Tag Archives: mobile application development

How Mobile Coupons Can Drive Sales

The mobile device has rapidly become the most widely used technology in the world. It has become so key to people’s lives that for the first time in 2015, time spent on mobile phones surpassed time spent on desktop and laptop computers. This evolution of mobile phones and mobile apps has made the lives of consumers and marketers a lot easier and much more convenient. And as retailers, mobile app development companies and marketers are putting effort into finding ways to improve mobile programs; one of the easiest and best ways for them to get the most out of mobile offerings in 2016 is to use mobile coupons.

Mobile is turning out to be a crucial tool in the consumer’s shopping process.

Mobile is turning out to be a crucial tool in the consumer’s shopping process. | Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns (Flikr)

Mobile is turning out to be a crucial tool in the consumer’s shopping process. When a consumer wants a product or service, he or she embarks on a path to purchase. They use mobile devices all along the purchase path – from product discovery to coupon redemption to post purchase engagement.

As we all know, millennials, as a generation, are typically more impatient than previous generations. They want what they want when they want it. In other words, they expect to get nearly anything and everything brought right to their doorstep as fast as logistically possible. And when it comes to coupons their priorities aren’t different. Retailers should never underestimate the need to offer coupons on consumers’ smartphones.

How has mobile changed couponing?

More than 56% of consumers say they research their purchases online before buying in a store, according to a new research by eMarketer. Millennials like to research products, discover deals, find stores and read reviews online. They also use their mobile devices to check and compare prices in real time. And most retailers are now able to insert an offer or price to a shopper whilst they are considering a purchase, which has also proved to be a game changer for their businesses.

How mobile coupons can drive retail sales

Many retailers still rely on their physical stores to drive sales and customer loyalty. With that said, whether online or in-store, consumers expect in-store prices to be the same as online prices and today, consumers expect good deals when they shop. Consumers, particularly millennials, want offers and good deals as long as they do not have the usual hassle of paper coupons. They want their coupons to be easy to redeem. Making mobile coupons easy to redeem is not only beneficial to consumers, but to retailers.

Therefore, if you are running a retail business, it is always a good idea to build a fully functional couponing strategy into your mobile app. The ability to access coupons directly on smartphone can make the process a lot more efficient and improve sales.

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Mobile App Sales Taking Hold and Growing

Mobile is becoming more and more important to businesses around the globe. In a recent survey by Urban Airship of more than 100 UK retail executives, half of the retailers surveyed stated that between 21% and 50% of their online sales now come via a mobile device. Clearly either you should be considering how Android app or iPhone app development fits into your sales channels.

Currently, mobile devices account for 22% of all retail online sales in the U.S., which is expected to reach 27% by 2018.

Currently, mobile devices account for 22% of all retail online sales in the U.S., which is expected to reach 27% by 2018. | Photo: TechStage (Flikr)

According to Tim Paterson, from Urban Airship. “A growing number of consumers prefer mobile apps to traditional websites. And although more digital transactions still occur outside of mobile apps, it’s the crucial pre-shopping interactions taking place via mobile that can have a big impact on the buying process.”

Currently, mobile devices account for 22% of all retail online sales in the U.S., which is expected to reach 27% by 2018. In a Flurry Analytics study, they found that the average US mobile consumers spends 86% of their time on a smartphone using apps.

An example of just how important mobile is to sales is the Cyber Monday from this past holiday season, according to IBM, mobile traffic accounted for almost half of all online traffic and 28% of online sales, which is an increase of more than 25% over last year. Given these stats, it is obvious that mobile apps are not going away any time soon. Clearly you should use them to your advantage, if you aren’t already.

If you haven’t entered the mobile arena, its not too late. Keep in mind that over time the technology associated with of smartphones is improving, allowing the apps they use to improve in complexity, this constantly creates new space for new ideas for apps to enter the market. Additionally, the market is constantly maturing, the old philosophy of building a better mousetrap certainly applies to mobile apps, if you can offer an easier or more intuitive way to perform tasks users will take note.

Pic: http://bit.ly/1o18GGj

4 Mobile Marketing Trends Dominate 2015

Looking back at mobile marketing in 2015, the stand out programs featured innovative efforts to create immersive experiences that were able to connect with audiences.

Mobile marketing programs are featuring increased levels of sophistication in their approach and in 2015 we saw some trends stand out from the rest. Take a look at these before starting your next mobile app development project and see if any of these can be used to improve your initiatives.

1. Omni-channel Strategy

Top mobile marketing campaigns in 2015 tied in with other channels, being supported by social and other media channels.

Today's omni-channel consumer wants everything to be readily available at his or her fingertips

Today’s omni-channel consumer wants everything to be readily available at his or her fingertips | Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns (Flikr)

Today’s omni-channel consumer wants everything to be readily available at his or her fingertips and expects a similar brand experience regardless of the channel. To illustrate the importance of how mobile fits into the shopping experience consider that  80% of shoppers check prices online and that a third will access price and other information on their mobile device while inside the physical stores [MIT].

