Technology Archives - Page 3 of 4

The top 3 cash back apps like Ebates

Posted on March 12, 2018 by shopkick

I recently had lunch with an old friend I hadn’t seen since college, if you can believe that! So much had happened since we last saw each other, and so, of course, we caught up about our husbands and our kids and our lives over flat whites at Starbucks. We laughed so hard that everyone else in the little Starbucks seating area kept looking at us like, what is wrong with those two?

I have a lot of new friends I love, but in the middle of this conversation, I was quickly reminded of how much I loved this (wickedly funny) old friend. After, I got to thinking about how old friends are important, and how knowing them helped set you up for new friends, and new relationships, and new loves. And, being the somewhat obsessive shopper that am I, and thinking about old and new friendships, I naturally started thinking about old and new shopping apps! Back in the day (ahem, only two years ago, but still) I was a big fan of Ebates, which was basically my gateway into shopping apps. I used Ebates to get cash back offers for online shopping on tons of products at all my favorite web stores, and I still remember it fondly. To be totally honest, though, I’ve moved on to three newer apps! And that’s what I’d like to talk about today: what Ebates is, why Ebates and apps like Ebates are so great for my budget, and, finally, the top 3 cash back apps like Ebates that I use all the time today!

The 411 on Cash Back Apps Like Ebates

One of the things that my old friend and I reminisced about was how, when we used to share an apartment, we were always, always, always broke. To rectify that some, we used to take the free newspapers from the local mechanics and track sales or clip coupons from the store ads. Hey, in college you have to be creative!

These days apps like Ebates are the new, simpler version of taking-the-newspaper-from-the-local-mechanic, if you ask me. The way that Ebates works is by saving you money for online shopping. It’s a centralized platform where shoppers can go to see deals and coupons at more than 1,800 online retailers. I used Ebates exclusively to help save money on my shopping budget for a long time.

Eventually, though, I started to wish there were cash back apps like Ebates that could do a bit more to bolster my budget, and that’s how I ended up seeking out newer apps, many of which are way more fun to use!

The Top 3 Cash Back Apps Like Ebates

For all the things I loved about Ebates, the simple truth was that being something you could only use online made it a little bit limited, which was why I eventually moved on to the three apps you’ll find highlighted below! Let’s take a look:

SavingStar: SavingStar is a digital coupon app that pays users to shop at grocery and drugstores. In fact, more than 60,000 stores are part of SavingStar, and for a long time, it was my companion app to Ebates: I’d use Ebates online and SavingStar in the real store. Some words of warning, though: SavingStar is generally free to use, but if an account is inactive for 180 straight days, they will charge a fee of $3.99. To take advantage of SavingStar, users either link their existing store loyalty cards to the app or submit receipts after they make purchases. Savings add up until they can eventually be cashed out through PayPal, Upromise, or in the form of Starbucks, iTunes, or AMC Theater gift codes.
SnipSnap: SnipSnap is another mobile coupons app, although this one lets you take pictures of printed coupons, which are then transformed into digital, mobile-ready ones. Users can browse online directories and take advantage of coupons their friends have “snipped” as well. This one doesn’t exactly pay, though. Instead, users save money, as with a traditional coupon. The idea is that coupons can all be easily kept in one digital space, instead of having an overflowing billfold stuff with paper. Super cool!
Shopkick: Now we get to my favorite, which is an app called Shopkick. Put simply, Shopkick is a total blast. It gives you points (called kicks) for shopping how you would anyway, rewarding you for things like making purchases, scanning barcodes of items, and even just walking into some of your favorite stores. How it works is incredibly simple, too. Basically, it turns shopping into a game, like a scavenger hunt. And it’s really social. They keep a great community vibe on their social media, and users get awarded kicks when they refer friends who sign up. Users trade in kicks to get paid in gift cards to the stores they love to shop at, or where they like to splurge on a quick treat, like Starbucks.

So, there you have the reasons I love things both old and new, but especially Shopkick! When it comes to shopping and cash back apps like Ebates, I need one that I’m going to remember to use each and every time I go out to the store so that I can maximize my savings. Shopkick’s sleek interface and its game-like tendencies make it fun and easy to use. Change is the only constant in life, but I have a feeling that Shopkick and I will be close friends for a really long time.

Get to know one of the best apps like Ebates, as well as one of the best shopping apps period. Download Shopkick’s free app today and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered how much you can earn with the help of a free shopping sidekick.

And, if you’re on social media catching up with friends, be sure to also join Shopkick on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for a little daily fun and inspiration.

Image courtesy onephoto

Tech-forward iPhone apps that pay you cash

Posted on March 7, 2018 by shopkick

When my friends and I get together, talk always inevitably turns to basketball. The other day, one of my buddies was telling me a story about how he saw the most amazing college basketball game of his life during his senior year of high school back in 2006. He said he’d never been to a more alive game, and that he still wishes he’d had a camera on him so he could have taken a picture. I asked him why he didn’t just use his phone and my friend replied that, back then, he was still on a flip phone—one that didn’t even have a camera.

For a minute, I was shocked; 2006 really doesn’t seem like all that long ago. But it’s true. In terms of smartphone and app development, it was basically an eternity ago. In fact, nobody even knew what an app was 12 years ago. Nowadays, it’s rare to find someone who doesn’t have a smartphone, though. And, as these phones have become so prevalent, so too have the apps we use on them. I like to think of myself as a pretty tech-forward kinda guy, but even I get surprised sometimes. Like, for example, did you know that there are iPhone apps that pay you cash?

That’s actually what I’d like to talk about today: iPhone apps that pay you cash and how, among all the many incredible things you can use your smartphone for, one of my personal favorites is to earn cash money. Who would have guessed way back in 2006—when my poor friend was at the basketball game of his life without any way to capture the memories—that our phones would have such broad capabilities a short decade later?

How Do iPhone Apps That Pay You Cash Work?

The thing about iPhone apps that pay you cash is that they’ve sprung up quickly and evolved fast—so fast, in fact, that there’s more than just one type. So, let’s start by discussing the different types of tech-forward money making apps for your iPhone!

Here are some of my personal favorites:

Survey apps: There are a lot of cash-paying survey apps to choose from, but they all tend to generally work the same way: You download the app, enter some information about yourself, and the app begins sending you surveys to take. You then get paid for taking them! In my experience, the longest of these surveys can take about 15 to 20 minutes, but the longer the survey, the more they pay. In general, you can also expect most survey apps for iPhones to pay roughly $1 each, with the longer ones paying a bit more. Like all the apps on our list today, these are becoming more tech-forward by including videos and other interactive features.
Advertisement apps: These advertisement apps pay you to watch trailers and short ads. You generally earn about $.50 each time you watch a quick 30-second clip. In my experience, this adds up quickly—and sometimes the trailers and ads are pretty interesting. It’s always a little bonus when you get paid to watch one that you would have chosen to watch for free. In terms of being tech-forward, the ads from these apps are also becoming more complex, often involving videos or little games.
Shopping apps: Like I’ve mentioned in the past, I’m the type of shopper who gets in and out of a store as fast as possible. It’s not that I hate shopping, it’s just that I have a million other things on my mind, like work or stuff to do around the house—and fantasy football, of course. Shopping can feel like an obstacle between me and my priorities. I can tell you, though, I like shopping a whole lot more now that I’ve discovered I can make money shopping using free iPhone apps. These apps give you points for the shopping you would be doing anyway. You can then cash in those points for gift cards or even sometimes checks or cash. What makes these apps so tech-forward is that some of the best of them find new ways all the time to help you earn more points. For example, there’s one that knows when you walk into a partner store and automatically gives you points, even if all you end up doing is browsing!

