$50,000 for an outdated phone with minimal functionality – what a bargain!

Spending money on lavish items is fine, if you have the money. However, there is a limit to everything, and we say a $50,000 featurephone has definitely exceeded that limit! Pricey luxury items should at least try and justify why they are pricier – unfortunately, the Gresso Grand Premier does no such thing. Yes, there is about 150 grams of gold and 138.5 carats of sapphire crystals in each handset, but if that is what you are looking for, why not just buy some serious jewellery?

What really gets to me is the fact that this bedazzled phone isn’t even SMART (meaning, it’s not of the smartphone variety)! In a time where everything is moving towards mobile – from the way we communicate to the way we shop or entertain ourselves – Gresso has the audacity to design a phone with an ancient S40 UI and charge $50,000 for it! Who is exactly the target market here? We ask you.

Maybe it’s just me, but even if I had the cash, I would rather buy an iPhone and use the rest of the money to purchase a YAMAHA Disklavier Piano, a beautiful Arkiane Kephren fireplace and a 16 year old bottle of Lagavulin scotch. That way I could stare at my stunning fireplace and sip on my scotch while I ask SIRI to play me some Wagner on my Disklavier Piano.

We like a healthy yin and yang here at Plastic Mobile, so we wanted to follow up on our September blog post (slash mild rant) on the abuse and misuse of QR codes in marketing campaigns, with a look at how QR codes can be used effectively to bolster, and even lead, a good campaign.

In the previous post, we suggested three simple steps to approaching a QR code campaign that are both sensible and straightforward:

1. Review your objectives – why choose the path of the QR code?

2. Explore the possibilities – how will you present the QR codes?

3. Know your audience – who are you targeting?

These three points can help you get your strategy grounded so that you don’t make silly errors like the billboard campaign.

After establishing the groundwork, forecasting and then managing the outcome and analysis is just as important to consider and document. Our friends at Mashable.com picked up where we left off, developing five results-oriented “Steps for a Successful Code campaign.” They look at the burgeoning fad/phenom from the perspective of quality creating longevity and enhanced user experiences. Here are their five tips for success:

1. Define Your Purpose
2. Call on Your Customers
3. Design and Usability are Key
4. Measuring Scans
5. Social Metrics

With the above steps in mind, we look at the recent success of the Chili’s Grill & Bar QR code campaign in a quick scan vs. call to action review.

The popular North American restaurant chain launched their eighth annual Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer fundraising initiative. According to Mobile Commerce Daily, who reported on the event, the campaign raised more than $5 million in support of kids receiving lifesaving care at St. Jude. Children’s Research Hospital. For the first time Chili’s used QR codes to increase donations while raising awareness of the campaign. The codes appeared on colouring sheets and table tents created specifically for the effort. The result was 291,000 scans.

Chili’s Grill & Bar identified that the new trend in mobile technology offered a unique way to engage restaurant guests in the fundraiser. It also gave the restaurant the opportunity to relate to their tech-savvy audience while giving St. Jude supporters another, easily accessible way to donate to the charity.

Ultimately, the marketing gurus at Chili’s headquarters were able to use mobile codes to review, define, explore, engage and measure their charitable campaign with a great deal of success. Hats off to you, Chili’s!

Remember January 2010 when people working at charities had a “holy Mobile!” moment? Remember the instant when nonprofit organizations realized that mobile giving is a game changer when the American Red Cross raised 7%(more than 32 million) of all funds benefiting the Haiti earthquake crisis via mobile? Many believe that mobile giving reached a tipping point with response to the Haiti crisis last year but we know that this year it’ll grow even more.

In the old days, everyone had a charity box at home but that’s been supplanted by online and mobile giving, available to donors at any time. The mobile giving market represents the next step in this evolution, and is growing exponentially. We believe there’s never been a better time to start a mobile initiative than right now. In fact many experts believe that mobile giving has the ability to match or even outperform online donations.

Giving on-the-go and cause marketing via mobile media is the next trend for nonprofits and charities, and you have the chance to take advantage of the emerging mobile medium before consumers start getting bombarded by text messages asking for donations. And it doesn’t stop with raising money; nonprofits are also using mobile to share their organizational messages, stimulate volunteerism, and increase engagement and interactivity.

Although raising money via mobile giving is the primary goal for nonprofit organizations, mobile is more than just a fundraising tool. Therefore, it’s important to view the mobile channel not only as a mechanism for donations but also realize the benefit from the fact that the mobile phone is the most personal device to launch creative campaigns on, that reach for the heart and the pocketbook.

There are endless opportunities in the mobile channel. Mobile technology dramatically changed how consumers interact with brands and brands that understand consumer mobile behaviour will ensure success as the channel evolves. Still not convinced that mobile is game changing for nonprofits? Then read this:

Why is mobile a big deal for charities and nonprofits?

• Obviously for donations it’s simple, quick and can generate substantial volumes
• It not only it makes it technologically easier for supporters to donate, but also make it possible for them to donate on the go to fit their busy lifestyles
• Mobile integrates well with other media, so it allows you to use the strengths of each
• Mobile has become the preferred way to access Internet
• Mobile is the most effective means for you to reach out to people
• Mobile marketing today is where email marketing was years ago
• Mobile is compatible with nonprofit’s characteristics such as urgency and intimacy
• Mobile allows for real-time broadcasts
• Social networks are largely accessed through mobile and they have moved from being a mere vehicle of personal interaction to become the most comprehensive means of dissemination of any good news or cause
• User experience in mobile is vastly improving everyday
• Charities will reach new groups of donors by having a mobile initiative
• Provides innovative ways to engage with the public and invite them to support your cause
• It helps charities to think about how they can use geo-location tools to show their impact and to engage volunteers and donors wherever they are
• Mobile phones are highly personal and this allows you to get personal and even stir up emotions

The bottom line is that entering the world of mobile marketing could open up many new fundraising opportunities for your nonprofit organization. So, before it gets too late in the game to be on the cutting edge, integrate mobile into your multichannel marketing activities and benefit from “ the channel du jour”. Interested yet? Need help from industry experts? Give us a shout and will help you with all your mobile related needs.