Public Relations Association of Mississippi
November 10, 2008
In the Palm of Your Hand:
How Communicators are making a Splash on the Mobile Web
Ed Schipul http://flickr.com/photos/adwriter/233031265/
eschipul@schipul.com
www.schipul.com // www.brandtobedetermined.com

What do cell phones have to do
Obama
with politics?
http://flickr.com/photos/joecrimmings/1977376708/

Let’s talk about...
• What is Mobile Web?
• How to utilize the Mobile Web today!
• Who is using Mobile Web?
• Bonus round: Mobile Web tools/toys
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonjon_2k8/340305918/
On-the-go tools for on-the-go communication

The Communicator’s toolset:
Where things are going

Anthropology of Cell Phones
http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/the-anthropology-of-cellphones/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ucumari/2317386162/
Mobile!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbuhler/29493344/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mastrobiggo/2414317157/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davyrocket/82339986/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaetanlee/118885175 http://www.flickr.com/photos/andresmartin/2379157808/

Technology is great, but it’s all about PEOPLE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/libraryman/414960752

Brain candy from Tomi Ahonen research
So why do you care?
• 30% Internet users access ONLY through Mobile (over 850 million)
• 92,000 text messages sent EVERY SECOND
• 2.8 trillion text messages sent in 2007
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whartz/2092971356/
• SMS = $100 billion/year industry
• www.communities-dominate.blogs.com

2.7 Billion Mobile Phones

Slide thanks to Houston Chronicle’s David Herrold:
http://www.slideshare.net/davidherrold/mobile-best-practices-for-newspapers/

Slide thanks to Houston Chronicle’s David Herrold:
http://www.slideshare.net/davidherrold/mobile-best-practices-for-newspapers/

But what is the Mobile Web?

Not just the coolest
new handheld
Not just iPhones
or text messaging
Not just PC Web
on your cell phone

Mobile Web =
New way of communicating
• Create new value
• Grow Community
• Interactive campaigns
• Reach those on-the-go
http://flickr.com/photos/eschipul/743621029/

Content vs. Context

2.7 Billion Mobile Phones
Where you are really really matters

Slide thanks to Houston Chronicle’s David Herrold:
http://www.slideshare.net/davidherrold/mobile-best-practices-for-newspapers/

What else do folks do while driving?
www.trapster.com
Trapster - a Mobile

How to give your visitors
a Mobile experience

Providing the Mobile experience
1. Do NOTHING!

Providing the Mobile experience
2. Simplify, simplify, simplify
Reduce your images and styling
www.davidville.com
www.happykatie.tumblr.com

Providing the Mobile experience
3. Use handheld stylesheets

Providing the Mobile experience
4. Create a separate Mobile Web site
http://www.kayak.com/ http://www.kayak.com/moby/

Who is using Mobile Web?

Obama announces his running mate and customizes cell phone wallpaper
Getting the VP word out to 2.9 million people
http://www.barackobama.com/mobilev2/#

Congressman Culberson streams LIVE from his cell
www.qik.com/johnculberson (35,000 views!!)

Let’s review...
• Mobile Web = Mobile Humans
• Context and immediacy is everything
• Start with fresh Mobile content
• Keep it simple, keep it fun
http://flickr.com/photos/pollyann/2645907599/
Mobile Web connects Humans to info they want

Thanks for being here!
Ed Schipul
Blog: www.brandtobedetermined.com
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul
Twitter: www.twitter.com/eschipul
Slideshare: www.slideshare.net/eschipul
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deneyterrio/2095590563/

Mobile tools for
Mobile Communicators
http://www.flickr.com/photos/toma01/2171010315/

Lots of toys...
But what do you really need?

Puts the full Web on your phone
www.operamini.com

Search for free
Google products
for your phone
model.
Mobile: http://m.google.com
Web: www.google.com/mobile

Mobile: http://m.flickr.com
Web: www.flickr.com

Mobile: http://m.twitter.com
Web: www.twitter.com

Mobile: http://m.facebook.com
Web: www.facebook.com
1. Access messages
2. Update status
3. Use FB like a phone book
4. Upload photos and videos