The Mobile App Minute with Rob Woodbridge and Peggy Anne Salz

How app impact can make or break your mobile app

untether@gmail.com — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 18:36:05 +0000

Do you know what the true cost is of your app? Not the baked costs - labour, assets, distribution, marketing - those are easy and visible. The costs we are talking about are the subtle ones that have the biggest impact. Battery consumption, data consumption, processor consumption. They are killers when it comes to the cost of experience and need to be part of your equation when looking to build a successful app. Here's why you should be considering these as you build and refine your app.

How to use cross-promotion to increase mobile app installs

untether@gmail.com — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 13:23:55 +0000

Cross-promotion, which involves the practice of setting up apps that promote each other to their audiences, is a wonderful, free way to promote your app. In practice, app developers advertise each other’s apps via advertising placements within those apps. It’s a perfect approach for app developers on a tight budget, And, although there’s no real currency being exchanged between the app developers using this model, the app downloads this promotion strategy can drive are certainly money in the bank for your app business.

We dive deep into the concept or cross-promotion and also bring you a company that can help independent game developers start using this important app promotion tool.

Why privacy is a killer strategy or an app killer

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 12:27:45 +0000

Privacy is an overused, under implemented strategy for mobile apps these days. There is a lot of talk but very little action. Companies that violate the privacy rights of their users will, at best, feel the wrath of their users and at worst suffer catastrophic (and perhaps business-threatening) outcomes. Think about the fury that UBER has met with recently. There is a drastic difference between having a privacy policy and living it for your users. Real brands understand the need to live by privacy - to defend it at all costs. Do you do this? Do you have a privacy-first approach to your users? Very few mobile app companies do - mostly because it is not easy to implement. Not easy to understand. Not. Easy.

This is the focus of this episode and offers up some great resources to help you set up your privacy-focused organization. This is critical in establishing a level of trust with your users. If you don't, you are leaving money on the table. Watch the episode to understand the impact of not thinking about privacy.

How to get your mobile app ready for the holidays

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 16:27:29 +0000

Christmas is upon us and app developers have to move quickly in order to ensure they have a successful download season. Peggy is here to highlight a brand new ebook from Fiksu on techniques to implement right now so that the busiest app season of the year does not pass you by.

How Tango increased downloads of their mobile game Road Riot by 90%

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 15:37:55 +0000

What is the difference between an app that has moderate downloads versus one that has incredible downloads? A large portion of that is the function of the app but, let's face it, there really hasn't been an app that has stood alone in its category so that is only a part of the reason. What about your icon? What about your advertising? How do those impact the number of downloads of the app? After watching this episode you will understand the impact it has - which is quite considerable if done right.

How to do PR for your mobile application on the cheap

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 16:17:57 +0000

Success of an app relies on a number of factors including its purpose, the audience, the need and awareness. Each are important and each have been covered over our 20 episodes thus far. The focus today is on one key aspect of awareness - getting your app in front of the right media at the right time. For this, we turn to a new service called PressFriendly. Peggy explains the need for PR and how PressFriendly fills a gap that so needed filling for small and independent app developers around the world.

Beware of the silent app killer...

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 13:35:47 +0000

So you've listened to your customers and built the greatest app that does exactly what they want. Kudos. You've also spent money marketing it, partnering properly and generated enough buzz to start the downloads and usage rolling. It seems that all is golden from this point forward, what could go wrong right?

Have you considered performance yet? What happens when your app crashes on launch or is slow to respond to data calls or doesn't take into consideration carrier load or wifi issues? It may not be your fault that all this happens but, in the eyes of your customer, it is 100% on you and the impact could be catastrophic.

Have no fear, Peggy is here to walk us through the things you should be doing to ensure this doesn't happen.

The most over looked revenue strategy for Android developers

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 11:32:01 +0000

The goal of every app developer is to attract as many users as possible to their app. Which is why it's really important to explore - and enjoy the benefits of alternative app stores if you have an Android app. Why? Because - although the majority of app developers may view placement in Google Play as the best way to achieve mass market reach and distribution for their Android apps, the numbers — and news — tell a different story. The raft of companies out there running app stores as a huge part of their wider business strategy — from Amazon to Yandex, and Samsung to China's counterpart to Google, Baidu — should send a clear message to app developers that it is crucial to cast a wide net and think globally.

This episode highlights the reasons why it thinking beyond the borders of "mainstream" app stores is imperative and one of the most important strategies you can follow.

