In a few earlier posts, we discussed app monetization in our article ‘How To Generate Revenue From Your Free App’  Also, in our article, ‘Survive The App Marketplace By Effectively Monetizing Your Free App’, we detailed the specifics of each app monetization strategy and provided several examples. Click here for a quick refresher.

One of the top four strategies for successful app monetization is integrating advertisements within the mobile application.  Selling ad space is an extremely effective way to generate revenue.  Banner advertising within mobile applications resembles classic banner advertisements on websites.  Due to this familiarity many developers and marketing strategists utilize the following advertising model:

• Invest in marketing and advertising to create awareness
• Stimulate discovery
• Drive downloads
• Let other companies place ads within your app to generate revenue

While the marketing strategy outlined above has proven effective, companies are now being pushed to think critically about the development of monetization strategies for their mobile applications.  Diligent planning while creating a sustainable and effective mobile marketing strategy is a must.  To begin with, the mobile application must be properly developed and serve the needs of its users. One of the most prominent features of a successful mobile application is that it fulfills the user’s needs. It is also important that these needs are not being  fulfilled by an already existing app or other type of technology.

Another important aspect to the overall mobile marketing strategy is diversifying the revenue stream.  One strategy cannot solve all revenue generation problems.  Along with selling ad space, companies need to consider in-app purchases, subscriptions and app sponsorships. 

Regardless of the secondary revenue generator chosen, the following list outlines mobile marketing strategies that can make an application successful:

1. Try to achieve a critical mass with your app that keeps drawing people back time and time again. This will make the app more appealing to advertisers.
2. Identify the app’s target audience in order to determine the type of advertisers you want to attract.
3. Keep the cost of attracting downloads and advertisers below the amount of revenue the app is forecasted to generate.
4. Develop and test the app’s marketing options and utilize the options that hold the best promise of helping the app “go viral” thus increasing its appeal to advertisers.

Once critical mass is achieved, quantify your audience via downloads, demographics, banner ad click-through rates and other user statistics to further increase the appeal of your company’s mobile app.  In order to continue to package your mobile application as a product that appeals to advertisers demonstrate the power and reach of mobile technology by highlighting mobile activity and sales.

Lastly, get linked up with a good ad network, like  Google Adwords, Millenial Media or Adfonic.  Ad networks help companies find advertisers.  Mobile ad networks get a cut of the application’s revenue, but they eliminate the hassle of pounding the pavement that is involved with looking for new advertisers.

Effective app monetization isn’t rocket science, although it does require thoughtful planning and calculated execution.  Ad-supported mobile apps can be very successful.  By growing your audience, tracking user statistics, employing at least two app monetization strategies, and joining a good ad network, your revenue stream is sure to grow.  All a company needs to do is keep development costs, and the cost of attracting users and advertisers below the forecasted app revenue stream.     

Monetization of mobile applications is one of the hottest topics amongst app developers and app owners across the United States.  Especially when one considers how many companies are forced to offer their app for free in spite of the cost of development.  While the debate concerning the price of mobile apps is sure to continue, we have addressed many of the major questions relating to price points in a previous article; How Much Should You Charge For Your iPhone App?

Since free is the best price for most consumers, companies are still in need of covering app development costs.  Back in November we wrote about the best ways to monetize free apps; How to Generate Revenue From Your Free App.  The article stated that, subscription-supported apps, in-app purchases, ad-supported apps and sponsorships are the most effective methods to generate revenue from mobile applications.  Below, is an outline of each strategy in order to assist you in determining which one will work best for the app your company is developing. 

Subscriptions:

Subscription-supported apps are where users pay monthly fees to access and use features not available in the free version of the app.  Developers design apps with subscription-based services that provide access to updates, bundled services or other features that promise to enhance the user experience.  By offering special features not everyone is privy too, companies increase the real and perceived value of the mobile application.  Examples of subscription-based mobile apps include: Wall Street Journal, Rdio, and Soccer Champs.   

In-App Purchases:

One of the most popular and effective means of monetizing apps is through in-app purchases.  Both Apple and Google provide good descriptions of the fundamental components of in-app billing.    

An easy way to think of in-app purchases is to liken it to the following scenario.  Imagine you go out to eat.  Getting to the restaurant is free.  Once inside the restaurant you can stand and eat for free or pay to sit at a table and eat.  Lastly, if you want to view the entire menu instead of being served whatever the chef wants to serve you, you have to pay a small fee.  This is known as the velvet-rope approach, and it is very popular among professional developers and strategic marketers.  Essentially, the user is enticed to make purchases in order to increase their experience within the app.  Examples of in-app purchases include the top three grossing games: Candy Crush Saga, Clash of Clans and Pet Rescue Saga. 

