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Is There An App For That?

By on Saturday, December 10th, 2011 | 0 Comments

A great friend of mine and extremely great marketer Willie Crawford just launched his new Soul Food Mobile App today.

And who would have thought there would be an App for Soul Food Recipes?  There is an app for everything these days.  And there is no end in sight.

The world has gone mobile with five times more people accessing the Internet via mobile devices versus PC’s.

It was reported last week that the Android Marketplace just surpassed 10 Billion downloads since inception and it is growing on a very sharp curve upward just like Apple’s iTunes App store (Click Here to read about it).

It is also predicted that by 2013 there will be 1 Billion (or more) HTML 5 capable mobile devices in the marketplace.  It allows users without an iPhone, iPad, Android, and Android tablets to participate and download mobile apps (Click Here to read about it).

Which means the world is going APPSolutely Mobile!  Having a Website is great (and necessary).  But it is evident that Mobile Apps are the NEW Website of this decade.  And if you’re in business you should (and must embrace) mobile apps.  If you were to survey your current customer base, you would find a HIGH percentage of the time they are accessing more and more on their mobile devices.

Is There An App For That?  YES in almost every case, even for Willie’s Soul Food Recipe App.  If you are passionate about Soul Food, you will be updated with new recipes, be able to connect with like minded people and exchange recipes, and even purchase Willie’s Soul Food Cookbook which has an electronic/mobile version.

To download the Soul Food App for the iPhone/iPad Click Here or for the Android Click Here.

You can literally let your imagination run wild and dream up anything that can be turned in a Mobile App.  Which will create an audience that you can engage with on the go.  We refer to it this way:

“Engage An Audience On The Go . . . Your Customer’s Cell Phone Screen Is The MOST VALUABLE 2 Inches Of Real Estate You Will Ever Own!”

    Does Your Business Need A Mobile App?

    By on Friday, November 25th, 2011 | 0 Comments

    In 2010, Fox Business ran an article, “Does Your Business Need Social Media?” Can you imagine an article like that running in today’s digital world? It would be rejected and shrugged off. Of course your business needs social media! Social Media is no longer whether you do it, it is more how well you do it. The ROI of Social Media is that you will be in business three to five years from now.

    Business owners from every vertical should be engaging current customers and prospective customers on every level and at every opportunity. No matter where your customer goes, he/she ALWAYS has their cell phone with them (even while using the bathroom). If your company has a mobile app, you are literally just a tap away at all times. To sum it up bluntly, companies that don’t utilize every communication channel available are missing valuable opportunities to engage their customers . . . which increases frequency of visits and transaction values. The ROI of having a mobile app for your business is extremely profitable and the proof is in your hands or near you right now. Where is your cell phone? Would you leave home without it?

    Will your app be the next Angry Birds that has experienced over 300 million downloads? I am guessing we both know the answer to that. However, if you could have an open line of communication with your customers (known as PUSH notifications on a mobile app), free of noise or distractions, and also have the ability to send one on one direct messages straight to their cell phones, you wouldn’t pass that up, would you? Of course not!

    The future of business is CLEARLY having a mobile presence. We are just around the corner from consumers expecting to see their favorite stores and brands in the app stores. When they search for your business, will they find your mobile app or your competitor’s? The choice is yours.
    TheSocialMediaBoss.Com is passionate about helping businesses of all sizes stake their claim in the mobile app market. Your business can be on Smartphones and tablets in no time. It only takes 7 to 10 business days to get a mobile app that not only engages your customers, but increases your traffic and revenues. As we head for 2012, it is time to GO MOBILE!

      Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Goes Mobile

      By on Monday, November 21st, 2011 | 0 Comments

      Everywhere you look you see an app to solve something for us. Constantly I hear: “There’s an app for that.”

      It’s true, with smartphone sales going through the roof, it is no wonder business owners are scrambling to get an app built for their business. The holidays are upon us, and just like past seasons there will be record numbers of mobile phone sales (particularly smartphones).

