Need an App for That? How Bloggers Can Reach Smart Phone Users

To look at websites for some of the largest online news sources (The New York Times and The Huffington Post come to mind), you’ll notice the enhanced blog format is fast becoming the CMS of choice for those who need to distribute items of interest quickly. It makes sense, for blog content is more apt to be picked up in a timely manner by search engines, and as one checks social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter you’ll find the majority of links shared go to some kind of weblog. The rise in smart phone usage, too, stands to increase readers and subscribers for blogs – if you maintain a blog and seek a stronger following, you may wish to consider making it easier for people to find you by creating an app for quick access.

Of course, if you don’t have the budget of a Huffington Post or New York Times to hire a developer to create something spiffy for you, you may be relieved to know there is a less expensive solution, provided you are willing to accept the restrictions required of each of the low-cost app developers and wizards working to cash in on the app craze.

Before you do sign off on that iPhone or Android application, however, you’ll want to take some time to consider if you truly need such a thing. Think about your blog and what you write and post: how broad or how narrow is your target audience? Do you have an established subscriber base you track from the blog statistics or through analytics like Feedburner? Do you believe you will see a healthy ROI in terms of new readership, monetary compensation from AdSense or other affiliations, or sales of products and services you promote?

Most importantly, do you really think anybody would download your app?

If you are fairly confident your blog can develop a smart phone following, and you have a few hundred dollars to spare, the next step is to research the quick-fix app developers for the right fit. Many of these companies typically develop the application using the feeds you provide from blogs, YouTube accounts, Twitter accounts and other RSS from sites or social networks. Here is a short run down of some of the most hyped developers for small budget projects.

BlogApper – This developers works mainly to produce native iPhone applications (readers can browse content whether or not they are online).  Bloggers have two pricing options: pay $25 a month for continued service or pay a flat fee of $179 for a one-time production. BlogApper will take the RSS of your blog and allow you to customize with graphics before it’s submitted to the iTunes store for review.

AppMakr – What is nice about this developer is that their site allows you to see beforehand what your blog will look like as a phone app. With AppMakr you can customize your app to include blog RSS, Twitter, podcast RSS, and even iTunes feeds. Pricing options are $199 for basic services that require the AppMakr logo or $499 for publishing under your own brand.

iSites – A significantly cheaper option, iSites will produce an app for $25 which will incorporate several feeds into one application (not bad if you have a podcast or several blogs under one banner). For $99 a year you can integrate your app with a mobile advertising account like AdMob and monetize it.

As more companies turn to establishing their brand via smart phone exposure, it’s likely to see more companies spring up in the near future. If you plan to reach readers through mobile browsing, take care to investigate every app maker you consider before making the investment. Once readers subscribe, then comes the challenge of keeping your app on their phones.

Does Your Business Need a Phone App?

With the rise in smart phone usage, you’ll find more people searching for practical applications to use on the go. Programs that allow for easier use of social media and online shopping are available at the touch of a button, and it seems smaller businesses are getting into the act by having apps made for their products and services. However, is this something in which you should invest money and time?

Apps for iPhones and Smart Phones

If you want to read a book on your phone, you download a reader app. If you want to buy books to read, you might download an app from Barnes and Noble or Amazon for that purpose. Web applications provide a convenient shortcut for users to access favorite spots of the Internet, or to play games or utilize different functionalities – be it currency conversion or language translation. Depending on the scope of your business, you may be tempted to have an app developed for widespread use, but before you hire a developer or – Heaven forbid – try to learn Objective C and take on the task yourself, considering for a moment if a phone app would benefit your company.

Before you Develop that App

The cost to develop an application could run you anywhere from three to five thousand dollars, depending on what you wish to accomplish and what an app firm charges for their services. Once you have the app, then you have server costs to handle – an app just doesn’t float in the air, the data needs to be hosted in order for people to access the program. The price may be steep for smallercompanies to cover, so it’s important to ask these questions:

1) What will the app do? Do you sell products, or manage an informative blog for a niche? Who is the target audience?

2) Will the app be free? Do you think people would refrain from adding your app if they have to pay for it?

3) Is there an existing app that already does what we want? If your business provides general products that can be found on other sites, would your app work duplicate the efforts of others?

4) Would your app have longevity? Will the data change, or does the proposed app have limited interest? Do you feel this app is something a user will leave on his phone for a long time?

5) Will the app be universal? Not all apps work on all phones, and it may cost more for a universal application.

Take into consideration every aspect of phone functionality and usage before committing to have an app built. If you feel the time and energy spent – along with the money – is worth it, choose wisely your developer and plan your marketing. Otherwise, you may find the investment in other areas of the Web deserve your attention more.

Kathryn Lively is a social media specialist assisting clients with social media optimization and tourism social media services.