The Best Tech-Forward iPhone App that Pays You Cash

There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to iPhone apps that pay you in cash but, believe it or not, my favorite of them all actually happens to be one of the shopping apps. I know, shocker, right? But it’s true.

Now, I actually look forward to running into the store throughout the week.

It’s an app called Shopkick and how it works is super simple. Just like I described above, this app gives you points for the stuff you already do when you go out shopping, like walking into stores, scanning barcodes on featured products for more info, and, of course, making purchases. What I really like about Shopkick is that in addition to being really user-friendly with its tech-forward design, this app has also done something that I used to think was impossible: Shopkick has made shopping fun, turning it into a scavenger hunt for points. Now, I actually look forward to running into the store throughout the week.

So, there you have it, an overview of the tech-forward iPhone apps that pay you cash, plus a quick intro to my all-time favorite one. I use Shopkick so often that I can hardly even remember a time it wasn’t downloaded to my phone. It sort of makes me wonder what, in 12 years from now, the new technological advances will be that we’ll be shaking our heads at and wondering how we ever did without.

Ready to get in on one of the most cutting-edge and tech-forward iPhone apps that pays you cash? Download Shopkick for free and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered the rewards of shopping with us!

And, if you love using your smartphone to stay up on social media, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily shopping inspiration.

Image courtesy Daniel Ernst

The best video advertising apps to reach—and grow—your audience

Posted on March 2, 2018 by shopkick

A good video advertising app doesn’t just create brand awareness, it also converts viewing into interest in your brand—and eventually turns viewers into buyers. At one time, apps were games or simple side features on a mobile phone. Now, they’re the primary way that consumers use their phones, with 52% of time on digital media being spent on mobile apps. Video is a popular feature on these apps, and brands can leverage this tool to grow their audience. The key to growing an audience with a video advertising app is following the consumers to the platforms they use and becoming a part of those apps.

Brands need to get involved now if they’re going to continue to gain the greatest advantage from a mobile advertising program. There are a few categories of apps that incorporate video, including social media and shopping and rewards apps, that present opportunities for brands to convert consumers. By choosing apps that offer what consumers are looking for, these brands can reach and grow their audience.

Increased complexity:

Shopping apps have grown more sophisticated since they were initially developed. Many have added options like digital wallets and geotracking, which makes these apps better able to travel with consumers. The increasing intelligence of shopping apps has made them far more appealing, and they’re no longer just sources of discounts. Consumers are able to use mobile apps to plan out their whole shopping trip ahead of time or simply access them as they’re in the shopping aisle. Their versatility is driven mainly by the complexity of these apps.

Using a Rewarded Video Advertising App

Various app platforms, from games to social media, are now offering rewarded video as an option to consumers. This isn’t a standalone feature, as rewarded video is usually added onto an existing platform, but it’s a highly lucrative one for both app developers and brands. In one study, it was noted that 33% of mobile revenue was delivered by rewarded video ads. The reason this is such a lucrative option is its popularity with consumers. Consumers prefer rewarded video for many reasons:

Minimal disruptions:

Banner ads and pop-ups are known to be disruptive, with many consumers finding them irritating enough to uninstall apps entirely. On the other hand, rewarded video improves app retention. One study noted that rewarded video could increase app retention by as much as 4 times. Rewarded video gives consumers more control over the advertising process and, as a result, minimizes the disruption felt when ads are displayed. Because consumers have invited the advertisement to their screen, they’re more likely to keep the app installed.

Leveraging Live Video on Social Media Apps

Social media is indisputably a good place for brands to interact with consumers. About 50 million small businesses report using social media pages to connect with audiences. However, this leads to an issue of brand fatigue. Consumers have grown weary of advertisements on social media, which is why brands must find new ways to stand out.

One thing that has been growing on these platforms is the use of live video. In one survey, researchers found that 80% of consumers would rather watch a live video from a brand than read a blog post, while 82% would prefer it over a social media text update. Live video from brands feels more genuine and, as a result, increases the consumer connection. Here are just a few ways that branded live video can be used on social media:

Monetized Ads With Mobile Publishers

Mobile publishers with high performing platforms make about 55% of their revenue through ad sales, as monetized video ads within third-party apps are proven converters. Brands know that these publishers can get their ads in front of the right people, at the right time. While many of these publishers are in the gaming sector, there are other options outside of this sector that brands can use to share their video ads.

Partnering with a mobile publisher simply means advertising your product on someone else’s platform. Here are just a few segments outside of gaming where this is a possibility:

Bringing Together the Best Video Advertising App Features

Ideally, when a brand is looking for video advertising app options, they should seek out the apps that offer several of the above features in one place. Apps that provide more than one service keep consumers engaged with the app, which increases their interaction with the brands that use it.

Social media is a good example of a platform that brings together the best features since many social media apps combine live video, rewarded video, gamification and even payment options that encourage consumers to use these apps for everything. However, a basic social media app has limitations, including the fact that consumers may not be in a buying mindset when using social media. People turn to social media for entertainment. As a result, using these apps for audience growth and brand affinity isn’t necessarily going to work since the message isn’t guaranteed to reach the consumer at the right time.

Shopping apps are the optimal tools for tying all the best features of video advertising apps together. These are the apps that consumers use when they’re prepared to engage with a brand, whether they’re getting ready to go shopping or are already in the store. They also combine components of other popular video advertising platforms like rewarded video, social media, and gamification. By using shopping apps, brands can connect with consumers at the right time. They provide all the features of the best video advertising apps that brands need to connect with an audience and increase market share.

8 crazy apps that you won’t believe exist

Posted on February 26, 2018 by shopkick

I love apps. I love them when they are silly and playful, and I love them when they actually help me get through my day, like when I have to navigate traffic or take notes during a meeting. I mean, to be honest, I love apps so much that sometimes they take up so much space on my phone that I have to sit down (with a glass of wine of course) and force myself to delete some.

There are a handful of apps, however, that I just can’t bear to get rid of. Some are just wacky ways to entertain myself, but others I just have to keep because they save me money—like those crazy retail coupon apps I use. There are so many apps that you won’t believe exist that I decided to put together a list of some of my all-time faves.