      Speaking of there being an app for almost everything these days, it is no surprise that the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has launched an app as reported by Mashable below:


      The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is getting a technology update for its 85th year by way of an official mobile app. The Parade app will be available on both iOS and Android ahead of next Thursday’s event, and feature a route map, NYC tips, a WiFi hotspot finder and a way to track specific participants in the parade.

      You can see some of the app’s features in the video above. Macy’s says that all of the features will also be available on the Parade website. Will you be tuning into the parade this year? Let us know in the comments.

        Go APPsolutely Mobile

        By on Friday, November 18th, 2011 | 0 Comments

        Total mobile users around the world have increased from 4.1 to over 5 billion in the last year alone. More mobile phones than people are expected to be on the planet in the next 18 months or less and well over 1 billion of those are going to be Smartphones by 2013. Going mobile is critical to staying relevant going into 2012 and beyond.

        Consider these facts that prove mobile is not only heating up, it is RED HOT . . . There are 600,000 mobile apps and growing on a sharp curve upward – soon to be 1 million.  After they hit 1 million, they’ll soon hit 2 million in a much shorter time.  5 million mobile apps will be here sooner than you think.

        The mobile app market is a $38 Billion dollar industry.  And it will DOUBLE and TRIPLE over the next 3 years.

        Check out why mobile phones and mobile apps are the most exciting and innovative way to market your brand:

        NEVER Off

        Comparing PC’s to mobile phones . . . mobile phones are very affordable and far more accessible than ever before (usually within arm’s reach almost the entire 24 hours per day).  Even when you charge your phone, usually it is still ON, always on you or very nearby and it knows where you are based on the GPS installed on over 90% of the phones in existence today.  Reaching consumers wherever they are, your business has a huge opportunity to sell, promote, engage, and be remembered.

        Location, location, location

        Since mobile phones know where you are creates a huge game changer and without a doubt the next big tidal wave in the mobile world.  Radios, televisions and PC’s don’t have this technology and are much more limited in what they could do. Digital cameras and GPS are built into every mobile device coming off the shelves currently, and the possibilities continue to be mind boggling on how we all access and interact with our reality (known as Social Media).

        EXTREME branding

        Traditionally, your Website was the hub of your marketing plan just like having a business phone number is a MUST.  Now that shift is quickly moving to mobile apps.  Mobile apps are the NEW Website of this decade.  Surfers on the web can be distracted away from your Website easily and led to something irrelevant in seconds. In the mobile space, apps allow your business to stay in control of the customer experience with a more pleasing user interface that is engaging and fun to use. Also, the ability to bring multiple creative properties like blogs, videos, pictures and events into one location with one consistent view is easier and more efficient, saving time and money for your business and the user.

        Permission-based communication

        Usually when you first download or use an app on a mobile phone, it will ask for your email, current location or if you would like to receive push notifications. If the user grants permission, you can communicate with them via that very direct one to one channel.

        Advertising Sponsorship

        There are countless opportunities to find a Joint Venture sponsor for your mobile app. And if your business already has potential sponsors, you can extend to them, an invitation to the mobile world. It’s friendlier than a banner ad and more relevant than a pre-roll video.  Your business controls its branding keeping your message direct, clear and simple.

        A way of life

        Whether someone is eating, driving (oops that’s very bad!), walking, talking, waiting in line, on a plane, in a meeting or watching a concert, everyone has Mobile phones.  Who do you know (with few exceptions) that does not have a mobile phone?  Mobile phones predominantly dictate where we all go and what we do. They are making their debut in our lives at a younger age each year and there’s no doubt it has become a way of life, especially when none of us leave home without our mobile phones.

        Multiple platforms

        There are more and more choices and personalization options than ever before when choosing a device and even a carrier.  Each has its own defaults, features, operating systems, user interface and design theme.  Because devices can be chosen based on your personality and needs, it leads to you using it more often which leads to accelerating your communications in the Social Media world.

