Smartphone – Page 4 – Loyalty Apps – A New Way Of Doing Business

November 21, 2014

A Mobile App – A gift that keeps on Giving!

No longer hold the belief that building loyalty is through discounting, but rather by building a strong bond between brand and customer. The connections that customers attach to a brand must also be considered as being added value. Businesses that have already made their brand mobile and sociable have risen to the top by prioritizing loyalty and by developing emotional connections with their customer.

The customer is the heart of a business, and a good way to increase customer satisfaction is to keep the customers needs central to all business operations, from the top down. Furthermore, by incorporating current technology to ensure a business provides the customer service that consumers expect, business owners can expect to turn that loyalty into increased revenue and a healthier bottom line.

The most anticipated holiday season of the year is only 30 days away businesses must be prepared to leverage this technology to increase customer retention which will translate into a successful Christmas season!

Here are a few steps you can take to ensure that your Holiday Season is the best one yet!

1. Content Marketing – Keep it fun and reflective of the season, special promos and themes

2. Discounted Shipping – Offer special rates for delivery

3. Social Media – Make regular updates, especially during the holidays when usage is at its peak!

4. Customer Service – OVER DELIVER!

5. Support a Local Charity – Tis the season for giving…setup a promotion with a local charity

6. Appify – Get a gift that keeps on giving – to your customers! Mobile apps can update customers on current events and offers that your business has, and with features like push notifications, you will have access to your customers 24/7!

October 24, 2014

Are you Really Delivering?

The same rules apply for all businesses, customer service is key to being successful and profitable. Earning the loyalty and trust of potential customers and keeping it can seem overwhelming. With competition, many retailers are struggling to keep their doors open. Small businesses and large chain stores have all been effected. Some of the retailers that have found great success in the past have dramatically cut back or disappeared altogether.

“There’s a lot of fear how the landscape is changing, there are lots of rumors about who is weak and who will go down next,” retail analyst and former Eaton’s executive Jim Danahy says.

The retail landscape is changing at an alarming rate, along with customer needs and demands.

So now more then ever before a business that wants to be successful must provide the ultimate experience for its customers. Along with implementing the basic strategies for exceptional customer service (https://visual.ly/25-skills-excellent-customer-service), technologies should be utilized to improve the overall experience, since it is relevant not only to the owner, and employees but also to the customer.

Most customers research on line before purchasing a product, checking out reviews, making product comparisons as well as getting the best price. However, the customer will still most of the time purchase in store rather than online, because they value the “shopping experience”. As a result retailers must engage their customers by keeping the lines of communication open, by improving and evolving based on their suggestions of how to make their shopping experience a positive one. It is important to encourage suggestions, ideas, and feedback from customers to remain viable in today’s retail world.

Technologies like loyalty apps are crucial, since loyalty and rewards go hand in hand. Retailers who reward loyal customers for their repeat business , retain more customers than those retailers that don’t. To keep remaining relevant it is essential to offer something of value as a bonus for choosing your brand over a competitor. A loyalty app can make the shopping experience for its customer exciting, convenient and rewarding.

October 24, 2014

PROMOTE, ENGAGE and REWARD

A common mistake made by many retailers is investing too much of their marketing budget on trying to get new customers, rather than investing in the customers they already have. Companies/brands must first reward their profit makers for being loyal. A business should differentiate between customers who bring the most value to their business and reward them accordingly. To drive activity and boost revenue from a business’s loyalty program it needs to incorporate a tiered reward based platform to reward it’s most valuable asset it’s repeat customer. A spend more – earn more strategy by rewarding VIP customers based on the value that they bring to your business. By offering discounts and special privileges business’ are afforded the opportunity to build closer relationships with their ideal customers. Rewarding VIP customers in a tiered loyalty program may include:

1) offering free goods for liking and sharing on social media.

2) discounts and promotions.

3) special buying opportunities(e.g. advanced viewing of new product).

4) offer preferential service terms/ offer special service(e.g.waiving minimum order quantities).

