Placecast teamed up with Mobile Marketer this week to present How Mobile Text Alerts and Location Affect Consumer Retail Behavior, a webinar outlining our findings from the research we conducted with the Harris Poll and directly with participants in ShopAlerts programs we created for REI, Sonic, The North Face, and American Eagle Outfitters.

Following up on our recent press release about our Harris Interactive Data findings, this webinar offered a forum for discussion and exchange with brands and mobile marketers around lessons learned and emerging best practices for location-based programs. We also covered location-based mobile recruitment strategies and methods for increasing the relevancy of messages and measuring purchase behavior.

With texting and mobile devices becoming a primary mode of communication across all audiences, from teens and busy parents to savvy shoppers, there is growing consumer interest in receiving specific promotions and mobile content tied to interests and location.  While consumers cited special offers and promotions as most appealing, a significant percentage also noted that even if they didn’t purchase an exact item promoted in a message, text alerts served as reminders to visit the brand’s store/website for other items and content, helping to increase awareness, build brand loyalty, and stimulate engagement.