Appoxee Next Generation Platform – How to send your Appoxee message

Apr24
2013 Written by Einat Dror

The Appoxee team has been working day and night on the release of our Next Generation Appoxee Platform. The platform is currently on Beta stages we have just launched it publicly with a fresh new look and with additional advanced capabilities.

The new platform focuses on automating marketing efforts through smart and intuitive features:

Multi App/Multi Messages campaigns (NEW & Exclusive) – This is built especially for multi app publishers that must manage their engagement in a macro level view for their entire app network.
For example: Appoxee clients can create a campaign to cross promote a new app and create several messages with several apps under one campaign to reach this goal.

Schedule messages per user local time (NEW) – Meaning uclients can schedule a message to users all over the world at let’s say 8:00 pm … those users will all get it at 8:00 pm their local time, even if User A is located in the US and User B is located in Japan.

Target based on any parameter (NEW – Appoxee Premium) – Including behavioral data, device attribute or any other parameter users would like to define. Create a group of users that haven’t activated your app for a week and have purchased in X amount of cash – increase their life time value.

Preview simulator on all devices (NEW) – Preview rich message on different devices and set them to adjust automatically to all devices and operating systems.

Test segment (NEW & Exclusive) - Appoxee clients can define an internal test group where they can confirm each message internally within organization prior to broadcasting it to production.

Analytics (NEW) – per overall performance and a drop down per a specific message.

Watch our video tutorial on how to send a message now.

For a Premium Appoxee Account with advanced features contact us today at info@appoxee.com

Enjoy using Appoxee

Posted in Announcements, How to, New Feautures - Tagged Appoxee, Apps, campaigns, engagement, Push Notifications, scheduler, User timezone

Mobile Engagement 101 – Segmentation and Targeting, Not all users are the same!

Mar14
2013 Written by Einat Dror

As a mobile app publisher or a developer you must be enjoying the fact that your app is in your users’ pockets everywhere they go and by their side when they go to bed at night.

Are you really?

You have a great app, the users are adding up, you’re gaining traction but are those users returning to your app? Are they purchasing any of your goods? Will they remember they’ve downloaded your app a week from today?

The average app lifecycle is getting shorter and you might not be in the same place on the app store charts tomorrow morning.

You already know that 80% of your business success depends on 20% of your users thus you must maintain and retain those users carefully in order to survive in this crowded market.

In the following posts you’ll be getting some awesome engagement tips to maximize your users’ life time value.

Today’s tip is all about:

Segmentation and Targeting – Not all users are the same

Mobile marketing is no place to “spray and pray,” the insidious practice of firing before you aim that blighted last-generation marketing. You may have gotten away with this with other marketing tactics, but the intimacy of the mobile relationship will quickly show you for what you are. Spam may be the unwanted houseguest in your e-mail inbox, but it’s nothing short of forcible entry on your mobile device. Put the customer, not the offer, at the center of the universe.

Know your users –

By understanding your users’ behavior, location, and spoken language and by even asking them what they need you’ll be able to get yourself a high advantage when actually providing them with what they want.

A personal approach will always get your users closer to the app affection you’re looking for. Segment your users by the right parameter and target them in a more personalized manner, for example:

Your Spanish speaking users are expecting to receive a message in their spoken language.
Your most active users are expecting you to send them a “Thank you” message every once in a while or a special promotion just because…

Know your users and start treating them differently – a proper engagement will lead to a longer cycle and higher mutual value.

Posted in Best Practices, Engagement, How to, The Mobile Ecosystem - Tagged Appoxee, engagement, Mobile, segmentation, users

Maximize user value and loyalty during the Holiday Season

Dec06
2012 Written by Einat Dror

The holiday season opens before you an amazing opportunity to leverage your user’s value while providing them with a higher brand value.

Market researchers say that building relationships with app users and fostering long-term usage are more important than surging new download. Those active users will soon enough generate 80% of your revenues.

Through a relevant engagement strategy and using the right communication methods you will be able to achieve several important goals.

So how do you maximize your revenues through holiday engagement?

Focus on communicating the right content to the right users.

