Five must-know retail trends in mobile and social marketing

Apple recently launched a new category in its App Store called “Shopping,” which makes it easier for users to find retailers’ apps. Apple recently launched a new category in its App Store called “Shopping,” which makes it easier for users to find retailers’ apps.
Apple recently launched a new category in its App Store called “Shopping,” which makes it easier for users to find retailers’ apps.

Growth in smartphone and social media usage is setting the basis for all types of retail marketing trends. In a new report from BI Intelligence, we’ll look at individual trends within mobile and social media.

Some of the trends analyzed in the report, include:

  • US consumers are spending the majority of their time in shopping apps rather than mobile shopping websitesaccording to comScore. In response, Apple recently launched a new category in its App Store called “Shopping,” which makes it easier for users to find retailers’ apps. Creating a dedicated section for retail apps is a huge benefit for brands that are looking to boost mobile app engagement, as searching the App Store is the No. 1 way users discover new apps.
  • Many beacon programs went mainstream during the holidays this year. The rise of mobile shopping apps has served as a proxy for proximity-based marketing systems such as beacons. Usage of shopping apps on tablets and smartphones increased 174% in 2014 more than any other app category, according to app analytics company Flurry. Merchant adoption during such a critical time of the year for retail shows just how useful the devices are proving themselves to be.

The full report also looks at:

  • Mobile commerce growth
  • The types of brands and retailers benefiting from beacon usage
  • How Facebook is driving social commerce actions
  • The resurgence of affiliate marketing

Follow the link to find out how to access the full report.[related-posts]

[Business Insider]