BIGresearch: Mobile Marketing Turns Some People on, Some People off

COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwire - November 11, 2009) - Mobile ad spending is poised to grow 27% to $2.1 billion in 2010, according to the Mobile Marketing Association. However, there's good news and bad news for marketers who are wading into the mobile marketing wars. The good news is the audience for mobile marketing is growing. The bad news is the audience is still relatively small and confined to a limited segment of the market. Marketers who employ mobile marketing to the wrong consumer group risk turning them off, not on, according to an analysis of BIGresearch's Simultaneous Media Usage Survey (SIMM 14, June 2009) of over 22,000 consumers.

Demographically, consumers who like mobile marketing tend to be young men. They are cell phone-centered and more likely to use social media. On the other hand, those who don't like mobile marketing tend to be slightly older women who are not as centered around their cell phone or use social media.

Key Characteristics of Mobile Marketing Users and Non-Users

                                        Mobile          Mobile
                                       Marketing       Marketing
                                         Users         Non-Users
Men                                      57.9%           46.2%
Women                                    42.1%           53.8%
Average Age                              39.2            45.9
Online search triggered by cell phone    17.4%            2.4%
Communicate about search via cell phone  41.3%           26.3%
Download music/video to cell phone       33.3%           14.6%
Regularly Use Facebook                   37.9%           27.8%
Regularly Use MySpace                    23.2%            9.8%
Regularly Use Twitter                    13.1%            3.5%

Source: BIGresearch, SIMM 14

The mobile marketing user segment represents a desirable consumer group for specific products such as electronics. They are much more likely to purchase electronics over the next six months than the non-user group: 22.4% plan to buy a computer (v. 13.1%), 20.2% plan to buy a TV (v. 12.6%) and 11.2% plan to buy a digital camera (v. 7.1%).

Since June of 2008, the percentage of people who don't like mobile marketing has increased. 66.8% don't like text ads (v. 63.5 in '08), 60.2% don't like voicemail ads (v. 56.8% in '08) and 59.6% don't like video ads (v. 56.1% in '08). The percentage of people has also increased for those who say marketers need permission prior to sending an ad (58% v. 55.6% in '08) and those who think they are an invasion of privacy (52.1% v. 49.5% in '08).

"Marketers are excited about the potential of mobile marketing, but they need to beware," said Gary Drenik. "Cell phones are perceived by consumers as a very personal form of media and unwanted messaging could be interpreted as an invasion of privacy. There is a risk in the mobile space of turning consumers off and have a negative impact on ROI."

For complimentary report: http://info.bigresearch.com/

About BIGresearch

BIGresearch is a consumer intelligence firm providing analysis of behavior in areas of products and services, retail, financial services, automotive and media. BIGresearch conducts the monthly Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey (CIA) of 8,000+ respondents and the semi-annual Simultaneous Media Survey (SIMM) of 15,000+ respondents. More information is available at http://www.bigresearch.com

Contact Information: Contact: Chrissy Wissinger BIGresearch (614) 846-0146