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As mobile usage drastically increases, advertisers are staking their claim. According to Smart Insights, mobile Internet is set to exceed desktop Internet usage by 2015. Google stated that mobile searches quadrupled in the U.S last year as well. With this kind of growth rate, advertisers everywhere are constantly seeking out the latest trends and best ways to reach users on their mobile devices.

For companies diving into the mobile world for the first time, the options can be overwhelming. The choice between building a mobile site, mobile app or both can be especially mind-bending.  I have seen a number of companies dive in headfirst without a plan only to find themselves frustrated and losing steam. With more businesses realizing the importance of maintaining a mobile presence, the choice between a mobile site and mobile app will ultimately be a unique decision only your company can make.

When deciding whether to start with a mobile site or mobile app, consider the following:

As Interactive Marketing grows, we’re beginning to see an increase in integration between various online tactics. A recent Search Engine Land article found that iOS users are not only searching more than Android users, but the searches are predominantly local.

On February 1, 2012 Facebook filed for its initial public offering. In the aftermath, people have questioned what the IPO will mean for Facebook users and advertisers, with the most significant issue concerning how Facebook will capitalize on its mobile market. Facebook recently reported that 425 million (more than half) of its monthly users are accessing the site from mobile devices. However, they have not yet begun monetizing their mobile market.  Industry experts have expressed concern over this lack of utilization of mobile possibilities, as it is a significant risk factor for the Facebook IPO.  As mobile usage continues to grow, it will become essential for Facebook to develop a way to monetize its mobile platform.

By Natalie Kleopfer, Account Coordinator

Looking to enhance your local and mobile advertising efforts? Learn how Google’s new updates can help.

On October 19th, Google unveiled several new mobile ad features and formats that will have a significant impact on pay-per-click (PPC) advertisers. Here’s a rundown of some of the key changes:

The distance between a user and an advertiser’s business is now factored into mobile search ad rankings. Local already accounts for 40% of mobile searches and the addition of proximity as a scoring factor will only cause that percentage to rise. Search Engine Land suggests that marketers start using  Location Extensions, a feature in AdWords that allows the addition of dynamic addresses to ads. While previous ads only allowed description lines and a URL, Location Extensions lets companies include their  names, addresses and phone numbers, too. This, combined with the new proximity factor, will help businesses drive more mobile traffic at a lower cost.

Another new Google feature is custom search advertisements for apps. Google will now place relevant ads in searchable mobile apps. If a user has an app that lets them search for a local movie theater, he or she will now see relevant movie theater and film advertising within the app.

Circulars, a new Google advertising format, is not restricted to mobile. Here’s how the new format works: When a user clicks on a search or display ad, he is directed to another ad featuring pictures and relevant products or offers. If the ad is viewed on a desktop computer, the user can email it to his mobile device. He can then take it to the business location to redeem the offers. This format is currently being tested with retailers Best Buy and Macy’s.

For more information about Google’s new offerings, visit the Google Mobile Ads Blog.