22 Industries That Are Cashing in on Mobile Marketing (Infographic) Our phone screens have become the main pinboards for our 'favorites' as we mobilize our lives.

By Jana Barrett

This story originally appeared on Bizness Apps

Picjumbo
Apple, the Apple logo and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Let's talk about refrigerator magnets. I'm in the kitchen considering my sad spread of questionable leftovers when I notice the phone number for Thai delivery on the freezer door right before me. Done.

Now let's talk about bookmarks. Like many, I get my news online, and once I found a couple sites I trusted, I bookmarked them and the pursuit was over. Whenever I'm looking for the latest, I'm there in two clicks.

Convenience may seem like the obvious driver here, but I think it's much bigger than that. I like to have "my" things. "My" delivery place, "my" news, "my" coffee shop. Apps satisfy that same innate desire for the routine and reliable. People used to fill up their address books with their go-to spots; now they download their apps. It's the same concept as the good ol' refrigerator magnet, but with much better real estate. I spend more time than I'm willing to admit hovering in front of the fridge, but not nearly as much as I spend on my phone.

Small businesses have begun to pick up on the trend. The early adopters were restaurants, gyms, and other industries with an obvious reason to buy in: immediate return on investment with minimal effort. Now scores of industries have jumped on board, and the question is no longer, "Can I make money from a mobile app?" but "How do I get mine?"

Recently, we've seen a huge spike in apps for golf courses, hotels, politicians, plumbers -- you name it, and someone has an app for it. Small businesses that didn't have an obvious need for an app before certainly have one now: the competition already launched theirs.

As the demand has increased, so have the capabilities. Apps aren't just the ordering tools they used to be. Now you can promote your favorite charity, post a question about a clogged toilet, watch your candidate's latest speech, and send an absence note to your kid's school all while scoring your golf game from your phone. Joking, eyes on the green.

But really, that's not too far from the truth. We all have our "my" places and the magnets and bookmarks to prove it, but our phone screens have become the main pinboards for these favorites as we mobilize our lives. It's just about adding your pin.

Jana Barrett is a customer support manager at Bizness Apps.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Science & Technology

OpenAI's Latest Move Is a Game Changer — Here's How Smart Solopreneurs Are Turning It Into Profit

OpenAI's latest AI tool acts like a full-time assistant, helping solopreneurs save time, find leads and grow their business without hiring.

Business Solutions

Boost Team Productivity and Security With Windows 11 Pro, Now $15 for Life

Ideal for BIZ Experiencess and small-business owners who are looking to streamline their PC setup.

Science & Technology

AI Isn't Plug-and-Play — You Need a Strategy. Here's Your Guide to Building One.

Don't just "add AI" — build a strategy. This guide helps founders avoid common pitfalls and create a step-by-step roadmap to harness real value from AI.

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

Starting a Business

I Built a $20 Million Company by Age 22 While Still in College. Here's How I Did It and What I Learned Along the Way.

Wealth-building in your early twenties isn't about playing it safe; it's about exploiting the one time in life when having nothing to lose gives you everything to gain.