JUNIOR DIVISION ONLY!
- Learn about ways to reach potential users of your app
- Make a plan for more people to use your app through different channels
These are the activities for this lesson:
USERS
You’ve decided on the problem you will solve, and you most likely have a proposed solution. Let’s now focus on your users.
You could create an awesome product that solves a really important problem, but your business will not be successful if no one knows about or uses your product.
You know who your users are already from your Unit 3 Market Research work!
In this lesson, you will create a plan for repeatable, measurable ways to get your idea in front of users.
EARLY ADOPTERS
Early adopters are those people who are already looking for solutions to the problem you are solving. They would be more willing to try out new and unproven products. They are also usually willing to provide feedback as you build your project. Early adopters are your first target for getting people to use your product and to get the word out.
You really need to start with the question: Who really needs this now, and where can I find them?”
Here are some strategies that are effective to identifying and reaching early adopters.
Direct Outreach
Nothing is more effective with early adopters than directly contacting them and explaining what your solution can offer.
You can reach out via email, phone calls, or meet in person. Early adopters are actively seeking solutions, so they should be willing to listen to your pitch.
Word of Mouth
Word of Mouth Marketing (WOMM) is often the best way to get people to try your product.
92% of Nielsen-surveyed consumers believe their friends and family over any kind of advertising.
(Source: https://blog.hubspot.com/agency/how-online-word-of-mouth-marketing-is-changing)
And early adopters are often influential in then getting other people to try your product.
Getting Started
- Use your friends and family to spread the word.
- Encourage them to talk about your app.
- Use your local connections to help identify early adopters.
- If you know an important figure or influencer, ask them to speak on behalf of your app.
Social Media
Social media is a great way to find and communicate with early adopters.
Very often people who are dealing with a particular problem might post about it on social media. They might also form social media groups to discuss issues.
Getting Started
- Search for TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook groups about the problem you are solving.
- Ask to join the group.
- Post about your project and ask who might be interested in trying it out and providing feedback.
- Another option is to post about your solution and what problem it solves.
- Ask people to share your post with their networks.
Partnering with Organizations
If you haven’t already, look for organizations in your community that are trying to solve the same problem as your project. The organization most likely has members or clients they work with who would be willing to try out your app. They can also provide feedback during development!
Getting Started
- List organizations or groups in your community or region that are tackling the same problem as your team.
- Email or phone each organization.
- include a short description of your project.
- ask to work with them to solve the problem together.
- If they do not respond to email, try phoning them to talk directly to a person within the organization.
KEY METRICS
To check the progress of your outreach strategy in action, you can track your goals using metrics.
There are many metrics you can measure and track. 1-3 goals is sufficient at this stage.
The metrics you measure will depend on the goals you are trying to achieve. Some examples are:
- social media shares/referrals
- number of beta testers
- app downloads
For example, if you choose to upload your app to the Google Play and Apple App Stores, you can track how many people download your app.
Each store has its own way to track downloads.
Example: Google Play Metrics
This is a view of the Google Play Developer Console. You can track:
- how many users installed your app
- how many uninstalled it
- countries the app is being downloaded in
You can also see how people rated your app.
You can see when ratings were added, and what the ratings were.
ACTIVITY 1: USER OUTREACH
Set outreach goals and strategies
- List 2-3 user goals for your app or business.
- Choose 1 or 2 outreach strategies and try them out.
ACTIVITY 2: GET FEEDBACK
Getting Feedback - several days
Get user feedback from your marketing strategies
- Implement a user outreach strategy
- Ask users some questions about the strategy.
- Adjust your outreach plan based on the feedback.
REVIEW OF KEY TERMS
- Marketing – the process of telling people about your business and getting them to use your product
- Strategy – how you will get users to try your app so that you can meet your goals
- Metrics – whether or not your strategy is working
REFLECTION
Congratulations, you have a user outreach plan! Let’s review what you did:
- Set your outreach goals.
- Created strategies to achieve your goals.
- Found a way to track and assess your progress.
Remember, your outreach plan can change as other factors change, like your product (or its features), user perception, or even budgets. It’s up to you to be flexible and modify your plans as best you can.