Promote relevant content
- In-App Purchases
  - What - if you’re monetizing through IAP (in-app purchases) you might want to offer your user relevant seasonal products to purchase.
  - How - Promote the relevant products. Notify your users there’s new content waiting for them in your store through a Push to an HTML message which describes the products.
  - How do you maximize this - You can even Tag users who have purchased specific content ‘X’ and offer them a complimentary product ‘Y’!
Mobile to Online
- What – Added some great seasonal content to your site/facebook page/blog? Promote it to your already existing mobile user base.
- How – Send a Push + Rich message to your in-app inbox. There you can use facebook connect button to “Like” your page or add a link to your mobile site.
- How do you maximize this – Create an HTML rich message or a designed image with a call to action button. Use short text and a straight forward message to keep it simple.
- Holiday App Versions
  - Free to Paid
    - What – Angry birds has done it, learn from the greatest. Launch a paid holiday version of your app with limited time content. Promote it through your existing user base.
    - How - Promote your paid app through your free app! Use the Appoxee push notifications and rich messages to inform your users about additional apps on the application store.
    - How do you maximize this – Use the Appoxee redirection link to get your users to download directly from the application store.
    - Strengthen User Relationships
      - Holiday Greetings
        
        What – Tis the season to be jolly? Send holiday greetings to your users. Warm words and greetings will remind your users there’s a person behind the app they love.
        
        How – create a rich message with your selected design. Surprise your users with a card which will wait for them in their in-app inbox.
        
        How do you maximize this – Send a greeting in the most relevant language with the most relevant holiday based on your users GEO location.
        
        Happy holidays!

Posted in Best Practices, Engagement, How to - Tagged Holidays, Push Notifications, ROI

Leverage your Mobile Business through User Engagement

Oct25
2012 Written by Einat Dror

How?

Create a smart engagement strategy to maintain a lasting user relationship. By using push notifications, rich messages, advanced segmentation, analytics and more you will be able to maintain and retain a strong brand value and high user loyalty.

Use the tips below to maximize your existing user value:

Cross Promote – use your mobile app as your own marketing platform for promoting your products.

Get New downloads – promote your paid app through your free app! Use the Appoxee push notifications and rich messages to inform your users about additional apps on the application store. With Appoxee you can easily redirect a user to the app store to download your app.
Get new likes/followers on your social networks – refer your users to your social pages and gain more traction from your already existing fans.

Inform – use Appoxee to share important information with your users.

New Version Update – launched a new version of your app? Added great new features? Let your users know about it and send them to the store to update!
New Record Broken – let other users know about other user’s activity, high scores, product milestones etc.
Great reviews are shared with others – share with your users great online/store reviews.
Send “how to” guides – send a tutorial video and “how to” instructions to use your app right. Users who understand your app value will use your app more often.

Drive to action – be proactive and use the right tools to reach your goals.

Ask users to rate you – use our in-app inbox to redirect users to rate your app on the store.
Collect data – get your users to fill out surveys which will answer for you some important questions about your app and services.
Increase revenues – send users who purchased product X to now get the new complimentary product Y.
Wake up dormant users – increase your monthly active users by targeting users who haven’t activated your app for a while. Tag users who haven’t launched the app in the past X days and send them the right message.

Smart tools are always backed up by a strong strategy.

info@appoxee.com

Posted in Best Practices, Engagement, How to

What’s your Appoxee story? TV Network increase shows retention through mobile apps.

Sep10
2012 Written by Einat Dror

Clients have been using Appoxee in so many different ways we feel obligated to share this great story with you.

A major TV network has been using Appoxee to cross promote their main shows and channel through their mobile apps.

See how you can easily use this “bread and butter” method, turning your app engagement into a major business influencer.

An interview with Daniel Joseph, Head of Mobile in Keshet TV broadcasting LTD.

Daniel, great to have you here, tell us about Mako mobile and what type of apps are you publishing

Mako Mobile is the official mobile channel of the major Israeli TV network Keshet and Mako.

We generate apps for the main and popular Mako TV networks including “The Big Brother” and other huge reality and game shows.

Other than building and maintaining the Mobile division within this organization we also generate content applications for different satellite TV channels.

How main is the mobile division within your organization?

The mobile arena is relatively new, around 2 or 3 years old, despite that today we hold over 25 applications over 3 different platforms including Android, iPad and iPhone.