Mobile Ads:

Ad-supported apps generate money from companies wishing to advertise within your app.  Similar to advertising on a website, advertisers purchase banner-ad space for a set price and can also be contracted to give your company a percentage of the sales that are generated from users clicking through.  Ad-supported apps are usually offered side-by-side paid versions of apps providing users with an option to tolerate non-obtrusive ads or have an ad-free experience.  Developing ad-supported apps maximizes a company’s reach and potential revenue stream.  While some companies prefer to attract advertisers on their own, the best method of finding advertisers is to connect with them via an ad network such as: Google Adwords, Millenial Media or Adfonic.

App Sponsorship:

App sponsorship is quickly emerging as a very effective means of monetizing apps.  Companies attract sponsors by directly linking user interests to the sponsoring company’s products or services.  Sponsorships make it easier for users to take action and/or receive more information by immediately clicking on the banner in the app.  The upside for sponsors is getting user contact information and sometimes making a sale.  App sponsorship is more effective than traditional print sponsorship because it offers a higher ROI to the sponsor.  Many companies have sponsorship submission forms on their websites.  Check Jack Link’s Beef Jerky and Subway.    

It might be tempting to think of one of the strategies listed above as “the one”.  However, knowledgeable strategic marketers and mobile app development specialists suggest utilizing a combination of the strategies and seeing which one fits best.  Some apps are better suited to sponsorship, others in-app purchases and so on.  Experienced developers can easily assist you in picking a couple of strategies that will suit your company’s needs.

It is vital your ads reach users on every device possible, be it tablets, phones or computers.  Cross-platform advertising should be a key component of your company’s marketing strategy.  Mobile device usage and app development are continuously growing, while desktop workstations continue to dominate the workplace.  Thus, the most effective advertisements are the ones that reach users on all types of devices.

Soon after smartphones were introduced, the best mobile development companies started offering cross-platform marketing.  However, this idea was dormant for years until the sales of iPhones, iPads and other mobile devices reached a tipping point and created a huge shift in how people engage with technology and the Web.

Smartphone sales now surpass PC sales.  Total iPad and tablet sales have consistently risen since their introduction into the marketplace.  The number of apps being downloaded is also increasing.  Due to the proliferation of mobile devices, PC sales have been steadily leveling off.

Cross-platform marketing is a smart investment for companies across the United States and abroad.  Professional web developers are reaping the benefits as well.  Cross-platform marketing is significantly less labor intensive due to reduced development needs.  Without having to build ads for each platform, marketing and development firms are able to spend more time on, specific calls to action, graphics and functionality.  The payoff for all parties is substantial and is the main reason cross-platform marketing is the best online ad delivery platform.

Google recently introduced Cross-Device Measurement in Google Analytics which is sure to turn mobile marketing on its head.  With Cross-Device Measurement internet traffic can be more easily and effectively tracked.  Over the long term, companies will be able to gain a more accurate picture of its customers and their online habits.  Now companies will be able to develop more informed marketing campaigns and pair them with geo-location software to improve brand recognition and ad stickiness.

As sales of mobile devices create an increased need for stunning and cost-effective mobile and web ads, new marketing tools are in high demand.  With cross-platform marketing, developers have the perfect tool to make online advertising truly pay off.  Don’t waste money on in-effective advertising campaigns.  It is important not to focus solely on one advertising medium. By using cross-platform advertising, your company will have a better chance of maximizing every dollar spent on its advertising campaign.

After several years of debate amongst software developers regarding platform superiority, the answer has finally come.  Both Android and iOS are equally powerful and important in overall value to the marketplace.  Where does this answer come from?  Surprisingly, Blackberry, and they’ve done it with the release of their Blackberry Messenger (BBM) app for Android and iPhone.

In developing an app for multi-platform use, Blackberry is quietly acknowledging their loss of mobile hardware and software market share.  Even though Blackberry isn’t explicitly stating the three items outlined below, industry experts surely are:

1. Android and iOS innovation along with the combined share of the marketplace is too substantial for Blackberry to compete with.
2. Blackberry is struggling to differentiate itself with their new line of hardware products.
3. Blackberry’s business strategy may be better suited to software and web development.

In parts of the world where Blackberry no longer has a strong foothold, the Middle East and North Africa, Blackberry turned to Samsung to help with unveiling the BBM app.  The partnership with Samsung, was Blackberry’s attempt to gain back some of the instant messaging market share it has been steadily losing since 2011.  Sadly, many experts agree that Blackberry app developers may be acting too late.  Had Blackberry marketing strategists, software developers, and other leaders within the company had more foresight, BBM would have been launched in 2010 and the Blackberry Z10 and Q10 as early as 2011.

With the recent firing of its CEO Thorsten Hiens, Blackberry is showing clear signs of a company in a downward spiral.  As a result, the US and global market share once held by Blackberry is up for grabs as the development of apps for Android and iOS continues to grow.  Sporting increasingly better hardware and software, as we reported in our blogs‘Google Fragmentation No Longer…’ and ‘7^th Heaven’, developers of Android and iOS mobile phone apps are sure to be in high demand.

