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Smartwatches have been around for awhile, in one form or another. But nobody has been able to create a watch that the average person really wants.
Although Android Wear has been out for a few months, it hasn’t succeeded in capturing the hearts and wallets of the general public. So when Apple Watch launches early next year, we will find out if they have what it takes to finally make smartwatches universally appealing. Based on their previous track record, there is a very good chance that it will be a hit.
So if you are going to make your apps Watch compatible, you should take advantage of the marketing opportunities that will be available. If you have not decided if you will create apps that work with the Apple Watch, then this post might help you make that decision.
We will show you how to take advantage of this new platform to increase engagement with your app, make a better app and optimize for new keyword opportunities. Since this post is primarily focused on the marketing aspects of Apple Watch, we will also provide some technical resources at the end so you can catch up on the latest information about how to design and code for Apple’s newest device.
Increase App Engagement
One of the biggest benefits of having access to a user’s wrist is the ability to increase engagement with your app. Better engagement can lead to better search rankings, more positive reviews and word-of-mouth advertising.
There are three ways that you can use a Watch to increase app engagement. First, just the presence of your app icon on the home screen will make users more aware of your app and more likely to use it.
Second, there are Glances. These are bite-sized views of your app that can give your users the information they want, without the clutter of a full blown app. When people have convenient access to your app, they will probably use it more often.
Finally, Actionable Notifications provide alerts that users can act upon, without taking their phone out of their pocket or bag. It is possible to overdo notifications, but when implemented correctly, it is a great way to keep users informed and engaged with your app.
So even if you haven’t thought about creating a compatible app, consider how you can extend the functions of your app to an Apple Watch. Even just being able to change the settings of your app from a Watch can increase the visibility of your app and encourage users to open it more often.
“Watch” Keywords For App Store Optimization
Just like with App Bundles, targeting watch related keywords, could give your app an advantage when Apple Watch apps first become available. As more publishers create Watch compatible apps, the competition will increase.
If you are going to extend your app to Apple Watch, be sure to do some brainstorming on long-tail keywords that people may search for. Use our Keyword Research module to assess the Difficulty and Traffic Scores of each of your ideas.
You may be able to get away with just adding “watch” to your keyword list in the beginning. But be sure to stay ahead of your competition and have some long-tail keywords ready.
Figure Out The Most Popular Use Cases
I used to have a Fitbit Flex. After using it for a few months, I ended up selling it.
The tracker and the app worked perfectly however. It is a fantastic product. I sold it was because I felt that the benefits didn’t outweigh the drawbacks.
Until that point, I had not worn a watch in years and wearing something that was like a watch, but didn’t tell time, annoyed me. This must have been a common complaint because they came out with the Force, followed by the Charge and the Surge soon after I sold my Flex…all of which have clocks.
The point is that no matter how good your Watch app is, it may not be addressing use cases that are in demand. So be sure to survey your users and examine reviews of your app and other similar apps, to find out what people are really looking for.
You may even consider creating different versions of your app to suit specific needs. Happy users usually means positive ratings, more downloads and higher engagement.
Developer Resources
Here are some excellent resources if you want to find out more about the technical aspects of developing apps for Apple Watch.
- Apple Watch – Human Interface Guidelines
- Download Xcode 6.2
- WatchKit Tutorial with Swift
- Initial Impressions from Ray Wenderlich
- Initial Impressions from Craig Hockenberry
- WatchKit Sample App
- Programming Guide
- Framework Reference
Conclusion
Keep in mind that this is just the beginning. Apple will be rolling out more WatchKit features after the initial launch. so make sure to stay up to date on the latest Apple Watch developer information.
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