There was a time when marketing and advertising were ostensibly the same. Businesses would buy billboard space or an ad in a newspaper and hope that customers would flock to their door. The internet, social media and mobile application technology have changed this approach. Marketing is now an omnichannel conversation in which customers communicate with businesses over a wide range of devices and platforms and the companies talk back. This type of marketing technology offers a positive customer experience, which in turn increases revenue for companies.
IMC Platforms
Staying on top of omnichannel marketing can be difficult because there are a lot of platforms to keep up to date. To help you manage your marketing channels, use integrated marketing communication (IMC) apps. For example, Flynx is a social media aggregator that lets you open social media links without leaving the page you are on. This saves you time, lets you multitask and enables you to post messages across all social media platforms. Flynx is only available on Android-based smartphones since it requires open source permissions to move between platforms. Use this app to maintain one unified and coherent message across all of your marketing channels and to bring your customers into your social media conversation.
Apps for Feedback
What customers say to you and to their friends is just as important as what you are saying to them. One of the best ways to get answers on what your customers think about your business is to ask them questions. For this, you have Survey Monkey. The company specializes in survey solutions that range from simple check-ins with social groups to intricate marketing research studies. You should create multiple short surveys that your customers can fill out on mobile devices. These will provide you with important marketing information and give you an opening to discuss feedback with your customers. You also can use this information to redesign your selling practices so your consumers have the best possible buying experience. Remember that a happy customer is a return customer.
Omnichannel Apps
At the heart of mobile marketing is the app. Originally these apps performed a single function, but as the technology has evolved, designers have been adding communication features, payment options and many other functions to their apps. For example, many video game apps added in social media-esque communication channels, in-app purchases, rewards, events and more. In short, they took a simple game and turned it into an omnichannel playing experience.
As a small business, you can integrate some of these features into your app. McDonald’s, of all businesses, is a great example of a business that tried a new marketing tactic with an alarm clock app. The Surprise Alarm app works as a regular clock, but it also offers rewards such as McDonald’s discounts, cash, a free music download or a free video. Learn from this idea and implement rewards and fun features into your app to keep your customers engaged with your brand and coming back to your store.