Purely Entertaining Apps That You Won’t Believe Exist

Sharknado: The Video Game

If you can’t believe they made a movie about a tornado full of sharks, then you probably really won’t believe they made a mobile game about it, too. The strangely popular franchise now lets you, from your smartphone, battle sharks, while riding a shark. With a chainsaw. Or beat them with bats, golf clubs, anything you grab as you surf through the flooded, besieged city.

The Brostache

No matter whether you’ve gone crazy with the trimmers, haven’t reached puberty yet, or just lack the chromosomes required to grow a good flavor saver, “The Brostache” offers hope. Hold your phone over your mouth and talk and the Brostache mimics your words, showing you how your mouth would look if it was sporting a glorious ’stache.

iSteam

You can’t take your phone in the shower, but this app is like having foggy shower glass on the inside of your phone that you can write on. Take any photo, steam up the screen, and write your message on it. Or, write an invisible message for someone on a steam-less screen, then ask someone to breathe on the phone. The message will magically appear.

Is It Dark Outside?

If you’re a gamer, or just a vampire, looking out the window can be hard, risky work. Now you can better avoid sunlight and the possibility of making eye-contact with other human beings using the “Is it dark outside?” app. Like a Siri for the living dead, all you have to do is ask the app if it’s dark outside and, using sunrise and sunset data from your area, the app will let you know if it’s safe to venture into the gloam.

Game for Cats

Is your favorite feline resentful about her lack of screentime? Of course. This game solves that, allowing your cat to chase a butterfly, laser, or mouse across the touch screen with its paw. It’s a great app for people who are too lazy to actually play with their cat, or for someone who doesn’t have a cat but loves chasing lasers.

Entertaining, Money Making Apps That You Won’t Believe Exist

Mobee

Ever wanted to be a mystery shopper? Who hasn’t? Well, Mobee makes that dream a reality! Sign into the app and it gives you secret missions at stores and restaurants in your area. Each mission usually last between 10 and 15 minutes, and they almost all require you to do something like take a picture of a display in a store or rate your shopping experience. Then, you get points for the missions you complete, which you can swap for Amazon cards.

Shopkick

This is one those apps that you won’t believe exist because, amazingly, it turns the drudgery of shopping into a game, like a scavenger hunt. And, it saves you money at the same time! The way that Shopkick works is that it gives you points—which you later redeem for gift cards to your favorite stores—just for the things you do during a normal shopping trip. Walk into certain store, and you get points. Scan barcodes of certain items, get more points. Take pictures of your receipt after you buy the week’s groceries (or toiletries, or even those super cute boots you’ve been longing for) and get even more points!

Viggle

What’s so crazy about this app is that it pays you to watch TV! Basically, you download the app and then turn it on, or check-in, while you’re watching TV or streaming your favorite shows. The longer you watch, the more points you rack up, which (like my favorite shopping app, Shopkick) you can then trade in for gift cards, meaning you can now get paid for binge watching The Bachelor.

So, whether you’re looking for pure entertainment or a way to boost your budget, those are a few of my favorite unbelievable apps. Now it’s time to pull up my brostache and go out secret shopping . . . I’m sure no one will recognize me.

Looking for the coolest shopping apps for iPhone and Android? Download Shopkick for free and join a community of Shopkickers who’ve love the rewards of shopping with us!

Or join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and check in every day on your phone, no matter where you are, to learn about the hottest, newest deals.

Image courtesy scharfsinn86

Cool grocery coupon apps for Android for shopping-averse dads

Posted on February 21, 2018 by shopkick

My dad is kind of one of those old-school dads who, these days, I think only is represented in the movies and on TV. When I was growing up he always had his favorite recliner, he never missed watching his favorite football team’s big game, and he used to get lost like a little kid whenever he had to do the grocery shopping for us.

He’s retired now, and we’ve had a few good laughs at how shopping-averse he used to be, and how he just couldn’t seem to ever find what we were looking for in those aisles, no matter how clearly labeled they were. Luckily, I think the dads in my generation are a bit more savvy about shopping, even if a few guys I know are just as shopping-averse. But they all agree that there’s nothing like finding the lowest prices. That’s why today I want to share some tips about grocery coupon apps for Android.

These are apps that bring some serious savings to the shopping process. Some of them are, surprisingly, a lot of fun to use, turning trips to the grocery store into a hunt for points you can redeem for savings and rewards. So, what’s the best grocery coupon app, Android aficionados? Let me tell you about some that are super valuable.

Grocery Coupon Apps for Android

Android apps that make you money while you shop are a relatively new development, so before we get into my favorites, let’s talk about how the best retail and grocery coupon apps for Android work.

Basically, the best grocery coupon app—Android or iPhone compatible—gives you points for the things you do when you’re out shopping already, like scanning barcodes to get more info, making purchases, and even walking into the actual brick-and-mortar stores. For the online crowd, some of these apps give you points for that kind of shopping, too. Here, however, you get points for visiting online stores, watching videos about certain products, and, of course, making purchases.

There are also grocery coupon apps for Android that function more like traditional coupons. These apps give you a certain dollar amount or percentage off at the register. Either way—whether you get points and rewards or use digital coupons—you really can’t go wrong. When you’re done with all that shopping that you’re averse to, you’ll still have accrued some serious savings, and that always feels good.

The Best Grocery Coupon App: Androids and iPhones Make Shopping Easier

To be totally honest, I don’t really love grocery shopping, so I’m the type of shopper who gets in and out of a store as fast as possible. Shopping feels like an obstacle between me and my priorities, although I can tell you that I like it a whole lot more now that I’ve discovered that I can make money shopping using free Android and iPhone apps.

There are actually three grocery coupon apps that I especially like:

Coupon Cactus: Coupon Cactus is a lot like those old paper coupons (which my dad never even tried to use): You get certain discounts on certain items at certain stores. The big difference is here you can do it online, too. Your savings sometimes adds up to a percentage of the total price—generally up to 30%—or to a set amount, like $2 off a featured product. Once you those savings reach $10 or more, you can cash out via PayPal, or get a check issued on a quarterly basis.
SavingStar: SavingStar is another digital coupon app that pays users to shop at grocery and drugstores. What’s really cool is that more than 60,000 stores are part of SavingStar, and overall they represent more than 100 retail chains. It’s generally free to use, but beware: If an account is inactive for 180 straight days, they will charge a fee of $3.99. To take advantage of SavingStar, users either link their existing store loyalty cards to the app or submit receipts after they make purchases. The savings add up until the user can eventually cash out through PayPal, Upromise, or in the form of Starbucks, iTunes, or AMC Theatre gift codes. Again, I’m a PayPal guy, but sometimes I’ll go with AMC Theatre if there’s a new Marvel movie coming out that I want to catch.
Shopkick: My favorite shopping rewards app is, hands down, Shopkick. It’s also the one I recommend to my dad friends who dislike shopping. This app gives users points—called kicks—for the kind of shopping they would be doing anyway, like making purchases, scanning barcodes of items, and even just walking into some favorite stores. How it works is incredibly simple, too, which you’d know is a good thing if you’d ever met my friends.

