Through coverage of the market, research and up-to-date analysis, Games and Learning reports on the opportunities and challenges facing those seeking to unlock the educational power of games. more »
If you build it, there is no guarantee they will come. In fact, in the App Store or Google Play there is no guarantee they will ever even see it.
With the current educational app market as competitive as it is it is crucial to have an outstanding product and a clear marketing strategy. The following are a few critical steps you can take to give your app the best chance of finding success:
1. Make a plan
If you are creating a marketing strategy for an educational app, you probably have a clear goal in mind. If you don’t, create one. Make sure it is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound (marketing folks call this SMART for short). Creating a detailed timeline will help you stay on top of your objectives and track down your progress. It is worth to put together an editorial calendar to mark important dates and note down creative marketing ideas.
2. Inform the influencers
Before sending out press releases, app authors should create a list of influential tech writers and authoritative industry bloggers, and get in touch with them as soon as the press kit and other launch marketing materials are ready.
With the use of pre-launch marketing campaign, app authors can effectively reach out to a number of potential customers. Twitter will be the perfect platform to spread the word about the app, as it is a top social media site for tech enthusiasts.
3. Make creative use of social media
Social media marketing is currently the most powerful tool for fostering relationships with the customers and raising international brand awareness. Social networking sites are perfect places to get vocal about innovative scholastic products, because a vast majority of potential users have an active social media presence already. For marketing reasons, the authors should try to establish a comprehensive online image way before the app launch and subtly advertise their product on social media profiles by, for example, offering a free trial period or an exclusive sneak peek into the making of the app.
4. Explore different options
App authors should bear in mind that each social networking site attracts different audiences and promotes various levels of interaction with the followers. Picture-oriented sites like Pinterest and Instagram are great for sharing screenshots and appealing marketing visuals. Facebook, on the other hand, facilitates more active engagement with the fans. And finally, Twitter proves irreplaceable for sending out concise updates and offering promo codes. Check out the infographic created by SumAll to choose the most suitable hours for posting on different channels and optimizing chances at reaching a wider audience.
5. Don’t skimp on freebies
Everyone likes to receive something for free once in a while. In order to get more followers and, consequently, more potential customers, you can promise and prepare special discounts, which will be available only on the day of the release. App authors should not forget to advertise them in different media, both online and offline. If done properly, this strategy will successfully drive app downloads and assure a number of reviews early on.
6. Improve ratings
With App Store Optimization the authors can create a product page that will stand out from the competitive app store environment. In order to optimize download ratings, it is crucial to give the product a catchy name and an appealing logo. After that, a skilled copywriter should compose a detailed description, full of potential search words. At the bottom of the app page, the creators can enclose contact details to increase credibility. Google Play and iTunes stores allow links to commercial websites and tech support.
7. After the launch
Marketing an educational app doesn’t end with its launch. After that, there is still plenty of work to do. Once the initial hype is over, it is important to rethink and adjust the marketing strategy to reach new clients. It is a good idea to invest in paid advertising to enlarge the scope of effective promotion.
Even following all these steps may not equal overnight, spectacular success, but they are a way to think about the launch of an app as more than just posting to an app store and hoping.
Following the advice listed above is the best way to make sure the app has a chance to take the world by storm. Good luck!
The Seven Critical Steps to Marketing Your Education App
By Monique Rivers - May 26, 2015
How to help them Choo choo choose you.
If you build it, there is no guarantee they will come. In fact, in the App Store or Google Play there is no guarantee they will ever even see it.
With the current educational app market as competitive as it is it is crucial to have an outstanding product and a clear marketing strategy. The following are a few critical steps you can take to give your app the best chance of finding success:
1. Make a plan
If you are creating a marketing strategy for an educational app, you probably have a clear goal in mind. If you don’t, create one. Make sure it is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound (marketing folks call this SMART for short). Creating a detailed timeline will help you stay on top of your objectives and track down your progress. It is worth to put together an editorial calendar to mark important dates and note down creative marketing ideas.
2. Inform the influencers
Before sending out press releases, app authors should create a list of influential tech writers and authoritative industry bloggers, and get in touch with them as soon as the press kit and other launch marketing materials are ready.
With the use of pre-launch marketing campaign, app authors can effectively reach out to a number of potential customers. Twitter will be the perfect platform to spread the word about the app, as it is a top social media site for tech enthusiasts.
3. Make creative use of social media
Social media marketing is currently the most powerful tool for fostering relationships with the customers and raising international brand awareness. Social networking sites are perfect places to get vocal about innovative scholastic products, because a vast majority of potential users have an active social media presence already. For marketing reasons, the authors should try to establish a comprehensive online image way before the app launch and subtly advertise their product on social media profiles by, for example, offering a free trial period or an exclusive sneak peek into the making of the app.
4. Explore different options
App authors should bear in mind that each social networking site attracts different audiences and promotes various levels of interaction with the followers. Picture-oriented sites like Pinterest and Instagram are great for sharing screenshots and appealing marketing visuals. Facebook, on the other hand, facilitates more active engagement with the fans. And finally, Twitter proves irreplaceable for sending out concise updates and offering promo codes. Check out the infographic created by SumAll to choose the most suitable hours for posting on different channels and optimizing chances at reaching a wider audience.
5. Don’t skimp on freebies
Everyone likes to receive something for free once in a while. In order to get more followers and, consequently, more potential customers, you can promise and prepare special discounts, which will be available only on the day of the release. App authors should not forget to advertise them in different media, both online and offline. If done properly, this strategy will successfully drive app downloads and assure a number of reviews early on.
6. Improve ratings
With App Store Optimization the authors can create a product page that will stand out from the competitive app store environment. In order to optimize download ratings, it is crucial to give the product a catchy name and an appealing logo. After that, a skilled copywriter should compose a detailed description, full of potential search words. At the bottom of the app page, the creators can enclose contact details to increase credibility. Google Play and iTunes stores allow links to commercial websites and tech support.
7. After the launch
Marketing an educational app doesn’t end with its launch. After that, there is still plenty of work to do. Once the initial hype is over, it is important to rethink and adjust the marketing strategy to reach new clients. It is a good idea to invest in paid advertising to enlarge the scope of effective promotion.
Even following all these steps may not equal overnight, spectacular success, but they are a way to think about the launch of an app as more than just posting to an app store and hoping.
Following the advice listed above is the best way to make sure the app has a chance to take the world by storm. Good luck!
News Feed
Monkey brains and video games: Pittsburgh researchers learn how to learn
Learning a new skill can be tricky, and neuroscientists aren't entirely sure how humans do it. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University are using video games, brain implants and Rhesus monkeys in an effort to figure it out
Via WITF. June 12, 2019
It’s Game Over for the Institute of Play. But Its Legacy Lives On.
“When we heard the news, it was definitely sad... The idea of how education could be transformed through play and games was inspired by the research the institute was doing on games and learning, and which inspired us as social entrepreneurs and practitioners.”
Via Edsurge. June 10, 2019
STEM School Center Combines Air Force Training, Gaming
According to the Air Force Research Lab, the goal of the Learning Laboratory is to "serve as a national authority on the integration and application of game-based technology to address USAF education and training needs. In addition to leveraging off-the-shelf technology to benefit Warfighter training, our goal is to inspire student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), specifically modeling and simulation, and to equip the next generation defense workforce."
Via Military.com. June 10, 2019
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