ContributionThe objective of this research was to gain a deeper understand-ing of the drivers and barriers to consumer acceptance of mobilemarketing and thus determine the critical success factors for mar-keters adopting mobile and QR Code marketing approaches. It alsoaimed to discover how smartphone technology has changed theway people use their mobile handsets and the implications this hasfor how marketers should harness the evolving potential of thischannel. Overall, the findings indicate that as smartphone usage inthe UK rises, increasing numbers of consumers are relying heavilyon their handsets for communication and internet access, and thatin areas such as mobile website design and content (including apps)consumer expectations are increasing dramatically.There has been limited previous research on consumer attitudestowards mobile marketing in the smartphone era, and hence thisexploratory study offers some useful insights which could informboth practice and research. In relation to mobile marketing, thefindings of this study both confirm and extend previous research.The negative attitudes towards mobile marketing identified in ear-lier studies based on earlier technologies, persist in the smartphoneera. Users continue to view their mobile device as personal, andview text messages from companies as intrusive, and often deletethem. The exceptions are text messages concerning mobile ticket-ing and alert/reminder services, which they presumably regard asuseful. Even text messages regarding incentives that were foundto be acceptable in earlier studies such as discounts, competitionsand gifts are unwelcome. Respondents were concerned about trust-ing a company with their mobile phone number, but would behappier to receive mobile marketing if they felt they had morecontrol, through, for example, opt-out options. Trust in a companyis significantly impacted by the appearance, entertainment, valueand functionality of a mobile website. Smartphone users felt morestrongly about delivery in these areas than users of older technolo-gies; expectations are increasing.As pull technologies, QR codes have considerable potential tosupplant text-based mobile marketing communications and helporganisations to overcome consumers’ negative attitudes towardsmobile marketing communications. The findings from the researchinto QR code awareness and acceptance drivers suggest that con-sumers respond more positively towards QR code marketing thanthey do towards SMS marketing approaches, because they feelmore in control. The primary use of QR codes is to access informa-tion on mobile websites, but there is some evidence that consumersare also using QR codes to access games, discount vouchers, com-petitions and other advertising. Most QR code accesses are in thestreet or at home, and consistent with this the two most scannedmedia are magazines, and outdoor adverts or posters. QR code usersare relatively positive about continued use, but value ease of use,information/content and discounts; certainly users are motivatedby the benefits that they perceive scanning a QR code to deliver.Non-users agreed on the value of information, content and incen-tives, but faced barriers arising from older technology, and lack offamiliarity with QR codes and their potential benefits.5.2. RecommendationsThis exploratory study has offered a range of insights into a vari-ety of aspects of consumers’ attitudes towards mobile marketing
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in the smart phone era. However, further research is necessaryto develop a more extensive evidence base before it will be pos-sible to generalise regarding consumer attitudes towards mobilemarketing in the smartphone era, and the most effective mobilemarketing strategies in general, and the role and value of QR codes,more specifically.However, in the meantime, the findings from this study providesome useful indicators as to the nature of successful mobile market-ing communications. The evidence from this study, supported byprevious studies, is that consumers persist in viewing their mobilephones as being for their personal and social use, and marketingcommunication from companies is even less welcome through thischannel, than through other channels. Accordingly, practitionersneed to:1. Develop an understanding of what motivates their customers toaccept mobile marketing communications, including what con-sumers perceive as benefits in this context. Optimal strategieswill vary between sectors and brands, and is likely to be impactedby the organisation’s potential for engagement in those applica-tions that consumers regard as valuable such as ticketing andappointment and travel alerts.2. Hone their competence in marketing communicationsapproaches that respond to consumers’ desire for controlover the marketing communications that they recieve, and giveconsumers the confidence to trust them.3. Develop a repertoire of pull marketing communicationsapproaches, including website content and applications that cus-tomers value, and provide access to these and other contentthrough QR codes.It is also clear that further research into marketing in the smart-phone era, including QR code marketing is needed in order to findout more about what drives success in this area. Key foci for suchresearch might include:1. Further exploration of the marketing communicationsapproaches that make consumers willing to engage withcompanies through the mobile channel, including a deeperunderstanding of the outcome of such engagement in terms ofsales, brand awareness and other marketing objectives.2. Investigation into the effect of demographic factors, such asage, gender, extent of mobile phone use, income level, and cul-ture, on issues such as trust formation and benefit perceptionwith mobile marketing communication, and identification withmobile phone handsets.3. Further exploration of the value of QR codes and other pull tech-nologies both to consumers and organisations, including thefactors that drive their adoption and continued use, and the effectscanning a code may have on acquisition, retention or conversionrates.