Presented by Brett Wangman, President, The Center for Association Growth; Michael Jones, Director of Mobile Technologies for Results Direct; and Rob Wenger, CEO of Higher Logic
Thanks to the skyrocketing sales of mobile devices and tablets, the desktop PC has become something of a dinosaur. Smartphones and tablets – not “computers” – are the first thing we check when we wake up in the morning and often the last thing we look at before going to bed.
That means it’s essential that organizations develop websites that render well on screens of all sizes. But so-called “responsive design” isn’t enough to effectively reach all members.
Mobile devices come with their own set of use cases and opportunities. When you reach for your phone in the morning to check the weather, you’re probably not opening a mobile browser to access weather.com – because there’s a weather.com app. And it works better, too.
In fact, there’s an app for just about everything. And there should be an app for your organization, too.
Apps are becoming a critical part for engagement of member-based organizations for a number of reasons. Members use them every day. They make organizations highly visible. And perhaps most importantly, they create lots of buzz. Word travels fast about the latest and greatest apps, and we all rush to download them.
Take Higher Logic’s MemberCentric app. Community members who access the app are able to stay up-to-date on the latest news in their industry, no matter where they are. And the Eventsential app provides members with schedules, announcements, exhibitor information and more for all organization events.
These apps not only have tremendous benefits for members – organizations benefit, too, specifically when it comes to credibility, ROI and cost savings from eliminating the need to print out physical event brochures.