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Allan Isfan, CEO, MyEventApps@isfan@myeventapps
Event Apps 101 – The Basics
Answering Some Basic Questions and Much More
We’re here to help …
What “really” is an app?
How much should an app cost?
Can I make money from an app?
Confused when people talk about “web” apps vs. “native” apps?
Who’s using smartphones and
what are they doing with them?
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Outline
•The stats
•Responsive web vs native app
•Key Features to look for
•Services to look for
•How to Monetize your app
•How much should an app cost
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Smartphones are the fastest spreading technology in history!
More smartphones than toothbrushes!
4x more new phones bought per day than babies born
More smartphones than PCs
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We’re well into the post PC world
There are now more smartphones than computers!
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More media consumption on smartphones per day than any other medium! Amazing no?
7http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2014/mobile-millennials-over-85-percent-of-generation-y-owns-smartphones.html
Nearly doubled from 2013 to 2014
Some demographics nearing 90% smartphone penetration and 55+ ramping fast!
Mobile Only Internet Generation
25% of U.S. mobile users are part of the “mobile only” internet generation!
Increasing number of people are “mobile only”, i.e. almost never use computers to go online
Source: 11mark
Mobile is about CONVENIENCE, not just mobility
Case in Point75% of Americans use their mobile
phones in the bathroom
Native Apps, Web Apps, Responsive
• Native Apps� Do you use Microsoft powerpoint or Word? Those
are applications that run directly on your computer … and smartphones have those too …
� Software application you download to your smartphone are called “native” because they run directly on your phone
• Web Apps� Web apps are essentially websites designed to
work well in your mobile browser
� Web apps are getting better but they can’t do everything native apps can
� The latest tech is HTML5
• Responsive Websites
� A Responsive website adapts to your screen size automatically. It is the latest tech!
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Native App & Responsive Web example: Imperial Theatre
http://bit.ly/imperialapp
Native App Responsive Website (WordPress with MyEventApps Plugin)
http://www.imperialtheatre.nb.ca/
Responsive websites adapt to the screen automatically. If viewed on a narrow screen like a smartphone, it looks different than on a computer with a wide screen: this can include resizing of images, changing the menu from words across the top to a dropdown menu and the layout may even change substantially. You can see if a site is responsive by shrinking the width of your browser: if it doesn’t change, it isn’t responsive (test your own site!). Note: Responsive websites should not be considered a replacement for native apps. Native apps provide a better experience and support advanced features.
Wide Narrow
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Apps are eating the mobile web
Although responsive websites are getting better, native apps continue to dominate the mobile web
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People love apps!
People download 100M apps per day!!!
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Key advantage of Native Apps over web solutions
People love apps: 100M downloaded/day
Top of Mind & Easy to access
Offline Access
Premium Features: Push notifications Photo tools, GPS, calendar integration
Make Money
Most mobile usage is through apps
Just click the icon (no browser)
Many apps work without an internet connection
Apps can support features websites cannot
In app purchases, sponsorship, premium tools
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MPI research – state of the event apps 2014
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MPI research – state of the event apps 2014
Standard Set Up
Content Management
System
Scrape Content
Content Updates
Stats & Data Collection
Most solutions come with a Content Management System (CMS) that allow for live content updates. Customers usually have access to this system to
make changes on the fly
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Four Key Considerations
INFORM ENGAGE
SERVICES MONETIZE
Some Features to Look ForLists Maps Photo Tools
Win a car lease from Tesla!
Your email
Submit
SponsorsAlerts Surveys Social Delegates
Home Page Schedule
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Inform: Home page & banners
Customizable background
Customizable buttons
Rotating Banners
•Look for fully branded and customized graphics
•Make sure app is ultra easy to use, even for first time users
•Ask about sponsor opportunities
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Inform: A great calendar/agenda feature is key
Tip: Ensure that your app includes an itinerary builder. Ideally, it should have the ability to add events to the user’s phone calendar.
