September 8th, 2011 
dblogger The world of business marketing is constantly evolving to produce newer and more effective methods of promoting a business. Proximity marketing, or better known as bluetooth marketing, is just the latest method to break into the scene. Some are already claiming that bluetooth marketing represents the future of marketing and that any business who wants to succeed should join the bandwagon. But, should you? And what are the things you need to know about this marketing method before you decide to employ it on your own business?
Bluetooth marketing is also known as proximity marketing because it utilizes wireless technology to send data from one mobile device to another, provided that they are within the defined radius. This data is a form of promotional content intended to community various forms of marketing campaign to the intended audience within close proximity to the company. There are a number of digital files now being transferred from one mobile device to another, such as photos, videos, texts, or vouchers. It can be used in an indoor or outdoor setting for a number of business applications.
The Bluetooth technology isn’t entirely new as it has been around since 1994. It was developed by Ericsson to make it easier to share files between mobile phones without requiring the use of accessories, such as cables. As of now, it remains unclear how additional radius reach for the device will be able to offer additional benefits, but many are looking at it as an alternative to promoting a business because of its flexibility and low-cost operation.
Before you decide to employ bluetooth marketing for your business, it is best to educate yourself first on what are its advantages and disadvantages (if any). There are several advantages over SMS campaign that are evident right off the bat. For instance, you do not have to know the recipient’s phone number and there are no per-message charges that make it a really low cost solution to marketing. It is also easy to set up and the only thing you have to determine is the radius wherein you can target recipients to your campaign. And because it is located close to your company, it will be easier for a customer to come in and experience the product first-hand during trade shows. This aspect of bluetooth marketing therefore makes it better than other promotional methods because a text or banner can only say so much.
Due to the low-cost and flexible approach to the marketing campaign, many business owners also fear that this method will be used liberally. In fact, a term “Bluespam” has been coined to refer to the possibility of a limitless stream of advertising messages or digital files to recipients. However, responsible marketers must refrain from sending users with an overwhelming amount of messages. If you are using a bluetooth server, then make sure to set it up in such a way that it will send an acceptable amount of messages over a specific span of time.
Bluetooth marketing is also not applicable to all types of business models. If your prospects are limited in number and a marketing campaign that is location-specific, then you could really benefit from this marketing method. It is also recommended that you monitor the progress of your Bluetooth marketing campaign so you can determine how to attract more clients and boost sales.
However, you cannot depend on Bluetooth marketing as your main marketing platform. You can think about integrating it with other media marketing campaign to appeal to a wider range of audience. If you think that your business can benefit from any of the above marketing approaches, then you should consider evaluating this marketing method and see how you can incorporate it into your existing marketing campaign.
Popularity: 10% [?]