The purpose of developing those apps is mainly for generating an ongoing user engagement with our viewers when some of the apps are even becoming a major fragment of the TV show itself.

What types of role do those apps play? How do they support your brand?

The apps main purpose is to promote new content, new release updates of that content, encourage user infectivity and keep the users aware of new and existing shows schedules.

It’s basically becoming our main foundation for supporting our TV and online sector.

What types of engagement methods do you use to connect with your users?

We deliver a push notification the day of a certain show and prior to a broadcast of the show itself as a reminder to our viewers. We also inform our users regarding important events on our online channel: for example if we have an interview or chat with one of the stars of our shows we send a push prior to that to encourage and cross promote our online platform.

The Appoxee team is always happy to hear how mobile apps complete an important experience in different sectors.

Read more about similar use cases we’ve published in this blog.
For more information contact us at info@appoxee.com

Posted in Best Practices, Engagement, News, Uncategorized, Usage Cases

How did FilterMania 2 reach 2M Downloads in Two Weeks?

Aug06
2012 Written by Einat Dror

This is a truly amazing case study about a photo filter app that did not acquire nor invested in any external resource, but only in a smart internal strategy to reach top ranking and a massive amount of downloads.

Background

Dropico Mobile offers a unique image processing automation technology that uses professional, tailor made graphics and image enhancing elements. This enables Dropico Mobile’s app users to create high quality photographic compositions, effortlessly, and without the need of any prior photo editing skills whatsoever.

The Goal

Launch their new artistic photo compositions app FilterMania 2 to a worldwide user base, cost-effectively, with maximum impact and in the shortest time span possible.

The Challenge

Hitting a critical mass of users in a 24 hour period
Updating the existing user base from previously developed apps
Limited marketing resources
Reaching a wide exposure in a challenging category (Photography)

The Solution

“Save the Date” Promotion – Appoxee Rich Message

Dropico Mobile decided to engage their existing app’s users with Appoxee’s rich message campaign – notifying them prior to the launch of FilterMania 2 about what was to come.

Once they created the appropriate buzz on the day of the launch, another rich message was released to all the users’ Appoxee in-app inboxes; announcing that they could finally download the app they’ve been waiting for – FilterMania 2.

THE Result

#1 Photography in 33 countries
#2 Photography in the US
Top 8 Overall in the US
Top 25 Overall in over 50 countries

More than 2M downloads in 2 weeks!

Posted in Articles you Should Read, Best Practices, Engagement, How to, Usage Cases - Tagged app ranking, Appoxee, Apps, downloads, engagement, Mobile, Push Notifications

What’s your Appoxee Story? Boosting your App Store Rank through User Engagement.

Jul25
2012 Written by Einat Dror

Providing a service for thousands of app publishers gives you the opportunity to meet very interesting people.
I decided it’s time to finally interview this important member of the Appoxee community.
Selected quotes from the interview with App Marketer Oren Todoros:

“Appoxee was used to skyrocket a recently released app to the top of the charts….”

Also Orens says:

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter if you have 10K or 10 Million installs. What’s really important is that your users return to your app frequently, and participate”

Let’s start,
So Oren, how did you hear about Appoxee?

I first heard about Appoxee while researching for app engagement tools. I was looking for a service that would allow my clients to better communicate with their users. At the time, I also launched a few of my own apps, and Appoxee was an essential part of the process.

What was your first experience with Appoxee?

When I first understood the impact that Appoxee could deliver, I couldn’t wait to really use it in an app that would benefit from its strength. Very few services allow developers the flexibility and impact that Appoxee does. More importantly, the team behind Appoxee has always been helpful and willing to try new things towards improving the service.

Tell us briefly about an interesting case study of one of your clients using Appoxee.

Without naming a specific app, I can tell you that Appoxee was used to skyrocket a recently released app to the top of the charts, within the first few hours post going live on the App Store. Anyone who’s ever developed, or been part of the marketing process of an iOS app knows how important it is to reach top ranking spots within the first 24-48 hours of the app going live, and with Appoxee we achieved this.

Obviously this also means that a prior user base was required on a series of apps, in order to best leverage Appoxee. This was in fact a tactic we planned well in advance. Going forward, I can safely say that I don’t see myself publishing an app on the App Store without integrating Appoxee first.

