OK, so you've just invested in a Branded Mobile App for your business.
Congratulations!
And what an App it is! Attractive to look at, lots of great functions and features, and it's sooooo easy to use that you're sure all your customers will love it.
Of course you can't wait to start using it to market your business. You have visions of the droves of new customers who will be flocking to your business, your store, your restaurant, all needing your services and wanting to purchase.
You see your customers LOVING the App! The Push Notifications tell them about upcoming events and specials, the mobile coupons are a tremendous hit, and they love the ease of use and ability to interact with the App and your business.
In your mind's eyes you see so many smiling, happy customers, their dollars flying, and your bank account getting bigger and greener. It's wonderful, isn't it?
But there's only 1 problem; Nobody has your new App on their smart phones.
It's like the old adage; If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?
If a Branded App isn't on a smart phone, does it make a sale? No. Definitely not.
So the question is, how do you get that hot new Branded App onto your customer's smart phones, working for you and generating new revenue?
Well my dear readers, listen closely and pay attention and I will tell you.
How to get your Branded App onto lots and lots of smart phones and working for you and your business.
- Put a sign on the Front Door of your business telling people about the App.
- Direct everyone, from the secretary on up, to 'talk up' the new App to any and all customers every time they make contact with them.
- Put small signs around the interior of the business telling people about the NEW APP, especially if it is a restaurant, club, bar, salon, or retail shop of any kind.
- Have a small give away in-house for customers who download the App onto their phones RIGHT THERE in the business.
- Talk about the App every chance you get to anyone, whether in the biz or not. Friends, family, strangers on the street, the guy who bags your groceries, your hairdresser, the lady at the bank, the person next to you in line at the grocery store. ANYBODY. If you have an App that is interesting and helpful PEOPLE WILL THANK YOU for telling them about it.
- Direct secretaries to answer the phone with 'Hello and thanks for calling XYZ. Did you hear about our new App for smart phones/'.
- Direct your waiters, waitresses, bartenders and any other wait staff to talk about the new App with all customers.
- Direct salespeople, cashiers, and anyone who comes into contact with the public to ask about and talk about the App.
- ASK people who have downloaded the App to share the App with friends and family.
- Give an incentive (free cocktail, shampoo sample, car wash, whatever) for sharing the App.
- Drop a flyer into every bag, box or envelope that leaves the business telling customers about the new App and how great it is.
- Have a Contest to see who can share the App to the most people and give a discount or freebie to the winner.
- Feature the App prominently on any Web media, including websites, email correspondence, and Blogs.
- Have a 'call to action' attached to every bit of content that reaches the public, giving them incentive to download and/or share the App.
- THANK everyone who downloads the App with an email message and a discount coupon.
- Have an App Guide available, telling your customers what they can do with the App and how to use it.
Paid methods.
- Send flyers to your community telling them about the App and giving an incentive to download it to their smart phones.
- Add a reference to the App in every bit of promotional material that leaves the business. Boxes, books, flyers, promos, receipts, tags, everything.
- With every print promotion, for any purpose, include a reference to the new App with a call to action to download it.
- Include a reference to the App in any and all Radio and TV ads with a call to action comment or blurb.
- Team up with other local businesses to promote the App.
- Promote a contest for anyone who downloads the App with a great prize or give-away.
- Have a BIG SIGN created to put up at the business telling people about the App and how great it is.
Remember that the key here is to have your App on as many phones as possible and have as many people talking about the App as possible. An App is only as good as the number of phones that it is downloaded to. If it is on enough smart phones it will be a revenue creator. If not it will just be like a shiny toy that sits in a closet.
Also remember that you need to have a little patience. If the App has been well designed, if it has great functionality and is easy to use, and if it offers the customer incentives to not only use it but keep it on their phone, it will succeed with a little bit of patience and some care.
Finally, make sure that you don't overuse the App for promotions that don't bring added value to the customer. Tell them, through the App, about IMPORTANT information and also give them great PROMOTIONS and COUPONS through the App. Make having the App something cool and valuable and watch what happens.
Soon your Branded App will grow into a great big revenue tree, giving you fruit in the form of new customers and new business all year round.
When you're ready to get growing on your Branded Mobile App give me a call.
Cheers.
Mobile App Man
