Here’s How to ‘Wow’

Your App Users

How well is your app doing? Are your users engaged? How good does your app score on the customer satisfaction index? Is your app’s ‘usage’ ratio high as compared to ‘uninstall’ ratio?

While these are questions that are common in marketing parlance, the real question that actually haunts marketers is ‘how’; how to increase customer engagement, how to avoid uninstalls, how to increase app usage and finally how to ‘wow’ customers?

Although the answer to all these questions lie deep in your offering, the value preposition of your brand, here are some general tips for ‘wowing’ customers.

• Focus on the user’s onboarding experience and the initial interaction with the app. First impressions is the last impression, and it cannot be any truer in this case. Design the whole UX in a way it is simple and fast. Follow the rule of three taps. Anything the user is looking for should be found within three taps.
• Always have an answer, whatever it takes. If the user searches for an item that is not included in the app, present a page that has options of places from where the user can find a similar product.
• And do it fast. Response time in an app has to be extremely quick since app users want answers/solutions fast, if possible real-time, which is why most of them use the app in the first place.
• An app is not about features and sophisticated technology. Those things are important, but more important is the delivery. How well do you deliver solutions that the user seeks? Add the special touch of service when you present solutions to your users. Let a real person do the communication instead of automated responses, provide telephone numbers for assistance, send surprise gifts, send hand written cards, just about anything as a gesture.
• Do not shy away from refunds. By providing a refund you may lose a sale, but gain a customer or even a brand ambassador for life. It is rather intimidating how word of mouth can go viral and a single person can influence masses.  

Seven App Sins

Seven App Sins

If you are getting an app made, or working on your existing app to reduce uninstall rate or improve engagement, here’s a list of typical app mistakes that you might be making and your app suffering the fallout.

The seven deadly app sins are:

1. Your on-boarding process fails to make a connect with the user or worse, you don’t have an on-boarding process.

Your on-boarding process is the brand’s first personal rendezvous with the user, your first impression. This is also your golden opportunity to initiate the user to the brand, make her comfortable and establish a strong connection with the brand. Neat and soothing visuals, clear-cut instructions, highlighting key features and taking appropriate permissions consists of a good on-boarding experience. A great on-boarding experience will have customization of app content as per the users preference. Without establishing that connect, user might not relate to the brand as much, and if she does not understand the app the first time she uses it, there are changes might not return to the app or might not use it frequently.

2. Your app has lengthy registration/check-out process

The very raison d’etre of an app is making life simpler and easier for the user. An app that tends to complicate the registration process or the checkout process, and if the user finds it rather easier to buy the product/ register service request/ get help fro some other channel, the very rationale of having an app is lost. This is the reason many brands make users register through social ids or email ids. But again, not all users are on social media, so giving users the option to register through various channels is a wise move.

3. Your app is exclusive, not really intertwined with other channels

An app has to have a distinct personality, it cannot be a copy of the website, but the app cannot be excluded from other channels of the brand. For instance if there’s a portal for registration of local businesses, sort of digital yellow pages. If a customer posts an opening through the website, and later downloads the app, the updates for that posting should automatically reflect in the app as well. If the two platforms are not connected, why would the user return to the app?

4. You are being too pushy with Push notifications

Push notifications are a great marketing tool but used too frequently, it can be a turnoff for the user. On the other hand using too little of push can actually make your brand lose out on the opportunity to sell, directly hitting on your bottom-line. Based on an analysis of the general profile of users, their orientation, spending capacity, and analysis of individual profiles for specific likes, attention days and time, etc. can lead to a strategically calculated rate of push optimum for the brand.

5. You are stalking the user

This, of late, has become a major concern for users. Many apps have permissions to access contacts, location etc. of the user, and then use these features to send push notifications that rather scares the user away. For instance, many apps use location locator to send geofencing messages, but many users term it as stalking. There has to be a line at which brands stop eating into users’s personal space.

6. Your app has bugs

If your app doesn’t function properly, it will most likely be uninstalled. Users have very limited patience with apps. Make sure you fix all your bugs and errors before you start marketing it. Because even if you make relevant changes and relaunch it in the market, a user who has uninstalled it is very less likely to re-install it.

7. Your app fails to engage users

Engaging users is a tricky concept. It includes customization, Personalization of discounts, deals and other offerings, optimized push notifications, intuitive marketing etc. The trick is to keep the user coming back for more.

Apps combine the best of all worlds - convenience of online, Personalization of in-store and responsiveness of customer support. Optimizing all of these will ensure your app adds a strong channel that contributes to the bottom-line and brand loyalty. 

Social Media Campaign Ideas for Valentine’s Day

Social Media Campaign Ideas for Valentine’s Day

After Holidays, Valentine’s Day is the next big opportunity for retailers. If you were too busy winding up the Holiday sale and had no time to plan your Valentine’s Day social media campaign, here are a few tips to get you started.