5) offer cost on products that are affiliated with a big regular priced purchase(e.g.purchase of a coat at regular price, offer either hat, scarf or gloves at 50%off retail).

6) reward introductions and referrals (e.g.offer discounts or free gifts for every new customer they introduce to the business.

7) entice customers to spend more then intended (e.g. spend $50 and get double rewards).

It is a mistake to underestimate the a value loyal customers brings to your business, since they are the ones who purchase more frequently and recommend your brand!

Does your loyalty program recognize the benefit of differentiating rewards to reflect the value they bring to your business?

July 31, 2014

5 Reasons why business owners need a mobile app

Why business owners need a mobile app

Mobile apps are the fastest growing segment in mobile marketing, and will be a driving force for any business to achieve not only sales success but to establish brand loyalty. All SME’s need to be up to speed with the technological developments, as well as keep pace in the market and MOST IMPORTANTLY be of use to their customers. It is no longer a question of whether your business will adopt a mobile strategy, but rather when it will happen. Here are 5 reasons why you should invest in a mobile app:

The very near future is going to be all about mobile

Estimates are that by 2015 there will be over 2 billion smart phones in use. Of these users approximately 39% will not even own a laptop or desktop computer. The only way they will be able to access the World Wide Web, is via their smartphone of tablet. Pair that information with the fact that 55% of searches on mobile devices result in some form of action, either a visit to an actual bricks and mortar store front, a telephone call, or a purchase, confirms the relevance of mobile devices. An astute business owner will realize that early adoption is the key, and be at the fore front of the mobile revolution.

Mobile will encourage local shopping

Small business owners who lean on their local community will need to start thinking of their mobile strategy if they are to stay competitive, and hope to increase their market share. A recent study done by Pew Internet & American Life Project, has shown that 74% of smartphone owners use location services to find places they plan to visit, such as retail stores, restaurants, and cafes. Another study conducted in 2013 indicated that 66% of buyers planned to do their Christmas shopping in local and independent stores, and that 68% of them planned on using their mobile devices to assist them with purchases.

Mobile payments

Some merchants have already begun offering mobile payment methods for consumers, and all major processing companies have invested heavily in updating aging hardware to be able to transition to mobile payment systems. Apple, and Android devices are already capable, and it won’t be long before the option of mobile payment will be as prevalent as the traditional plastic credit card. It is no longer the American Express card that people don’t leave home without – it is the smartphone!

Users

To keep your customers coming back, its time you not only show them you value their business but you prove it as well. How can you do this with a mobile app? A built in loyalty program will do the trick! This will not only give your customers further incentive to shop with you, but will also make sure that your app is not something that is downloaded and then deleted shortly after. Studies have shown that applications with any types of rewards are maintained on mobile devices, even if the user no longer uses the app. Investing in mobile is a good way for business owners to stay competitive and relevant in their respective fields. The future is now!

Speed and all the other virtues

Today’s consumer does not only want quick and instant service, they expect it. If a customer cannot get they want out of your website within a few seconds, they are on to the next one, likely your competition. If your business has developed its own smartphone app, your customers will be able to contact you in seconds, and it will be much easier for them to do it this way. It is services like this that will separate you from your competition!

Click Here to find out more

June 25, 2014

Marketing Ideas that build your brand

” The product should be it’s own salesman. Not the product alone but the product plus a mental impression, atmosphere which you place around it.” therefore a business needs to have a solid understanding of their customer and of how to go about building their brand to achieve sustainable profitability. As a result the job of marketing your business does not end at figuring out who your target audience is, it is just the beginning. After collecting data from these four categories;

A) Demographic ( male,female,income, age)

B) Location (town,city,province,state,global)

C) Interests (clubs,hobbies, affiliates)

D) Life Events (Single, married expecting,retiring)

A business will not only have a solid insight into who exactly their customer is, but their IDEAL customer ” a person who not only wants to do business with you, but that you want to do business with.” It is important to utilize this information to your advantage when marketing your business that your objectives (increase customer satisfaction,and or increase profitability) are implemented effectively to achieve desired results. A business owner must find extremely innovative ways to engage with it’s customer’s by building social communities via social platforms e.g facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest etc by sharing ideals, photos and by posting regularly in order to remain visible to your customer. A consistent, relevant communication on these social networks will encourage customers to interact with your business and develop an affinity to your brand. But the icing on the cake of marketing your business would be a customizable loyalty app tailored to YOUR customers wants & needs. An app would allow a business owner direct access to its customer 24/7 giving an immense opportunity to interact with your customer in a meaningful way!

