult to do before mobile devices.

Establish a Close Relationship with your Niche Market

If you’re not already an active member of social networking sites, you’re losing business. Social networking has become a huge part of people’s lives and has changed the way the average consumer thinks about the companies they do business with. They want to feel like they have a relationship with them.

Creating social networking accounts puts you in a position where you can connect directly with your customers and easily meet new members of your niche market. Many businesses have found that they can use the social networking sites to create fantastic and effective ad campaigns.

Eliminate Communication Problems

Communication problems can create all sorts of customer service headaches, but mobile devices should make inter-office communication problems a thing of the past. You and your employees can use your mobile device to:

• Confirm the availability of products

• Double check schedules

• Check on shipment products

• Quickly handle problems

• Eliminate untrue gossip from spreading

If you haven’t already made mobile devices a regular part of your professional life, now is a great time to start.