If your business hasn’t included mobile marketing within its advertising budget, then this might change your mind: the 2010 holiday season is set to be the most profitable one ever for businesses who harness the power of text message advertising.  And thanks to the skyrocketing popularity of smartphones and other Internet-friendly mobile technologies, marketing experts are predicting that much of the holiday shopping will be done via mobile phone.

According to ABI Research practice director Neil Strother, companies would be wise to invest in mobile marketing: “Brands and marketers that do not include mobile in their marketing plans this year will miss out on a growing number of consumers who will be considering products via their mobile devices, especially those with advanced smartphones who search and browse products and brands.”

Text message marketing has already established itself as a dominant player in the marketing arena with higher opt-in rates and greater opportunities to reach out and form one-on-one customer relationships.   As an example of text messaging advertising’s many successes, Mobile Marketing Association recently highlighted a mobile promotion campaign launched by Wiley Publishing, in which the “For Dummies” publisher saw an unheard-of 34% opt-in rate.

With results like that, it’s no wonder that many companies are investing significantly into mobile marketing for the holiday season.

So how can your company harness the power of text message advertising in time for the holiday rush?

  • Lead up to the holiday season by starting your mobile promotion campaign in the early autumn months.  The more brand awareness your business has during these crucial months, the more likely it’ll be transformed into sales by December.
  • Invest a realistic amount of your marketing budget towards mobile marketing.  While text message advertising is less costly than many traditional advertising options, a strong mobile campaign will need to take place over the course of three months.  That means you need to allocate the resources to maintain that program long-term.
  • Offer incentives and discounts for the consumers who opt in to your text messages. Most people this holiday season will be on the lookout for a great bargain – and if your texts deliver on your promise, your holiday opt-in rates will skyrocket.

By engaging with your consumers on a one-on-one interface with relevant, real-time deals and discounts, mobile marketing will make this holiday season your best one yet!