The mobile app industry is one of the world’s largest growth markets. How can your business go app-happy?

There are 25 billion iOS app downloads reported in 2015 and 50 million recorded for Android. There has also been a pronounced rise in the number of commercial apps, as business-owners have come to recognise the importance of this as a marketing and sales tool.

Here are three tips to help you steal a march on your rivals with this technology.

Incentivise the use of your app

If you were to find bingo online, you will note that their accompanying apps usually offer generous incentives to mobile consumers. This is because mobile apps can be used to target new and younger demographics, and the creation of an innovative and lucrative promotional offer can attract customers across multiple platforms over time.

App Store Optimisation

Another key step is to invest in app store optimisation (ASO), which is the process of using keywords and other metrics to drive a superior search engine ranking in relation to similar applications. This is similar to the process of SEO, and given the competitive nature of the app market this is crucial if you are to succeed and gain an advantage over your competitors. Start by identifying the most relevant keywords and phrases for your products or services, before integrating these into your main marketing messages.

Consistent branding

Finally, all of these efforts are futile if you do not brand your business app in a consistent and recognisable manner. This not only undermines any investment that you may have made in branding your firm, but it also prevents customers from developing an awareness of your brand. Even if they know your company and are searching for an affiliated application, they may not locate it if it has significant brand inconsistencies surrounding graphics and messaging.