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Posts tagged mobile app reseller
Reseller Customer Service Is What Keeps Our Partners Strong
Oct 11th
At Bizness Apps, delivering neat technology is a lot of fun, but customer service is honestly what we focus on more than anything else. And while we have customers that work with us directly, we also have our network of white label resellers. We think of them as another customer base that we try to serve with the same level of zealous support that we provide to our traditional customers.
So far, we’re doing pretty darn good (although that little 2% remaining gives us a reminder that we could always do a bit better if we want to hit 100% satisfaction).
Customer Service Culture
Customer support isn’t just a department, with us. The way we look at it, the whole point of the business is customer support. Therefore, everyone is, in one way or another, a customer support rep. No matter what role they have in the company, they need to keep customers and resellers in mind and consider how their decisions will impact them.
But all that stuff is just words, right? Well, we also walk the walk, because each person in the company actually has to perform some direct customer support, from time to time. Even the CEO!
When you guys talk, we listen. All of us.
The Tools of the Trade
Our most important tools are our ears, of course, but we have some neat technology that helps us kick things up a notch.
First, Desk lets us figure out what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to our customer service efforts. Then, a program called Everage also lets us monitor customer activity and figure out how to serve them better. With insightful analytics, we don’t have to guess when it comes to our customer service. We get good data and can work from the facts to identify areas for improvement. This information can then be included in our training efforts so that we can continuously try to get better.
The Qualities that Count
A good customer service rep needs patience, communication skills, empathy, and a genuine desire to help people achieve better outcomes. When a company identifies with its customers, it becomes better able to find ways to help the company and the customers at the same time.
In short, when our customers succeed, we succeed. And when it comes to our resellers, this goes double. We’re here for you guys, because without you, we probably wouldn’t be here.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Reaching Buyers through Mobile Devices – comScore’s New Report
Apr 18th
Recently, the digital analytics company comScore released a report regarding mobile trends that contains a number of useful facts for those trying to target buyers on their mobile devices. As new technologies are introduced and user behavior continues to adapt in response, businesses that aim to connect with customers on their mobile devices must also change to keep up with the trends.
Here are some of the highlights:
• Of the social media platforms available, Facebook is by far the most popular, accounting for over 80% of time spent on social media activities. In fact, among all apps, Facebook is the most popular, with Google Maps and YouTube also taking up very large shares of user time.
• Demand for video is still increasing, and ad placements in and around video content are increasing along with it.
• Smartphones have reached 50% market penetration, and Android now makes up half of the market for the first time.
• Retail e-commerce growth percentages are in the teens, and are four times higher than brick-and-mortar percentages. Total e-commerce sales were almost $300 billion for the year.
• About 11% of all e-commerce now takes place on mobile devices.
• 28% of smartphone users also own a tablet.
• 38% of tablet owners made purchases online.
• 37% of time spent consuming digital media is spent on a mobile device.
There are a few takeaways from this information that can help your business produce better results from its online and mobile marketing efforts.
First, social media is king. Users spend the lion’s share of their time browsing Facebook. Therefore, if you want the best chance of being seen, Facebook is where you want your ads to appear.
This doesn’t mean that you should target social media exclusively, however. One of comScore’s main conclusions is that the multi-platform approach works best. Effectiveness of various ad channels is different for each user segment and depends on what industry you’re in, so ad placements in search engines and inside apps can also be quite valuable. Diversify, and you’ll get the best results and learn which channels provide your business with the best ROI.
Second, while Apple devices are incredibly popular, Android is making a big push to cement a position as market leader, and can no longer be ignored. If your business is publishing an app, an Android version is probably worthwhile, and placing ads into Android app networks should also be considered. Again, the theme is that putting your eggs into one basket is a bad approach when a market is still developing and changing rapidly. Experiment with promotions through a variety of channels, platforms, and devices, and stay nimble.
Third, the time is right to enable mobile purchases of your products. With users gaining comfort in purchasing items using a variety of mobile devices, and making more and more purchases via mobile, business owners have the opportunity to get a head start on their competition. Go mobile now, and you’ll enjoy participating in a trend that is developed enough to make it worth your while, while still being new enough to provide you with plenty of room to grow.
