The holidays have come and gone and the New Year is upon us. Looking back on 2012, there is no question that "mobile" was a hot topic. While a lot went on in the mobile landscape throughout the year, all of which is certainly worth reviewing, there were a couple stats and studies that I thought were worth starting the year with here at Monday Morning Mobile.

Since my entre into the real estate space in 2008, social media has been going strong and apparently is just as strong as it has ever been. A new study released by NM Incite and Nielsen shows that consumers spend more time on social media than any other web category--roughly 20% of their time on PCs and 30% of their time on mobile. That's a 37% increase year-over-year in minutes spent engaging on social media channels overall; engagement on social mobile apps increased 76%.

Tagged: Mobile Technology Website Design Mobile Applications

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When you stop and think about it, it's amazing how fast the mobile space has changed over the past five years. Five years ago Blackberry was the predominant device on the market, while both the Android OS and iOS were both first being released.

By the end of 2012, mobile app revenues will pass the $30 billion mark. While this includes all platforms, it is primarily from the two most predominant players in the market, Google and Apple. This figure encompasses paid apps, free apps, all in-app purchases, subscriptions and in-app ad revenues. This is over double what revenues were for this sector last year.

In a recent survey of 150 US mobile marketing professionals, 86% indicated that they use their mobile marketing initiatives for new client acquisition, and 79% for awareness. This is very consistent with what we see in the real estate space, where many firms are using tools such as text message lead generation and Read more...

I have made the point over the past couple months that our mobile devices have taken over as the primary consumer search tool for most of us, and will take over for the rest of us in the near future. Yes, we all still have a desktop computer which we use for work to create documents, presentations, do research--the majority of our work related tasks. However, when the work day is done, we immediately switch to our mobile devices, smartphones and tablets, for all our consumer searching needs.

Why wouldn't we? It's far more convenient and comfortable to sit on our couch, recliner, or at our dining room table with our smartphone or tablet than it is to sit in those same places with our laptop. According to Nielsen, a recent study found that 85% of smartphone/tablet owners use their device while watching TV at least once a month and 40% of them do it daily. That's over the average of 34 hours per week Americans spent in front of the TV in early 2012.

Tagged: Mobile Technology Mobile Search

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Has making plans or, more importantly, keeping plans become a lost art? In today's mobile world where we can text, tweet, e-mail and call one another at the touch of a button, many feel that what was once social etiquette is falling by the wayside.

In a recent article in the New York Times, sry gotta bail mayb nxt tme, Caroline Tell explores this phenomenon of how people are now navigating their social lives in real time and either confirming or cancelling plans on the fly. She points out that not only are people using text and other mobile communications to cancel, but they cancel as close to the last minute as possible.

In addition, people are often making multiple sets of plans, all at the same time, and choosing which to attend based on how and where others are going and the surrounding circumstances of the evening. As Ashley Wick, founder of Wick & Co. put it, "Offline rules of etiquette no longer seem to apply ... people hide behind e-mail or text[...]

Tagged: Editorial Mobile Technology

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With the fourth quarter of 2012 in full swing and 2013 looming just around the corner, many businesses find themselves knee deep in business planning for the year to come. A big part of that conversation, regardless of what business you're in, is how to make sense of and subsequently harness the power of mobile technology.

It's not as simple as it may seem--even technology giants like Intel, Microsoft and Google are forced to rethink their business models to accommodate the shift towards mobile. Recently, all three released disappointing earnings reports which analysts credit, in large part, to the revenue from mobile devices.

Intel's chips for computers are far more profitable than those in mobile devices, but mobile device sales are increasing and PC sales are decreasing. Microsoft is in the same boat--as PC sales continue to decline, they have looked to introduce their own tablet to stay relevant.

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Tagged: Mobile Technology

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The recent release of the iPhone 5 and the fact that they have replaced Google Maps with their own proprietary mapping system has brought a lot of attention to just how important the "mapping" feature on mobile devices has become.

