How many people do you know own a mobile phone? How many of them do not leave home without it? The mobile phone has become so routine in our lives most people feel naked or lost without it, being without it is like a missing extremity. The demand for the mobile phone continues to increase especially since mobile phones cater to all. The next time you walk down the street or are at the local grocery store observe the multitudes of people using their phones either talking, sending text messages, or even checking their calendars. There are almost 2.4 billion mobile phone users worldwide. This number alone is a good reason to focus on mobile marketing. There are also other reasons to use mobile marketing like increasing word of mouth, giving power to the consumer, and creating effective customer relationship management (CRM).

Marketers are moving towards mobile marketing. Understanding and awareness of technology is the first challenge toward mobile marketing, but justifying its worth is the second. The ability to stay on top of the continually improving technology is difficult and intriguing investors to accept these improvements can be even harder in this fluctuating economy. To be successful the campaign must be informative, entertaining or have social interaction.

1. The first service is providing the information, which will answer consumer’s questions. With access to a mobile phone, the consumer can visit a company website to read feedback and reviews on in-store products or services. This simplifies consumers purchasing decision with a sense of security.
2. Social interaction usually involves a user creating a personal profile of experiences, images, videos or just general thoughts on issues viewable to all or selected individuals via the internet. Social Networking sites are the most rapidly growing websites available. Users are connecting through websites like Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter. Each website connects users with one another allowing them to share rich media content, join similar groups, fan clubs, and more. Social Media creates a personalized interaction between readers, consumers and businesses.
3. Engaging the audience in a type of entertainment will increase retention and the return rate. The Zynga Corporation that has developed hundreds of video games and according to their website there are over 50 million players. The majority of their video game connects players with one another through the social media websites. To finance games, Zynga relies on external business promotions and players to purchase special gaming points.

Conclusion

Mobile marketing seems to be the obvious way to keep in touch with consumers via mobile phones. It expands company’s range and target market with the instantaneous convenience. The cost efficiency speaks for itself. Companies can determine the extent of the mobile marketing campaign and customers can determine if they want to accept or decline these offers and updates.

Congress and the President have extended and expanded the COBRA premium subsidy which will allow more individuals to take advantage of federal assistance. The new legislation is part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 which extends the COBRA subsidy’s eligibility period for two months and extends the maximum duration of the federal assistance from nine months to 15 months. Employers will be required to provide additional notification to qualifying employees of regarding their rights under the Act.

At this point, the Department of Labor (DOL) has not provided a sample of the additional notice required under the provision. However, the new provision does require additional notices describing the new 15-month premium subsidy and other amendments. It will be important for all employers’s to stay up to date regarding the new notices and any sample’s issued by the DOL. Notices should be sent to all assistance-eligible individuals who are on COBRA on or after November 1, 2009, or whose qualifying event is a termination of employment occurring on or after that date.

Credit/Refund Processes for COBRA Subsidy Extension

Credit and refund procedures will be necessary to accommodate assistance-eligible individuals (AEIs) who paid more than the required 35 percent COBRA premium since the enactment of the subsidy extension. We recommend working closely with your benefits department to ensure participants receive the proper refund and that the amount your organization paid out is reimbursed through a premium reduction through a payroll tax credit. As always, Midwest Staffing Group is available as a resource and will keep your organization updated on any critical changes!