Mobile devices have become a major tool for communication. Globally there are over 4 billion mobile phones in use, with 1.08 billion of those being smartphones.

Mobile phones have countless uses ranging from communicating with others, searching the internet, purchasing goods and services, playing games, reading books, updating and checking social media profiles, playing music and much, much more.

With mobile now so ingrained in our day-to-day life it’s vital for PR professionals and businesses to consider how mobile fits into their PR and communication strategies.

By becoming mobile savvy now, you can get ahead of the businesses that have not yet realised the power of mobile or figured out how to use it effectively.

Here are some tips for PR professionals and businesses to make the most of mobile for communication.

Have a mobile friendly website
When using a mobile device to view a website it can be quite frustrating if the page takes a long time to load or doesn’t display correctly on the screen. Many people will then click away from the website and search for a more accessible website from another business.

It’s then important to create a mobile version of your website to communicate effectively with customers searching for information on their mobile.

If you don’t have the budget to create a mobile version of your website there are some things you can do to make your existing website more mobile friendly. This includes cutting down the amount of text you have on your website and breaking up large chunks of text into paragraphs and subheadings.

You should also avoid using large pictures or flash because they may have trouble loading on a mobile device. Think about how your website will be displayed on a mobile screen and make adjustments to where the most important content is placed.

Use Google maps
How many times have you been out-and-about and used the internet or Google Maps on your mobile phone to find the nearest restaurant, place or business?

Research by Hubspot has found over half of local searches are performed on mobile devices. This means many people are using their mobile phone to search for business information in their local area.

Your business can take advantage of this trend by making sure you have an up-to-date listing on Google Maps/Google Local.

On Google Local you can add information to your listing such as a description about your business, photos, your logo, website URL and opening and closing times. Make sure your content correctly describes your business to drive potential customers to your website or business.

SMS
SMS is an extremely direct tool for communication as most people will read a new text message within four minutes of receiving it. This is a great way to communicate an important message quickly to your audience.

However, there are some things you need to consider before sending out a mass SMS. For example, how will you obtain customer’s phone numbers and how much will it cost?

If you use SMS as a communication tool you need to be careful not to annoy your customers by sending them irrelevant information, sending them too many messages or by not asking them to subscribe.

In every SMS you need to ensure you tell customers how to unsubscribe from your list otherwise your customers may become annoyed with the business.

QR code for more information
Another great way to take advantage of mobile phones for PR is to use QR codes on your marketing materials.

A QR code stands for quick response code and is a type of barcode which you can scan, using a barcode reader app on a mobile phone to gain access to more information. This information may be an invitation to download an app, a link to a video, an SMS message or a website.

By including QR codes on your marketing materials such as flyers, business cards, posters, books and reports, you can direct your customers to more information.

When you create a QR code you also have the ability to track information about the number of times it was scanned and what devices it was scanned on. This will help you to measure the effectiveness of your communication.

Social media
Research has shown over one-third of Facebook users access the platform on their mobile device.

When posting on social media it’s then important to consider how customers will be viewing your content on their mobile. This involves making sure any link you post goes back to a mobile friendly website. Pictures should be small so they don’t take too long to load. You should also add captions to all your photos so customers know it was posted by your business.

Pitching to a journalist via email
Journalists may often be out in the field interviewing people or chasing down a story. This means they may be accessing their emails via a mobile device. You should then think about how you can craft your email to suit mobile and still attract their attention.

This may involve not writing too much and breaking up text into paragraphs. Not including links or images that won’t display properly on mobile. You could even include a link to a mobile-friendly website with more information.

Mobile technology is continuing to advance with new features and apps created every day. Don’t get left behind and miss out on the great opportunity to communicate with your target audience via mobile.

How do you use mobile in your PR strategy?

Sydney Public Relations Agency, CP Communications provides specialist media, traditional and online PR strategies that get amazing results. Contact us today. For more PR tips see www.PublicRelationsSydney.com.au.