A business app is worthless ...

…at least without a marketing strategy.

These tips help you make your app known.

You surely never thought your app might be worthless to your business. Nor, of course, did we. The headline is still true, because:

A business app is worthless for as long as nobody knows about it!

So here are some tips on the ways you can promote the app you have created. Win new customers and grow your sales.

It’s very simple: make your app known!

You don’t have an app for your business yet? Then you can create one without risk, free of charge and as easily as child’s play with AppConfector.

How your app becomes valuable for your business:

Ideally, your mobile marketing and the promotion of your app should start before you have created the app, so that it gets its first users as soon as it is published. But of course our tips also work for apps that are already published.

• Start with your website. Put the news that an app is coming soon somewhere clearly visible on your website – ideally, of course, on the home page. (A customer example: GoWildWest) It is also best to create a separate page / landing page for your app on which you explain its benefits in detail. And finally: write about the upcoming app on your company blog as well – if you have one.

Here is a customer example of such a page, or landing page: Pizzeria David

Tips for a good landing page:

A good landing page includes the following:

• An explanation of why you want to offer your customers the service of an app, how the idea came about and which features your app will have.
• Information about what customers will be able to do with your app. For example, buy goods on mobile at any time, reserve a table, or receive exclusive information and vouchers just for app users by push message, etc. Your customers need to see the benefit clearly, so that they download the app.
• Information about the promotions you plan to launch with the app.
• The expected release date of the app.
• An appealing picture.

And once the app is finished, add the following to the page:

• Upload one or more screenshots of your app.
• Link to the download page with a short explanation of the different ways to download: via a direct link in the phone’s browser, via a QR code or via the app.
• Publish up-to-date information about the promotions you are planning in connection with your app

This is what a download page can look like: Dean Collins app

Extra tip: After publishing, also switch on the smart redirect. Your customers are then taken automatically to the mobile web view of the app and can use it without downloading it.

• Link everywhere to your app’s landing page or, after publishing, directly to the download page. For example on all your social media channels, such as Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Instagram…

• Keep promoting your app regularly on your social media channels after publishing, too. For example, start exclusive campaigns for app users or tempt people with mobile vouchers to increase the number of users.

For example like this:

The Swiss company GoWildWest Ranch shows how promoting the app on Facebook works.

You can find out more about GoWildWest Ranch here: Testimonial

Or like this:

Dean Collins and his marketing team promote the app on Twitter.

You can find out more about Dean Collins here: Testimonial

• Ask your fans and followers to “like” and share the news. A small request often has a big effect. That way you increase your reach even further.
• Make a video about your app that shows your customers the benefits and features of your app. That is what one of our business owners, Michael Ehry of the E-Bike Company, did, for example. Link to your video on your landing page too, and post it on Facebook and co.
• Your email communication, your newsletter for example, should mention the app as well.
• And how about a podcast as an advertising tool? Wikipedia explains in detail how it works: Producing a podcast
• Don’t forget paper in this mobile world. Your advertising flyer surely has room for a small ad for your app, for example the QR code and a short note with a screenshot of the app. QR codes also fit nicely into letters, on posters, on the menus on your tables and on business cards.
• Also mention your app when you talk to customers in person or on the phone. That way your customers hear about it directly, can ask questions and perhaps even share their wishes. And after publishing, you also get valuable feedback.
• Of course, you can also include news of your app in other advertising channels, such as radio and television.

Worked through the list? Great! Then you can move on – for example with your first promotion: a mobile voucher.

You can find more information on mobile marketing here: Read the article

Have we forgotten anything? How do you promote your app? Which kind of advertising works best for you? We look forward to your comments!

PS: You are now a mobile business. Gear your adverts to that too. An interesting article with further information on this was published recently: Here