Sponsormob, der deutsche Anbieter für mobile Werbelösungen, bietet nun in Zusammenarbeit mit RingRevenue, dem führenden Anbieter für Anruf-Performance in den USA, mobiles Click-to-Call für Werbetreibende an. Nachdem potentielle Kunden hierzulande seit Dezember 2011 die Möglichkeit haben, Werbeanbieter direkt über einen Klick mit einem Anruf über ihr Mobiltelefon zu erreichen, bietet Sponsormob diese Möglichkeit nun auch auf dem amerikanischen Markt an. Von diesem Angebot kann jedes Unternehmen profitieren, das mit Inbound-Anrufen arbeitet. Durch kampagnenspezifische Telefonnummern können Anrufe in Echtzeit getrackt werden und geben detailliert Aufschluss darüber, welche Werbung erfolgreich ist und zu Anrufen führt.

Click-to-Call-Werbung ist gerade für mobile Werbung ideal, da durch Inbound-Anrufe der Konsumenten höhere Konversionsraten erzielt werden. Interessierte Nutzer, die auf den Click-Button eines Banners oder einer Landing-Page klicken, werden automatisch mit einem Callcenter verbunden. Die Kombination aus dem Interesse, das dem Telefonanruf vorausgeht, und dem Gespräch mit einer realen Verkaufsperson, führt zu einer durchschnittlichen Konversionsrate von 30-50%, verglichen mit 1-3% bei einem Klick. Zudem zahlen Werbetreibende, dank des performance-basierten Geschäftsmodell von Sponsormob, nur für die Anrufe, die ihre Kriterien erfüllen. Das führt zu optimierten Werbekosten  und zu besseren Erträgen.

„Sponsormob ist ein kompetenter Partner auf dem Gebiet der mobilen und performance-basierten Werbung. Für diesen Mobile-Sektor prognostiziert Forrester Research ein jährliches Wachstum von 38% in den nächsten 5 Jahren. Das zeigt deutlich, dass Werbetreibende in Zukunft große Teile ihres Budgets nutzen werden, um diesen Werbekanal zu monetarisieren“, sagt Jason Spievak, CEO bei RingRevenue. „Einen Anruf zu tätigen ist eine der natürlichsten Handlungen, die ein Nutzer auf seinem Mobiltelefon ausführt. Anrufe haben sich außerdem als einer der effektivsten Wege erwiesen, mobile Werbung zu monetarisieren – insbesondere im Dienstleistersektor.“ Es hat sich gezeigt, dass besonders Unternehmen in der Service-Branche erfolgreich mit mobilem Click-to-Call arbeiten. Dies umfasst Bank-und Finanzdienstleistungen, Rechtsberatung, Versicherungen und Bildungsangebote.

In RingRevenue, als erfahrener und führender Anbieter von performance-basierter Anruf-Werbung, hat Sponsormob den idealen Partner für den Launch dieses neuen Angebotes gefunden. Über die Kooperation und die neuen Click-to-Call-Angebote sagt Jet Patel, COO bei Sponsormob: „Wir freuen uns, dass wir RingRevenue für diese Zusammenarbeit gewinnen konnten und unseren Advertisern auf dem US-Markt so die besten Möglichkeiten bieten können, Nutzer mobil zu erreichen. Das mobile Internet ist ein, sich rasant veränderndes Feld und gerade Click-to-Call bietet hier großes Potential.

Sowohl Sponsormob, als auch RingRevenue werden an der diesjährigen LeadsCon in Las Vegas, eines der wichtigsten Events für die Generierung von online-Leads, vom 28. bis zum 29. Februar teilnehmen. Vertreter beider Unternehmen werden auf der Konferenz und der Ausstellung anzutreffen sein, um mobiles Click-to-Call und Anruf-basierte Werbemöglichkeiten zu besprechen. Sie finden Sponsormob am Stand Nr. T-17 in der Messehalle der LeadsCon.

It is no secret that the mobile internet is growing in regions all around the world at a pretty amazing rate. But sometimes it’s interesting to see numbers that show us just how massive mobile advertising is becoming, especially when compared to other forms of advertising. Recent studies on mobile advertising spend show that mobile marketing is on its way to take over traditional online spend and possibly even TV ad spend.

A report published by Flurry shows that in-app mobile advertising inventory is set to take over the entire online display ad spend by the end of 2011 (MobileMarketingWatch). According to the article by Mobile Marketing Watch, over 600 thousand apps are available worldwide for more than 350 million Android and iOS devices. The average number of apps per user turns out to be roughly sixty-five, and the number of ads per app-session were shown to be right around 4.3,  according to the apps tracked in the study.

Not only is the mobile internet swamping online ad spend, but it is catching up with  TV advertising as well. Just to clarify, mobile advertising alone isn’t taking over television ad spend – at least, not yet. However, interactive marketing (including online and mobile display advertising) is set to surpass TV marketing spend in the United States within the next five years, according to Forrester Research (Business2Community.com). The same study by Forrester Research also shows that mobile paid advertising and search will continue to skyrocket and are even expected to surpass email advertising as well as social ads this year, which proves what we have been seeing – expansive growth in mobile across all sectors. Companies who have not yet started advertising on the mobile internet should consider doing so in 2012, as the industry will only continue to grow.