To put it simply, I’m a fan. Basically, Shopkick turns shopping into an actual game, like a scavenger hunt, and it’s really social. They keep a great community vibe on their social media, and users get awarded kicks when they refer friends who sign up. Users trade in kicks and get paid in gift cards to the stores they love to shop, or where they love to splurge—say on a quick cup of joe at Starbucks.

Those are, in my humble opinion, the best grocery coupon apps for Android. I should point out though that all of these work on iPhone, too. So, whether you’re a dad who doesn’t like going to the store (like mine), or one who actually enjoys shopping but would like to up your savings game, Shopkick is the app I would most strongly recommend. It has that perfect balance of great savings and fun, which turns shopping from a hassle into something you can actually look forward to, even if just a tiny bit.

Ready to get in on some of the best grocery coupon apps for iPhone and Android? Download Shopkick for free and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered the rewards of shopping with us!

And, if you love using your smartphone to stay up on social media, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily shopping inspiration.

Image courtesy Jale Ibrak

Mobile app marketing: strategies to generate the highest ROI

Posted on February 16, 2018 by shopkick

Mobile app marketing is a growing way for companies to reach out to consumers at the right time. Consumers spend about five hours a day on mobile devices, which makes mobile a prime place to share information about your products or services. However, mobile app-based marketing does have its limitations. A major part of mobile app marketing success is driven by adoption. People have to use, and like, your app in order for it to provide a significant ROI.

That use is probably the biggest barrier to unlocking the full potential of your app. You need to think of mobile app marketing as a marathon, not a sprint. If you expect to eventually usher users through the sales funnel, you must be prepared to continuously engage with them. Generating the highest ROI in mobile app marketing requires gaining the user’s trust with a feature-driven app so that they’ll come to your business when they’re ready to make a purchase.

Encouraging Regular Use of Your Mobile App

While a high adoption number is good, it’s only useful if your average daily user figure is equally high. It doesn’t matter if you have 10,000 downloads if only one person uses the app on a regular basis. That’s why one-off app campaigns—where you offer a coupon or discount for downloading your app—don’t work. The user simply downloads the app long enough to get the deal and then never opens it again. Give the user a reason to keep engaging with your app on their mobile device.

Sephora’s app is a good example of how to take an experience-first approach rather than focus solely on the mobile commerce part of the sale. mCommerce is part of the app—not the entire app in and of itself. That means that individuals who may never have considered buying anything at Sephora—like someone who has never used its makeup—can become familiar with the company. They come to rely on it for makeup advice. When it comes time to buy, those individuals are far more likely to go to Sephora to make their purchase.

The utility-first approach to mobile app marketing can increase brand awareness and credibility among new audiences. It also helps retailers and brands stand out over those that use their apps solely as an mCommerce platform. Of course, as mCommerce becomes increasingly desirable to customers, brands and retailers also need to make sure their mobile purchasing experience is optimized., One way to gain the best of both worlds—pleasing existing customers and gaining new ones—is to work with a third-party app provider to reach out to a new market segment.

Reach new market segments:

When a retailer partners with a third-party shopping app, they are more likely to reach market segments they haven’t reached before. Think of it this way: Someone who has the “Mike’s Grocery Store” app on their phone is already an existing Mike’s Grocery Store customer. They’ve heard of Mike’s and are already familiar with its offerings. However, someone on a shopping app may not have heard of Mike’s Grocery Store—until they see an offer from Mike’s within the shopping app they already use. Suddenly, their curiosity about the retailer is piqued.

Free smartphone coupon apps for fast food connoisseurs

Posted on February 16, 2018 by shopkick

There is one love that’s been with me my entire life: fast food. Whether I’m at the airport or just grabbing a quick bite on the go, fast food for me is comfort food, and it’s convenient and, well, I could go on and on.

Now, over the years my fast food palate has gotten a bit more refined (I realize how that sounds.) When I was a kid I was all about the burgers and fries, but these days I’m pretty open to new things, from burrito bowls to grab-and-go sushi from high-end supermarkets. The only thing is, at a certain point, the fancier stuff starts to add up. Don’t worry, though! There’s a way to keep this from hurting your wallet, and you can easily download it with your smartphone. I am talking, of course, about using a coupon app for fast food.

I’ve talked in the past about how retail shopping apps save money, but today I want to shift gears and apply the same lens to tech that helps you get savings when you purchase fast food. I know I’m not the only one out there who loves to grab a quick bite on the go, just like I know I’m not the only one who would enjoy saving money when I do! So, with all that in mind, let’s take a look at the best free smartphone coupon apps for fast food connoisseurs!

The Basics: Using Coupon Apps for Fast Food

In case you aren’t familiar, coupon apps for fast food are, obviously, apps you download to a mobile device—generally a tablet or a phone because, let’s face it, you’re not going to be hauling your computer out at the drive-thru. The point of fast food is the speed and convenience, and, I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty much always in a hurry when I eat it.

Anyway, once you have the app, the easiest way for me to explain how to use it is by comparing it to the many apps out there that make it easier to get cash back on groceries or other purchases like electronics or clothing. These apps, the ones I use anyway, are all basically split into two groups: couponing apps and shopping rewards apps.

Coupon Apps for Fast Food Discounts

Apps like Coupon Sherpa, Valpak, or GeoQpons offer discounted prices meant to entice you to go to certain restaurants. The way they distribute these deals may work differently from app to app. Coupon Sherpa, for example, has a list of promo codes or print out coupons for you to browse, while GeoQpons sends you alerts about deals based on your location. Regardless, the basics are the same: these are apps that let you pay lower prices at time of checkout, saving you money on fast food that way.

Rewards-based Apps for Fast Food Discounts

These are apps that generally award you points for doing the things you normally do at a fast food restaurant, like making purchases. Some of them even give you points for walking through the door! Then, when you save up enough points, you can trade them in for gift cards to your favorite restaurants, or even to your favorite retail and electronic stores. What’s really cool about these apps is that you can generally use them in tandem with the couponing apps. You don’t have to know anything about tech to figure out that using multiple apps will net you more savings than using just one.

Making the Most of Your Coupon App for Fast Food

The best way to make the most of your coupon app for fast food is to pair it with one of my favorite rewards apps: Shopkick. Shopkick is one of those apps that I mentioned above that starts giving you points as soon as you step inside a restaurant, or, in the case of some stores, pull up to the drive-thru. How it works is that you get points for doing these things, and then you can trade those points in for gift cards.

The best way to make the most of your coupon app for fast food is to pair it with one of my favorite rewards apps: Shopkick.

