Skip to main content

The mobile revolution is not about technology

The truth is, we live in a permanent technological revolution. Remember when you didn’t have a cell phone because no one did. Granted some of you may be too young to remember that – but the majority of readers are not. That’s a pretty short window. We’ve gone from not knowing what a mobile phone was to 91% of adults have a mobile device within arm’s reach 24/7 in less than 25 years.
And if anything, things are just moving faster than ever, which means we’d better buckle in because we’re on a never-ending roller coaster.
Consider these additional facts:
  • 95% of all text messages are read and read within 90 seconds of receipt
  • 65% of all email is opened on a mobile device versus a desktop or laptop
  • Mobile is now the first screen worldwide – eclipsing screen time on both PCs and TVs
  • There are more mobile devices on the planet than there are people
Mobile has become THE place for media consumption. It’s where people connect on social media, it’s where they watch videos, read, search for where they should eat dinner and, based on their apps – renew their prescriptions, pay for coffee with a quick scan or board a plane. And that’s child’s play compared to what is coming next.
But the important thing for us to recognize from a marketing point of view has nothing to do with the devices. The real mobile revolution is about our behaviors and choices, not the device of the day.
This technology has changed how consumers behave. They are less patient, more demanding, have higher expectations and a lower tolerance for any sort of delay, disappointment or lack of options.
Forget Millennials or baby boomers. We’ve become the IWWIWWIWI culture.
The “I want what I want when I want it” attitude is evident in how we consume today. Wait for a TV show to actually be on TV? Forget it. I’ll watch what I want, when I want and I will binge watch as many episodes as I want on whichever device I want. Wait a week for you to get something in stock? I don’t think so. I’ll just order it on Amazon and I’ll have it tomorrow.
A global survey asked respondents to assign a value to their smart phone and the average consumer came up with an implied value of $6,000. Which makes perfect sense, given how we’ve come to rely on the super computers we carry in our pockets every day.
Those are the consumers we’re trying to reach and sell to every day. How should we be taking advantage of this mobile revolution to win the loyalty and buying dollars of these consumers?
As marketers, we can and should be using mobile to:
  • Deliver time sensitive content to audiences
  • Reach out to audiences with location specific information and offers
  • Solve problems for key audiences at the exact moment/location they need it
  • Create community around a passion or cause or shared need/experience
  • Develop a deeper, more meaningful experience or connection
  • Accomplish tasks in a faster, easier and better way
One of the realities of this new world is that what used to be unattainable for the average small to mid-sized business is now well within your reach, both in terms of access to the technology and affordability.
by  on August 9, 2017

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Hurricane Knocked The Power Out? New Orleans Firemen’s FCU Is Ready.

  Hurricane Knocked The Power Out? New Orleans Firemen’s FCU Is Ready. The next big storm in the Gulf isn’t an “if,” it’s a “when,” but the small Gulf-area credit union has a plan to help the community get back on its feet when the time comes. Aaron Passman This article is part of Callahan & Associates’ “ CDFI Grants In Action ,” a limited editorial series that showcases how credit unions leverage CDFI funding to advance their mission and deliver measurable impact for members. To learn how CDFI certification can change lives and unlock opportunities at your credit union, visit  CU Strategic Planning , A Callahan Company. When hurricanes rip through the Gulf, they leave behind disrupted lives and disconnected communities. In those moments, access matters as much as empathy. When disaster strikes,  The New Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union   ($275.0M, Metarie, LA) is ready to roll with a mobile branch that brings back banking to the front line of recovery. The...

Sunday Reading - Lake Manly Returns

  Lake Manly Returns   An ancient lake has  reemerged in California's Death Valley National Park following record rainfall this year.  Between 128,000 and 186,000 years ago, meltwater from ice covering the Sierra Nevada fed rivers that emptied into Badwater Basin, North America’s lowest point at 282 feet below sea level. The steady flow sustained Lake Manly, nearly 100 miles long and roughly 600 feet deep. The lake disappeared as Death Valley evolved into the driest place in North America , with some areas receiving under two inches of rain annually. This year, however, the park received 2.41 inches between September and November, marking its wettest autumn on record and triggering the temporary return of a shorter, shallower Lake Manly.  Above-average rainfall periodically brings Lake Manly back, including in 2023 when Hurricane Hilary dumped 2.2 inches of rain on a single August day, allowing visi...

