The App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iPod has over 550,000 free and paid apps.  It seems just about everyone wants to join the Angry Bird craze.  At Encompass Marketing we get many questions regarding Apps.  While there are some variations, they fall into two categories, most questions/comments look like this.

Should I have one?  Or.  I want an App, but don’t know what it should do. 

As an agency that believes in a holistic approach where by marketing (both traditional and social), public relations and websites  working together for a common purpose/goal, having an App might not work for everyone.

The May 2012 edition of Website Magazine (www.websitemagazine.com) does a nice job breaking down Apps into three “classes”.

• Entertainment Apps-generally in the form of an interactive game.  Good for raising awareness, not always great as a means to raise revenue and relatively expensive to develop

• Information Apps-If you have content to share, this is the App for you.  Great means to reinforce brand, share upcoming events, blog and news posts.  Usually these apps are an extension of web and/or social media work you are already doing.

• Utility Apps (or anything that doesn’t fit under “Entertainment” or “Information”)-mobile e-commerce, mobile banking, catalog sales.  These apps generally have a very specific objective, do one thing and one thing very well.

The App question is one that virtually every business and non-profit organization should be asking.  Using the above categories as a starting point, review marketing and social media goals.  Will an App help your business or organization accomplish those goals?  The next step is to look at the costs associated with  development and integration.  After considering these and other factors, does and App make sense for you.

Interested in exploring Apps for your business or non-profit group.  It would be our pleasure to chat with you.  Send us an email: will@encompassmarketing.com or call 207.755.9445 ext. 101.