Our phones are our constant connection to the world — almost everyone has one within reach at all times. That’s why mastering mobile-first marketing isn’t optional, it’s essential. Need proof? According to Statista, there are 330 million internet users in the U.S., and over 96% access the web via mobile. There are also 240 million social media users — and not surprisingly, the most-used smartphone apps are for social media.
See? Essential. Your brand can have a direct line of communication to customers right in the palm of their hands.
Keep reading for more details on how your brand can master mobile-first marketing.
What is mobile-first marketing?
Mobile-first marketing is pretty much as it sounds. It recognizes that most people access the internet and search for information from their smartphones, and mobile-first marketing prioritizes that experience. It doesn’t ignore desktop, but a mobile-first strategy will lean heavily on mobile optimization strategies, mobile-friendly content, responsive design and mobile marketing best practices.
Here are some tips for mastering mobile-first marketing:
SEO
Help search engines prioritize your mobile site to ensure that visitors on mobile devices have a positive user experience. This is critical for conversions.
- Focus on mobile speed and pay attention to Core Web Vitals to ensure a positive user experience
- Enable mobile-first indexing to make the mobile version of your website primary
- Use structured data, including BreadcrumbList and FAQ, to enhance mobile SERP presence
- Optimize for voice search and local mobile intent
SEM/Paid Search
Increase visibility of your ads, gain a competitive advantage and boost ROI.
- Use ad extensions that perform well on mobile including call and location
- Write ad copy that’s punchy, action-oriented and fits small screens
- Ensure landing pages are fast, simple and mobile-optimized
Social Media/Paid Social
When so many people report that the number one apps used on mobile are for social media (see stat in our intro), you better believe that mobile-first marketing for social is critical.
- Focus on vertical-first creative
- Use native mobile formats: Reels, Stories, TikTok and carousels
- Prioritize thumb-stopping visuals and place captions up front
- Test mobile-first CTAs such as swipe up, tap-to-shop and tap to download
Email Marketing
Improve open rates, get better engagement, bolster click-through rates and more. Two-thirds (61%) of people check email on mobile devices, so embracing a mobile-first marketing strategy will capture a wider portion of the audience.
- Use mobile-friendly templates with single-column layouts
- Keep subject lines short and punchy, try incorporating emojis if appropriate
- CTA buttons should be tappable and visible without scrolling
- Conduct A/B tests across multiple devices and email clients
Digital PR
Gain audience reach and lift brand visibility and awareness with a mobile-first strategy.
- Optimize media placements for mobile reading including fast-loading and well-formatted content
- Ensure backlinks drive to mobile-optimized content
- Use Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) if targeting news-type content
- Pitch mobile-friendly content formats such as video, interactive options and short form for quick experiences
Become a mobile master
Mobile-first marketing is a sound approach considering the astounding number of people who use smartphones as their primary access point for the internet. Using mobile optimization strategies, mobile-friendly content, responsive design and mobile-marketing best practices can set your brand up for success.
Need support transitioning to a mobile-first strategy? Connect with the experts at Beyond Fifteen to learn how we can help your brand put mobile users first.
