Mobile Groove

Smart developers understand that selling apps is a serious business. But a raft of research suggests a singular focus on driving downloads is patently flawed. It’s really how well app developers can persuade us to make their app part of our regular routine that will make or break their app business. Winning is all about making the right choices to delight us again and again.

The bottom line: app developers need to work out a strategy to increase engagement, not just downloads. To provide them a …

During the Internet World 2012 mobile conference in London, investors were split down the middle when asked if they would invest more in mobile (rather than online and traditional media) to reach sports fans and enthusiasts.

• The straw poll of 100 attendees at the show conducted by affilinet found that 65 percent of respondents felt mobile, online and offline would play a major role in their marketing outreach.
• However, many respondents have not yet taken the critical first step. Two-thirds of tho

…

What do we really want from our branded, self-service mobile apps? The numbers tell a mixed story. Usage data shows we appreciate instant access to the companies we do business with via mobile apps aimed at taking the heavy lifting out of resolving customer service issues and questions. Meantime, a raft of reports suggests the appeal of instantly downloading the latest apps is losing its luster.

But rather than speculate about consumer attitudes toward customer service apps Nuance teamed up with Vocalabs to find out what consumers really think about their self-service apps. The findings are a wake up call for companies everywhere.

Mobile is fast becoming the device we reach to for advice and assistance throughout our daily routine, so it’s little wonder that verticals such as Health & Fitness and Finance ­ are stepping up mobile advertising activities and spend.

It’s a massive mobile advertising trend that marked 2011, and sure to gain additional momentum in 2012, according to the 2011 Year In Review SMART report (Scorecard for Mobile Advertising Reach and Targeting).

From marketing and advertising, to media and business, the impact of the always-connected, socially networked Digital Native on our society is profound. Michelle Manafy draws from her book Dancing With Digital Natives and personal observations to argue why the rise of Millennials forces a massive rethink of all systems based on command-and-control. Timed to this must-read BBC series on the Future of Work the key message in Michelle’s work comes through loud and clear: The future model for everything (including work) is coordinate-and-cultivate. In this first column Michelle connects the dots in key data points to provide organizations advice on how they can motivate Millennials to deliver their best.

***

Businesses need to stay in step with Digital Natives. Yet it can be a struggle to choreograph an elegant dance when Millennials don’t lead or follow in the “traditional” way.

The new edition of the International Journal of Mobile Marketing (IJMM) is live, chock-full of new content, features and research from contributors that (like all issues of this respected journal) quite simply sets the bar.

From a special section that expertly outlines the opportunities, challenges and attitudes around mobile marketing and advertising in India, to path-breaking research and models that harness our interaction with mobile social networks to drive frequency (and results!), this issue is the one if you are looking for a balanced mix of academic insights and practical business advice.