Having an App for your business is a near must these days. Large business or small, deploying an App fills essentially the same business need that Websites first began to fill 15 or so years ago by providing customers and prospects a digital space in which to interact with your brand.
In other words, if you’re in business in 2017 and you want to capture the attention and loyalty of target audiences, you need to offer reasons and ways for them to experience your brand beyond simply buying your product. One of those ways is with an App.
What is an App?
Defining what an “App” is might seem unnecessary, and to a certain extent it is because if you’re conscious or breathing, you’ve probably heard of, seen, or used an App, so I’ll forgo a lengthy textbook definition. That said, you should never assume anything. It’s always best to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
In general, an App is what in “the old days” of computing might have been called a program—a set of coded rules (aka software) that has a specific purpose or application (hence the name App) designed to aid in information dissemination, online sales, reservation making, recreation/gaming, etc.
What’s an App Do for You?
Needless to say, and probably to the detriment of civilized society, smartphone and tablet use is through the roof. Most time using the devices is spent using an App of some sort to browse a website, to shop, to read news and sports, to make reservations, or to communicate with others. Essentially, there’s currently no better way to engage an audience in the digital space and to keep them engaged than with an App.
Apps allow you to present information tailored to an individual’s preferences when and where he or she wants to access it. Apps make communication with your company easy and efficient, and they allow you to build rapport with customers and prospects, ensuring a greater likelihood of initial sales as well as repeat business.
Who wouldn’t want that?
Easier than You Think
Many companies cite the perception that apps are costly or complicated to build as the chief reason they have yet to take the App plunge. But launching an App to support your brand is easier and more affordable than you think.
No longer just the purview of big companies with deep pockets, App developers abound—from companies that can help you not only build an App but also create a strategy to deploy it and integrate it with your marketing and business development efforts, to template-driven systems providing customizable solutions for popular platforms such as iOS and Android.
Suddenly offering a loyalty or rewards program around your product or service is no longer just a pipe dream. Suddenly, building an App isn’t so monumental a decision or endeavor anymore.
- Want a streamlined online shopping experience for your virtual store? An App developer can do that.
- Want to push content in the form of blog feeds and podcasts to a growing subscriber base? That’s no problem either.
- Want to make online registration and scheduling for your events as easy as 1-2-3? There’s likely an App for that, and if not, one can be developed easily enough.
- How about an app to track your fitness activities or eating habits? That’s no sweat either.
Meet a Couple of App Experts . . . I Did!
I had the recent privilege to enjoy some one-on-one time with App experts William Volk and Andy Abramson. They hail from Southern California, and the San Diego area in particular, and offer their services internationally. They specialize in asymmetrical marketing—marketing that returns results far in excess of the costs of outreach activities, such as low-cost giveaways or messaging that goes viral.
If you’re serious about boosting your business’s App appeal (and you really should be), you might want to look them up. Andy’s business can be found at www.comunicano.com and William’s can be found at www.forwardreality.com.
All work and no play . . . no fear of that with these fun Apps from 2016!
Time to Get On Board
Sometimes the latest trend is just that—the latest trend, here today and gone tomorrow. Believe it or not, 15 years ago there were some nay-saying the value of having a website. The Internet is just a flash in the pan, they said—and yet here we are! The same goes for Apps. Isn’t it time you boosted your company’s App appeal and put these modern tools to work for you and your brand fans?
Take the first step and explore what building an App could do for your business by contacting Barrel O’Monkeyz today.
Paul June is King Monkey of BARREL O’MONKEYZ, a San Diego-based strategic marketing agency specializing in Sports and Active Lifestyle markets. We serve as a seasoned, outsourced marketing team for companies looking to ramp up sales and launch new products. Our barrel is full of talent and creative arms ready to prove we don’t just monkey around!