Your mobile marketing should leverage social and other channels, creating a seamless experience for you customers. Use your print ads and social pages to drive users to your app.

2. Build Relationships

Top mobile marketing campaigns used mobile to build relationships with customers. In fact, improving brand experience and increasing engagement is one of the most common goals of these campaigns.

When it comes to mobile apps, engagement often starts and stops with push notifications.  If you can get your users to opt-in to push notifications and stay opted-in you will see sizable improvements in engagement. App users who receive push notifications are 4 times more engaged than those that don’t. Additionally, the are twice as likely to be retained.

One of the key driving factors here has been improvements in personalized communication.

3. Social Sharing

In 2015, top mobile campaigns made good use of social to enhance interactivity. Did you know that consumers are more likely to share via a mobile device than their PC by a margin of 2 to 1?

Humans are social creatures and love to share. Take advantage with this with your mobile marketing campaigns and create campaigns that users will want to share.

4. Augmented Reality

Technological innovations are helping push augmented reality and enhancing the use of AR as a marketing trend.

An example of this would be Volvo’s virtual reality app that allowed users to virtually test drive the new XC90 using Google Cardboard before it was available. The campaign was wildly successful, creating over 40,000 app downloads that generated more than 34,000 leads.  When the XC90 hit the showroom, the entire run of the XC90 sold out in less than two days.

Looking Forward

Looking forward to 2016, expect to see businesses use micro-videos such as Vines as part of campaigns where they tell a longer story.

Micro-videos are ideal for the mobile format. Make sure to take advantage of that opportunity. Remember that a different approach to video production and story telling will be required here.

Pic: http://bit.ly/1RZ6AU2

Target Your Marketing For Mobile App Success

Current research on targeted marketing shows that targeted messages can improve conversions 200% over general messaging.

With mobile devices it is easier than ever to collect data and put it in to action.

If you are able to collect the right data and define the proper audiences for your messaging based on their wants and needs and combining it with factors such as location and other demographic information your messaging can be truly powerful. You will want to define the data you collect prior to beginning your mobile application development project. Often iPhone application development companies in Los Angeles will make use of personas to define logistical groups for messaging after the data is collected. You will want to define your process before developing your app to ensure you collect the right data.

With mobile devices it is easier than ever to collect data and put it in to action.

With mobile devices it is easier than ever to collect data and put it in to action | Photo: Tech Stage (Flikr)

After you are able to dig into your own data and analyze customer usage behavior you will be able to define personas and deliver targeted messaging to that group.

By creating personas will be able to carefully craft your messaging so that you speak to them in a way that will improve conversions.

By really understanding who those customers are; their demographics, interests, etc lets you tailor your messaging but determine the tactics you should use. Different mobile tactics work better for different groups.

Your customers interact in different ways with you and only by understanding how they interact with you can you understand how to interact with them. This is why you need understand how customers interact with you and develop personas is you can interact with them in ways they are most likely to respond.

Traditionally users were split into groups based on demographic info, but with modern techniques you can and will want to segment based on their digital attitudes and preferences for maximum effectiveness. By defining digital customer segments utilizing behavior data you will be able to realize success by tailoring interactions to customer abilities and attitudes.

Photo: http://bit.ly/1TzVJhs

Mobile Video Viewing Explodes

Just as mobile has become integrated into our lives, so has mobile video.

Based on research from Ooyala, mobile video watching has grown an incredible 367% over the past two years.  In fact, Ooyala predicts that by the end of 2015 over half of all online viewing of video content will take place from mobile devices.

Many businesses starting mobile app development projects are currently integrating video into their applications or are updating older apps by having their iPhone application developers or Android application developers adding video to current offerings.

Mobile video should be used to tell a story.

Mobile video should be used to tell a story | Photo: Slanted Publishers (Flikr)

More than just adding mobile video into your app offerings, you need to have a strategy for how it integrates into your marketing program and your brand. It is important to remember that mobile video should be used to tell a story. Ask yourself if you can separate the story  your company is trying to tell into several smaller parts – each snippet of video can build the relationship between your brand and consumers if properly done, supporting your overall marketing program.

Remember that in a recent study from the IAB, 48% of respondents stated they mostly accessed video content via mobile applications rather than visiting mobile websites (only 18% stated that they watch a video via mobile browsers). Mobile apps are leading the way when it comes to video consumption. Understanding user consumption patterns lets you focus your efforts where they will do the most good.

Getting your video program going might not take as much effort as you image either.

You may not know it but your business might already have some great mobile video content for you to use. If you have worked in advertising you know that for every one hour of video you shoot, typically only about a minute will be used. The remaining video offers some great opportunities for your business to capitalize on the extra footage for your app or to use on social media. During filming make sure you note opportunities to use your extra footage. Things like quick behind-the-scenes clips make for great opportunities as well that do not require any additional set-up.

Photo: http://bit.ly/1f2WhOn