The numbers continue to build the case - mobile is growing. According Google CEO, Erick Schmidt, speaking recently at the Interactive Advertising Bureau's annual leadership meeting, mobile is growing much faster than predicted. He supported his call to “do mobile” with some interesting stats:

• Mobile searches related to Chrysler, a Super Bowl advertiser, were 102 times higher after the ad was televised; desktop searches for Chrysler increased only 48 times more than usual.
• 78 percent of smartphone users shop on their device

The ComScore 2010 Mobile Year in Review released earlier this month also has a lot of the mobile growth statistics:

In December 2010, nearly 47% of mobile subscribers in the U.S. were mobile media users up 7.6% from the previous year.

From December 2009 to December 2010, smartphone ownership increased from 16.8% to 27.0%.

These numbers are much higher in the b2b world. According to a Forbes report, 82% of executives have some kind of smartphone, and they are making purchases on their mobile devices. Nearly two-thirds indicated they’re comfortable making a business purchase on their mobile device, and more than half would rather make a business purchase on the mobile Web than over a phone.

So what do all these stats and numbers mean to b2b marketers? It means if you haven’t started already, now is the time to put together a mobile marketing strategy.

Begin by asking the question:

"How can you provide value to your customers and prospects in a mobile environment?”

Do you truly understand how they are using their mobile device as part of their professional life? Before jumping in and building an app for the hottest device, whether it is the iPad or an Android platform, do some research first:

• Check your web analytics and find out just how many people or currently accessing your site with a mobile device. 
• Ask your sales reps and distributor channels what they think would be helpful. 
• Evaluate the mobile landscape among your competitors and industry content providers to see what is already available

This initial research will certainly provide some guidance toward developing an effective and relevant mobile marketing strategy.