You might have noticed that I have a new button on the right side of the screen that says “Availability”. Check it out; you can schedule an appointment with me now to discuss how I can help you and your business. Thanks to a new service called Setster, visitors may now grab my contact details faster than ever.  To begin, simply click on the “Availability” tab and hover your cursor over the the calendar to select a meeting date and time that works best for you. If for some reason I am not able to attend the meeting time that you have selected, I will let you know in advance.

I am always looking for great innovative ways to facilitate communication with my readers and hope that you find this method useful.

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Before we attempt to answer the question above, consider the following stats…

1.  According to the CTIA, U.S. mobile subscribers hit the 285 million mark at of the end of 2009. However, today, there are 292 million U.S. mobile subscribers. This now means that 93% of the U.S. population is now mobile!

2. The CTIA also reported that Americans traded 822 billion text messages (5 billion per day) for the second half of 2009, and over 1.5 trillion for the whole year. (WOW)

3.  Portio Research noted that SMS (text-messaging) is still holding steady as the most widely used data application. Text-messaging remains high on the charts as a primary way in which Americans continue to leverage their mobile device. 

4. In March 2010, Experian Simmons reported that 9 out of 10 United States adults today use at least one mobile device.

5. In April 2010, Comscore reported that over 64% of U.S. mobile subscribers used text messaging on their mobile device.

6. In April 2010, Ring Central reported that “Smartphones Changing the Way Business Professionals Work and Live”. In fact, of those surveyed, the majority (79%) of them are now using the mobile devices more than either their office or home phones.

7. In April 2010, Morgan Stanley reported that the mobile web will rule as the primary connection point to the internet by 2015.

8. In July 2010, Pew reported that 95% of mobile users between 18-29 send or receive text messages.

9. Back in July 2010, Pew also confirmed that minority Americans (African Americans & Hispanics) lead the way in their use of mobile data applications.

“Nearly two-thirds of African-Americans (64%) and Latinos (63%) are wireless internet users, and minority Americans are significantly more likely to own a cell phone than their white counterparts (87% of blacks and Hispanics own a cell phone, compared with 80% of whites). Additionally, black and Latino cell phone owners take advantage of a much wider array of their phones’ data functions compared to white cell phone owners. It is important to note that our data for Hispanics represents English-speaking Hispanics only, as our survey did not provide a Spanish-language option.” -Pew

10. In August 2010, Nielsen reported that African-Americans, Hispanics, and women text the most. In a related report released by 3G Americas, it was announced that the number of mobile connections in Latin America have exceeded the 500 million mark.

Now, back to the question: Where are the employers in all of this?

That is a question I have repeatedly asked myself. Unlike 10 years ago, it is now uncommon to see working professionals without a mobile device. The reality is that our mobile is no longer simply a luxury – it’s a necessity. As evidenced by the stats above, our audience is not only global, but very diverse and mobile-savvy.

As employers, we now have a unique opportunity to engage and enhance our company’s brand through the most widely used mass medium on the planet. Of the four mobile marketing tactics (e.g., SMS or text-messaging, mobile web, mobile apps, and mobile advertising), SMS remains the most widely used today. Employers often overlook this basic (yet powerful) function of the mobile phone. While developing mobile apps are a hot topic today – remember that text stills reigns in mobile. Unlike native mobile apps which are usually device specific, the beauty of text-messaging is that it not only offers the greatest reach but it is also simple. Virtually all mobile phones can send and receive text-messages. A well-planned messaging campaign, in tandem with a mobile web solution, can offer candidates a seamless experience as they move from the desktop to the mobile.

Employers, the next time you ask the question of how you can differentiate yourself from your competitors, consider the mobile channel as a way of putting you ahead of the pack. That said, keep in mind, mobile as a standalone solution will not cure your recruiting woes. As with other mass marketing efforts, integration is key. Michael Becker, Mobile Marketing Association’s managing director for North America, said: “Marketing through multiple touch points delivers the greatest impact.” I could not have stated that any better. With the right strategy and tactics in place, mobile may prove to be the missing link that finally completes your online and offline recruiting efforts.

If you are interested in mobile recruiting but not sure where to begin, start by reviewing the basics of how to construct a mobile recruiting campaign. Afterwards, if you still have questions and want to learn more simply leave a comment below or contact me!

Moving forward, I plan on spending much more time focusing my discussions around the mobile space, i.e., mobile recruiting, mobile marketing & SMS, mobile site optimization, and other mobile-related technologies, etc. I invite you to spend a little time browsing the site. Who knows, you may find something that interests you.

Need help building a mobile recruiting solution, site, or want me to speak at your conference? If so, feel free to email me. However, if you simply want to connect to me, there are many ways to do so. Here’s a good place to start…

See you in the cloud!

Here’s a quick look at how mobile is taking shape in the world of recruitment…

Marlatt brought up a new breed of media consumers called “media snackers,” or people who have been bombarded with media tools like social networks, microblogs, and media aggregators, and then acquire “Web 2.0 Attention Deficit Disorder.”

“We’re so overwhelmed, we don’t take the time anymore to read blogs like we did three years ago,” Marlatt said. “Anyone who actually blogs can look at their analytics and see the level of traffic vs. a year ago. The attention span of most users is waning. People are consuming information in small bits and choose how they want it when they want it. It’s about micromedia, not social media.”

Michael Marlatt on Web 2.0 ADD.