Proximity marketing is all about marketing to your ideal consumer at the right time and at the right place, with highly relevant and personalized notifications. It provides great results for businesses in combination with the right advertising strategies and tools. 

Over the past two years, we have seen brands at malls and airports, enhancing customer experience using proximity marketing technologies. Marketing managers across various industries are now beginning to realize that proximity marketing offers enormous benefits beyond merely delivering coupons. These tools help in understanding the needs and want of customers. The notable patterns in buying behaviour help complete the picture for brands that use them. 

As we look further into the future we will see a reorganization of marketing strategies around this new technology. More importantly, with proximity marketing campaigns showcasing what’s on sale, a paradigm change in consumers’ perception will follow. It will reinforce the trust factor by emphasizing that it is the consumer who truly benefits from the technology. 

This article will cover the basics of proximity marketing, how it works and what the future of this technology looks like.

What is Proximity Marketing 

Also known as “proximity-based marketing” or “mobile proximity marketing,” proximity marketing involves targeting potential consumers with personalized advertisements based on how near a consumer (or device) is to a specific location and enticing them to make a purchasing decision in the immediate future. 

How Does Proximity Marketing Work? 

Proximity marketing involves implementing a technology that sends permissions-based push notifications to users when they enter a specified area, in the form of text, images or video via a mobile app.

There are a number of must-haves for this marketing strategy. They are: 

1. The consumer should be using a mobile device at the location where the proximity marketing technology is being applied.
2. Location-based technology must be deployed in the area where the consumer is currently located, in order to send out and receive marketing messages or other information.
3. The targeted consumer should have downloaded the relevant mobile application and installed it on his or her phone that is capable of receiving push notifications. This can be your own brand app or the larger building app (for example a mall’s map or a specific brand within the malls app).

Proximity Marketing Deployment

When it comes to proximity marketing deployment, there are a number of factors to consider, starting with finding the right technology provider. Here are few things to consider:

1. Hardware Requirements

In the realm of proximity marketing, hardware requirements cannot be ignored, especially when deploying complex marketing functions within a large facility. However, innovation is needed to eliminate the need for hardware installation in proximity marketing.

Mapsted addresses this need by offering a top-of-the-line solution that doesn’t require any on-site hardware installation for its customers. With its easy-to-integrate solutions, Mapsted’s location technology can deliver personalized messaging, ads, and notifications to shoppers in real-time based on their exact location within the venue, without compromising their privacy.

2. Ease of Installation

Proximity marketing installations require ongoing maintenance and training to ensure maximum value extraction. Hardware-based systems such as beacons, Bluetooth, and WiFi often require periodic maintenance to avoid downtime and expensive repairs.

However, with Mapsted’s hardware-free solution, ongoing maintenance is not an issue. As a turnkey provider, Mapsted offers a 100% fuss-free solution that is maintenance-free, and ensures that businesses receive the latest features and updates to excel in the game of proximity marketing.

3. Ongoing Investment Requirements

Investors and decision-makers face a major challenge when it comes to cost. Hardware-dependent proximity marketing solutions require ongoing investment and maintenance. However, what if there was a way to eliminate recurring expenses? With Mapsted’s location-based proximity marketing solutions, it is possible to manage marketing campaigns and access cutting-edge, customizable marketing software without incurring high recurrent costs.

Mapsted’s platform is versatile, easily scalable and designed help businesses set marketing goals and achieve them, making it an ideal solution that grows with businesses.

What Does the Future Hold For Proximity Marketing?

As proximity marketing gains momentum we will see brands gather a rich collection of consumer data that will revolutionize they way they communicate with their customers resulting in a positive impact on the bottom line. 

Closing Thoughts

The goal of proximity marketing is to enhance the consumer experience by creating a journey within an enclosed area. They help in placing your targeted messages into shoppers’ phones via a notification that is mainly triggered when they are nearby a product section or a PoI. You can roll out offers to increase their buying propensity. With the use of Mapsted’s proximity marketing solution, it’s only easier than before to achieve your marketing goals. You will be spending less of your time and effort converting the right customers.