        Sharing is caring

        Via mobile apps word of mouth allows any user the ability to share any piece of mobile content on any network with the possibility of going viral.  Mobile sharing is an unrivaled feature built in to almost every mobile app on the market today.  Without it, the viral and personal nature of why we like something is lost. No matter where we are and what we are doing, sharing is important to us.  Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and countless other Social Media giants have already proven this.  Just ask the person at a concert recording their favorite artist, or snapping pictures of friends at an event, and commenting on or posting links on social networks.

        mCommerce

        More users are opening their wallets (through mobile apps) when on the go than ever before.  Arguably this behavior would not happen on PC’s and desktops. If you are a brand consumers like and trust, that makes life easier in the process, they will keep coming back for more.

        Exclusive deals

        By offering specific exclusive content, special offers, fun and engaging contests or top user incentives through your mobile app, enhances the experience for your customers and keeps them coming back again and again. This can turn regular sporadic customers into loyal raving fans almost overnight.  Be careful not to make your offers too competitive and complicated or most people will tune out.  Keep it simple and you will be surprised by increased visits and higher transaction amounts.

          FourSquare For Business

          By on Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 | 0 Comments

          Foursquare is part of the next generation of mobile applications. Described by the company that created it as “a friend-finder, a social city-guide, and a game that encourages users to explore their neighborhoods and rewards them for doing so,” Foursquare is an application that is designed to allow people to “check in,” or, in other words, indicate their whereabouts. People check in at a variety of different types of places, including their homes, parks, offices, restaurants, bars, cafés, and various businesses.

          The idea is to allow friends to share their favorite spots in any new places that they may discover. In this way, Foursquare is very much so an application that is tantamount to viral marketing and it can be used to occur age word-of-mouth participation by your customers; here’s how:

          Customer Loyalty:  first, consider using Foursquare to offer customer loyalty promotions, such as offering a complimentary appetizer to any customer that checks in three times in a given week or writes a positive review. Foursquare makes offering these types of so-called “Foursquare specials” easy by providing free tools to allow businesses automatically fulfill or unlock the Foursquare special (e.g. Foursquare says you have been here 3 times this week! That’s a free appetizer!; Foursquare users get 20% off their order every 10th check in!).

          Points: Foursquare operates almost like a game as well, in users gain points for checking in, adding a new venue, repeat visits, etc. The points are assessed by venue, as well as a whole. Businesses can encourage customers to check in by providing value for the number of points accrue,  such as offering to donate a nickel per point to a charity or allowing users to earn discounts in relation to the number of points they have.

          Mayors: the user that has the most points for a specific venue is designated as the “mayor” of that venue. Such, many businesses will choose to offer something of a larger value to the member who becomes the mayor of their venue, such as a gift certificate or a complimentary bottle of wine. Many Foursquare users are very competitive over the “mayor” status and this “battle” can translate into increased exposure, and accordingly profits, for a business.
          To do lists: next, consider creating a “to-do” list for Foursquare users. A Foursquare to-do list operates very much like a contest or scavenger hunt. You would create a to-do list based on aspects of your business you would like to promote, such as your new line of cocktails or a new fitness class.When a user completes the to-do list, you could award him much the way you would award the “mayor” – by providing a complimentary item or service.
          Everyone’s a winner: lastly, consider making everyone a winner by offering a free upgrade to anyone who checks in (and shows they did to the cashier) or by offering 10% off to everyone in the store when the analytics show that 100 people have checked in at your venue.

          Without a doubt, participating in sites like FourSquare  can be a key part of growing your business presence in the eyes of  internet dependent local consumers.

          An online marketing strategy includes being findable in multiple places when local consumers are looking for your product or service.   If you have questions about how to implement your Local Marketing and Internet strategy start here:  TargetingLocalCustomers.Com and receive a FREE Report on how to implement your Google Places listing.

