Proximity-based marketing isn’t a new concept. It has been around for decades. Whether it’s giving out flyers in the busiest part of the city or hiring a sign spinner to drive sales, it has always relied on location-based marketing.
With the dawn of the World Wide Web, marketers were able to target consumers using their IP address. Along with IP targeting, marketing strategies were also expanded to mobile devices, but location accuracy was a major issue.
The game changed in the 2000s when smartphones took off and GPS, geofencing and geo-targeting came into the picture.
What has changed since the inception of proximity marketing?
In 2013, Apple ventured into beacon technology, introducing the iBeacon protocol. The only limitation? Users need to have the relevant app installed. Google’s competing Eddystone technology that debuted in 2015, can trigger URLs and web pages directly without an app on Android.
What is Google’s Eddystone technology and how does it work?
The Eddystone protocol designed by Google negates the need of having an app on Android phones. This is a game changer. Not requiring an app to receive notifications allows marketers to target a much wider audience. All that is needed is an Android phone. There is already an in-built service called Google Nearby that scans for Eddystone signals and displays the message tied to that signal. Apps that are compatible with Physical Web can also do the same.
So, why should you hop on the proximity marketing bandwagon now in 2018?
1. Hyper-local contextual information with beacon technology
People in stores, on the move who are inside buildings or on the sidewalk and have their data switched off cannot receive any digital advertisements. This segment of people are not being targeted through digital or traditional marketing. Using location based marketing, brands and marketers can show relevant targeted ads. Say, someone walks into a denim store and gets a notification for a 30% discount. Compare that to someone miles away from the store who is not even likely to buy the product. This is backed by Google that reports that 82% of shoppers make purchase decisions in-store. Data from xAD shows that 60% of consumers who research goods and services in-store will buy on location.
2. In 2018, consumers have evolved to avoid spam
Consumers have become exceedingly aware of marketing tactics. According to research, 69% of people who use text messages reported receiving unwanted spam and text messages. 25% of those people face this issue weekly. Proximity based marketing takes care of unwanted spam by showing only hyper-local relevant ads to consumers.
3. People today love personalized recommendations
According to the ‘Trends in Personalisation study,’ 96% of all marketers agree that personalisation advances customer relationships. 88% have reported a measurable rise in business resulting from their personalisation campaigns. Which is why, proximity marketing is a notch above the rest. Using beacon technology, marketers can show notifications prompting users to get discounts, rewards or even place their usual order at the store they are in.
4. Introduction of BLE smart technology and Bluetooth Mesh
Leaving the Bluetooth switched on pre-2010 meant massive battery drainage. With Bluetooth low energy, people are more prone to leaving their Bluetooth on. After every new iOS update, Bluetooth is automatically switched on. Another fact to consider is that millennial's are more likely to have their Bluetooth on because of all their devices demanding Bluetooth connectivity. WiFi and beacons can also work in conjunction to provide better services, even prompting users to turn on their Bluetooth.
5. Privacy is a major concern
Given the Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica debacle among countless other security breaches, consumers have become more worried about the privacy of their data. Which is why, proximity marketing comes out on top. There is no personal identifiable data that is collected from users making it more compliant to laws and regulations globally.
Proximity marketing is here to stay and here’s why
There are more mobile devices than people in the world. Proximity marketing makes good use of this fact. Back in 2014, when proximity marketing was in its infancy, only 60% of people owned a mobile phone but only a quarter of these devices were smartphones equipped to handle sophisticated notifications. By 2019, Statista reports suggest that there will be 4.77 billion phones in the market.
In fact, proximity marketing isn’t just limited to mobile devices. Wearables can also receive beacon notifications. The global wearables market is all set to reach 126.1 million units in 2019.
Some interesting stats and insights about the growth of the proximity marketing market
75% of US retailers have integrated beacon technology into their marketing strategies and seen a 9% increase in profits and 175% ROI.
According to Business Insider, by the end of 2018, retailers will have 3.5 million active beacons.
As per the report, ‘Market for Proximity Marketing,’ the market worth is expected to be worth USD 52.46 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 29.8% between 2016 and 2022. During this forecast period, BLE beacon-based proximity marketing is predicted to grow at the highest CAGR.
The e-Commerce market growth and growing digitization are boosting the proximity marketing market.
By 2019, beacons are expected to reach 60 million customers, and more than 400 million beacons are to deployed by 2020.
By 2019, beacons are expected to reach 60 million customers, and more than 400 million beacons are…
These statistics should come as no surprise given the long battery life (2 years) of the beacons that makes them so cost-effective.
Retailers aren’t the only ones who are investing in beacons. ProxReport estimates that 84% of global airports will use beacons by the end of 2019. The same report also suggests that 47% of NFL venues, 53% of NBA venues and 93% of MLB venues use beacon technology. Additionally, Platinum Edge Media customers have successfully deployed beacons across restaurants, coffee shops, car dealerships, trade shows among other verticals.
Platinum Edge Media has many beacon and Geofencing solutions for your business. Feel free to contact us with questions, we're here to help! www.PlatinumEdgeMedia.com