Located in Salt Lake City, Mystic Media is your expert app and web development company.  Whether you want to utilize iOS or Android to market your company’s products or services, Mystic Media can help.  Contact us today for a free consultation to learn why we are Utah’s #1 app development company.

When smartphones were introduced, the debate regarding app development quickly heated up.  Questions were raised regarding the advantages and disadvantages of developing native apps versus HTML apps.  While the debate continues, especially after the release of HTML-5, professional app developers agree, native apps are better than HTML-5 apps.

For those who are unfamiliar with the concepts of native and HTML-5 apps, here are definitions for quick reference:

1. Native apps: apps specifically developed for and downloaded directly to mobile devices.
2. HTML-5 apps: apps housed on the web and able to run across all mobile platforms and devices.

Of course, it is easy to find naysayers and detractors who believe whole-heartedly in HTML-5 apps.  However, there are many compelling reasons why companies should request native app development.  First, here are the reasons why HTML-5 app development is not the right choice for your company:

1. Fragmentation issues exist due to the need for compatibility with multiple browsers.
2. Not all mobile browsers fully support HTML-5.
3. HTML-5 does not work offline and has an inferior UI.
4. The development focus of HTML-5 is still on websites viewed from desktop computers not mobile devices.
5. No central app store exists to purchase HTML-5 apps making it difficult for companies to tap into the $6 billion app economy.
6. Facebook and Linkdin dropped HTML-5 due to reasons 1-5 and other development limitations.

If the list above is not enough to convince you that native apps are better, the distinct advantages of native app development listed below should help:

1. Native apps offer better overall performance and superior UI.
2. There are stronger security features for professional app developers to utilize and leverage.
3. Native apps offer easier monetization through Google Play and Apple App stores.
4. Mobile app developers find more value in developing native apps. (The experts have spoken!)
5. It is easier to identify and implement necessary improvements for native apps.

Why native app development is better, is further supported based on the larger PC and mobile device marketplace.  Outlined below are interesting trends that developers of mobile apps are paying attention to:

1. Since 2005 mobile device sales have surpassed PC sales and were found to be 2x higher and growing in 2012.
2. In the 2^nd quarter of 2012, overall shipments of PCs stagnated and have consistently fallen since then.
3. Tablet sales are projected to overtake PC sales in 2-3 years.
4. Mobile device home screens are dominated by apps not mobile browsers.
5. 80% of the information accessed on mobile devices is app-based.

For Salt Lake City-based companies looking for a sophisticated mobile app that can deliver complex data and heavier graphics to the end-user, native app development is the answer.  No one needs an app with loading and other compatibility issues with mobile devices.  The larger goal is to engage users and develop loyal customers.  Companies in Utah will succeed with native apps.

In Salt Lake City, Mystic Media specializes in mobile app development.  Our expertise in developing native apps for iPhones and Android devices is unparalleled.  Contact Mystic Media today for a free consultation and to learn why we are Utah’s best mobile app development company.

On October 22^nd, Apple unveiled the iPad Air to an expectant crowd and it was warmly received.  The ‘Air’ is Apple’s 5th generation iPad and was in part based on design features from the iPad mini.  So, along with sporting greatly improved processing capabilities, the new iPad Air has a lighter and thinner body as well.  With all of these upgrades, many companies not only in Utah but throughout the 50 states are wanting to know how to find an expert app developer that can create an iOS application that maximizes the power of this device.

Before we begin, here are some of the new features of Apple’s iPad Air:

1. 7.5 mm thick and weighs in at approximately 1 pound.
2. Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is 72x faster.
3. 64-bit A7 processor optimized to run iOS 7.
4. M7 motion-sensing chip.
5. Faster MIMO Wi-Fi.
6. Capacity ranges from 16GB to 128 GB.
7. 5 MP iSight camera and 1080p HD video.

In searching for an app developer in Utah, it is helpful to know a little bit about Apple, the history of the iPad and its place in the market.  The following information will help you understand a developer’s iOS programming capabilities.  Since its inception Apple has been the lead innovator in developing forward thinking computing technology.  When Apple unveiled the first iPad in 2010 it continued its stellar trend of trailblazing.  Soon thereafter, Apple unveiled the iPad 2 and so on.  Other companies have developed tablets but Apple still leads with approximately 81% of tablet market share.  Within its full complement of mobile devices (iPad, iPod, iPhone), Apple has avoided the fragmentation issues that plagued Android.  Without fragmentation issues, iOS developers have had an easier time developing apps.  Easier app development has led to superior functionality, better graphics and eye-catching advertisements.

So, with regards to how to find an app developer, the answer is pretty easy.  Top iPad app development companies have years of experience with iOS and app development and a portfolio to back it up.  In Salt Lake City, Mystic Media staffs the most experienced, professional and knowledgeable iOS programmers.  Mystic prides itself is offering the best iPad app development services around.  Call Mystic Media today for a free consultation and learn how mobile app development can help your Utah company.