The US Senate makes major step towards recognizing firefighter cancers as line‑of‑duty deaths

   18 Dec 2025 The US Senate makes major step towards recognizing firefighter cancers as line‑of‑duty deaths en Fire Fighter´s Advocacy   Firefighter Cancer   Firefighter Unions   Firefighter's Health   Line of Duty Deaths The US senate  has passed the   Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act , recognizing firefighter occupational cancers as line‑of‑duty deaths and extending federal benefits to families. This marks a shift in U.S. policy towards aligning with decades of advocacy by firefighter unions and survivors. According to a statement on IAFF.org,  the passing of the Act in the Senate is a "major step forward for the thousands of survivors who have been denied PSOB benefits after losing their loved one to cancer...  It now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration." According to IAFF.org, the Honor Act has strong bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. A companion bill in the House ( H.R. 1269 ) currently has 152...

Happy Holidays To All Who Serve

  Happy Holidays To All Who Serve 12/22/2025 10:28 am   By Grant Sheehan and Anthony Hernandez Every year, many Americans celebrate the joy of family and relief from work the holidays bring. Apart from the hustle and bustle, the holiday season is a special time to be with loved ones, engaging in family traditions and rituals, and making memories that will last a lifetime. However, not everyone gets to partake in the holiday gatherings.   There are over a hundred thousand military members serving in harm’s way or in 24-hour command center...

Sunday Reading - The gold standard, explained

  Gold Standard       The gold standard, explained A gold standard is a system where a country’s currency is pegged to, and can be converted into, a fixed amount of gold. It’s typically meant to create a sense of security in the country’s currency: When a government uses a gold standard , its currency can be exchanged for an equivalent amount of gold—although regulations around redemption vary by country.   After the Civil War, in 1873, America adopted the gold standard for the first time. At the time, if gold was priced at $100 an ounce, each dollar  rep...

Syracuse Fire Department Credit Union

Remember, you're not alone with  NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: First Responder Credit Union Academy Financial Literacy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Blog Job Board

Dolphin Debit & Customized Service Concepts Partner to Expand ATM Options

HOUSTON– Dolphin Debit , a provider of ATM management services, said it is partnering with Customized Service Concepts (CSC), an ATM sales and service provider in New England, to offer financial institutions in the region a complete range of ATM options. Gary Walston The two companies said the advantages the partnership bring to clients are numerous, including the ability to meet any ATM need. Dolphin Debit can provide its ATM outsourcing solutions for CSC clients, allowing credit unions to break free of the burdens of ATM fleet management and maintenance, while CSC expert technicians will provide the service for the joint Dolphin-CSC clients, the organizations said. Customized Service Concepts, LLC, with offices in Durham, Conn., and Goffstown, N.H., has served financial institutions in New England for more than 30 years. CSC provides ATM/ITM solutions as well as a broad product range that inclu...

Buy Now, Pay Later Keeps Gaining Ground: New Study Shows Growth Surge

03/10/2025 06:31 pm Share         TROY, Mich.— A new study reveals the appeal of buy now, pay later is not waning, as the service saw significant growth last year. The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Buy Now Pay Later Satisfaction Study shows BNPL enjoyed continued, significant growth in the number of consumers using the product year over year, with the highest usage among consumers from Generations Y and Z, and the highest growth period during the holidays. “The BNPL segment has undoubtedly grown in popularity, with more customers using these services than ever before,” said Sean Gelles, senior director of banking and payments at J.D. Power. “That’s been especially true around seasonal periods of higher spending, such as the holidays. Card-based BNPL products continue to lead the charge on satisfaction, as issuers are leveraging their existing brand awareness and equity to retain would-be defectors.” Following are some of the key findings of the 2025 study: Gene...

Sunday reading - What's the story behind Thanksgiving?

What's the story behind Thanksgiving? While European settlers in North America had long observed days of thanks, prayer, and reflection, the “ first Thanksgiving ” most often refers to a 1621 meal between the Pilgrims and the native Wampanoag people.   In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared a national Thanksgiving Day on the final Thursday of November to be celebrated each year. A large meal shared with loved ones is the centerpiece of most Thanksgiving celebrations, where the average gathering size is seven and most people consume 3,150-4,500 calories .   What began as a neighborly meal to celebrate a successful harvest has transformed into an annual economic and cultural powerhouse: The day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for air travel as Americans prepare to eat upward of 40 million turkeys  and 80 million pounds of cranberries. ... Read what else we  learned about the holiday here . ...

Web3 Terms Every Professional Should Know

 Jose Triana SideCar For most people, Web3 is an often confused and hard-to-imagine future version of our world complete with its own financial systems and virtual realities we’ll use to interact. And while many of these new technologies sound exciting, a polished and functional version of them is still a ways away.  However, many of the tools and systems that will be used in the future are already being experimented with and are quickly making their way into the association and non-profit industry.  This is why having a basic knowledge of Web3 terms and concepts is key to not only understanding the possibilities for your organization, but also the future implications you need to prepare for as an association leader.  Understanding Web3 At its most basic, however, Web3 is a future iteration of the internet that will be secured by blockchain technology, likely immersive and decentralized, and using alternative finances to keep things moving.  ...