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•Attendees are generally from out of town – an integration GPS map with directions is very important
• Indoor Maps are helpful: just a jpeg is usually enough
•For very large events, an interactive map may be worth considering
Inform: Indoor and Outdoor Maps
Tip: Map pins should be customizable – this can allow you to replace the red pins with logos for sponsorships
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Inform: Lists of Pages (Artists, Shows, Exhibitors, Sponsors, Speakers …)
Tip: Ensure that your app can link between pages and events. Ex: link speaker bio page to the events they are involved in.
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Inform/Engage: Event Pages with social integration
Register
Tip: Social sharing similar to “share this” functions can help attendees promote your events.
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Inform/Engage: Note taking
Tip: Some apps allow users to take notes – however, they should not be forced to login to access this feature.
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Engage: Use photos
Tip: Some apps include fun photo tools with integrated sharing and contests. This can be a great sponsor opportunity.
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•Send alerts and push notifications
•Messages received even if app is not active - key value of native apps vs mobile websites
•Pre-schedule alerts ahead of time
Inform/Engage: Alerts and Push Notifications
Tip: Sponsored push notifications can be a source or revenue. Just don’t overdo it!
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Engage: Links to social media presence (opens in app)
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Win a car lease from Tesla!
Your email
Submit
•Provide “something” in exchange for your contact information
•Can be a service, prize, discount or contest
•Sponsors LOVE this!
Engage/Monetize: Sponsor Activation
Win a car lease from Tesla!
Tip: Sponsorships don’t have to be complicated. Just a simple form and a prize is all it takes. It can even drive up downloads!
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•Engage the audience with interactive polls
•Have users send questions to panels
Engage: Audience Polling
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Engage: Mobile Surveys & Session Ratings
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Tip: Enabling attendees to chat through the app even can drive up use of the app and improve the overall event.
Engage: Delegate Connect
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Monetize: 10 App Sponsorship Tips
1. Apps are cool – use it!
2. In-app logo opportunities
3. Activations!
4. Mobile & Social Contests
5. Promote early and often
6. Include in ALL promos
7. Your audience matters
8. Make it Exclusive
9. Educate
10.Get help
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Monetize: Exhibitor Services you may be able to charge for
1. Featured exhibitor
2. Enhanced listing
3. Videos
4. In app messaging
5. Meeting requests
6. Integrated scanner
7. Gamification
8. Lead capture
9. CRM Integration
10. Pre-event outreach (via app)
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Tip: Getting the content into the app manually can be a lot of work and can be error prone. Look for a solution that can import content
from spreadsheets or your website via an API (server interface)
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Scraping = Pulling Content from your site
Tip: At MyEventApps, we’ve developed a web scraper to pull content right off your website. As far as we know, we’re the only
ones doing it!
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Save time - Pushing Content to your site
Tip: If you have a WordPress website, we have a plugin that can push content from our CMS to your site – this avoids double data
entry and ensures everything is in perfect sync.
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Beyond the software: other stuff to think about
• Whose app is it? Is it mine or am I leasing it?
• DIY or turnkey?
• Who manages the project?
• Who does data entry?
• Who does graphics?
• Who tests the app?
• Do I have access to CMS/Dashboard to make changes?
• How do I make money? Do I get some help?
• How long does it take?
• Do I get to use the app year round?
• What if I have many large events or locations?
• How do I launch and market the app?
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And Finally, how much should it cost?
• Don’t just compare features – services matter. Graphics, data entry, advice, testing …
• Watch out for hidden fees like extra charges for each change – it can be an absolute killer!
• Leave some room for marketing but don’t forget that sponsors and exhibitors could pay for the whole thing!
• In general, the following prices should be a good guideline:
Type Yearly Price
DIY – totally do it yourself $750-$3,000
Turnkey for one major event $3,000-$5,000
Year round with main app for organization + one event app (see SuperApp)
$6,500-$8,500
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Mobile: +1 613-799-6300
Allan Isfan, CEO
There is a lot to know! Please don’t hesitate to contact me:
