Apple Store Update:

Important Points for App Marketers

Apple’s App store has changed, and for good. The changes may not be visibly noticeable, but technically this much needed modification comes in as a sigh for a lot of app developers and marketers out there.

Here is a brief synopsis of the important points that affect app developers and mobile marketers.

Better discoverability

While the ‘Featured’ tab has always been there in the App Store, it has become more intuitive and fair. There will be no paid placement on that page and the apps will not be chosen on the basis of ranking (only). Choosing apps on the basis of user ranking makes it extremely unfair to the newer apps who are still looking at getting to their critical mass. Instead, apps will be featured on the basis of local content, or current fashion, culture or seasonal trends.

This is a great user friendly update. This will also keep app creators and marketers on their toes to keep the app relevant for the users. It can actually be a great marketing feature too. You just have to take the current trends and authentically tie them to your app. For instance, Rio Olympics or end-of-summer fashion or upcoming Autumn trends.

Paid Search Ads

This is still in the beta version until Fall, but Apple’s new search algorithm will be a thing to watch out for. Marketers might want to note that every time a search algorithm changes, be it Apple or Google, it just gets more user relevance/convenience friendly. It would make sense to revamp your apps to suit users’ needs better. Search ads will make your apps visible to the user right when she asks for it. As a marketer, you might want to make comparisons as to spending money on mobile marketing/in-app advertising vs paid search ads, and weight your ROI on different ad spends.

Auto-renewable Subscriptions

Apple’s fight against dead-apps sort of end with the auto-renewable subscription feature. Brands can choose to collect subscription from their users. But an important thing to note here would be that such apps that charge a user, need to be geared up to give that kind of value to the user. There has to a high degree of personalization along with engagement. Moreover, the app has to provide some kind of value in user’s routine or daily life, or users won’t pay up for renewing. This feature aims at putting the life back in the app, although it does mean app developers and marketers need to be on their toes, always.

Buckle-up for The Holiday Season 2016

Buckle-up for The Holiday Season 2016

August is almost over. Come autumn and its going to be Holiday mood all over. People start shopping for home stuff, accessories, winter wear, Holiday apparel and so much more. The gifts may come in later, but a lot of shopping will start as autumn sets in. This is a great time to start marketing preparation for the holiday season. Here’s a quick list of things businesses need to do to be ready for the upcoming holiday season.

• Get an app now. If you are planning on creating an app for your business, the time is now. A lot of people tend to avoid traffic and holiday rush, and mobile shopping numbers and percentage soars every year over the previous.
• Go social. Get active on social networking sites. Plan social campaigns that attract customers to your site. Even paid ads on Facebook give real good value in terms of ROI. The objective here is to be seen, be heard.
• Start creating campaigns around Holiday trends. Check out the winter colors for the season, the latest home and fashion designs and create your campaigns around them.
• Offer more than just discounts. Support a community cause and get people’s attention to it. If your cause is something people relate to, you can look at a successful shopping season.
• Engage people. Create polls, surveys, competitions and other innovative and fun stuff to engage your audience. The aim is to get people’s attention, and then you can tell them about your wonderful Holiday collection and start marketing. But to get started on that, first engage with the human side of the brand.
• Start promoting your business in other apps. For instance, InstaTeam app has a section that promotes local businesses. Getting listed in such platforms provides grater exposure.
• Get personal and real. Personalized marketing is going to be huge. Align your channels, online, in-store, customer support and all. Create customer profiles. Send personalized letters or cards wishing your customers ‘Happy Holidays’ along with personalized discount coupons.

iMessage:

A New Paradigm in Mobile Marketing

Apple’s iMessage announcement has taken the world by storm. It takes mobile texting to a whole new level, and for mobile marketing, it’s a game changer. iMessage would dissolve all the boundaries of messaging, app marketing and social media, placing the power of mobile marketing directly in the hands of the brand. brands will be able to communicate with the consumer one on one, not through a platform.

Here’s a quick roundup on the updates from Apple:

iMessage platform open to third party apps

Apple has opened its iMessage platform to developers. This means that users will have access to unlimited set of apps, and brands will be able to connect to the end user on a one-on-one basis. Suppose a user is chatting with a friend and tells her about a lip-smacking burger she had, and forwards the link from where she bought it, the friend can actually visit the page, check out the details and order the burger, without even leaving the conversation. The possibilities are endless.

Rich media messaging

This is a whole different level of rich media messaging. Simple drag and drop for images, edit or dress-up images as you send them, predictive emojis that automatically (with manual control, of course) replace text with emojis and so much more.

Even videos and website links would be accessible instantly without having to leave the conversation. For brands, this is huge. If a user likes a product and shares the link, other users, (with whom the link is shared) can directly purchase the product right within the application, without leaving the conversation.

Siri goes beyond iOS

Siri would be enabled to interact with third party applications like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Kik, WeChat and more. Users will be able to give voice commands on these applications as well.

All of this indicates that chatbots on IM is perhaps going to be one of the most powerful marketing channel in the years to come. Brands need to get ready with presence on other social platforms such iMessage advancement would just come as organic growth. Brands also need to start working on finding innovative and interesting ways to get in touch with user to give enriching, rich experiences through personalized marketing.

Need help with mobile marketing? Talk to us at support@xymob.com.

Back-To-School Shopping:

How to En-cash on the Huge Market

Time of the year again when compulsive shopping presents a huge opportunity to retailers across America. While you were planning your back-to-school promotions, chances are your competitors were planning it bigger. So if you are re-working the promotion plan, here are a few tips to help you boost your sales this season and get some prep done before the holiday season.

Go mobile

If you have a website, and are promoting and selling through your online channel, it’s not enough. You need to be where your customers are, and every one is on mobile these days including your customers and competitors. If you have an app, great. If not, have a mobile friendly website. Local businesses can also advertise on mobile apps which can get good publicity.

Go social

Social media marketing can take some time. Although there are some examples out there, but overnight-million-likes stories are still a numbered few. Take the shortcut while its available, use a paid promotion campaign to promote your account. When you have a considerable number of followers, don’t get down to brazen sales tactics. Instead gain popularity amongst your followers by providing useful content like shopping lists or savings schemes.

Facebook presence is essential and any promotion on Facebook will give you the best ROI, but find creative ways to start promoting on Snapchat and Instagram too.

Retargeting advertising can be very fruitful too. Since you know the customer is looking for the product, presenting a great offer can often result into sales.

Promoting on social media has ancillary benefits like creating a community that is all eyes and ears to your brand. Every time you launch a promotion, you will just need to augment on your present promotion. This will have a great lasting effect for years to come.

Go viral

The best marketing is the one where you do not need to market your product at all, your customers do it for you. Create interesting contests, give free giveaways, and brand ambassador benefits that are hard to refuse. People like free stuff. Make it look classy, and you’ll have a whole lot of your customers doing your marketing for you.

Need help with mobile promotions? Contact us at support@xymob.com and we will help you with more ideas and creative campaigns to promote your brand via mobile marketing. .