This is actually ideal for someone like me, who always feels like he’s somehow cheating or splurging when he buys fast food. To be honest, paying for it with a gift card takes a lot of the sting off. Hey, I’m not saying it makes sense, just that it makes me feel way less guilty, and that’s a good thing! I also like how using Shopkick is like a game. I’m personally a big Xbox and fantasy football guy, so Shopkick’s system of awarding points really helps me to stay engaged. The other coupon apps for fast food are great and all, but a lot of times I’m liable to just forget they exist. Not with Shopkick.

So, there you have it, an informational look at the best coupon apps for fast food, plus a little bit about my personal favorite. Whether you eat fast food often, find it a guilty pleasure, or indulge because you’re in a hurry or it’s the closest options, these coupon apps make fast food even cheaper. Ultimately, that’s money you can turn around on your gym membership, so you can sweat your burrito off!

Get to know one of the best apps for fast food discounts—and for tons of other products, too. Download Shopkick’s free app today and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered how much you can earn with the help of a free shopping sidekick.

And, if you’re on social media catching up with friends, be sure to also join Shopkick on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for a little daily fun and inspiration.

Photo courtesy Ruslan Sitarchuk.

5 Video Advertising Statistics for 2018 Shaping Mobile Marketing

Posted on February 2, 2018 by shopkick

The video advertising statistics of 2018 show us that video is in high demand, both by consumers and by marketers. A lot of marketers swear by video, with 87% of online marketers reporting using video in their campaigns. This doesn’t mean video is a slam dunk for marketers. While video tends to have a bigger impact on brand awareness and market share, those numbers really only take into account well-developed video campaigns. A poorly performing video campaign can’t hope to truly capitalize on the powerful conversion potential of video marketing. The video advertising statistics of 2018 don’t just tell us what other marketers are doing, but they’re telling us what consumers want, which helps marketers create a truly impactful video campaign.

What consumers want is mobile video. More than half of all video viewing now occurs on mobile devices, and that number is steadily rising. Of course, much of that mobile viewing is entertainment-based content, rather than advertising. That’s one of the challenging parts of undertaking a mobile video campaign, in that you’re trying to get consumers to watch your ads when they’d rather be watching their favorite television programs or movies. Making the most of mobile video advertising requires a few adjustments to your strategy, so you can get consumers to view the content for your product, and more importantly, take action afterward.

Video Advertising Statistic #2: Personalization Makes Viral Videos Possible

Video is shared 1,200% more frequently than text and image posts. That’s good news for marketers who are trying to create a viral campaign. Of course, the key is the enjoyability of the ad. Making an ad amusing or interesting is a good way to gain attention. So is turning that ad into a personalized experience, which is more possible on mobile.

Malibu Rum followed this strategy with its Video Ticker and Video Toggle mobile video campaigns. The company used these platforms to target specific consumers in the UK aged 18 to 34. The personalization came as a result of time and location data from mobile. Dubbed the “Best Summer Ever” campaign, the ad gave users the option to choose between several different campaign videos based on where they were and when they visited the sites. The campaign was considered highly successful and was nominated for one of Mobile Marketing Magazine’s Effective Mobile Marketing Awards of 2014, under the category for Most Effective Use Of Video. Malibu made a number of smart moves in this campaign, including:

Video Advertising Statistic #3: Incentivizing Users with Rewarded Video

If you want to get a consumer to watch a video, one of the best ways to do it is to incentivize it. Rewarded video—modified video ads designed around an in-app economy, which grants users premium content such as coins or credits in return for viewing a short video clip—is among the most popular forms of advertising with consumers. 46% of consumers identified rewarded video as their preferred method of mobile video advertising. Here are a few examples of rewarded video in action.

Video Advertising Statistic #4: Interactive Mobile Video Content

Interactive mobile video ads are an extremely new form of advertising that is just starting to catch on. In them, the user might be allowed to interact with the advertiser’s story, making choices and potentially changing the outcome of the ad based on those choices.

Buffalo Wild Wings did something like this in their interactive video campaign featuring the chain’s “Foodoo” doll. During the advertisement, the Foodoo doll would pop up, and users tried to catch it by tapping on their screens. Once they caught the doll, they could either find local restaurants or join the restaurant’s loyalty program. Following the campaign, the company reported 46 million interactions with a 93.4% video completion rate. The brand’s interactive campaign used video effectively by:

Video Advertising Statistic #5: Mobile Makes the Difference in Conversion

Mobile video advertising is, above all, about the user experience. Providing content that’s useful, engaging, and enjoyable will allow you to harness the power of video. Marketers who use video are estimated to grow revenue for their brands 49% faster than their non-video counterparts. Mobile is a powerful medium, with the majority of watchers choosing this as the place to view those videos. There’s a number of reasons why mobile video is a more powerful converter than other mediums. Some to consider are:

Passive and active opportunities:

While your preference should always be to have an active viewer, individuals can still retain things on a subliminal level when passively viewing video. The same can’t be said for images and text—unless that viewer passively sees those same images and texts hundreds of times, as in the case of logos or slogans. A consumer can watch a video without paying attention to it and still retain some of the information from it, making it useful even when the consumer isn’t fully engaged with your message. Videos essentially do, in one shot, what it takes texts and pictures thousands of opportunities to accomplish.

Emotional connections:

Tone can tell us a lot about how we’re supposed to feel about a video. The attitude of the presenter or announcer, combined with the moving images, can be used to express emotions without words. Text- and image-based advertisements lack a powerful emotional connection, as it’s not possible to set the tone through a static image. Instead, viewers will attribute their own tone to the advertisement, which won’t always work the way you hope, especially when using humor or sarcasm in an ad.

The video advertising statistics of 2018 give us valuable insight on what consumers want. They want mobile content that’s interactive, engaging, and even incentivized. While the length of video is important, what’s more important is how well consumers connect with your message. By giving something in return for watching that video—whether it’s rewards points or even just information—those consumers are better able to connect with your brand. They’re engaged and more willing to share your message with their friends and families. Mobile video is a way to create both a physical and emotional connection with your brand’s audience.

How to make the most of retail store apps for Android or iPhones

Posted on January 5, 2018 by shopkick

Without realizing what I was doing, I’ve apparently gotten most of the people in my life hooked on using retail store apps for their Android or iPhone. I mean, I’m well aware that I love using these apps, but I guess I hadn’t realized I’d been selling their greatness to anyone and everyone who would listen. You see, I’m a business major and, to me, shopping is serious business.

How most retail store apps work, whether for Android or iPhone, is pretty simple: shop, earn, and redeem. But what I wanted to know was how to make the most of them to really up my shopping game with a free app. I wanted to pinpoint what my college business professors might call a set of best practices for using free shopping rewards apps on my smartphone.

Let’s take a look at some of my personal recommendations for getting the most out of retail store apps—because you don’t have to be a business major to get down to the business of savings and rewards.