It’s now a mobile world. Is your business poised to take advantage? Follow these tips, and you’ll be in great shape.
5 Free Apps for Mobile App Resellers
Mar 13th
Life in a mobile app company can be challenging, but helpful apps are like helpful staff – they make your life easier and take burdens off your shoulders. Here are five of our favorite apps that are trusted by many to perform critical business functions:
1. Skype
Unlimited free calls, worldwide.
If we told you, years ago, that a company would one day offer unlimited free calls, worldwide, you would have laughed at us, right? Then you would have asked us what the company’s name was, so you could short the stock when they adopted such a crazy strategy, correct?
That notwithstanding, it’s exactly what Skype offers, from your desktop. They also offer communications solutions at extremely low rates on your mobile devices, as well. If your provider is expensive, and your business has a high call volume, Skype can be an amazingly cost-effective workaround.
2. Bizness CRM
Bizness CRM features a user-friendly sales pipeline that easily tracks sales without the confusingly useless 10,000 additional features. We organize local leads by industry clearly and concisely and then narrow them down based on numerous optional criteria. Bizness CRM is simple to use, free to try, and the only CRM built for companies specifically targeting small businesses.
Also, as a Bizness Apps reseller, we include a free lifetime account to Bizness CRM which makes selling to small businesses easier than ever!
3. Evernote
Evernote’s slogan is “Remember everything.” While that sounds kind of terrifying, the point is that we all have a number of items each day that we want to remember, but that we forget for one reason or another. Evernote is designed to fix that.
With Evernote, you can, of course, take notes, but you can also keep photos and perform other functions as well. It works with nearly every device, and it also auto-synchronizes across your various platforms. If you need a single, simple place where you can jot down ideas, reminders, tasks, and more, so that you can keep yourself on target, this is the app for you.
Oh, did we mention it’s free? It doesn’t get more cost-effective than that.
4. Dropbox
Have you ever tried to email someone a file and gotten a “bounceback” notice saying the file was too big?
Dropbox is the answer.
If you’ve got large files (say, 25MB or more), you can upload them to Dropbox, send someone a link via email, and then they can download the file at their leisure. Dropbox works really well for those that regularly have to share monster-size pdfs, collections of rich images, or video files. Uploading can also be very simple, using a Dropbox folder on your computer. Just move items to the folder, and they’ll appear in your online Dropbox location.
As with the other items on this list, Dropbox is usable for free.
5. Mint
Mint? Isn’t that just for personal finances? Nope.
Mint can easily be used as a business solution. It’s quite a powerful financial planning and tracking app, automatically reading from various account sources and organizing expenses to enable easy tracking and reporting. The interface is simple, clean, and intuitive, making Mint a pleasure to use.
And guess what? Yep, it’s free!
6 Online Marketing Tips for Mobile App Resellers
Mar 12th
As case studies continue to roll out that show the undeniable importance of online marketing in the modern world, small business owners and mobile app resellers must examine their own marketing efforts to ensure that they are gaining sales in the most cost-effective way possible. The tips below will help you get started with online marketing and ensure you spend your online marketing dollars effectively:
1. If You Don’t Have a Website, Get One
This should go without saying at this point. There are very few businesses that can survive without a website in this day and age, and they are very special indeed. If your business is one of them, however, there’s no way of knowing when the day will come that this will no longer be true. And by then, it may be too late to change.
Moreover, if you’re not online, you may not know what you’re missing. In fact, customers may be submitting reviews online about your business that are having a massive negative impact on your incoming leads, and you wouldn’t even know it.
A simple website is free to create, cheap to maintain, and couldn’t be easier to get up and running with ready-made site templates like WordPress. Think of it as an online business card, at first. Then, once you’re comfortable, keep developing your site and online efforts, and find the ocean of new leads from people looking for your products and services.