Why is engagement so important for a marketing strategy?

At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter if you have 10K or 10 Million installs. What’s really important is that your users return to your app frequently, and participate. Users who return frequently are more likely to tell their friends about your app, and become your best influencer. What better marketing method can you think of than that?

Another super important reason that engagement is very important is monetization. Users who return and use your app on a regular basis are more likely to click on an ad, make an in-app purchase or any other monetization model that may have been implemented.

How can Appoxee help companies with their marketing strategy?

Overall, the Appoxee team understands app marketing, therefore I would recommend meeting with them at least once prior to an app going live. More specifically, Appoxee’s push, offer wall and analytics tools are a must for anyone who’s serious about succeeding in the mobile app industry.
One of the methods we use most often is using Appoxee to create pre-launch hype for upcoming apps, in order to get users excited about what we’ll be releasing next.

Your tip to the mobile world
If you’re just getting started in the mobile industry, the sooner you understand that marketing works best via mobile devices, the better off you will be. Traditional web marketing channels aren’t very effective, so stick to what works and build your strategy around that. The last thing I’ll mention is that the best marketing vehicle you’ll have, is another app, so get cracking’ on developing a network.

Oren Todoros – CEO
Daily Mobile Report
http://www.dailymobilereport.com/

Posted in Best Practices, Uncategorized, Usage Cases - Tagged Marketing, Mobile, Push Notifications, user engagement

How can you maximize your app revenues? Treat your users differently.

Jun14
2012 Written by Einat Dror

“Mobile engagement”… to you it might sound like just another marketing buzzword. To businesses that already understand the essence of customer loyalty, brand value, brand life cycle and more, this phrase has a deeper meaning which represents a valuable strategy engraved in their business agenda.

In the online world as a publisher you work pretty hard on getting your users back to your site, to purchase your product or to simply get their email address (which could be wrong most of the times). As an online publisher you’re putting a lot of effort AND $$ on: ad re-targeting, email marketing, live chat, personal phone calls and much more just to get them engaged.

Now, as a mobile app publisher, what are you doing to get the same result??

The answer is – absolutely NOTHING.

The mobile arena is still considered pre-mature and “new” which carries with its (misjudged) title a negative effect of many app owners’ somewhat indifference towards their users. With over 1B apps published in the app store and an average of 80 apps per device your users will spend less time on your app. Your strategy will have to turn to a more proactive approach, providing your clients with what they really need and want.

Most of your budget is focused on outbound marketing and sales; mobile ads, mobile discovery, affiliation…. what about your existing clients?

They just downloaded your app, they might have paid for it and you probably already lost most of them since you haven’t done anything for them.
To avoid becoming just another app among the other tens and soon hundreds on a user’s device remember this important keyword: Differentiate. You must first differentiate yourself with a smarter strategy – begin a relationship with your users, get to know them and approach each one of them differently.

Engage –
Did you know that over 95% of the top 100 brands now have a presence in at least one of the major mobile application stores? This finding is notable because just 18 months ago, only half (51%) of the top brands even had any mobile applications published (Distimo research)
These brands, especially those operating in the media, business services and the automotive industries, have realized that having an app store presence helps them to promote their brand to consumers, and, for some, even to sell content. Most brands, though, are not looking to making money with their apps, but give them away for free. Their main purpose is it to engage and create brand awareness.

Be Relevant –
Once you’ve started the engagement process with your users you must approach them with relevant content keeping them informed with your activity, services and updates. Provide your users with real updated information regarding your milestones and thus create a stronger connecting with your most valuable asset.

Support –
Provide your users with feedback to comment, complain and communicate with you directly. Once users understand there’s someone who’s taking care of their enquiries, needs and wants; they will be satisfied with your service. Also based on their remarks you’ll improve and provide a more complete product.

Analyze & Measure –
Your engagement methods have an ROI. It could be measured based on your revenues and reflect your communication efforts effectiveness. For example if your app revenue model is based on In-App purchases then increased activations due to sending a Push Notification for example, will increase the probability of a purchase. Once you understand your user’s behavior you’ll be able to optimize your engagement and maximize the ROI.