An interesting quote in Millenial Media’s Q2 SMART Report caught my eye recently. In it, Paul Gelb of marketing agency Razorfish, says:

“Mobile is the first truly mass media. There are over three times the number of mobile subscribers as there are TV subscribers. Globally, it’s the most adopted technology and media channel in history. The engagement rates are higher. And inventory, thanks to a 24-hour access to users, is unmatched.”

Whether he is actually right about mobile being the first true form of “mass media” is debatable, but he makes a very good point. Mobile has brought more media engagement with it than ever before, and with the seemingly endless growth of the mobile web which we talk about frequently, this interaction is certain to grow. He is also right about the inventory on the mobile web. And apparently, as display ad spend is set to surpass that of TV ad spend, he may really be on to something.

If nothing else, the fact that mobile may be the first real form of mass media is food for thought. We would love to hear your opinions. Is mobile truly the first form of mass media?

According to Mobile Commerce Daily, almost half of mobile users make at least one purchase a month via their mobile devices. Among those who do the shopping on their mobile phones, according to the study cited, nearly 20% make between two and five purchases a month. Of the remaining mobile shoppers, 16% shop with their mobile device over ten times a month, while 8% will make a purchase with their mobile between six and ten times a month.

So what do these numbers tell us? Well, for starters this is proof that making purchases via mobile devices is actually happening now. There is no longer the speculation whether or not users will one day make purchases via their mobile phone … And as mobile usage grows, so too will the amount of shopping being done across the mobile channel. Furthermore, these findings are proof that regardless of how long it takes until mobile payment services are perfected, people will shop vial their mobile phones  in the meantime.

To find out a little more about what people are buying with their mobiles, check out our earlier post on mobile shopping.

Over the last several months, we have discussed mobile web growth in a variety of regions (Germany, the Middle East, Asia) and touched on the growth of the industry in general by looking at Millennial Media’s S.M.A.R.T. report from Q1 of this year. Today I’d like to go back to a more general discussion on the growth of the mobile industry, because it continues to grow and thrive, even in an economic climate where many other industries are still struggling.

Everyone knows that numbers don’t lie, and there are plenty of numbers that show us that the mobile internet, which has been growing steadily for some time, will continue to expand over the upcoming months and years. The growing numbers of mobile usage and spend are shown to us time and again by research groups, large online companies, as well as other networks. A recent Mobile Marketing Watch article reports on Juniper Research’s study on mobile growth, showing, among other things, that revenues of global mobile networks operators will reach $1 trillion by 2016.

Other reports show similar findings – that is, of an industry that will continue to grow over the next few years. Mobile Marketer’s State of Mobile Advertising 2011, which has also just been released, further proves the growth trend in mobile and reveals some interesting facts about mobile device users. For instance, their findings report that roughly a quarter (26.6%) of US households rely solely on mobile phones, not landlines, for communication purposes. And of these users, around 63 million own a Smartphone, and over a third of these Smartphone users access the internet via their mobile devices.

Additionally, Mobile Marketer’s report reveals that advertisers will be spending a lot more cash on mobile advertising in the future. In the U.S. the mobile advertising spend for last year (2010) was around $7.4 million and is expected to be close to $2.5 billion by 2014. Spending for ads delivered via mobile apps in the U.S. will show similar growth patterns, increasing from $305 million in 2010 to over $1 billion by 2015.

Looking at this information, it is safe to say that we are in a field that will not be slowing down any time soon. Opportunities in mobile are endless, and we as a company are excited to be a part of it all.

The health industry appears to be quickly advancing their activity in the mobile internet. From what we are seeing, this includes traditional healthcare, health insurance providers, personal health tools, and even non-traditional healthcare companies. And apps seem to be playing the biggest role in the mobile health industry.

According to mHealth, mobile phones may actually help keep high blood pressure under control (MobileMarketingWatch). In a recent study, patients with high blood pressure were given mobile phones with remote blood pressure monitoring technology, and the result was that blood pressure was kept in check better with these patients than for those who were simply given a home blood pressure monitor. The mobile phones had a telemonitoring component which relayed changes to the patient’s physicians, allowing them to be alerted to critical changes. Knowing that changes in pressure were being sent to their doctors kept the patients more accountable than those who simply had a home monitoring system in which they had to report changes to their doctors on their own. In addition to blood pressure monitoring, apps are being used for stroke diagnosis as well, so it is extremely likely that the clinical use of apps will continue to rise (MobileMarketingWatch).

In addition to clinical uses of apps, the mobile web is also being used to help consumers make better medical decisions by being more informed via the web and apps. One example is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, an American health insurance provider. After making its mobile optimized site available to members and non-members, Blue Cross Blue Shield developed apps for iPhone and Android. With their apps, users can be sent weather and health-related alerts, including pollen and UV levels – all of which can help allergy and asthma sufferers to be informed and plan their day and activities accordingly (Mobile Marketer).