            Your Business and the 80/20 Rule

            By on Saturday, December 25th, 2010 | 0 Comments

            You’ve heard the statement I am sure in the sales world that your top sales people produce 80% of your sales revenue.

            The same holds true with your customers/clients in business.  The top 20% of your customers/clients will produce 80% of your revenues.

            It is true that it is fairly easy to track sales people, their sales and activities (or lack thereof).  However, I often hear all too often from retail business owners that they do not have a system in place to track their customer purchases.  Things like how often they visit, how much they spend etc.

            And even better yet, going deeper into your customer/client info.  When is their birthday?  What is their spouses (or significant other) name?  And all the specific info that would matter in making the sale to your customer/client.

            I love the TV series 24.  And within this great mystery suspense series it is ALWAYS about collecting intelligence info.  That is why you hear “What intel do we have?”

            Marketing to your customer/client is no different.  What intel do you have?  If you have little to none, you have many missed opportunities and you are leaving lots of money on the table.  And that money is likely going to your competitor.

            For example, if you were running a clothing store, wouldn’t it be good to KNOW the size your customer/client wears?  So that in your communication you can state that directly on any sale you might have.  It is well known that most of the buying decision of mens clothing is done by the spouse.  Hence the reason for knowing who the spouse is.

            Did you know that most businesses lose 20% (or more) of their customers each year?  To achieve a 10% increase in sales you need to add 30% in new customers.  And the cost to add a new customer is usually six times more than simply concentrating on your best customers (your top 20%).

            The statistics are alarming as to WHY customers/clients stop doing business with your business.

            * FACTOID *:  A survey on “Why customers quit doing business with you” found that 20% of them do so for the following reasons . . .

            Three percent move away, five percent develop other friendships, nine percent leave for competitive reasons, 14 percent are dissatisfied with the product or service, and a whopping 68 percent quit because of an attitude of indifference toward the customer by the business owner, manager or employee.

            So that breaks down to 82 percent of the survey result was the lack of taking care of your customer!  And that can be (and should be) fixed by you the business owner.

            But before you can do that, you must have information (intel) on or about your customer/client.

            I also hear from business owners often that they fear asking for customer information for fear that it will be too intrusive.  Yet it is probably the single biggest expense in your business NOT doing so.

            To put your mind at ease, I offer up another FACTOID.  Have you ever visited a Radio Shack?  They ALWAYS ask for your information at the point of sale.  And would it surprise you to know that 98% or more give it without any hesitation?  Most likely, because they think it has something to do with their current purchase.

            So put your fear aside.  One of the largest electronic retailers does it as a regular practice.  You should too!

            And once you do my business friend, magical things will start to happen once you use this intel.

            There are many systems available for the business owner to collect this intel with ease without it burdening the business or employees.

            For example the use of cell phones.  Who do you know (with few exceptions) who does not have a cell phone?  Current studies reveal that these devices are kept within arms reach 22 plus hours of the day.  And there are systems in place now to collect customer intel from the use of their cell phone and is convenient for the customer and the business because it all happens in 15 seconds or less.

            You owe it to yourself and your business to collect customer intel.  You will start adding black ink to your financial statement instead of swimming in red ink and failed marketing attempts.  You already have customers.  You already have products and services you sell every day.

            Start applying these techniques and you will find that you can literally cut out the need to advertise in dying Yellow Pages, Newspapers, Radio or any other form of advertising medium.

            Said another way would be “Paying attention to your current customers/clients does NOT cost, IT PAYS!”

            If you would like to DISCOVER more techniques and systems for your business grab a FREE PDF copy of my book “Creating Customers For Life” here:

            http://www.HowToCreateCustomersForLife.Com

            In it, you will learn how to make your business thrive even in the worst of economic storms.  Also, receive a FREE 15 minute phone consultation from me.

            I wish you the best of success in your business!
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