Free Is the Way to Be for Retail Store Apps for Androids and iPhones

Here’s a definition of what best practices are, taken straight out of my old college notes: Commercial or professional procedures that are accepted or prescribed as being correct or most effective. And here’s the definition of them that we’re going to use today: retail app usage procedures that are accepted or prescribed as being correct or most effective.

Now that we have that clear, let’s start with the most obvious tip I can offer when it comes to retail store apps for both Androids and iPhones: free is the way to be.

You simply shouldn’t have to pay a cent to use a great retail store app, whether it’s for a specific store or one you can use at all the spots you shop.

This is more than just a catchy little rhyme, it’s also vital to understand. You simply shouldn’t have to pay a cent to use a great retail store app, whether it’s for a specific store or one you can use at all the spots you shop. The point, after all, is to save not to spend. Or maybe I should say save while you spend in 2018.

Retail Store Apps Should Be Versatile

Since I started urging all my friends to use retail store apps for their iPhone and Android smartphones, I have, on rare occasions, encountered some hesitation. Like most of us these days, many of them have started to do the bulk of their shopping online.

They understandably worry that taking the time to download and start using a retail store app won’t be worth it to them, since they find themselves going online to buy almost everything, from paper towels to books to clothes to electronics. Hey, I’ve been there. I get more and more things online every year, too!

That’s why our second best practice for using these apps is to make sure the one you choose will also help you earn points for shopping online. My favorites are the ones that let you get paid to shop online, even if you’re making purchases from your mobile device. It’s generally pretty simple to use them when you shop from a desktop, too—as simple as it is to use them in person at brick and mortar stores. You get points for plenty of online shopping activities, including:

Visiting online stores
Viewing select products
Making mobile purchases
Watching featured videos

These are all things you’d probably be doing anyway, so why not earn while you do? This is why making sure you get an app you can use when you shop online ranks second on our list of best practices.

Go for the Best Retail Store App

When I went back to look for an exact definition of best practices in my old college notes, I noticed something else I’d underlined: always collaborate with the best and brightest. I think this is also true of using retail store apps. While using multiple apps to maximize rewards is definitely a great strategy, my advice is to never lose sight of which app is the best. To me, that means the app that is both the most fun and gives you the most chances for savings.

While using multiple apps to maximize rewards is definitely a great strategy, my advice is to never lose sight of which app is the best.

Since shopping is a thing we all have to do all of the time, it’s vital to get an app that gives you reasons to look forward to using it, like turning every trip to the store into a fun scavenger hunt for points. For me, the app that does this best is Shopkick.

How Shopkick works is cool because when you use it, you literally start scoring points, called kicks, the moment you walk into the store. Then it becomes a hunt to find featured products and scan their barcodes for prices and info. Finally, it also gives you points once you make your purchases. Plus, it fits in with the first two best practices for shopping apps we established above.

You may have your own school of thought on these apps, but for me, the choice is easier than Business 101: Shopkick is not only at the top of the class, but in a class of its own.

Start making the most of retail store apps for your Android or iPhone by using Shopkick. Download the free shopping rewards app and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered the fun of shopping with us!

And, if you love social media as much as you love your smartphone, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Image courtesy Wayhome Studio

Get paid to shop: How apps save shoppers money

Posted on January 4, 2018 by shopkick

There’s a cashier at my local grocery store, Maya, whose lane I always, always, always insist on going down. We’re super friendly, she does the best job bagging groceries that I’ve ever seen, and she always gives me tips about what’s on sale.

I haven’t kept track of how many deals Maya has helped me take advantage of over the years (or, for that matter, how many inside jokes the two of us have had), but I know if I added up all those savings, it would be massive! She calls herself my personal coupon clipper. She even mentioned she wishes she could just walk around with her favorite customers, like yours truly, helping them find the best deals and rewards for buying their favorite products. That’s when a lightbulb went off.

Actually, I told her, I do have an amazing shopping helper, I’m using it right now—and you can too! I get paid to shop by using a free app that’s fun and easy. She was intrigued, of course, and I even held up the line explaining it to her, but once the guy behind me heard what I was saying, his annoyance turned to awe. He and the cashier both downloaded my favorite app on the spot.

If you want to get in on our shopping savings as well, read on. Then, next time you’re in line, pass this onto your favorite cashier.

Learn How You Can Get Paid to Shop With a Smartphone App

While Maya, my favorite cashier, may be an expert at when to take advantage of sales at our local grocery store, I was able to fill her in on the concept of free apps that pay you to grocery shop. Now, she and I have had some really long conversations in the past, but this informative talk about how to use my favorite apps was not one of those. It’s not that we rushed it or anything, but how these apps work is just so simple:

#1: Earn points. Depending on the app you use to get paid to shop, how you earn your points may vary, but all of my favorites give you rewards points for multiple tasks, most or all of which are things you tend to do while you’re out shopping anyway, like scanning barcodes to get prices or product info, and, of course, for actually making a purchase. Some of these apps even give you points just for walking into a store!
#2: Cash in your points. Once you’ve earned enough points, it then becomes as simple as trading them in for cash back in the form of gift cards at all your favorite stores. Basically, these apps quickly get you cash back on your receipts, kind of like those old mail-in rebate form, only so much quicker.

It’s that simple. Seriously.

Get Paid to Shop With My All-Time Favorite App

Maya, the cashier extraordinaire, was basically sold at this point, and then we found ourselves in this weird reverse position of her thanking me for finding new ways to save. The app I recommended she use to get paid to shop? Shopkick, of course.

The app I recommended she use to get paid to shop? Shopkick, of course.

There are other shopping rewards and cash back apps out there that you can use, but Shopkick just simply does it all! It even has a kicking (sorry for the pun!) social media community of likeminded Shopkickers who are truly awesome about sharing their own tips for savvy shopping, as well as jokes, recipes, and mommy stories. I came to Shopkick for the savings, but I’ve stayed for all the fun I’ve had hunting for points—and for the friends I’ve made commenting on the funny things Shopkick shares on its Facebook page.

It really felt good to help Maya out with her own shopping game for once. She told me she’d been using old-school methods like cutting out coupons and in-store rebate savings programs, but she was excited to upgrade her shopping rewards repertoire to the easy-to-use Shopkick app. It was even the first thing she mentioned to me the next time I came through her line! In fact, she said she’d been telling her other customers all about it, too, which probably means there will be even more of us using it soon. So, see you in the aisle, Shopkickers!

Learn how you can start getting paid to shop before your next trip out to the aisles. Download Shopkick’s free app and get ready to be wowed. Welcome to the fun!

If you’re as social media savvy as you are shopping savvy, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily shopping fun and inspiration.

Image courtesy: Dean Drobot

Retail shopping apps for iPhone and Android to kick off your savings

Posted on January 3, 2018 by shopkick

I’m a huge fan of playing fantasy football on my iPhone. I’m in a league with my old college buddies and we offer our yearly champion a little reward: we all pitch in to buy the winner a gift card to his or her favorite store. It’s a nice little incentive, but let me tell you, if you break it down by the many, many, many hours you have to spend making roster moves and setting your lineup, the reward is relatively small compared to the time investment.

