Mobile Apps

Mobile apps are a bit challenging to produce, but they provide a great way to add value to the business-client relationship. You do not need to build your own app to be successful in mobile marketing. But if you have some extra cash and are feeling a little adventurous, you’ll find that creating an app isn’t that difficult at all - even for non-code speakers.

Here are several app development tools for ordinary humans:

• AppMakr: This browser-based platform allows you to design your own iPhone app quickly and easily. You can use existing content and social network feeds to create different styles for your app.

• GENWI: This tablet and smartphone platform allows you to create and manage your online presence on all popular mobile devices including iPad, iPhone, Android and HTML5 apps. Apps can also include revenue-generating capabilities such as ads, coupons and in-app subscriptions.

• Mippin: It’s one of the easiest platforms for creating an app. It can be used for Android, iOS and Windows and can also provide a lot of flexibility in designing the app.

• MobiCart: If you have an e-commerce site that you’d like to take to the mobile-sphere, this app builder will link up with PayPal to allow any business or consumer with an email address to securely and conveniently send and receive online payments.

• MyAppBuilder: For only $29 a month, this platform will create an iPhone or Android app for you. All you have to do is to provide content (e.g., videos, images, etc.). Their experts will also upload your new app to the app store for you.

• ShoutEm: This platform is ideal for bloggers, students, sports fans, news portals and local publishers. Again, you don’t need to know any code because the experts at ShoutEm will even take care of the iTunes and Android Marketplace submission process.

SEO: Duplicate content 101

In simple terms, duplicate content refers to any website content that has been copied from an another existing source from the internet.

It's important that you shouldn't just copy content from somewhere else as Google will penalise you for this by lowering your website ranking in search results, or worse, remove you completely.

Below are some reasons why Google penalise websites for duplicate content.

Copyright
First of all, you're breaking copyright laws by using someone else's content and placing it on your site. You need to ask permission from the author to use that content.

Spam
Web spammers are now more advanced and use programs to copy content from legitimate websites to populate their own websites. These websites are then used for malicious activity such as fraud or viruses.

The User
Providing the same content across many websites add no value for the reader and Google wants to provide the most relevant and useful information to the user.

To combat duplicate content, Google has an advanced algorithm that identifies websites that contain duplicate content. The latest change from Google in its bid to combat duplicate content was rolled out in Feb 2011 - called Panda. The Panda update aims to lower the rank of “low-quality sites” on search results and move higher quality websites near the top of the search results.

The best and easiest way to ensure your website does not lose its rankings is to continue to write new, fresh and unique content.

Creating content that your readers will share

Below are some tips on how you can create content that your readers will share with their network on social media.

1. Give helpful information.
Provide useful tips and information that people can pass on to their networks. For example, tips for management stress when on holiday, top tips for packing or best places to visit that no one knows about.

2. Connect with your network.
Post content, links or photos that will get your network connecting with you on a personal level. For example, if you are passionate about a particular charitable cause, let your fans know about it. Post news, photos, links and your supporters who will also promote your cause at the same time.

3. Entertain.
Have you ever read or watched something funny and shared this with your friends and family? No one wants to share boring content.

4. Get people talking.
Ask your fans questions and get them to post a reply. The aim of using social media is to interact and engage with your fans or followers and vice versa.

5. Give an incentive.
If you have any special offers or promotions, don't forget to add it to your social media pages and encourage your fans and followers to forward it to their friends and family.

6. Ask your fans to share.
It's as simple as just simply asking your fans to 'share'. Eg a message, photo or video. Ask them a question and ask them to share or like it if they agree.

If you would like more information on social media marketing or need assistance with TA Fastrack managing your social media pages, please call us on +61 7 3040 3588.