2. Understand the Value of Each Social Media Channel
The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that only 24% of businesses have waded into the social media waters, stating that most owners simply don’t know where to start. They advise that, instead of trying to learn everything all at once, spend a little time getting to know each platform (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) each week. Then, once you’re familiar with them, there are a couple of simple things you can do to participate. One is to “follow” or “friend” influential people or businesses in your industry, and the other is to post or share information or content that is relevant and interesting to you.
3. Know How Customers Spend Their Time Online
There are five main ways people spend their time online, and they’re all about even in terms of time spent. The activities are:
• Social Networking
• Online Searches
• Reading
• Sending Messages
• Watching Video / Shopping
Keep this breakdown in mind when allocating your online marketing budget to various channels. This doesn’t necessarily mean that each should represent equal spending, as effectiveness of ads and content varies from each channel and depends largely on what industry you are in. That said, it’s important to be aware that a consumer is just as likely to be spending a given minute on social media as watching video or pulling up a search engine. Spend accordingly.
4. Don’t Ignore Mobile
People love their mobile devices, and usage continues to climb. Soon, mobile usage will overtake desktop usage, according to certain projections. As important as a website is, a mobile-optimized website has become a necessary companion item. Put it on your list!
5. Buying Ads Online
Pay-per-click campaigns are ad campaigns whereby you place an ad that appears in search results (on Google, for example), or on a popular website (a local newspaper’s site, for example), and pay a very small amount each time someone clicks on it. A basic ad placed in the right online location can drive a decent amount of traffic to your website, and is worth testing out. There are many popular services that can help you get started. Google AdWords is the mainstream solution, and is a great place to begin.
6. Email Campaigns
Email campaigns are the modern equivalent of sending postcards and letters to prospects in your area. There is still a place for both, but it’s worth noting that email campaigns are far cheaper to run and much easier to coordinate.
As with other solutions above, there are excellent tools and programs available to help you get started. MailChimp and Constant Contact are two popular ones. Resources like these will allow you to gather a list of email contacts, schedule message transmission, and manage/analyze responses.
Don’t be sacred to get online and start promoting – the (virtual) world awaits!
9 More Tips for Mobile App Resellers Selling to Small Businesses, Part 2
Mar 6th
As you can tell from the title, this is the second part of another post. Let’s dive in with more tips for selling to small businesses:
1. See through to the ultimate customer
Small businesses aren’t in operation just for giggles; they have customers and clients to serve. If your offering is tailored to improve the small business’s offering, you’ll have another great sales angle to pitch from. Many small businesses are concerned with having enough business and revenue, so it’s important to demonstrate how you might help them obtain more.
2. Do they want to grow?
On the flipside, some small businesses are happy right where they are. If you’re dealing with a decision-maker that enjoys stability, and isn’t bent on world domination, don’t spend your whole pitch talking about growth. Instead, talk about how you can shore up their company and fortify it.
3. Call at the right time
Busy times of the day are NOT when you want to call. Each industry is different. Play around and try to find lulls and times that your targets are less consumed with their own work and more receptive to speaking.
4. The people who answer the phone know what to do
Treat them well. They field calls all day, and can sort out the wastes of time. They can also send a call direct to the owner of the company. If you’re going to get anywhere, respecting your first point of contact is a great start.
5. Owners might be touchy
An owner of a small business is often completely tied to the business, ego and all. Be careful when discussing flaws in the business (or “areas of opportunity” as you might call them), because it will probably feel like an attack on the owner him- or her-self.
6. Testimonials are a must
Credibility is hard to build, but it’s essential for selling to a small business. One of the quickest shortcuts to credibility is a great bunch of testimonials. The closer the speakers are to your prospect’s situation, the better.
7. Get in early
If you sell to a small business when they’re still quite new, and keep them happy, you will likely have a customer for a very long time. There is tremendous value in being “there from the start.” Those who come after will be eyed more skeptically, but you’ll have grown a healthy amount of trust that is a great foundation for a business relationship.