Hey, that’s okay! Win or lose, fantasy football is just plain fun. Plus, these days I’ve discovered other apps for my phone that can help me earn bigger and better rewards with much less time and energy (not to mention nail-biting anxiety) than it takes to capture first place in my super competitive fantasy football league. I’m talking about an awesome concept we can all root for: retail shopping apps for iPhone and Android that help you get paid to shop.

Now I’m hauling in rewards for all kinds of stuff I’ve been doing forever, like buying all the latest electronics, getting new clothes, and even shopping for paper towels. These retail shopping apps for my iPhone even pay me for buying groceries. Crazy. Crazy but true. And now I want to share my favorite shopping rewards apps with you, because, unlike a super competitive fantasy football league, we’re all on the same team here!

How Retail Shopping Apps for iPhone and Android Work

I think the biggest learning curve when it comes to fantasy football is how the apps work. I mean, I already knew a ton about football and which players are the best, but learning the ins and outs of how the fantasy football app itself worked took some time. The first season I played, I was shocked when my lineup locked at game time and I couldn’t acquire any new players until the following Wednesday.

So, let’s start by going over how retail shopping apps work. A lot of stores have branded apps as well, but we’re going to focus today on shopping rewards apps you can use at lots of different stores because those are the ones I use the most—and the good news is that they’re all incredibly easy to use!

The exact mechanics of how they work can sometimes vary depending on which one you decide to use, but all my favorites basically function like this: you get points for the shopping that you already do and then you trade those points in for rewards, usually in the form of gift cards. The app I use gives me points for buying featured products and taking a picture of my receipt, for scanning barcodes, and even for just walking into some of my favorite stores. It’s even more awesome than my Seahawks winning the Superbowl a few years ago (maybe).

The Top Benefits of Retail Shopping Apps for iPhones and Androids

I still remember the day when my buddy in college recruited me into his fantasy football league. I was skeptical—super skeptical. It just seemed like it would be a lot of hassle and take up way too much of my time. I was there to meet people and study, after all (mostly study, I swear!). My buddy laid it on pretty thick, though, by emphasizing how much fun it would make watching football every week, something I knew I was going to do either way. That was a really convincing argument. I mean, how can you say no to something that improves and enhances something you’re already doing?

Well, that all pretty much sums up my case for why you should embrace using retail shopping apps for your iPhone or Android: it enhances something you know you’re going to be doing already. I’m talking about shopping. You can’t avoid it, so you might as well get rewarded for doing it.

I touched on some of my favorite benefits of using a shopping rewards app above, but like the details of any epic fantasy football win, I don’t mind talking about them again:

#1: You’ll get paid to shop. Using a shopping rewards app scores me points for my budget while I’m at Target, Best Buy, or the grocery store—even online. It’s as simple as this: I have to shop for essentials (and tech accessories, of course) anyway, so why not haul in some big rewards for doing it?
#2: You’ll earn gift cards to your favorite stores: I love having gift cards to my favorite stores because, believe it or not, I actually keep a pretty careful budget. Having a gift card feels like I’m getting things for free. That’s why my second favorite benefit for retail shopping apps is that all the best ones let you trade your points in for free gift cards to stores like Amazon, Starbucks, and Walmart.
#3: You’ll feel like shopping is a game: I don’t mind shopping, but I also don’t love it—not until recently, at least. Now that I use retail shopping apps, there’s a challenge involved, though: how many points can I accumulate in one trip? It turns everyday shopping trips into a scavenger hunt. I’m a fan.

The Best Retail Shopping Apps for iPhone and Android

I think my long-time fantasy football league has now used three different platforms over the years to keep track of our rosters: Yahoo, ESPN, and CBS Sports. They all have different features, so it was kind of confusing each time we switched; in retrospect, I kind of wish we’d just picked one and stuck with it. That’s actually what my advice is to you with retail shopping apps: find one you love and stick with it (although you can also use multiple rewards apps to maximize your rewards, but that’s a different ballgame).

My personal favorite is an app called Shopkick. I’ve tried a few others, but I love this one because it’s super simple, it pays out in gift cards to all my favorite stores, and it gives me chances to score points, called kicks, at almost every turn, starting when I walk into the store. Shopkick has really maximized my shopping game with a single mobile app, kind of like how the Patriots would be nothing without a certain QB. One major difference between Shopkick and fantasy football, though, is that there are rarely heartbreaking defeats or subsequent trash talk.

Shopkick is super simple, pays out in gift cards to all my favorite stores, and gives me chances to score points

So yeah, I highly recommend taking out your iPhone or Android and downloading Shopkick. And fantasy football season is the perfect time to do it. There have been a ton of weekends when I’ve scored serious shopping points by stocking up on snacks before having my old buddies over to watch a game. Shopkick will definitely help you kick off your next shopping trip—and that’s no fantasy.

Ready to put down the fantasy football and pickup retail shopping apps for iPhone and Android? Download Shopkick for free and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered the rewards of shopping with us!

And, if you love using your smartphone to stay up on social media, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily shopping inspiration.

Image courtesy Rido81

The best QSR mobile advertising strategies

Posted on December 22, 2017 by shopkick

Quick service restaurants (QSRs) are facing challenging times as modern consumers have an overabundance of convenient options for dining out. Recent figures indicate that there are nearly 200,000 quick service restaurants in the US—and that number triples when all food service options are included in the figure. On top of that, restaurants are diversifying their menus; consumers don’t have to visit a specific restaurant when they’re craving a particular meal. Taco Bell is serving breakfast, McDonald’s is expanding their healthy eating options, and Domino’s is offering pasta and chicken wings. In this busy industry, the competitors who will stand out are the ones who take advantage of mobile moments, capturing the consumer’s attention as they are making their dining decisions.

Most QSR dining decisions are made while the consumer is on the road; therefore, the best QSR mobile advertising strategies are designed to work based on location as they travel with the consumer. They incentivize consumers to dine with your brand by making it convenient and rewarding to do so. Some of the top QSR brands in the world have taken advantage of this and, as a result, have been able to grab attention—and market share—in the crowded fast food industry. To give your brand a boost with QSR mobile advertising strategies, you must first examine what tactics have proven successful for similar brands in order to use them effectively.

Mobile-first isn’t so much an advertising strategy as it is a philosophy. In the past, digital marketing strategies took a decidedly desktop-focused approach. Marketers would focus most of their marketing budgets and advertising efforts on sharing the brand’s message via a desktop-based website. Design for smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices was a lower priority—much lower. In recent years, however, many brands in the QSR industry have reversed their attitude by making mobile their primary focus.