As we see the mobile web develop, we will likely be hearing more about ways the mobile internet and apps can keep you healthier …

Although the event is still going on today, I spent yesterday at the first day of the exhibition at Buzzness Mobile in Paris to explore the event and broaden Sponsormob’s reach in the French market. The event itself was somewhat small in comparison to other events we attend, but it was still worthwhile, as I was able to make some new acquaintances with companies based or operating in Paris. Ad agencies, app developers, mobile solution providers, and other companies were present at the exhibition, ranging from French start-ups (such as ellefan, a new location-based shopping app geared towards women) to more established international companies such as Motricity (a US-based mobile solutions provider with operations around the world).

Even though the event was modest in size, it was quite nice, and the exhibitors were also friendly and welcoming (meaning they were patient with my novice-level French and also spoke English without hesitation – very impressive!). Perhaps the best part of the event was that it took place at Espace Cardin, which is centrally located -  one street away from the Champs Elysees and close to the Grand Palais and the Jardin Tuileries. The only negative aspect of the trip was that it was too short – one night in Paris is never enough! To see pictures of the event, please visit Flickr.

By the way, speaking of French, our website has now been translated into French. So you can not only find out about us in German and English, but French as well. Enjoy!

A recent report from Google shows us that the majority of users exposed to mobile ads take action after seeing the ads. The report reveals findings from a study of smartphone users at the end of 2010 (search engine land). Several interesting patterns were shown, reinforcing what we already know to be true about mobile internet usage and further proving that advertising on the mobile web works.

Mobile internet usage at home

It is not only while on the go that people are accessing the mobile internet. According to the report, 93% of people use their smartphones while at home. Of those who are at home, the majority of them are on their mobiles while “consuming other media,” such as while watching TV. Interestingly, over a third of these at-home mobile internet users (39%) even admitted to taking their mobile phones with them to the bathroom as well (a bit strange, but true!).

Action taken

Google says those doing mobile searches on their devices are the most likely to complete an action - nine out of ten users, according to their report, “take action as a result of a mobile search, with over half of them leading to purchases” (search engine land).

Of those searching on the mobile web, the following categories show what is being searched for:

• News (57%)
• Dining (51%)
• Entertainment (49 %)
• Shopping (47 %)
• Technology (32 %)
• Travel (31%)
• Finance (26 %)
• Automotive (17 %)

Smartphone users and advertising

One of the key parts of the report reveals that smartphone users are actually quite responsive to advertising. The survey results show that over 80% of smartphone users exposed to ads actually noticed the ads. Even more interesting is that half of those who viewed the ads also responded by taking action.

After seeing the ads, a variety of actions were taken, including the following:

• 42 % clicked on the ad
• 27 % contacted the business
• 35 % went to a related website
• 49 % made a purchase

So as we see, ads on the mobile internet are noticeable and convincing enough to cause users to respond with action.

Millennial Media has just released their Q1 S.M.A.R.T report detailing the growth of various verticals in mobile. Their report shows that six global mobile ad verticals grew over 100% in the first quarter of this year. Here is the breakdown with the given vertical and its amount of growth:

• Retail & Restaurants – 1342%
• Automotive – 723%
• Finance – 379%
• Telecommunications – 242%
• Health (fitness and wellness) – 183%
• Education – 130%

Other highlights from their study include the growth of mCommerce campaigns by 30% and the increasing number of campaigns allowing consumers to take some sort of action on social media (either a Facebook like page, tweeting, etc.). This is further proof of the continued growth in mobile internet usage.

Last Christmas, the Mobile Marketing Association showed us that about 10% of Europeans would be doing their Christmas shopping via mobile. This year, studies indicate that even more people are shopping from their mobile devices, and not only during the holiday season. MobileMarketing reports  that the number of mobile shoppers in the UK is growing steadily. Their article reveals that while 42% of consumers in the United Kingdom still prefer shopping at actual, physical stores, nearly one third (30%) are comfortable with shopping from their mobile devices (MobileMarketing). In the report, 28% of consumers would rather shop from their PC or laptop. While the margin between mobile and traditional online shopping wasn’t huge, there are still clearly more people who would rather shop “from their pocket” than while sitting in front of a computer.

Interestingly, the results of this study also reveal what people are purchasing via their mobile devices, and here are the top three movers:

1. Mobile content /games (39%)
2. Travel (12%)
3. Apparel (10%)

This is in line with other stats on mobile usage that we have seen, and smart retailers are paying attention to these numbers and getting into mobile now if they haven’t done so. At the recent Mobile Shopping Summit, the business development manager of the clothing line Gap discussed the potential of mobile for retailers and announced that his company would be increasing their budget for mobile advertising in the next year (Mobile Marketer).

So once again we see proof of the continuing maturation and influence of the mobile web. We will continue to see that with the increasing number of mobile shoppers out there, lies immense opportunity for advertisers and retailers to benefit from the medium.