8. What do they think of you?
Perception in selling is everything. Be tuned-in to how you are perceived by your prospects. Common errors are being too corporate, being overly complex, being too sales-y, not being real, etc. When you’re selling, you aren’t the show – your prospect is. Keep your attention on your prospect and what he or she is thinking. Follow their interests and concerns, regardless of where they go. If you don’t follow them, you aren’t going to make the sale anyway, so don’t be scared to explore their concerns honestly and refine your product/pitch based on their feedback.
9. Do your homework
Don’t go in to your meeting without first understanding a small business’s needs thoroughly. The moment you show you aren’t prepared, it’s the same thing as saying you don’t really care about their business or respect them. After that?
Meeting adjourned!
The point is, approach small businesses with respect in every way you can, and focus on them completely when selling, and you’ll have success.
9 Tips for Mobile App Resellers Selling to Small Businesses, Part 1
Mar 5th
Selling to large companies, selling to consumers, and selling to small businesses are all three very different kinds of selling. While there are common issues, certain strategies that work in one context are actually harmful in the others. The tips below will help you focus in on what really matters when selling to small businesses.
1. Don’t make them feel small
Small business owners are independent people who take pride in their business and self-identify with it, often to a large degree. You might think it’s a great idea to try and show that you understand their concerns by talking about “small business” over and over again, but the word “small” is sometimes a word to be avoided. They’re in “business.” Sometimes it’s best to just keep it at that.
2. Title isn’t everything
Small business teams are often tight-knit groups. Don’t be surprised if someone you think is low on the totem pole actually has the ear of a key decision-maker. Treat everyone with the same level of respect, just in case. (In fact, just do that everywhere, all the time, just to be safe!)
3. “Is this a bad time?”
If you’re cold calling, sometimes this phrase is a great way to show you know how busy people are. They’re still going to hang up on you left and right, but you just might score some humane treatment, even a lead, if you give it first up front.
4. Make their lives easier
This is so obvious we feel a little silly repeating it, but it’s also so true that it can’t be stressed enough. If you want to get anywhere with small business owners, you need to remove difficulties from their lives, and save them time, money, or both. Always focus on how you can be helpful and transfer problems from their laps into your own.
5. You’re not fooling them
Almost every small business owner is also a salesman. After all, at one point in the company’s history, they probably wore every hat on the rack. Don’t think you’re going to get anything by them in terms of slick sales tactics. They’re more likely to backfire than not.
6. Be straightforward
Small business owners don’t have time for roundabout conversational routes. Be direct, respect their time, and you’ll be doing yourself a favor.
7. Simple is king
On a related note, the simpler your offering itself is, the better off you are. Make sure that when you design products and services, they don’t contain needless complexity or extraneous features. Focus on your core offering, simplify it, and everything will become easier.
8. Make transition easy
On another related note, adopting your offering should be as seamless as you can make it. If you cause any troubles, the little bit of patience you gained with your successful pitch will rapidly be destroyed. Transition should be as unnoticeable as you can make it, so that the focus is on how hard things were before your company came along, and how easy they are now that you’re here.
9. Tread carefully when saying you identify with a small business
Small business owners are often at war, and they live deep in the trenches. If you try to identify with their problems, you better know where you’re coming from. If you don’t live in their world, don’t pretend you do, or you’ll quickly be shown the door.
Wow! This stuff came off as fairly serious. But, as we know, selling is serious business. Don’t take these issues lightly, and you just might convert more small business prospects than you know what to do with!
8 Habits Of A Successful Bizness Apps Reseller
Mar 1st
Bizness Apps offers a robust white-label platform to resellers that uses the same technology that has been used to develop over 20,000 apps in over 50 countries. To ensure that you, as a reseller, enjoy the maximum benefit from participating in the Bizness Apps program, here are a few tips to remember:
1. Market to a Niche
As the old saying goes, if you try to talk to everyone, you often talk to no one. Select a niche and focus your marketing efforts on it. There are many small business types nationwide that have proven to be profitable for app developers. For example, restaurants, law offices, real estate agencies, and many others. Chose an industry and zero in, and your efforts will lead to far better returns.
