Mobile Advertising & M-Commerce Tips for Brands
Updated: Sep 18
Your consumers are never without their phones, so make buying your brand a breeze. Here are a few tips for winning at mobile commerce.
Real quick, do you have your phone nearby? I do! Your future customers do, too.
We’re all tethered to our mobile devices these days, making them one of the most effective ways to reach your target consumers.
In fact, Statista reports that the majority of retail website traffic now comes from mobile devices! That means countless opportunities to reach shoppers in a purchasing mindset and persuade them to choose your brand.
Smart advertising campaigns are no longer conceptualized and then later “optimized for mobile” – they’re built with mobile in mind.
What is m-commerce, and how does it differ from e-commerce?
Mobile commerce (or m-commerce) is a subset of e-commerce that specifically uses wireless or handheld electronic devices for buying and selling goods and services online. M-commerce can take place in a mobile web browser or in an app, and it allows for payment via digital wallet or contactless payment in addition to manual credit card data entry.
According to Adobe Analytics, 56.4% of U.S. online holiday transactions in 2025 were completed on a smartphone, up from 54.5% the year before.
That means brands need to build their e-commerce stores with mobile in mind from the start and make mobile shopping as seamless as possible, or they'll lose out to the competition.
What are some popular mobile advertising formats?
Mobile advertising refers to any form of digital advertising that appears within a mobile or handheld device. The creative possibilities are endless, but a few of the most impactful forms include:
Display (or Banner) Ads
Display ads must be designed for mobile users, which means eye-catching designs and interactive user experiences. Our award-winning mobile marketing campaigns have included rich media, tappable location maps that guide people to physical stores, and fun AR filters that consumers love adding to their photos.
Native Ads
Most of us are primed to visually recognize and skip over advertisements that stand out from the content we're looking at. Native ads blend in with the surrounding content so viewers will read them without disruption.
Audio & Video Ads
Video ads are extremely effective on mobile devices because they combine two forms of attention: sound and motion. They provide an opportunity to convey your brand's personality through creative visuals and sonic branding. Audio is a highly trustworthy, memorable medium with less competition from other brands than crowded platforms like Social.
Augmented Reality
As mentioned above, AR-infused ads can make your brand stand out from the stream of static and video ads, especially for apparel and home goods. Customers want to see how items will look in their space before purchasing, and with AR tech, you can give them the visuals they need to make a decision in real time.
Branded App
In your own proprietary, controlled environment, consumers (current and future) can shop, get advice, and access new releases instantly. Give app users access to exclusive community deals that make them feel like part of an in-group. 58% of shoppers say an exclusive offer would increase their likelihood to purchase. 82% say it would increase how often they shopped with a brand.
Gamification
Turning a digital ad into a quick, fun puzzle or quiz increases user engagement exponentially. What's even better: offering a reward for ad engagement or offering purchase credits for in-app game participation can build long-term customer loyalty.
Again, the possibilities for successful m-commerce campaigns stretch as far as your imagination. Gather a healthy sample of consumer data so you know who your audience is and what they want, and you can build an impactful campaign that serves your consumer well.
This piece originally appeared in our weekly Paid Media Insights newsletter. For more tips, research, and analysis; subscribe for free here.