It is important that existing and potential customers recognize the value in down loading your app by showcasing the benefits of the program that comes along with being a valued member. The challenge will be present itself initially when trying to acquire the apps first users but it will go much more smoothly by creating a hype and excitement before launching your new loyalty app. It is important that you know exactly the goals or goals that you want your app to achieve

1) solidify loyalty from existing customers

2) increase sales through engagement

3) keep customers knowledgeable of sales, promotions or events

4) interact with your customers through engagement, similar threads of interest

To help make the launch of your app successful marketing strategies can be used to further your brand and help reach their target audience and boost downloads

1) add originality to your app, be creative, don’t mimic someone else

2) optimize your app so it is visible

3) have a working website, be active setting up social networks

4) update new versions based on feedback

5) keep an accurate account of your apps progress

It takes the time and effort of a business to take the initiative to go the distance, not just to meet but to exceed the customers expectations. The key lays in engaging shoppers throughout the year, across as many social platforms as possible. Since the wants and needs of the consumer is constantly changing “Consumers value their time and will change their shopping behaviors based on the technological tools available.” An app from MASS MOBILE APPS will execute your vision and make shopping a social mobile experience for your business… giving customers a compelling reason to do business with you! [contact-form][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Website’ type=’url’/][contact-field label=’Comment’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]

June 20, 2014

The Mobile Web is Dead, It’s all about Apps!

It is becoming more apparent that the one thing people today don’t leave home without is not their American Express card, but their smartphone. They aren’t spending the day making calls, so what are they doing?

Data shows that the average user checks their phone about 110 times a day, and throughout the day they are spending 86% of their time in mobile apps.

The accompanying chart from mobile analytics company Flurry shows just how dominant the native app is compared to the mobile web. The chart shows a 6% growth in mobile app usage compared to a 6% decline in mobile web usage. More significantly, the read rate of promotional emails is between 5% – 20%, whereas a push notification is read at an astounding rate in excess of 97%. It’s still too early to predict the course apps will take in 2014, but it’s clear to see that mobile web activity is dwindling and the apps are taking over. Now every company in the world is adjusting to that reality

Amazon doesn’t have to build native apps — Amazon essentially has no competition. So why do they do it? Any why does eBay, and Facebook, and Twitter, and all the others who pour masses of development dollars into apps that no one needs?

Your customers are checking their phones 110 times a day — do you have a mobile app?

source: http://blog.flurry.com/bid/109749/Apps-Solidify-Leadership-Six-Years-into-the-Mobile-Revolution

February 24, 2014

Interview with the founder…

Q.How do you increase customer loyalty with a mobile app?

A. Today consumers are extremely tech savvy, with the explosion of smartphones, people are able to research for products and services right from the palm of their hands. Often times they will come into your place of business and already researched the details of the product before purchasing. Our products give business and their customers the ability to interact with each other on a level like never before. With an app tailored for a specific business, customers are able to have access to that business on their terms.

Q. How much does it cost to implement a custom mobile app?

A. Our products are extremely cost effective. We have eliminated all the barriers that a business would face, the costs are minimal. You can get your app up and running for approximately $750. With Mass Mobile Apps, there is no reason for a business owner not to adopt a mobile app for their business.