A recent report by comScore found that traffic to map websites on desktops has been steady now for quite a number of years, averaging between 95 to 100 million unique visitors during any month. This represents approximately 40 percent of the US population.

However, in the past six months, the number of smartphone visitors to map websites and apps has jumped 24 percent to 92 million unique visitors a month, representing 83 percent of the smartphone population which still has a ton of room for growth.

Tagged: Mobile Technology Mapping Mobile Applications Mobile Search

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Each time I attend a real estate event, it becomes more and more obvious that the mobile revolution is upon us and in full swing. While many have never questioned this for Generation Y, the jury was still out on Baby Boomers and Generation X.

However, last week I had the opportunity to attend the 2012 MLSLI Tech Fair and I was thoroughly impressed by the genuine interest in and excitement about the new mobile tools (phones and tablets) and the access to information they provide, by let's face it, an audience who is predominantly not Generation Y.

My father is perfect example of this demographic--a relatively recent smartphone adopter who didn't truly appreciate the power of his device until recently. After blowing his back out and quickly becoming bored with staring straight up at the ceiling, he found solace in downloading Netflix and HBO GO apps, and being able to stream movies and TV shows to take his mind off the pain. This is a good unintended consequence of[...]

Tagged: Mobile Technology

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As we all know, technology giant Apple recently released the new iPhone 5 which hit stores a little over a week ago. Now, I don't necessarily consider myself an "Apple guy"--although I do love both my iPhone and my iPad and have learned to look past their limitations--but have to admit I was disappointed by the release of the iPhone 5. I feel it lacked the "wow factor" I have come to expect from Apple product releases.

That being the case, the following is a personal account of a five day period starting Monday, September 24th and ending Friday, September 28th.

Feeling unexcited about the release of the iPhone 5 and its lack of new features, most notably NFC (near field communication) technology, I began researching other devices on the market. I had seen a number of commercials over the weekend for the Samsung Galaxy S-III. The ads highlighted many of the features missing on the iPhone, which were--conveniently--present in the Samsung device. I was impressed. The more I read about the S-III, the more intriguing it became to me not only for the mobile features, but for[...]

Tagged: User Story Tech Products Mobile Technology Mobile Applications

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What do home buyers and retail consumers have in common? They probably have quite a bit in common, however, if they have similar mobile searching behavior that's good news for the real estate industry!

Recent Google research projects found that 80% of searches on smartphones are spontaneous, and nearly half are goal-oriented. It goes on to explain that often, those goals are purchases and evidence of mobile's role as a bridge from the digital world to the physical one.

The example best given of this as it relates to retail consumers is a Google search via their mobile device for a product that results in a consumer entering a physical store location and purchasing a product. The best example of this as it relates to real estate consumers is the couple who's visiting friends in a different neighborhood and wants to see what's for sale. They perform a Google search via their mobile device for a real estate firm and use that company's mobile website to access properties nearest to them that they could see immediately.

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Tagged: Mobile Search

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Last week I had the good fortune to attend RISMedia's Real Estate CEO Exchange and, as always, their team led by John Featherston put together an absolutely phenomenal event! From start to finish, the day-and-a-half agenda kept all those in attendance fully engaged, offering countless insights and takeaways from industry leaders.

Among the many great sessions, one in particular left the biggest impression, as it relates to today's mobile technology, which we focus on here at Monday Morning Mobile. John Lim, President and CEO of Mobile Real Estate ID, LLC, fresh off a twenty city Google "Adsense in Your City" tour, shared the details and corresponding opportunities that are being created for brokers right now due to changes taking place with Google mobile.

Google, who essentially controls the consumer search experience, has made a major change in the way in which search results are presented on your desktop compared to[...]

