How your Brand can get Started with Proximity Marketing and Beacons

Published on: June 29, 2021
By: Douglas Ralston

What are Beacons?

Beacons are small Bluetooth devices that can be mounted anywhere on a trailhead, in a walking area, or inside your store or center. They send a bluetooth signal to mobile devices that let you send real-time notifications and as well help you learn more about the users to provide an enhanced personalized experience, both online through personal promotions and benefits, and offline through in-store usability.* (Google)

Beacon technology is poised to change the way consumers interact with brands, making devices more helpful and revolutionizing the way marketers measure the offline impact of online ads, calls to action and notifications. When it comes to cutting-edge retail marketing, one technology is top of mind: beacons. In fact, more than a million beacons are expected to be installed in U.S. retail stores this year alone.* (Google)

Location-based marketing and proximity marketing with beacons are projected to grow exponentially in the next few years. To stay ahead of the curve, brands should invest in the beacon infrastructure that will enable consumer devices to work best within their stores.* (Google)

Here are some things to consider before investing in beacon infrastructure:
What do you want to communicate to consumers? The most flexible approach is to deploy beacons with abstract identifiers that are linked to your a Cloud Platform account. You can then use Nearby Notifications to help users interact with your location through the web or your brand's app.* (Google)

Top Beacon Use Cases

1. Sending Promotional Notifications

Have you ever walked by a retail store, looked around, and within a couple of minutes, got a mobile notification that says “Get 20% off on your purchase”? Well isn’t that what you just needed? Use beacons to enhance promotional notifications to users that enter a specific location.

2. Providing Essential Traveler/Visitor Information

3. Real-time Analytics

Get to track engagement and know where most of your visitors are staying and which activities they are taking advantage of through beacons and mobile notifications. Get real-time analytics and impressions with both geofence notifications and interactive touch points.

Key Items to a Successful Beacon Deployment

1. Layout your Deployment Strategy – the initial step to a successful deployment is deciding where you want to place your beacons. Look for locations where instant information will help influence or drive convenience for visitors. Trailheads or areas with low internet coverage is a great location as most phones will still allow you to receive notifications even if no cell service is available.

2. Creating Strong, Engaging Content – create relevant content, alerts, and helpful information, promote local events, or ensure people know the condition or key things about a location.

3. Loads of Testing – Work with someone that can help you find the best places and how to install, to check for the optimum coverage. Ensure you test the beacons in the area to get the right response and area to deliver your messages.

4. Collect and Analyze Feedback – Ensure you have a way to collect and monitor analytics and data as people get notifications and click on ads, or information. Connect campaigns and marketing programs for you and your member.

5. Cloud-based Platform – Ensure you have a system that will allow you to manage all types of notifications, easily schedule and manage each location. Connecting the dots with marketing and even providing options for your members to manage their own programs.

If you are looking to learn more or find a proven provider of beacon deployments and solution in the travel, hospitality, and retail industry we can ensure you get the right product for the job. Contact us by calling at 833-300-6664 or emailing at info@trueomni.com and a specialist will walk you through the right program for your business.

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