Business and Marketing

Consumers aren't as reluctant to receive marketing messages on the run as some think, a new study shows.

Mobile users may actually be happy to hear from you.

Surveys, activists, and government officials who warn that location-based marketing campaigns are a form of stalking are off-base, according to a study by mobile marketing provider Urban Airship maintaining that marketers can safely reach half their mobile customers with location- and proximity-triggered messages.

Analyzing some 4 billion push messages from more than 1,000 apps, Urban Airship found that an average of 62% of consumers agree to share their location with app providers. Mobile users must also opt in to push notifications to receive location-based messages, and more than half of them did, said the study.

“Our data analysis shows that assumptions around consumers being reluctant to share location are false and massively short-sell mobile,” says Urban Airship CEO Scott Kveton. “Users obviously value the location-based functionality of apps.”

Urban Airship's campaign analysis showed that the location opt-in rate among individual apps in the study ranged from 60 to 80%.

Business Breaking News: Focus on 'Family' Is Key to Long-Term Family Business Success

According to Family Enterprise USA, 5.5 million family-owned businesses operate in the United States. What's the secret to their success? It just might be the "family" aspect that makes these organizations thrive.

"The business world knows that if you take care of the customer, the bottom line will take care of itself," said Paul Gentilini, owner and dealer principle of third-generation car dealership Gentilini Motors. "Family-run businesses take it a step further — if you take care of your employees and treat them like family, they will take care of your customers and treat them like family. The business will thrive with loyal patrons and employees, and continue to grow and be profitable even during tough times."

What truly drives many family businesses is the sense of connection and identity the owners and their family members feel with the business, said entrepreneur Allen Fishman, founder and executive chairman of business coaching services provider The Alternative Board (TAB). [5 Survival Tips for Family Businesses]

Commodity Online News: Chana trading range 2752 2846 gains at 2799