2. Don’t Undervalue Your Product
As a guideline, many resellers charge customers a setup fee of $1,500-2,000, as well as a $100/month recurring charge. You deliver a product that can have huge value for helping small businesses connect with their customers, increase loyalty, and drive revenue growth. Keep it in mind when establishing and negotiating prices.
3. Client Testimonials
Few things are as persuasive to a target as hearing positive reviews from those in the target’s shoes that have adopted apps. For each success story you create, make sure that you obtain a testimonial. Don’t just develop an app and move on. Reach back, connect with current clients, and ask them how things are going. If they’re going well, you have a nice testimonial. If not, you have feedback that you (or we) can use to improve our offering. It’s a win-win.
4. Make Sure Your Website Looks Professional
A professional-looking website is key for establishing credibility and trust with prospects, as well as anchoring your prices at a higher level. Make sure that your website doesn’t turn anyone off, or create the perception that you aren’t a quality, well-established service provider.
5. Utilize Bizness Apps Support
We’re here to help! If you have issues, questions, want to talk strategy, want to submit feedback, or just want to chat about the industry, give us a call. Our white label program is a two-way street and the more communication we receive, the better you do, and the better we all do. We are deeply invested in ensuring that each of our resellers succeeds, because your success is also our success, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need a hand.
6. Take Advantage of Available Tools
There are a wealth of resources available to you that can help you succeed. Review these links, and you’re bound to find something helpful:
• Our Free Marketing Materials
• Our $100 Professional App Design Service
• Our Recorded Webinars
• Our Help Desk
• Reseller Orientation Calls
• Bizness CRM (We offer free accounts for resellers!)
• And much much more…
7. Stay Current on Industry Stats
We are constantly sharing new information through our blog, social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter), and various webinars and other channels. Keep your ear to the speaker, so to speak, and you’ll know everything we know.
8. Understand The Product
Top resellers understand our product, our features, and the benefits of small businesses going mobile. You can improve your product and market knowledge by utilizing all of the help materials available to you. And if you have a question, feel free to shoot us an email! Our success is your success!
As you can see from the last few items, the more time you spend researching the platform and industry, the better off you are. Read up on our features and other relevant info, and you’ll be able to maximize your opportunity – and that’s the essence of a successful Bizness App reseller.
8 Habits of a Successful Reseller from biznessapps
The Mobile Business App Industry is Headed for $50 Billion
Jan 23rd
A recent Strategy Analytics forecast posted on Mashable that says that the mobile business app industry will hit $50 billion in 2017.
This growth is not necessarily where many would think at first blush. We aren’t just talking about B2C apps for consumers to use. We’re also talking about a massive and expanding segment of the mobile market: small business apps.
Business operatives are demanding access to data from devices, they’re making decisions and implementing them through devices, and they are, of course, communicating like mad using their mobiles to their customers!
“The consumer mobile experience has taught mobile workers to expect, even demand, access to information and applications from anywhere using mobile devices,” said Mark Levitt, director of business cloud strategies at Strategy Analytics.
As businesses of all sizes get more comfortable incorporating mobile devices into their various functions, expect to see mobile development demand increase as people prime their minds to spot mobile opportunities and reach out to developers to make them happen. The work from home trend, if it continues upward, will also add another angle from which mobile functionality demand will increase.
If you’re in school and you like computers, here’s an idea: take a few classes on mobile development. You might just find yourself with a job after graduation.
Another way to get involved in the mobile industry is to check out the Bizness Apps mobile app resale program — where you can start your own mobile marketing company reselling mobile apps and mobile websites to small businesses!
How To Make An App | Recorded Webinar
Jan 21st
How To Make An App from Bizness Apps on Vimeo.
During this webinar, we give you a complete overview of of how to make an app with Bizness Apps and keep track of small business sales with Bizness CRM.
Webinar topics include:
– Overview of our latest platform upgrades
– Complete walk through of app making with Bizness Apps
– Complete walk through of app sales with Bizness CRM
– How to land small businesses as clients
– How to create a successful mobile business
– How to design beautiful mobile apps in minutes
– How to design beautiful mobile websites in minutes
– How to get involved as a Bizness Apps reseller