Tagged: Internet Mobile Technology Strategic Planning Website Design Mobile Search

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The smartphone market continues to reach milestones both here and abroad. As of March 2012, over 50% of all US mobile subscribers own a smartphone, according to Nielsen. Now, a new report published by HIS indicates that global smartphone adoption will reach 54% by the end of 2013, two years faster than previous projections.

Knowing this, and operating under the premise that smartphone penetration will only continue to grow exponentially due to low-cost handsets and increased demand, it begs the question--who's smarter: us or our phones?

What I'm getting at is that it's no secret that mobile, in particular smartphone adoption, is not just a trend but the direction in which society is moving for its access to information. Having these facts at our disposal should allow us to come to the conclusion that it is more important than ever to transition our brand to one in which mobile consumers can interact with.

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Tagged: Mobile Technology Mobile Search

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As real estate broker in today’s market technology can present both great challenges and opportunities.  One of the biggest opportunities available for brokers today is the ability to leverage their digital assets.  As consumers adopt more and more technology the digital assets of the broker and the access to them will only increase.  Amongst other things, brokers have a unique opportunity to own their Mobile Ads.

In 2011, according to comScore, Smartphone adoption grew more than 50% and mobile users who consumed mobile media grew by 30%.  Mobile technology has never been more prevalent within the real estate market than it is today, in fact just last week Realtor.com announced an agent offering for their app.  Brokers know they need this technology, but the challenge is what the right technology mix and how can I afford it?

In conjunction with the rise in mobile use there is and will continue to be a rise in the amount of money spent on mobile advertising.  A study by research firm Yankee Group estimates that mobile ad revenue will soar three and half times to nearly $11 billion by 2016.  As a broker[...]

Tagged: Mobile Technology

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In any mobile initiative, the adjustment to the instant, direct nature of a mobile user is a key determinant in the success or failure of the campaign. While these behavioral factors need to be included into every aspect of the mobile mix, it is most important to execute them in the first destination for users--the mobile landing page.

As the first entry point to the brand, product, and information, the mobile landing page is equivalent to a billboard, magazine spread, or powerful TV spot--except it also carries the capability for an interactive experience after the initial view.

Jason Wells, CEO of ContactPoint, recently outlined "6 steps to mobile landing page optimization," which include brief tips to enhance the potential of your landing page to garner further brand and product participation. All six steps can be applied to mobile in general, but three steps have even more direct correlations to the real estate industry, and individual mobile property pages.

1. Simplify your call to action

While the[...]

Tagged: Advice Mobile Technology Website Design

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Once upon a time, a single media campaign was distributed to the general public through mail, catalogs, and other forms of mass marketing. As consumer information became more accessible, companies began to re-align their marketing focus and budget to accomplish the ultimate goal of reaching the right audience, at the right time and place. As technology progressed, many of these scatter-bomb campaigns evolved into finely tuned messages that could reach an incredibly focused group of consumers.

Mobile marketing has progressed the definition of direct marketing at an unprecedented pace allowing companies to harness all that the technology has to offer. Jewelry retailer Pandora already has an established, comprehensive mobile presence, implementing campaigns that show they understand and that allow them to push the limit on how direct their marketing can be.

Tagged: Mobile Technology Advertising Lead Generation Online Marketing

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Whatever your political views may be, one thing is for sure--the most mobile of the candidates in this year's upcoming election will certainly have the upper hand in mobilizing (pun intended) the Generation Y vote. Those born in the late 70s through the early 80s are the epitome of the mobile consumer, predominantly mobile-only households that rely on their mobile device as the primary means of communication and access to information.

Last week, President Obama, who in his previous campaign leveraged text message marketing and mobile web to reach voters, has taken his mobile efforts a step further with the release of a new iPhone App. The 'Obama 2012 iPhone App' is designed to engage potential voters with a slew of features that allow him to ultimately promote his message constantly and directly to those who download it for the remainder of the campaign.

