Most smartphone users are like dog owners when it comes to their device. They are passionate, caring, can talk at length about the object of their affection, and never pass up the opportunity to show its antics proudly in public. This is because smartphones are perhaps the most personal gadget there is.
Most smartphone users are like dog owners when it comes to their device. They are passionate,
caring, can talk at length about the object of their affection, and never pass up the opportunity to show its antics proudly in public. This is because smartphones are perhaps the most personal gadget there is. They are a constant companion to the owner, hold an important part of their lives (photos, communications, schedules, course material, other documents etc.), and come in handy for so many situations during an average day (calculations, routing, web searches and what not). That is why the advent of the smartphones has replaced so many other gadgets and machines, from watches to calculators to computers and even televisions.
Just like a loving dog – parent (yes we call them that) would not install a shabby or painful collar on their pet, a smartphone enthusiast will never install a poor quality application on their device. So how does the user decide on the quality of the app before installing it? Simple – the veritable information powerhouse that is the Internet. People read about your product, and about what other users are saying about it before committing to it themselves. Therefore, your online reputation matters, big time.
There are 2 parts to your online presence. First, you need to be visible to your potential customers. This means that when people search for a product with the relevant keywords your software is associated with, it should appear in the top spots. This needs to happen for both internet search, and search in the app stores. The second parameter of a good reputation is the rating your product gets. Your app needs to be rated well by your existing users for your potential customers to be motivated to download it.
Managing your online reputation can be challenging if you don’t know how to go about it. Here are some tips for ensuring that your online reputation is in good shape –
1. Optimizing the search – Search engine optimization (SEO) and App Store Optimization (ASO) are two important methods for making sure that your app is high on the list when users search for the right keywords. In order to achieve this, you need to be aware of what keywords the users are using when looking for similar products. This takes a little research, but it’s worth the effort and cost. Once you know the keywords, it is a good idea to name your product with a minimum of 1 keyword in the title. Use high quality images and screenshots, an associate the right keywords with them. Similarly, your application description should also carry as many keywords as possible.
2. Snowball effect – The second best way of getting noticed is to create a buzz around your software to have people talking about it. The word of mouth awareness creates a snowball effect, where the number of people knowing and talking about your app increases exponentially, gathering momentum like a snowball rolling downhill.
3. Mobile advertising – Since your target user base is smartphone users, it makes sense to advertise on the same platform. Leverage the power of mobile, and advertise on the mobile versions of the sites that are relevant to your product. Also, advertise on other applications.
4. Traditional marketing – Traditional marketing techniques such as press releases, radio and TV ads, webcasts, podcasts etc. will also get public attention to your application, and spread the word.
5. User experience – For getting good ratings and improving rankings on the app store, nothing works better than a differentiated, intuitive, and great user experience. Think outside the box, and give your users an experience that they will be motivated to talk about.