Use the power of 3's to give your app a fighting chance

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 11:30:22 +0000

Have you ever considered hiring an agency to help with your mobile app marketing? Sometimes it is much more effective and less costly to do so for many reasons (of which we explore in this episode). Should you go down this road there are still responsibilities that fall on you, the developer, to ensure your app succeeds. Don't just hand it off and hope - that is NOT a strategy. Peggy highlights some great work from Mick Rigby, founder of Yodel Mobile, on his power of 3's when it comes to ensuring long-term success for your mobile app. All we are saying is give your app a chance...

How to use app store analytics to build the right mobile app

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 18:04:47 +0000

How do you know where to go unless you have the right data? That's what this episode seeks to answer. Having access to app store analytics gives developers incredible insight into the emerging trends but, more importantly, gives insight into the expected growth of an app. Using the service we highlight in this episode, developers will be able to see what categories and types of apps are ripe with opportunity while avoiding those that aren't.

How MMS can help app developers deepen user engagement

untether@gmail.com — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 11:30:49 +0000

MMS has been around for quite some time but perhaps it hasn't been appreciated as much as its relatives. Peggy brings us a glimpse into how MMS can help application developers bring users back into their apps and move downloads. She also highlights a new MMS service offering from Twilio and brings us the top 3 uses for MMS for your business.

The 3 things you should never do when using social media to market your mobile app

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 10:54:55 +0000

Marketing is an art when it comes to getting the word out for your newly-minted mobile application and there has never been a more affordable means to market than social media. The problem is that most app developers either ignore this opportunity to engage with their community or are doing it terribly wrong. That's why we are here. This episode focuses on the reasons social media marketing is so important for your mobile app business and the 3 things you should NEVER (and we mean NEVER as in ever) do.

How to use emotions to make mobile ads more effective

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 11:22:31 +0000

We've all seen an ad on television that has had an impact on us - made us laugh or cry or think or donate or buy or repulse. Mobile ads should be no different. The key is to understand when to display the appropriate ad with the appropriate message and being of the appropriate length.

This is what InMobi calls "Emotional Monetization" and Peggy walks us through an incredibly simple process to understand when to use what type of ad for maximum revenue generation. I.E. When to place the right ads that will make you, the developer, more money.

This is part content strategy and psychology lesson but mostly common sense that, if applied, will net you more earnings making everyone happy in the end.

Why the enterprise is ripe for mobile disruption

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 15:26:54 +0000

Are you a developer for hire or a company involved in mobile development? Have you looked at the enterprise as an opportunity to build a business or your portfolio? You see, larger companies are struggling both internally and externally which makes the opportunity incredibly large. They need to satisfy their own internal requirements for CRM and employee optimization while at the same time satisfy their customers that fuel the business.

Good thing for you that Peggy lays out the opportunity right here in under 10 minutes - thanks to a great infographic from Mubaloo. If you haven't considered the enterprise market you may be kicking yourself after watching this episode.

How to use video to sell your app

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 12:01:54 +0000

Video has always been an important part of the mobile app marketing process and is getting a huge boost on the iPhone platform when Apple introduces the use of short videos in the next version of its App Store. Peggy summarizes some incredible advice from Apptamin co-founder Sylvain Gauchet to make your app video standout amongst the crowd.

If you haven't used video to market your app, we provide a great framework to start with. If you have, here's a refresher on what works and what doesn't.

MAM #10: The 10-step checklist to build & launch a mobile app

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:14:42 +0000

What are the 10 most foundational steps that every single developer needs to do in order to give their app a fighting chance? That question is answered here by Peggy as she highlights a great resource put together by India-based Dot Com Infoway. This episode focuses on the core requirements to set any app on the right path to success.

MAM #009: How to give your app a voice with SMS

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 12:07:58 +0000

An arsenal of tools. To win in marketing your app you need to use an arsenal of tools. The more you use, the more likely you are to succeed and one of the important pieces in your app marketing strategy needs to be SMS. There are tremendous benefits and Peggy outlines them in this episode.

If you've ever wondered how to give your app a voice, to bring users back that have forgotten about your app or even to deepen the relationship you have with existing users, sit back and watch this episode. Of course, if you don't care about any of these things you may simply just carry on about your day...

MAM #008: Here's where all the revenue is in mobile apps...

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 10:56:03 +0000

Making an app is a complex undertaking. Making your app business successful is also hard work. As we will show you in this series, the decisions you make will largely depend on your category of app, target audience and monetization model. But you shouldn’t just rely on your judgment. Knowing what other app developers think, do and recommend can also help you avoid pitfalls along the way.

Peggy highlights some key information from a new report by Vision Mobile - the good and the frightening - and offers ideas on where the opportunities are to build a mobile app business.

MAM #007: How to bridge the app store payment gap

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 10:02:34 +0000

It is hard enough to come up with a great idea for a mobile business, design it, build it, market it and convince a bunch of people to download it and use it more than once. When, miracles of miracles, you've done all that and your customers finally start paying for it. you end up having to wait for up to 60 days to get paid from the various app stores. Life is hard as a mobile development company trying to survive on selling through apps.

So what do you do? Well Peggy has an answer for you on today's show that you may want to pay attention to.

MAM #006: How to use testing to make your app better

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 12:04:31 +0000

Want to know the secret to a successful app? Well, listen up, here it is. Testing, iteration, interaction and testing again. In short, the secret to a successful app is hard work. There are no shortcuts in the app world any more.

A huge part of the success of your app depends on a very important cycle with your customers - one that if done right will bring you closer to your customer (and satisfying their requirements of you) than ever before. That cycle is testing. If everything is in place and you are constantly testing and asking, every release that lands on your users screen should be closer and closer to what they want because they've told you so.

How do you do it? Have no fear, Peggy outlines her A/B testing primer in this episode - things you can do and use right away to start bringing you closer to your user.

MAM #005: The 3 types of app messaging and how to use them to build deeper customer relationships

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 12:26:13 +0000

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

If there is one thing that mobile has done for communications it has made it easier to send more people more messages more easily. It has also empowered the receiver to turn it off, tune it out and forget just as easily. This is the challenge for all marketers and brand-builders looking to use mobile messaging to grow their empire. The balance must be perfect: Too many messages and in the wrong context and the battle is lost. Too few messages or messages being sent too soon or too late and the battle is also lost.

So what to do?

In this episode, Peggy lays the foundation for your mobile messaging strategy by focusing on the reasons why it is important, what are the 3 most used types of mobile messaging in use today and some implementation tips to get you going in the right direction.

Full show notes can be found here: http://untether.tv/2014/mam-005-the-3-types-of-app-messaging-and-how-to-use-them-to-build-deeper-customer-relationships/

MAM #004: Why you should start using push notifications in your app

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 13:10:34 +0000

The long and sometimes expensive process of building an app, marketing an app and having someone download an app is challenging enough. The problem is that what happens next is even more of a hurdle: Getting the users to engage or re-engage with the app. Most app studies show us that we, the app consumers on the planet, rarely open a downloaded app a second or third time. So, after all that effort to build, market and deploy your apps, how do you get a second or third open? How does your app become a habit with your users? One of the most important emerging pieces is push.

This episode is the first of many on this subject and acts as a primer for the benefits of bringing push into your app. This isn't easy. It isn't simple. In fact, it is the most precarious piece of an app's lifeline. Do it right (add value) and it has a chance. Do it wrong and there is no second launch - or chance.

MAM #003: How to make a mark with your mobile app in South Korea

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 09:59:16 +0000

Continuing on our look at mobile dominant economies we turn our attention to South Korea in this episode. With 28 million iOS and Android devices and mobile consumer base addicted to apps, South Korea is a nation that cannot be ignored by mobile app developers seeking to expand their reach. Peggy highlights the most important tactics to entering the market and some of the pitfalls you should avoid entering the market as well as in your app.

MAM #002: 3 tactics for launching your app in Japan

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 12:06:17 +0000

If you are serious about making sure your mobile app is successful, launching in Japan is something you cannot afford to leave out. App Annie has listed Japan as the number 1 country for monthly app revenue and to leave it out of your strategy is leaving revenue off the table.

In this episode, Peggy Anne walks us through 3 key strategies to make sure your launch in Japan goes flawlessly.

MAM #001: How to market your app in China

untether@gmail.com — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 11:21:28 +0000

In this, our first ever episode of the Mobile App Minute, Peggy Anne Salz of MobileGroove shares some valuable tips on how to bring your mobile app to market in China. The country has emerged as the dominant mobile nation - surpassing the United States in smartphone activations AND app usage. With this great opportunity comes some great challenges as well and through this quick episode you be versed on what to expect and where to start on your path to the Chinese mobile market.