Podcasting by Phone: Update Customers with a Quick Call

Podcasting can be a time-consuming procedure, depending on the purpose and scope of your online broadcasting program. If you have a podcast connected to your online presence – be it a weekly or monthly presentation of new products and services, interviews with people relevant to your industry, or a regular dramatic reading, very likely you take care to make sure sound quality is high. You’ve invested in good equipment and royalty free music, maybe even hired voice talent. As interest in acquiring information via BlackBerries and iPhones rise, it’s not uncommon to see more people attempting to get in on this impressionable audience.

What if, though, you are operating on a small budget and you account for 100% of your business’ manpower? Perhaps you don’t have the time to invest in recording equipment and scripting a professional podcast, but want to offer some kind of capability that allows your visitors to receive audio updates and news. With specialized sites that provide instant podcasting via phone, you have a quick and inexpensive alternative that could springboard your brand into the interactive world of the Internet.

Audio-Blogging: the Basics

Where blogging is the process by which one enters a short passage into a blog publishing system – whether by keyboard or mobile text, audio blogging is just as self-explanatory. A user signs up for a service and is given a phone number to record entries. A cell phone or land line is registered so the audio recordings are cached on the user’s page created within the audio blog site. Depending of the services of the site, audio bloggers may add widgets to websites or social network profiles so people can listen in, or listeners may subscribe to new episodes via a participating podcast distributor like iTunes. As the podcaster, it’s up to you to create and shape the material to broadcast.

For on the fly audio blogging, four services have come to the forefront, offering various abilities:

Gabcast.com – Users can record over phone or VoIP, and integration is available for Wordpress, Typepad, and Blogger users to distribute podcasts. Visitors to Gabcast can search for your audio and download an MP3. Sign-up is free, as is recording via VoIP, but phone recording costs ten cents a minute (excluding additional charges on your mobile phone, if applicable).

GCast.com – Powered by Garage Band, GCast offers free hosting and music for registered users who wish to upload audio files. Recording via phone through GCast is doable, but comes with an annual subscription fee that is subject to usage terms. Widgets are available to allow podcasters to promote via sites and blogs.

CinchCast – Structured to look like a social network, Cinch allows registered users to record short audio blogs via land line and mobile phone for free (individual phone charges will apply). Listeners can share your audio via Facebook and Twitter and respond to audio casts, yet there is no method for downloading the audio to a file.

Google Voice – While not created for the purpose of audio-blogging, Google Voice can lend itself to creating short episodes. Obtain a Google number and call in your blog (you’re limited to about five minutes), and you are able to download an MP3 for later use.

The one disadvantage to audio blogging via phone is basically sound quality – a call from your mobile may result in static and background noise, so these programs may be best suited for spontaneous and casual audio-casting rather than recording audio books. If you’re interested in getting into the podcast game, check out these programs for a quick alternative to the recording studio.

Kathryn Lively is a social media specialist who assists clients with professional social media services and Virginia website design.

Optimizing SMS for Your Social Media – Always Stay Connected

Part of being social on networks like Facebook and Twitter means being available when your visitors are active. For some businesses, it could mean being wired at all hours of the night, and while it’s reasonable that you will want to save room for sleep, meals, and private time, you should consider the occasional moment to update fans and friends when you’re on the road. Using your cell phone, you can do just that through SMS.

SMS stands for short message service, and is the process by which you can send short missives from your phone to certain social networks that allow for SMS capability, so you can update your sites without having to sit at the computer. Anytime you feel the urge to share news or an idea with others, it’s as simple as sending a message and hitting send on your phone.

SMS and Updating Social Media

Depending on the service you use, you are capable of updating status, monitoring the status of others, and sending messages via social networks. This especially proves handy with two of the most popular – Twitter and Facebook – in that both are known to relay news as it happens. One might joke these days if you’re sitting on a bus and somebody tries to create a ruckus, rather than panic people will whip out their phone and tweet. The more accessible you are via SMS, the better in touch you can stay with potential clients and customers.

When setting up for Facebook Mobile, you will click a link from your profile settings that instructs you to send a message to Facebook’s general number. Immediately afterward, you’ll receive a verification code to use on Facebook which will connect your phone so you can read updates and send your own. Here’s a tip, too, for those using a different carrier than what Facebook lists – default to AT&T and try your number. Users with pay-as-you-go services like Tracfone should be able to manage.

Updating for Twitter works in a similar manner. When you log on, go to your settings and select devices. Set up your phone to receive a validation code, and you should be able to update Twitter status with ease.

SMS and Promotion

Once you are able to SMS updates to friends and well-wishers, you might think that’s pretty much the extent of the possibilities SMS provides. Not necessarily. With Facebook and Twitter, you have the opportunity to gain alert followers by convincing them to subscribe to your updates via SMS, too! Offer spontaneous specials, hold contests (first person to SMS wins a free item or dinner, etc.), and ask fans to report on an event you’re hosting in exchange for goodies. Post information to subscribe on your blogs, cross-promote on your social networks, and include SMS information on your business cards.  The more you embrace this real-time communication age, the more you’ll find customers and clients are ready to listen, right now!

Kathryn Lively is a social media specialist whose expertise in travel social media services and Virginia social media services has aided many businesses and organizations around the country.