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Tagged: Mobile Technology Mobile Applications

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Taking in nourishment, as we all know, is one of the few things humans MUST do to stay alive. However, how we obtain our nourishment is changing rapidly these days and it will probably come as no surprise that it, as with many things these days, is going mobile quickly.

While it seems that daily goods and services are turning to mobile to accommodate the overwhelming consumer demand to have everything at their fingertips, there are seemingly many ways in which this is also happening in the food industry. Mobile is impacting the way we shop for groceries, both on and off premise. In New York City and many other metropolitan areas around the country, the food truck culture is growing rapidly. Mobile restaurants are serving a variety of fare that you can locate based on day/time through apps on your Smartphone, such as Facebook and Read more...

Could cash soon be a thing of the past? Jack Dorsey, CEO of Square and Twitter's co-founder, would have you believe that cash will soon go the way of the dodo. You probably know Square from its first huge success in mobile commerce; it's the white plastic credit card reader that plugs into a Smartphone, which has enabled some 2 million small cash-based merchants to accept credit cards. However, as it relates to the future of mobile commerce, that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Square's newly introduced 'Pay With Square' and 'Square Register' apps are transforming purchase experiences as we speak. Your phone, with minor programming from you to allow your mobile wallet to interact with the predetermined merchant, handles the complete transaction with merchant's tablet. This eliminates the need for a cash or credit card transaction altogether. A buzz from your phone indicates that the transaction has been completed and you can walk out with your purchase. Unfortunately this utopia is currently limited to Apple iOS[...]

Tagged: Mobile Technology Mobile Applications

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Mobile, of course! It is what we want, when we want it, in the most direct way possible.

Have you ever recorded a sporting event in anticipation of watching it later, only to have it ruined by receiving the outcome unintentionally via text or social media? Whether we like it or not, mobile technology allows us to constantly interact and receive information.

Consumers have adopted this technology by accessing information about real time events via their mobile phones, never missing a beat on the score of a game, results of an awards show, or breaking news. According to Flash Networks, mobile internet traffic to sports-related sites increased by 215 percent in Europe and 156 percent in the Asia-Pacific during the Euro 2012 Football Tournament. The study also showed that there was a 210 percent increase in streaming of live sport coverage across Europe during the final day of the tournament. Sports fans are just one of the many demographics that have shifted their consumption[...]

Tagged: Advice Mobile Technology Mobile Search

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Those who say, "Mobile is the future," clearly haven't stopped to look around lately. Mobile is the epitome of present day culture and while it's only going to continue to grow, the foundation has been laid. Think back just a few short years ago when Blackberry ruled the roost; today they struggle to remain relevant. The way we search, are "social," and now shop have all been impacted enormously by our ability to be mobile.

Online marketing and technology company, Monetate, analyzed over 100 million online shopping experiences and reported that tablet traffic to commerce sites grew by 348% from the year prior while smartphone visits increased by only 117% (no small growth, either). Tablets seem to make the ideal online shopping device. Their larger screen size combined with their mobility allow you to easily thumb through your favorite stores, search for real estate or order groceries while sitting outside or on your couch where you can be more comfortable than sitting at your desk with your desktop.

Tagged: Mobile Technology Mobile Applications Mobile Search

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If the 331 million mobile users in the U.S. alone were not reason enough for you to go mobile with your website and brand, this next reason might just be the motivating factor you need to take action. Google has announced their smartphone Googlebot-Mobile. What is this, you ask? Googlebot-Mobile is what will crawl the internet, acting as a smartphone in order to increase coverage of smartphone related content to provide a better search experience for smartphone users.

Yes, mobile SEO is here. This means that for mobile search, you will rank higher if you are serving content optimized to be browsed on smartphones along with smartphone specific redirects. In addition, if your mobile strategy is designed to detect the specific type of device that is accessing your content (feature/non-smartphone) and serve a different experience based on the device type, this will also be taken into account by Google when they index your content.

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Tagged: SEO Website Design Mobile Search

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