• Give ideas
  Everyone loves free ideas. That’s the whole idea behind Pinterest. Love quotes, gifting ideas, unique celebration ideas, things to do etc. Make sure you upload it on your Facebook page and all your other social media accounts.


• Freebies
  Send some token of appreciation to your customers or even better, offer to send it on their behalf to their beloved. For instance, if the customer has brought a gift from your store, send along paper-cut hearts with love quotes that the customer can use on the gift or for decoration.


• Contests/events
  People love contests, especially if they are interesting. Think of a creative contest or event idea like weirdest V Day photos or secret valentine for singles (kind of like a blind date). You can also organize a themed Valentine’s day party.


• Think up of Pinterest and Instagram campaigns. These would majorly involve photographs. You can also have your customers share their special or funny photographs like “I loved this V Day gift” or “V day desserts” or “V Day with friends”. These pics can be shared on social media. 


• Many customers see this day as overly commercialized and overhyped. In order to stand out in their campaigns, and cater to this niche, many brands dare to be different by endorsing anti-valentine’s day campaigns. Planned well, these campaigns can be as successful as Valentine’s Day campaigns. 

New Year Resolutions

For Mobile Marketers

At the pace at which mobile marketing changes, it’s hard to say if just a year has passed or a whole decade has passed. Whatever time has passed, it has brought to us the experience and learning for a new, improved tomorrow. Learning from 2016, here are some new year resolutions for mobile markets to ensure a more value yielding 2017.

• Don’t invade personal space in the name of personalization.

Personalization is one of the biggest boons for marketers. The level of customer attention and engagement that can be achieved through personalization is great. But there’s a very fine line between personalization and invasion of privacy, and marketers need to understand that. For instance, a man’s wife learned from the ads that popped up on his laptop that he had just purchased an expensive necklace that wasn’t for her. Now that’s creepy.


• Don’t push the customer to the edge with push notifications

Push notifications are a great way of getting in touch with the customer in permission marketing. But brands need to work out good timing and frequency to send push notifications. If you keep swamping the customers’ mobiles with push notifications, chances are most customers would block you out. Similarly, you need to consider a good time to send your message. “Too eager” or “what good is it now”, both can be disastrous situations.


•  Be creative, be original

An original idea is the best idea. This is the Internet age. While you surf the Internet and fish out this great idea, chances are that your customers also surf the Internet and already know where you come from. Don’t stick to clichés. Try new things. If those ideas really gel with the soul of your brand, you will find takers for it.


• Look out for long lasting relationships 

Marketers need to work on customer retention more than customer acquisition. It is the same old 80:20 rule that applies to mobile marketing also. It would require working for the best interest of your customer. It has to be the fine blend of personalization, engagement, notifications and one-to-one marketing, mixed in the right proportions of course!

2016’s Hottest

  Free Android Apps

With millions of Android apps on the Google Play Store, it’s pretty easy to get lost in the sea. Don’t worry, we’ve done the fishing, sorting and sampling for you; and have served some of the hottest apps of 2016 here on a platter for you.

Here are awesome apps of 2016 you wouldn’t want to miss:

Periscope

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.periscope.android&hl=en

Live video streaming app that allows you to share your experiences as they are happening. You can also check out other streams, follow streamers, watch people live shopping, celebrating, exploring a new city, trying a new dish and so do much more from across the world.

Prisma

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neuralprisma

Prima is by far one of the most interesting photography apps that we’ve come across. Prisma is not just another photography app, it uses AI and converts pictures into modern art. The results are amazing. Although, on the flip side, it might be a little complicated to use, but in the end the artwork is so worth it.

Vine

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.vine.android&hl=en
 
As 140 characters of Twitter weren’t short enough, Vine comes up with this idea of 6-second videos. To begin with you’d wonder as to what is 6-seconds like, but Vine actually surprises you with its 6-second wonders. Watch, you might just get hooked to it.

Pocket

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideashower.readitlater.pro&hl=en

Are you travelling? Or have limited access to WiFi for some reason? You might want to read an article or watch a video later but then you might not have internet connection. Pocket is the answer to your need. Just pocket the article you’d want to read or the video you’d want to watch, and easily get access to your article or video later, even if there’s no internet connection.

Zedge

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.zedge.android

Zedge is treasure house of wallpapers, ringtones, alarm tones and other notification tones. The huge variety is huge and very well organized. It’s easy to use and given the vast inventory, you can end up spending hours on the app.

Mobile Security and Antivirus by Avast

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity&hl=en

Avast has given one of the best antivirus software for PC in the past. Coming from that strong background, Avast’s Android Security and Antivirus app provides comprehensive protection for your Android devices. For those who are looking for added coverage, there are pretty awesome features available through in-app purchases.

Spotify

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spotify.music&hl=en

Music app with everything you need in your music app from albums, artists, playlists, create-your-own playlist, download music and so on. For a premium version get rid of the annoying ads.

