Bluetooth Marketing: Put Your Ad On Mobile Phones Near You

Bluetooth marketing is one of the newest marketing methods that you should have in your arsenal. Bluetooth marketing is very similar to mobile marketing. What makes it so grand is that, after a small initial cost, you can have direct contact with your potential customers.
Benefits of Bluetooth Marketing
Imagine taking your laptop to a festival, turning on your bluetooth software and going off to enjoy the exhibits. While your gone, the marketing software will monitor the area and contact every mobile phone with an activated Bluetooth and send them your offer.
When you get back to your vehicle, after a day of fun with the family, your software has contacted 100s of people, some of whom have placed orders. This software is like having an employee that works 24/7.
The software can manage multiple marketing campaigns simultaneously. This will enable you to test various products to see what sell best. Or test different campaigns for the same product. All the testing has absolutely no cost associated.
Proximity marketing is great for getting new business in locations where there are a lot of people passing by, like a mall or the parking lot of an event. It is also an excellent way to get repeat business while your customers are in your location or event. You can send them text messages about sales and upcoming events.
Bluetooth Marketing vs Mobile Marketing
Two things differentiate Bluetooth marketing from mobile marketing. 1) Bluetooth marketing is location or proximity based. Only those within a specific range can be contacted. 2) With Bluetooth marketing you do not need to know the customers mobile phone number.
When a person with an activated Bluetooth comes within your range, the device can send an them an advertisement on their mobile phone or other Bluetooth enable device. The advertisement can be a:
***Text Message
***Animated Images
***Still Images
***Video with Sound
***Voice Message
***Calendar Reminder
***Word File
***Excel File
***Your Business Card
***PDF File
***Java Applications And Games
Most Bluetooth services have the same or similar features that you would expect to see in mobile marketing. Some countries, the US, have an anti-spam setting that asks for permission to contact the customer before sending a message.
Getting Started
If you choose to use the Bluetooth marketing software, you will need a wifi enable PC or laptop running Microsoft Windows. If your hardware is not Bluetooth enabled, you will need a Bluetooth dongle, which costs approximately $1-10.
There is a stand alone marketing device that is self-sufficient. You don’t need anything else except a power source. It can be updated with your advertisements through USB, Internet, or Ethernet. Be sure and check the manufacturer specifications.
Real Life Uses of Automated Bluetooth Marketing
How you can use your software or device is limited only to your imagination. Here are some ways I've seen it used.
Restaurants - Send a coupon to mobile phones that can be redeemed immediately as the customer walks by.
Retail - Send a discount message to mobile phones related to the holiday as potential customer walk by.
Clubs and Bars - Send a two for one drink message to mobile phones as customers drive by.
Products - Go to an exhibit where folk are looking for your product and send coupons to their mobile phones.
Flea Market - Run a one (1) hour contest and send information to mobile phones as they pass your booth.
Promoters - Go to a concert and send information to mobile phones about your next event, include a complementary ticket.
Setup and Range of Service
You have two choices in setting up your proximity marketing. You can put it on your Bluetooth enabled PC or laptop, or, you can buy a dedicated blue tooth stand alone device. Both will get the job done. But as you would imagine, the dedicated device is more expensive and usually has a greater range and more features, like contacting up to 28 cell phones simultaneously.
The antenna on the Bluetooth enable device, and, the receiving range of the mobile phone will determine the signal range. When deciding whether you should purchase software or a stand alone device, your primary consideration should be how you plan to use the device, not the range. The software, running a laptop, is more flexible.
Many Bluetooth marketing software vendors claim a range of 60-250m, while stand alone devices claim a reach of up to 2000m. The Bluetooth on a mobile phone has a range of 40 - 60m. No matter how powerful the Bluetooth marketing device maybe, when the mobile phone is no longer able to receive a signal, game over player.
Bluetooth Marketing Device Prices
Bluetooth software and devices are a one time cost. No monthly contracts or recurring licenses and fees. There are no costs associated with sending messages since they are sent via wifi. Full featured software costs approximately $149 and devices range from $400 - $700.
Before you purchase Bluetooth marketing software or a device, we highly suggest getting a free trial. You can get a free trial on the software, but not the hardware. The trial period will allow you to learn how to set up your advertising campaign and try it out.