ABI Research, a market research firm, has released a new report suggesting that mobile marketing tactics focused on in-store messaging and sales tags is currently worth $300 million. The report shows that the value of mobile marketing is on the rise as more NFC-enabled mobile devices enter the commercial market. With NFC chips finding their way into more marketing materials, such as posters and pamphlets, companies adopting mobile marketing strategies may be on the verge of a major breakthrough in terms of consumer engagement.
Several companies, including Google and Nokia, are investing in NFC technology. Specialty marketing agencies in the UK, U.S. and Australia are beginning to use NFC tags on a variety of marketing materials. The interact with the tags, a smart phone must first be able to recognize an NFC signal. Then, all the phone’s owner needs to do is swipe their phone in front of the tag to take advantage of the content embedded in the signal.
ABI’s report notes that NFC technology is inexpensive, making it alluring for businesses both large and small. The technology is also easy to use, as it relies entirely on a person’s smart phone rather than its own complex machinations. Like their QR code counterparts, NFC tags can be embedded with a wealth of information, all of which can be unlocked with a simple gesture.
