Mobile traffic and mobile device usage have skyrocketed over the past few years and mobile apps are continuously rising in popularity. Nowadays, many people use various mobile apps to stay updated, entertained or simply enjoy products and services from their favorite brands. Meanwhile, businesses are making an effort to develop mobile apps for their target audience that will meet and even exceed the customers’ needs and expectations.
However, the app market is overcrowded and there is a lot of noise marketers have to cut through in order to effectively promote their own apps. As a matter of fact, the App Store has 2.2 million apps available, while Google play has reached 2.5 million apps. So, promoting apps for local markets can be difficult in such a competitive crowd. Nevertheless, when you make an effort, you can actually make your app stand out from so many others. Here are a few tips for promoting apps for local markets.
Make sure it’s useful
No matter how god your promotions may be, if your app isn’t useful to the audience, they simply won’t show any interest in it. When designing your app, take time to research your target audience. That way, you’ll be able to identify what your future customers actually need in terms of apps usefulness and what they expect, in form of usability, functionality and user-friendliness.
Even if you consider developing an app for a global market, you must identify key points that will make people actually want to use your app. Think of something that will pique your target audience’s interest, but also something that can be used to attract a wider audience.
Expand your team
Trying to expand your reach to a local market you’re not familiar with can be very daunting. That’s why you need to expand your team and get people on board that can help you out with a foreign language, culture, local customs and specific local needs. You also need people that will provide customer support to your new customers and people who can create and adapt content for the local market.
Moreover, if you plan on running a local promotion, you should get some help from someone who’s familiar with the locals and their preferences. For instance, if you’re hitting the Singapore market, you could ask an advertising agency in Singapore to help out with the promotion.
Localize your app
Simply translating your app to the local language will be enough to determine how interested local customers are. If you notice a significant spike in your app’s downloads, it would be a good idea to consider localizing it further. That means you have to adapt your app to the local market, including, symbols, icons, colors, numeric data, currency and so on.
In addition, you have to adapt your app’s metadata, end user license agreement, help tips, notifications and other relevant information to the local customs. By localizing your app, you’re not just giving the local customers a chance to understand your app, but an opportunity to drive more engagement and create a loyal customer base.
Use social media
Social media platforms provide one of the best ways to promote your app in local markets. You can create specific social media network accounts where you’ll create pages and supply content for your new audience. Just make sure you translate everything accordingly and adapt to the local customs and culture.
That way you can start engaging with your customers online and start promoting your app efficiently. Also, make sure you gather feedback from your new local audience. After all, the best way to identify your customers’ needs and preferences is to have a two-way communication with them. The best place to have that communication are social media channels.
The key to an effective app promotion on the local market is to treat that market like any other. The only difference is that you will have to adapt to a different environment and culture. However, various local markets are hiding untapped potential, and even though they require quite a commitment to conquer, it’s well worth the effort.
