Four markets to be a focus of mobile marketing initiatives
As part of the deal, which was announced at the Mobile Marketing Association’s SM2 event in New York last night, Unilever will support Brandtone’s expansion into four new markets: India, China, Indonesia, and the US. Unilever will also build on the existing relationship with Brandtone in South Africa, Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia and Turkey.
Keith Weed, Unilever Chief Marketing Officer, explains: “Over half our turnover comes from emerging markets. Mobile provides a direct means of engagement with almost every consumer in those countries, and it is therefore absolutely critical for our brands’ growth.
“People are willing to share information about themselves in order to get more relevant advertising and offers. So the opportunity is there – if we do it correctly. We need to approach people with respect – maintaining trust and ensuring two-way dialogue. The work we do with Brandtone enables us to do exactly that. By building relationships with our consumers and adding something of value to them we can increase both purchase and brand loyalty” adds Weed.
Unilever has already run a number of very successful campaigns with Brandtone, including a promotion for OMO washing power in South Africa, which generated response rates of 30%, far above the industry average.
Partnering to open up key growth markets
Donald Fitzmaurice, Co-founder and CEO, Brandtone, said: “This agreement takes our partnership with Unilever to a new level, and sees us partnering to open up key growth markets. There, we will continue to offer Unilever the means to responsibly and sustainably engage consumers in the most important developing and emerging markets.
"Our state-of-the-art technology platform, available globally through the cloud, with teams of highly experienced marketeers present in each market, allows us to achieve unparalleled results for our clients. We have already delivered some remarkable campaigns for Unilever brands in Russia, Brazil and South Africa, and we're excited about taking this approach into the remaining BRICS - as well as other key growth markets - with their support.”
At the heart of Brandtone’s business model is meaningful value exchange; based on providing incentives, such as free mobile airtime, to reward consumers for interacting with brands and sharing information via their mobile phones.
Campaigns to date have seen over 90% of consumers opt-in to further engagement, creating databases of profiled consumers that brands can build on-going relationships with. The campaigns devised by Brandtone are accessible to all consumers – using USSD (an interactive form of data messaging), SMS and IVR (voice message) technology – and are free-to-enter due to the company’s partnerships with the telco providers in each market. This provides an ideal channel for engagement in markets where mobile is the most reliable and widespread communication channel.
Founding investor in Brandtone in 2010, Unilever Ventures has played an active role in its development and global expansion to help brands to re-invent the way they do marketing via mobile.
About Brandtone
Brandtone is an international company that provides the means for the leading brands in fast-growing markets to conduct mobile marketing campaigns that increase sales, profile engaged consumers and build trusted brands. To date, Brandtone’s world leading clients include Unilever, SAB-Miller, Kellogg’s, Pepsi, Kraft and BP. The company now has operations in South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, Kenya, Nigeria, India, China, Indonesia and the US.