Today there are many opportunities for proximity marketing because the barrier to entry is much less expensive than years past. Many large companies will create their own beacon app, which assuredly will be very effective. However, the good news for small businesses is that with new beacon apps that are not brand specific, Naples small businesses can have a beacon-marketing plan of their own. Today there are many apps; some are for a particular store, whereas others are apps that are non-store specific. Florida Nearby can create a branded app for your Naples business and help you with starting your campaign. To put it in the most basic terms, proximity marketing is the process of advertising to specific customers based upon their current location.

The premise of proximity marketing is that through select apps a potential customer’s cellular device uses a Bluetooth app, which turns their phone into a beacon for the companies that are within range. Once a store recognizes the beacon, it will send a message asking for the customers’ permission to communicate with said customers’ device. If the customer allows for notifications, the company will then send an advertisement to the potential customer. The unique aspect of proximity marketing is that it is based solely upon the exact, current, location. If a company can see your beacon, it means that the customer is near the storefront that would advertise to said client

The benefits to proximity marketing are still growing. However, this budding technology is proving itself to be useful for large businesses and small business alike. The key advantage is that it eliminates waste. Often a marketing manager will not know what part of the marketing plan was the most effective. However, what is known is that reaching customers that cannot use your service is wasted time and money. With proximity marketing, your business can set the marketing efforts on strict parameters. Namely, reaching only the customers in a particular geographic area. There are many other benefits. One is that customers are often looking at their phones and therefore when a push advertisement goes through, it will most likely be seen. With the beacons, your company is afforded a direct connection to the customers, and this allows for a conversation with that customer. This conversation creates a personal relevance like no other marketing gimmick could. In fact, since many customers make purchase decisions within the store, this is the perfect time to reach them.

Marketing Outline
For local/small businesses proximity marketing allows for a short, and targeted marketing structure. One of the first things to do is decide on an initial marketing plan, the next step is to then set up an iBeacon system. Once a marketing plan has been determined, the iBeacon device should be put on all company trucks, and at the office. In doing so, anyone in the vicinity of the company logo would be reminded of the brand and updates, allowing for greater market presence. Geofencing is another interesting strategy, in that it allows a company to set up a predetermined area in which potential customers will receive an advertisement.

It is important to note that today customers are (slightly) more open to being marketed. However, said marketing must be relevant so that it does not waste the customer’s time. That is the problem that proximity marketing will hopefully solve. In the future, it appears that proximity marketing will lead to more accurate and higher quality marketing with less money and time wasted.