The Biggest Retailer's Biggest Marketing Tool

Arguably the nation's biggest retailer (perhaps the world's biggest retailer) is Wal-Mart, but what does this industry giant consider it's biggest marketing tool? Their website.

Walmart.comhas become the physical store's marketing megaphone. The retailer plans to tap the web site to announce several online and in-store promotions that will run from Thanksgiving Day through the following week.

Wal-Mart expects 800 million visits to its web site, but Wal-Mart execs are smart enough to understand that not all consumers coming to the site will make purchases, especially around the holidays. Many will go online to research potential buys. In fact, Walmart.com CEO Raul Vazquez estimates many of the 10 million people who visit Walmart.com on Thanksgiving Day will end up in the store on Friday.

Tapping into their online audience, WalMart.com will start running about 100 special sales, rather than the 50 items featured last year. The site will reveal new "secret sale" items daily. But, before the secret items become available online, consumers who opt-in by texting the keyword "save" to 96278 (WMart) will receive a text alert when WalMart.com reveals the product information on the site.

With so many businesses chasing after Wal-Mart's successes, a strong internet strategy can be the great equalizer. There's nothing in Wal-Mart's game plan that can not be duplicated (or improved) by one of our own advertising clients.

Make Mobile Meaningful

Consumers Say 'Make Mobile Ads Relevant'
Consumers are more accepting of ads on their cell phone -- if they are relevant -- says a new report from mobile marketing company Enpocket.

In the study, some 78% of consumers said they would be happy to receive mobile advertising that is tailored to their interests. Of those, 64% would be willing to provide personal details if that data were analyzed to improve relevance of the ads. In addition, 58% of respondents would prefer banner ads displayed on mobile Internet pages to mobile marketing text messages.

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VBRs & HALF-BAKED:

• Creating topic specific mobile text alerts allows consumers to hone in on information important to THEM
  
• Ideas for alert topics?
  Movie times
  Movie reviews
  CD release info
  New music alert
  Contest alerts
  Health/fitness tips
  School closings
  Sports scores
  Horoscopes
  Daily quote
  Weather
  Traffic alerts
  
• Review the MOBILE MARKETING one-sheet for ideas and pricing on a default mobile alerts package -- see DON for additional ideas!