Ramadan is a matchless opportunity for businesses to leverage the power of mobile marketing to connect with people and boost sales. A seamless customer experience during this holy month is what makes a business stand out as customers demands are very high in this season.
What is mobile marketing?
In simple terms, mobile marketing is a multichannel strategy for online marketing. It aims to target audiences on their smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other mobile devices, paving the way for businesses to reach customers easily through apps, email, social media, and SMS.
Ramadan: a sphere to foster customer engagement
Every Ramadan comes with new digital marketing trends and strategies that target consumers in diverse verticals. It is worth mentioning that the retail industry in Ramadan 2023 outshined any other industry with $66 billion in sales value in the MENA region. It’s the time when friends and family gatherings spike and so the need for catering services, entertainment platforms, and preparations for Eid spike as well.
What we know about consumer habits in Ramadan
As people get savvier with technology, they take full advantage of all the digital platforms to provide them with the convenience they need at all touchpoints. This has also pushed businesses to constantly develop new mobile marketing strategies and find creative ways to deliver unique, user-friendly experiences that set them apart from the competition. Here are some stats on consumer habits for Ramadan 2024:
- Increased shopping activity: In a survey conducted by TGM Research, 75% of consumer say they will dedicate time for shopping in Ramadan. This highlights a significant opportunity for businesses to cater to this surge in shopping activity.
- Deals and steals: According to Google, 86% of regional consumers in MENA think Ramadan is the ideal time to find the best deals. Businesses need to develop targeted promotions and offers to grab their attention and drive sales.
- Content consumption and inspiration: Search data reveals that 83% of consumers seek spiritual inspiration during Ramadan. Businesses can provide faith-based content, prayer timetables, or partner with influencers to cater to this need. Additionally, 78% of consumers actively search for cooking content, gift ideas, and how-to videos. Creating engaging content aligning with these themes can attract customers and position your brand as a helpful resource.
Business trends in Ramadan 2024
The holy month of Ramadan in the MENA region is transforming into a prime time for consumer engagement. Brands recognize this unique opportunity and go the extra mile to capture consumer attention. From offering convenient shopping experiences to launching special promotions and entertaining content, businesses implement creative strategies to reserve a lasting space in the minds of their audience.
- Personalization: sending personalized promotions or reminders when a customer’s favorite item is back in stock, especially during fasting hours that witness the peak of shopping.
- Cashback: offering customers cashback on the purchases they make through apps; that is one of the highly adopted trends in retail and Q-commerce businesses and it works like a charm.
- Influencer marketing: still again, one of Ramadan’s digital trends that highly influence sales, with TikTok making video content more viral than ever.
Mobile marketing tactics for flawless customer experiences this Ramadan
Cracking the code to customer engagement in Ramadan – or any time of the year – becomes easier once businesses integrate innovative communication solutions that meet their needs and their customers’ expectations. These are some of the solutions that businesses can adopt to enhance the customer experience and make data-driven decisions:
1. Omnichannel engagement
Imagine a customer browsing Ramadan gift ideas on your mobile app. They then seamlessly transition to your website to complete the purchase and receive order updates via SMS. This interconnected experience is the power of omnichannel engagement. By integrating your mobile app, website, social media platforms, and messaging services, you create a unified customer journey. Customers can effortlessly switch between channels, access information, and complete actions, ultimately leading to higher engagement and sales conversions.
2. SMS marketing
SMS marketing remains a powerful tool for reaching customers directly on their mobile devices. During Ramadan, consider sending targeted SMS campaigns with:
- Exclusive Ramadan discounts and promotions
- Early access to flash sales
- Order status updates and delivery notifications
- Reminders about upcoming prayer times or inspirational messages (partnering with religious figures for content)
Personalize your SMS campaigns by using customer names, purchase history, or browsing behavior to recommend relevant Ramadan products or deals. This targeted approach increases engagement and conversion rates.
3. In-app messaging for real-time engagement
Mobile apps offer a fantastic platform for real-time customer engagement. Utilize in-app messaging features to:
- Alert users about limited-time Ramadan offers and flash sales
- Offer personalized product recommendations based on past purchases or browsing patterns
- Provide real-time customer support during peak shopping hours
- Send abandoned cart reminders to nudge users towards completing their purchases
In-app messaging fosters a more interactive and personalized experience, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
4. Push notifications for timely updates and reminders
Push notifications are a valuable tool for sending timely updates and reminders to app users. In fact, studies show that leveraging push notifications reduces login drop offs by 42%. Here’s how you can utilize them during Ramadan:
- Highlighting daily deals or Ramadan-themed product collections
- Notifying users about upcoming webinar sessions or live cooking demonstrations
- Reminding users about abandoned carts or saved items
- Sending well wishes or inspirational messages for the holy month
By strategically crafting push notifications, businesses can capture user attention, drive traffic towards specific app features, and ultimately boost conversions.
5. Virtual AI assistants
Deploying virtual assistants frees up your customer service agents to focus on complex inquiries. These intelligent chatbots handle repetitive requests with zero wait time, providing customers with immediate answers and a seamless experience. Furthermore, advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) allows them to understand natural language and respond with accuracy, ensuring positive and efficient interaction for your customers.
6. Data-driven insights
Mobile marketing campaigns during Ramadan generate a wealth of valuable customer data. By leveraging analytics tools and interpreting this data effectively, businesses can gain a deeper understanding of their target audience and optimize their Ramadan marketing strategies for future success. Data-based insights can help your company understand customer preferences, optimize campaign timing, support location-based targeting, and measure campaign effectiveness.
Actionable tips for a lucrative season
In such an ever-evolving digital landscape, customer expectations are constantly on the rise. Ramadan presents a unique opportunity for businesses in the MENA region to not only capture a significant share of the market but also build lasting customer loyalty. To capitalize on this valuable window, businesses need to adopt a strategic and data-driven mobile marketing approach.
This strategic approach requires a two-pronged attack. First, businesses must prioritize understanding evolving customer needs and preferences. By analyzing Ramadan shopping behavior, content consumption habits, and regional trends, businesses can tailor their mobile marketing strategies to resonate with their target audience.
Second, businesses need to implement effective mobile marketing tactics that create a seamless and engaging customer experience throughout Ramadan. This includes leveraging omnichannel engagement, personalized messaging, real-time communication channels, and data-driven insights to optimize campaigns and maximize results.
By embracing these strategies, businesses in the MENA region can transform Ramadan from a sales opportunity into a platform for building strong customer relationships and achieving long-term success.
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