Zombies Run

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sixtostart.zombiesrunclient&hl=en

Exercising does not have to be boring and this app ensures it’s not. Let virtual zombies chase you with their grunting, rattling, groaning, all of it getting closer to you as you run for your life. The app adjusts to your speed even if you are walking or running on the treadmill. There’s so much more to the app, just get into the adventure audio game as you do your daily run.

Charity Miles

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.charitymilescm.android&hl=en_GB

For every mile you run, you are not only doing good to your own body, but also to some needy soul out there. You choose a charity, and for every mile you run, a certain predetermined amount will be paid to the charity of your choice. Here’s an incentive good enough to wake you up and get running every morning.

Travel Apps

That Make Your Life Easier

Your smart phone can be your life savior when you are travelling. It can guide you to the hotel best suited for your budget, local eateries that do not figure in your itinerary, the right places to exchange money, get help in a foreign land and do so much more. You can accentuate your travel pleasure by using the wealth of information on your fingertips, thanks to your smart phone. All you need is the right app.

Here’s a list of some of the best travel apps that actually make your life easier while you are travelling.

Airbnb

Airbnb will help you locate the best places for local stay with the world’s largest home stay network. It includes everything, from swanky apartments to chalets to guest houses, all kinds of beautiful accommodations from around the world.

Yelp

Your local travel partner, Yelp helps you locate the nearest of anything and everything you would need during your travel, ATM, eatery, bakery, market, coffee shop, mall, movie theatre and so much more.

TripIt

TripIt helps you create a detailed itinerary of your trip. You can key in the information yourself or just email all booking confirmations, tickets etc. to them, and TripIt will create a detailed itinerary for you.

Postagram

Remember the good old days when you sent postcards of the places you visited to friends and family? Postagram brings the old world charm back with a modern upgrade. You can send your personalized pictures and messages from your phone that your loved ones will receive as actual postcards for just $0.99 a piece.

Google Translate

We all know what Google Translate does. But while travelling this humble app can actually be a life savior. When everything sounds foreign, just take GT’s help to translate it. And in no time you’ll be able to comprehend the local flavor of life.

XE Currency

Convert currency instantly even if you not have WIFI or data access. XE saves the last updated conversion rates and converts currency even offline. There are other great features such as rates for precious metals if you are interested in buying jewelry.

Splittr

If you are travelling with friends, Splittr helps you split costs. Enter expenses as you go with details of who’s paying, even mix currencies without the hassle of converting, and Splittr will take of splitting the costs evenly.

Yapta

This awesome app watches the airfares for you and sends you an alert as the prices drop. It also helps you figure out the rebates you are eligible for resulting in real-time savings on your travel expenses.

Rome2Rio

Trying to figure out the best way to reach from point A to point B? The intelligent app not only helps you figure out different options of reaching to a place (local buses, trains, flights, taxis, anything and everything), but also gives you the estimated time of the journey with the estimated cost.

Apps That Are Transforming Health Care

Apps That Are Transforming Health Care

Mobile apps are changing the way buyers buy and sellers sell. Every industry, be it retail, banking, education or b2b, everything is changing and healthcare is no exception. In fact, thanks to mobile apps, new dimensions are being added to the healthcare industry. From live doctor interaction to fitness apps, there’s so much of buzz in the industry that it has attracted attention of some major players outside the industry including Google, Microsoft and even Apple (if rumors are to be believed).
Telemedicine and remote health care
There are many apps that provide video access to a doctor/specialist who can understand your symptoms, diagnose your problem and even prescribe medicines. If your child has a bad cough and going to your doctor would mean waiting for the appointment, or you have an infection that’s getting worse, the tele consultation comes in as a savior. However, there are some conditions that need clinical examination, so one must be really careful while consulting a physician online. There are government restrictions on telemedicine, and before consulting one should go through the state’s regulations regarding telemedicine.

Popular apps in telemedicine:

• Doctor on Demand
• Heath Tap
• Live Health Online

Medical & Insurance Paper Vault

There are apps that help sort the medical paperwork. Most of these apps sort your medical insurance paperwork by helping you upload your documents online and access them in terms of need.

Popular digital vaults:

• Metlife’s Infinity App
• Microsoft Health Vault

Medical advice, prescription intel

Most of these sites are the app version of WebMD that help you get intel on prescriptions, doses, side-effects etc. but with the virtue of being mobile apps, most of these apps are focused and evidence based recommendations rather than convincing you of a random disease just because the symptoms suggest so.

Popular medical advice apps:

• John Hopkins ABX Guide

Apps that help you find specialists or book appointments

These apps help you find a specialist or get you in touch with a doctor for your condition. You can find the right doctor, book appointment and even get advice as to your insurance coverage.

Popular apps for finding doctors:

• Zopdoc
• Hello MD
• RevUp by MD Revolution

Other than these there are apps, there are apps that help doctors connect, that help people get their prescriptions organized, fitness tracking apps and so much more. Like any other industry, medical and health care industry is also transforming. This is a great time to define your niche and launch into the mobile-digitalization of healthcare services.

We would be glad to be of assistance if you need advice or help on building and app and marketing it. contact us now on support@xymob.com.