The S8, Samsung's latest addition to the proud Galaxy line, is continuing to turn heads and create buzz all around the world. Almost three weeks after the US release of the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, it is now crystal clear that the many months of S8 hype were warranted. From record pre-sales, to the soon-to-be available unlocked versions of both models, to the Galaxy’s highly anticipated release in Saudi Arabia, Samsung is continuing to excel in its quest to redefine both its global image and customer satisfaction in 2017. And yet, lost in the hoopla of Samsung's inspiring story of mobile phone redemption is one important business question:How will the S8 and S8 Plus impact mobile marketing?Not a company accustomed to letting the important questions go unanswered, we here at Digital Turbine have identified three potential reasons “why” you should incorporate the S8 and S8 Plus into your mobile marketing strategy in 2017.Let’s take a look!1) Consumer ReachAs one of the defining trends of the digital age, consumers have come to regard the mobile phone as the “go-to” piece of technology for advice, assistance, and access to a wide range of real-world and digital services that are relied on each and every day. With an estimated 2.6 billion global smartphone users in 2016, and with this number expected to top 3.6 billion by 2020, there is no better time than now to heavily incorporate smartphones into your mobile advertizing strategy. This is especially true considering Newzoo (in the same report linked above) anticipates that Samsung’s 2016 global market share of 31% will only continue to grow this year, largely due to the sales of the S8 and S8 Plus Galaxy models. Exciting new advertising technologies, in particular native app preloading, now allow advertisers to reach customers at the epicenter of their digital activity – their smartphone. In what was once was a realm dominated by Google and Facebook, new channels exist to broaden reach and directly impact consumers. Expect the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus to play a huge role in this continuing trend in 2017. 2) PresenceWhether on social media, or the shelves of your local supermarket, presence is key when it comes to advertising success in the digital age. It is here that the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus present advertisers with an amazing opportunity to facilitate high-quality smartphone presence in 2017. Native app preloading on these devices will provide brands with an an important opportunity to address consumer needs in the moment. Not too early, not too late, but from the exact moment where consumer engagement is known to be at its highest - when the mobile phone is powered on. Remember, with 60 million Galaxy devices expected to ship in 2017, it is safe to say that “presence begets presence” for both parties when it comes to preloading apps on the S8 and S8 Plus. From product research and purchase, to social proof and recommendations, it is no secret that the mobile phone home screen is one of most valuable pieces of real estate in the world. With Americans collectively checking their mobile phones close to eight billion times a day, advertisers recognize that today’s mobile moment mind-set depends on mobile phone presence. Expect native app preloads to play an important role in developing a successful presence on both the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. 3) Local ImpactAlthough Samsung may be a global leader in technology and innovation, this doesn’t mean that they fail to see the utility in “going local.” With the release of both the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus Samsung has taken the local retail experience to a whole new level. Beginning with Bixby, its voice assistant and rival to Amazon’s Alexa, Microsoft’s Cortana, and Apple’s Siri, Samsung offers local marketers with “contextually aware” software that has the ability to personalize a wide range of user experiences via location technology. With Bixby’s ability to provide more information on consumer and retail goods via “point and shoot” camera technology, the S8 and S8 Plus should help facilitate the personalization of the local consumer experience. Turning our attention to Samsung Pay, the mobile payment service launched in 2016, we see that the tech giant has successfully and rapidly tapped into the global consumer wallet market. Samsung understands that mobile phone payment options provide local consumers with a convenient, streamlined, and, most importantly, safe option for payment. This is reflected in the almost $240 million (See. the 28:00 min. mark) Samsung Pay transactions that Samsung has registered to date. With an emphasis on local purchasing via Bixby and Samsung Pay, expect both context and location to allow advertisers to enhance their mobile strategies on the new Galaxy models.In Brief...From consumer reach and presence, to local retail impact, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will play a huge role when it comes to mobile advertising for 2017. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to incorporate the Samsung Galaxy line into your mobile advertising success story.Are you a brand interested in advertising via the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus? If so, click here now.
