When you launch a new mobile app, you are excitedly looking to create some buzz around it; getting people talking about it and generate downloads, lots of them! Here are the 7 must use buzz generation tools for mobile apps.
The PR world is a well-established one with many tools and ways to get the word of a new product out there. But for you, looking to promote your mobile app, there are specific PR and buzz generation channels out there. These are effective tools that you must engage with, in addition to any more “traditional” PR tactics that you may choose to use. Don’t ignore that “traditional” PR tactics, they can be hugely useful. But here we are talking about specific tools that are relevant to buzz creation around mobile apps. Read our full training to learn exactly how to leverage PR and buzz creation for your app here.
1. Reviews
People love to hear what other people has to say about an app, before they make the decision to download it and (hopefully) start using it regularly. They especially love to hear what bloggers and websites they trust have to say. Therefore, you need to assume that your target audience reads app reviews regularly. Therefore, you have to make sure your app is reviewed by the right publication and review sites (special sites focusing on providing trusted app reviews). You can get a list of site reviews here.
2. Award winning apps
Getting recognition by winning awards can be tremendously helpful for creating buzz. These award programs/competitions usually get a lot of buzz created around them and you can enjoy and leverage it as a contestant/participant and even more so if you end up being a winner. It gives you credibility and positions you as a “rising star” so you want to be part of these programs. You can get more information on relevant award programs here.
3. Marketing, discovery and distribution platforms
The evolving mobile apps eco-system includes some marketing, discovery and distribution platforms. These platforms are working on establishing a user base of millions. All, aiming at getting apps the exposure that they need, in front of people who make it a point to constantly learn about new apps. It can be “regular” end users, it can be bloggers and journalists and other influencers that will further spread the word, and it can be opinion leaders who have tons of “listeners” in a certain area and it’s priceless to get them talking about you. Two examples of such platforms are appszoom and appsfire, but there are more. Be sure to use the right ones for you!
4. Forums and online conversations
Whether you have a gaming app, a utility app, travel, or anything else, there are people interested in this specific field and they are talking about it online. You want to be part of these conversations, as recommending and discussing relevant apps, is an integral part of the discussion. It will require some work identifying the right forums and online “meeting places” of your target audience, but believe me, you want to be there and participate, not only for buzz creation, but also for information about the competition, and great feedback and market research for future development of the app.
5. Apps cross promotion networks
There are several types of cross promotion app networks, and they can be used for user acquisition as well as for buzz creation (hey, why not kill two birds with one stone?). I am referring here, specifically to the internal cross promotion networks. Basically, you and many other app developers/publishers are part of the network’s community. And you cross-promote your app within that network. “You promote theirs – they promote yours”. It’s a simple concept really, and usually a cheap one (as the cross-promotion is done within the network). Here are examples of such networks:Burstly, adDuplex (WinPhone specific network) and appszoom.
6. Being featured in the editorial section of the app store
People tend to think this is mission impossible. Usually, they give up on this option before even trying. I don’t think it’s impossible at all. It is VERY difficult and takes time and A LOT of patience. Keep submitting yourself over and over again, and don’t be discourage if you don’t hear back. Although there are no guarantees, if and when this happens, the impact is priceless.
7. Go after the early adopters
The early adopters are the ones who are actively involved in testing apps, on behalf of the rest of the world. It’s important for them to try it out and tell people about it. They can greatly contribute to your buzz creation efforts. These people read very specific publications. And that’s where you want to be. Now, these are very popular publications (such as TechCrunch, GigaOm, Mashable) who can afford to be very picky as to who they are cover and how, so you need to be very smart about how you approach them and pitch your app to them. You can learn more about how to make the right pitch, here.
To summarize, when building your PR and buzz creation plan for your mobile app, take into consideration your limitations, such as budget, resources, time-to-launch, your ability to invest time, etc
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