What’s the first thing you do when you get out of bed each morning?
Brush your teeth? Feed your dog? Take a shower?
How about check your phone? Don’t worry—you’re not alone.
A new study from IDC Research released this week found that 80% of smartphone users check their mobile devices within 15 minutes of waking up each morning.
Also, Facebook announced a new type of mobile experience that could provide a glimpse into the future of social media.
Read about these top stories and more in this week’s marketing news roundup.
1. 80% of smartphone users check their phones within 15 minutes of waking up
According to the latest report from IDC Research, which examined habits of smartphone users, 79% of adult smartphone users have their phones with them for 22 hours a day.
When it comes to the amount of time users actual spend on their phones, the survey found that adults are now spending an average of 87 minutes communicating and using social media on their phones Monday through Thursday, and more than 160 minutes Friday through Sunday.
Bottom Line: The tight-knit relationship your customers share with their smartphones and other mobile devices has changed the way people view and interact with the world.
Whether it’s checking their email first thing in the morning, getting an endless stream of updates on social media throughout the day, or having access to limitless amounts of information through mobile search—your customer’s online habits are evolving. And so should yours!
Whether it’s designing emails to look great on mobile, adopting a more mobile social media strategy, or keeping your website and online listings up-to-date—there’s plenty you can do to improve your mobile marketing strategy today.
2. Facebook launches ‘Home’ – a new Android home screen experience
At a press event, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook Home—a new mobile home screen experience for users on Android devices.
Facebook Home turns your Android home screen and lock screen into a Facebook content-based experience with what it calls “Cover feed.”
Notifications and messaging is also more integrated with Facebook Home—allowing users to check updates and communicate with friends without having to access individual apps.
Bottom Line: Facebook Home introduces an entirely new kind of social media experience. Rather than having to access different apps and navigate the different areas of the social platform, you can experience everything right from your smartphone home screen.
And while Facebook Home is only being introduced to Android users and is still in its earliest stages, it could provide a glimpse into the way people experience social media in the future.
Here’s how Facebook explains Home:
We all want to share and connect. That’s how we discover new information and build meaningful relationships. But today, phones are built around tasks and apps. To see what’s happening with your friends, you pull out your phone and navigate through a series of separate apps.
We asked ourselves if sharing and connecting are what matter most, what would your phone be like if it put your friends first?
Our answer is Home. Home isn’t a phone or operating system, and it’s also more than just an app. Home is a completely new experience that lets you see the world through people, not apps.
3. LinkedIn now supports mentions of other users
LinkedIn announced a new feature this week which could help users engage and start conversations on the social platform.
Similar to Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, LinkedIn will now give users the opportunity to mention other users when sharing updates on the social network.
Users can mention first-degree connections or members who have commented on the same posts on the LinkedIn homepage. LinkedIn says it already has plans to expand mentions even further in the future.
Bottom Line: LinkedIn continues to introduce new tools and updates to help its users build relationships and grow their networks online.
In all the stuff you’re doing to market your business on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn it’s easy to forget the importance of actually being social on social media.
If you’re already using LinkedIn as an individual user, this is a great chance to spark up a conversation and make more meaningful connections. If you’re managing a company page, keep your eye out for how LinkedIn expands mentions in the future.
4. Study: What type of social actions make consumers want to stay connected?
According to a new survey from Ipsos OTX, coupons and discounts are among the top reasons why social media users in the US decide to stay connected with their favorite brands on sites like Facebook or Twitter.
The study, which looked at responses from more than 4,840 adults across 24 countries, found that 70% of US respondents said that coupons for product discounts or free products are the top reason why they decide to stay connected.
Other top responses included:
- 55% They have contests or requests for suggestions regarding current or new products
- 36% They post fun and interesting topics/items
- 27% They create content that is worth sharing
- 20% They answer emails or messages I send them
- 20% They respond to comments or links I post on their page
Bottom Line: When looking at surveys like this, it’s important to look at the full picture—not just the number one response.
While discounts may have the biggest influence on a majority of social media users, it’s clear that sharing engaging content and a willingness to interact with your social audiences play a major role in how consumers view brands on social media as well.
The reality is that discounts and special offers alone won’t drive meaningful results for your business. First, you need to build an audience for your offers.
Make building an engaged audience a top priority and then look for opportunities to reward your fans and followers with special offers, contests, or exclusive giveaways.
It’s worked for plenty of other businesses. Check out our free guide, 12 Awesome Facebook Marketing Campaigns!
5. Twitter relaunches Twitter for Business
Twitter re-launched Twitter for Business , an online resource for businesses to learn the best practices for using Twitter as part of their online marketing strategy.
While Twitter for Business has existed for quite some time, the resource itself has not be entirely easy to use or navigate—especially for users who are brand new to Twitter. The new online resource, provides real-life examples of other businesses that have had success on the platform and offers helpful advice for what can do in just 140 characters.
Bottom Line: Over the last few months, major social networks like Pinterest and now Twitter, have recognized the value in providing education and training the businesses that rely on the site to strengthen relationships and reach new customers.
Which is good news for all business owners, but is especially good news for those that are just getting started.
Check out our free recorded webinar, Twitter for Small Business.
What top stories caught your attention this week? Let us know in the comments below.