Q. What content should be included to make an app successful?

A. The main thing that is necessary for a successful launch is adoption. It is imperative that businesses get their customers to not only download their app,and to keep it from being deleted off their phones. That is where the loyalty portion kicks in, once a customer has downloaded the app, they are not likely to delete it if they have points or dollars within it. Content is also a great tool to keep your customers engaged. Make sure to update the gallery at regular intervals, send Push notifications, and encourage sharing of images, and marketing messages with your customers.

Q. If a business owner implements one of your apps, are they able to tweak it to meet their needs?

A. Absolutely! We are a custom mobile app developer, we are able to do what ever a customer would need. With that being said, it is important to note that our products were designed by people on the front lines, and not by techies. We have members on our team that have worked in various areas of industry, and they have brought their experience and expertise to our platform.

Q. Does a business owner need to be tech savvy to implement an app?

A. Great question! Again, going back to the last answer, we have designed this app from the perspective of a business owner. It is extremely user friendly, and easy to understand and master. So the answer is No, they do not have to be a programmer to use our products.

Q. Why do you think that a loyalty app is key for a business today?

A. Studies have shown that businesses with a loyalty program generally preform 20-25% better than businesses that do not have one in place. And the loyalty app is the most current means of implementing that program. Customers do not want another plastic card in their wallets. By having your own app, you are further extending your brand. You have the instant credibility of being on the “App Store” and you are also now able to reach your customers in a way that was not available in the past. Traditional marketing tools like email are becoming less and less effective. Business owners today need to know that their marketing efforts are being channeled effectively, and that their resources are being used wisely. Today their is no better way to do that, than with your own mobile app. The mobile app will be for business in the future, what the website was for business in the past!

December 18, 2013

Will your app survive the cut?

No more plastic loyalty cards, coupons or receipts, punch cards or even key fobs. Customers want more, and expect more. Fumbling through a mega wallet is not an ideal situation when you are trying to locate the right loyalty card in sufficient time, it can be daunting. Most customers feel defeated even before they attempt to accumulate their rewards and would rather decline another punch or stamp, than attempt to search through their purse or wallet and hold up the line, and risk further embarrassment…sound familiar? The frustration customers feel is real and there is a stress free solution. A smart phone loyalty app.

Based on results from an online survey of 1,000 Canadian adults conducted earlier this year, the report estimates that 56 per cent of the population uses a smartphone, up from 33 per cent in early 2012. With an average of 26-40 different apps consumers spend at least 2 hours a day on their mobile devices, the loyalty app for a business has the potential to deliver high rewards by increasing revenues considering the relatively low cost to implement. The development of the loyalty app is the most influential marketing tool to be made available to SME, (small and medium enterprises). It allows businesses to create direct personal links with its customers, in the most current and up to date channels available. Brands/businesses must push themselves forward, to meet the demand of its customers, so the goal is to create an app that is repeatedly useful and keeps them coming back. Since approximately only 22% of mobile apps are used only once, it is essential that it provides a service or function that is original and valuable. Consumers will download apps that they find personally relevant and would like to use on a regular basis. Currently consumers are still reluctant to use a mobile device or app for payment transactions, but have fully embraced the technology of a mobile loyalty app. If the loyalty apps fail to meet the customers needs, it will most probably be deleted.

The standard procedure in today’s market place are loyalty apps that bring a business into their environment, where they will promote that app, and not their brand or business. This system places businesses under the same umbrella as their competition, and does not distinguish their business or allow them to differentiate themselves from others. It is critical when building a brand that a business promotes their message uniformly across all platforms. For example, “Joe’s Pizza” would be better off with a “Joe’s Pizza” app, that allows him to be original and further his brand, instead of being included in a loyalty program that promotes many other businesses. The point of a loyalty program should be to keep your customers loyal, by not sharing them with your competition, right? Mass Mobile Apps provides a customizeable loyalty app that allows the business to promote and push their own brand across what is the largest growing segment in technology today, the mobile device. Weather it is a smartphone, or tablet, mobile devices are now out selling the traditional desk top. More consumers are also now accessing the internet via a mobile device. It is therefore imperative that a business has a mobile strategy in place, or are in the process of implementing one.