How mobile is your content? Can your fans and prospects find you in the palm of their hand?
In the last few weeks I've been testing a mobile marketing application for my content including: both blogs, videos on YouTube and twitter updates. I've known about sites and plugins that help you make your blog mobile friendly ifor quite some time, but it wasn't until I took a look at a program called Gadget MVP, developed by my colleague Chris Lang, that I got excited about how simple it could be to develop an app for my own content.
Mobile marketing is taking off in a huge way and if you can get a share of your prospects' attention on their smart phone or tablet, then you are talking about the ultimate in massive visibility. Think about getting exposure to 60 million iPhone users and about the same number of Android phones. I was looking at a slideshow about current mobile trends and the stats are astounding:
- By 2014 mobile will be the most common way of accessing the Internet
- By December 2011 more than 50% of all Americans will have a smart phone
- Consumers are spending more time on mobile apps than on browsing the mobile Web
With that in mind, I took Chris up on his offer to create a mobile app for my content that is available for Android, iPhone, Facebook and can be added to your iGoogle home page…
So, what's the big deal? There are plenty of other gadgets and apps out there. What's different about this one is the ability to not only aggregate and syndicate content from multiple sources, but also include a product offer AND an optin offer so you can generate new leads (click on Discover and Alerts tabs). Plus, you manage your gaget online and can update and change your offer and freebie when you want, as well as add new content sources. Very cool and VERY EASY to set up.
The general set up is very quick (it's by invitation only at this point). You choose the modules you want to include, enter the required info and save.
The thing that will take some time, unless you're an accomplished graphic designer, are the graphics you'll need to make the most impact with your gadget:
- a small logo that sits at the top of every page of your gadget
- a 512 x 512 pixel image for the Android Marketplace page
- a high resolution 360 dpi, 200 x 200 pixel image for the avatar button that show on the smart phone
Once you have your data entered and your graphics ready, there are instructions on how to add your gadget to iGoogle and Facebook, then the team at Gadget MVP will submit your Gadget to the Android Market Place and iPhone app store. You don't have to deal with any of that complicated process.
Once it's live, then you promote!
What do you think about creating an app for your content? Is there a way you can package your message to create enough value for people do add your app to their phone?
Hi Denise,
Chris’s program sounds terrific! At some point I’d love to be able to create something like that, where I can highlight specific deals or latest products. The tough part is, as you said, to make it interesting and valuable enough that people would actually want to download it onto their device. I usually keep apps to the minimum on my Droid and iPad. The one time I downloaded one for someone’s blog it kept alerting me when there was a new post and I couldn’t turn the alert off. Needless to say, it got deleted. First I have to figure out a good plugin for getting my site itself mobile-friendly – without having to pay someone to do it for me! I’ll check out that link you gave.
Thanks!
– Sharyn
Thanks for stopping by, Sharyn. When I think about mobile apps, I wonder what will make someone want to get MY information on their smartphone? Especially when it’s business related. Maybe an app with tips on how to use your product/services in addition to specials. It would drive me crazy too if I got a notification every time someone published a blog post!
Excellent Stuff Denise. I always tell myself to get my WP site mobile-ized asap but lacking the clear path to do so. This post will help me get off my butt already.
Here’s another reason why you want to get your content mobile and easy to access on a smart phone….take a look at these stats about how the affluent use mobile vs. the general population: http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1008469
Bruce, let me know when your app is live so I can check it out.
Here’s a 5 minute interview with @JasonFalls:twitter on Social Media Examiner about why you need to develop a mobile marketing strategy:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-mobile-is-changing-social-media/
Thanks Denise.
Does this format well with the iPad and other small netbooks?
Great explanation of how you are using this Denise. I was lucky enough to be invited by Chris to try it out as well and am just getting the graphics sorted out now. I am excited to see how it works out for me.
Wow Denise! How do I get an invitation? What is the cost? I would love one!
Hi Lauren, go to https://denisewakeman.com/gadget and scroll to send of sales page. Pick the offer you want and then you’ll be asked for your name and email address. Someone from the Gadget MVP team will contact you.
Hi Denise. Thanks for your update on your Mobile App by MVP. I was also lucky enough to have been convinced by our mutual friend Chris Lang about his new MVP mobile gadgets, and I can concur that they are a great tool for keeping everyone ” in the Loop”. I set mine up in less than 30 minutes and my clients can now view my updates all in one conveniant location. http://bit.ly/kj3YVN
Thanks for sharing a link to your gadget, Geoff. That’s a pretty specialized niche so it seems natural that those interested in surgery would want to stay up to date on the latest news.
Here’s a post and interview with Kim Dushinski, a mobile marketing expert, about how to make your blog mobile-friendly.
http://www.buildabetterblog.com/2009/04/how-to-mobilize-your-blog-audio-replay.html
I felt I had come a long way when I installed an app so that my blog readers would see a mobile-formatted site. Next my own app! Thanks for showing us how you did it.
I felt I had come a long way when I installed an app so that my blog readers would see a mobile-formatted site. Next my own app! Thanks for showing us how you did it.
Jeannette, making sure your blog is mobile friendly is a key part to this that I did not address. When someone clicks through on the app to your blog, you want to be sure they can easily consume your content. What app do you use?
I use WPTouch for my wordpress sites and Mofuse for my TypePad blogs.
For those who have not mobilized their blog, here’s a link to some suggested plugins: http://www.w3mag.com/2010/05/17/wordpress-plugins-mobile/