Personalize–
You started connecting with your users, provided them with the relevant content, responded to their enquiries and reached an understanding of what’s effective and what your users want and like. Now you’ll have the ability to provide different users with more valuable content. If you have users from all ages, all over the world, different genders and different needs … well you already know the answer…

How?
Today you can already use the Appoxee platform to manage and develop a strong relationship with your users.
So how are we going to help you engage with your users differently?

For more information contact info@appoxee.com

Posted in Articles you Should Read, Engagement - Tagged Apps, engagement, Mobile, Push Notifications

Appoxee Best Practices – How to, Why and When to use Appoxee Tools and Services

Mar29
2012 Written by Einat Dror

Due to a high demand we’ve decided to summarize our best practices and case studies in one directory post.
In the post below you’ll find our do’s and don’ts, “how to”, our marketing tips and some technical guides which follow you through different processes.

Feel free to personally share with us your experience with Appoxee, we’re always happy to hear your thoughts and suggestions.

Marketing pointers and case studies
When should an Appoxee publisher send a push only/badge only/rich message + push and more

Best Practices: To Push or Not to Push That is the Question
http://blog.appoxee.com/?p=19

Cross app marketing promotions and Cross platform promotions – how and why?

The Burst Effect – How to get high ranking with Appoxee
http://blog.appoxee.com/?p=257

How to grow your facebook fan page – case study
http://blog.appoxee.com/?p=240

Mobile to offline, how to promote your offline brand through mobile – Coupons

Usage Case: Driving foot traffic through Appoxee powered coupons!
http://blog.appoxee.com/?p=26

Engagement – General

Usage Case: Asking Users to Review Your App
http://blog.appoxee.com/?p=111

How clients are using Appoxee

Announcing: Baby First TV launches the first of several apps with Appoxee
http://blog.appoxee.com/?p=95

News organization case study
http://blog.appoxee.com/?p=269

Technical

Link strategy
HREF links in your messages to “iTunes” or “Click to Call”
http://blog.appoxee.com/?m=201110

How to:
How to send a message
http://blog.appoxee.com/?p=61

How to create an application
http://blog.appoxee.com/?p=78

Usage Cases: How To Get Your Users To “Like” Your Facebook Page Using Appoxee
http://blog.appoxee.com/?p=161

Sending out a “Push Only” Message using Appoxee
http://blog.appoxee.com/?p=187

Enjoy
The Appoxee Team

Posted in Best Practices, Engagement, Getting Started, How to, News, Usage Cases - Tagged Appoxee, Apps, How to, Push Notifications

Mobile site vs. Mobile app

Mar28
2012 Written by Einat Dror

In the past few months I’ve stumbled upon many long and endless debates over what should be a brand’s mobile strategy. Some decide based on costs and others prefer looking into the future (and into some interesting graphs) to understand where the mobile ecosystem is going.
There’s no doubt we are now slowly leaving the “old” world wide web into a new horizon which may change the way we consume, communicate, learn and evolve as human beings.
I believe we shouldn’t take a stance in the ongoing debate of Mobile site vs. Mobile app since there’s no reason for those two to clash. A growing visibility will only increase brand awareness and reach a larger amount of your target audience.
Although, if you need to choose 1 out of those 2… make sure you make a small research before starting your own conversation over the social networks.

Your choice should depend on your goals, if it’s becoming a part of this crazy growth, increasing your in-bound marketing effectiveness, increasing engagement, strengthening your brand loyalty and taking a longer shot into the future… the answer is clear.

Check out some interesting mobile facts below:
• 51% of consumers say “ok” to ads if the content is for free. (Nielsen)
• Two-thirds of time spent on mobile devices is spent on mobile apps while one-third is spent on the mobile web. (Nielsen)
• Consumers spend 9% more time, on average, using mobile apps than on web. (Flurry)
• 22% of android apps are paid vs. 60% Apple paid apps (Gigaom)
• 91% top 100 brands have mobile app presence; each brand owns an average of 24 app (Distimo)
• Only 27% of top brand apps use apps to monetize while the rest use for engaging (Distimo)

In conclusion
No need to be an expert to expect a fast pace growing app market with a promising future and endless opportunities, every new idea could be another newly discovered blue ocean.
Take advantage and make the right decisions for your company.

Posted in The Mobile Ecosystem