Chili’s was a particularly successful early adopter of this approach. In 2015, they launched a new digital strategy which focused heavily on the company’s branded app. Aside from offering several high demand options like mobile ordering and restaurant browsing, the company also implemented geolocation technology. Customers who had downloaded the app were notified of current deals and specials each time they were in the vicinity of a Chili’s. They also receive personalized notifications based on their ordering history and preferences. Even the company’s loyalty program was run through the app, allowing customers to save up rewards points for future visits. Currently, their app has approximately 4.3 million regular users—and that number continues to climb.

The app became a major sales driver for the company after Chili’s put the majority of their digital advertising efforts into developing it. While the company maintains a desktop site, mobile is the brand’s primary focus. Despite being a national chain, mobile allows them to advertise to customers in the moment, based on where they are. This is particularly important in the quick service sector when you’re often right next door to your biggest competitors.

Incentivize the program by rewarding users:

One major converter for Chili’s is that its loyalty program allows users to collect points based on dollars spent. The rewards points act as a converter as well; when consumers are redeeming their points, they may order additional items. By including their QSR rewards program within their app, the company made these points easy to redeem, increasing the likelihood a consumer will visit a restaurant to use them—and give the staff an opportunity to upsell.

Offer a convenient experience:

Chili’s mobile app fully integrates several features which make it appealing to consumers. They can order items, collect rewards points, receive notifications that their meal is ready, and leave a review all via the smartphone app. This creates value for consumers by making their experience with Chili’s exceptionally convenient for a chain restaurant, helping to improve active use on the app and allowing them to compete with fast food restaurants offering drive-thru options.

Reputation management is a crucial aspect of QSR mobile advertising. While about 70% of consumers will look up a brand on their smartphones, those searches are much shorter than traditional desktop-based ones. QSR consumers are on-the-go; as a result, their time is limited. The first review they see for your company is likely going to be the one that they trust. If your company has a one-star rating on Google reviews, it’s very likely to steer them away from visiting your establishment, no questions asked. Your company must actively engage in online reputation management to limit this risk.

Chick-fil-A is a company that understands the importance of reputation management. Despite a few controversies over statements made by its CEO, they’ve managed to come out on top. Politics aside, Chick-fil-A is the highest ranked fast food franchise when it comes to customer satisfaction. The brand capitalizes on any complaints it receives on social media or review sites to improve their performance and better communicate with their customers, generally via mobile-based advertising.

For instance, when they saw an uptick in complaints regarding long waits, they rolled out an option on their app that allowed consumers to order food, then receive a notification when it was ready, masterfully resolving the issue. When consumers began to show interest in the nutritional content of the food, the Chick-fil-A app provided in-depth information on their menu items so customers could choose healthier alternatives.

The company consistently and diligently monitors its online reputation, then utilizes its app to resolve issues related to those complaints in a timely way. By thoroughly and quickly addressing customer complaints, with the help of mobile technology, the chain was able to gain top marks from consumers despite having a few controversies in the past.

Mobile advertising offers QSR companies something that standard advertising can’t: it allows them to target offers to consumers who are the most likely to become customers. After all, demographics might tell you that Millennials are health-focused and interested in organic offerings, but what about those Millennials who choose to visit QSR locations to indulge? Demographically-focused advertising is flawed because it paints all the members of a race, age group, or gender with the same brush. This could cause QSR companies to lose out on valuable advertising opportunities.

Data from mobile advertising, on the other hand, allows QSR companies to target individual consumers, rather than just relying on broad demographic statistics. With it, they can measure the effectiveness of rewards programs.

This is the strategy that a Chicago-based chain, Burrito Beach, implemented. The brand has an app-based loyalty program that collects consumer data on each visit for the purpose of gaining insights on who their customers actually are. This strategy allowed them to expand their overall demographic focus much more broadly than they originally anticipated.

Initially, the brand focused on young professionals on the go. However, through the data provided by their mobile program, they were able to see that the items on their menu pulled in a much more diverse crowd than expected. They were then able to use that data to create mobile advertisements that targeted specific consumer segments, rather than focusing on one generic demographic, as well as refine their menu to better cater to their entire audience.

Tying it All Together: The Best QSR Mobile Advertising Strategies

The three mobile advertising strategies detailed above can actually be seen as the three stages of a campaign. Most importantly, you must begin with a mobile-first approach. Following implementation, you must monitor your reputation to ensure that your brand is gaining the right kind of attention for your efforts. Finally, you must monitor the data of your end user to look for ways that you can improve your advertising efforts and target them to the right users.

You can accomplish these goals by partnering with a third-party shopping app. Shopping apps are designed to work with a consumer while they’re on the go. They incentivize users and offer the opportunity to improve your brand’s image by building a direct relationship with loyal customers. Finally, they provide the data you need to retarget your advertising campaigns. The best part: they allow you to take that mobile-first approach while minimizing your investment as you don’t have to create a branded proprietary app.

Many fast food chains are taking a mobile-first approach to QSR advertising as it allows their brand to stand out in the crowded industry. Often, gaining the attention of the consumer is a matter of conveniently getting your name in front of them at the right time, with the right message. By tying the three above strategies together into one campaign, your company can gain the edge in the highly competitive QSR industry.

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The best video advertising apps to reach—and grow—your audience

Growing Consumer Demand for Shopping Apps

Perceived value:

mCommerce:

Gamification:

Increased complexity:

Using a Rewarded Video Advertising App

Immediate rewards:

Minimal disruptions:

Low time commitment:

Leveraging Live Video on Social Media Apps

New product announcements:

Customer Q&As:

Partnered events:

Monetized Ads With Mobile Publishers

Video streaming:

Fitness:

Dating:

Maps and Weather:

Bringing Together the Best Video Advertising App Features

Purely Entertaining Apps That You Won’t Believe Exist

Sharknado: The Video Game

The Brostache

iSteam

Is It Dark Outside?

Game for Cats

Entertaining, Money Making Apps That You Won’t Believe Exist

Mobee

Shopkick

Viggle

Grocery Coupon Apps for Android

The Best Grocery Coupon App: Androids and iPhones Make Shopping Easier

Mobile app marketing: strategies to generate the highest ROI

Increasing Opting-In by Offering Better Apps

Targeted:

Useful:

Technologically sound:

Encouraging Regular Use of Your Mobile App

Use strategically timed reminders:

Make it fun:

Offer a challenge:

Don’t be disruptive:

Engaging Existing Users for Growth

Offer referral bonuses:

Create social media events:

Recognize your most influential users:

Taking a Feature-First Approach to Mobile App Marketing

Offering a Third-Party App to Your Customers

Reach new market segments:

Increased value from existing customers:

Reduce reliance on discounts:

Use multiple marketing methods:

Encourage extended use with variety:

Leverage timely notifications:

Adapt for offline and online shopping:

Cater to regular shoppers:

The Basics: Using Coupon Apps for Fast Food

Coupon Apps for Fast Food Discounts

Rewards-based Apps for Fast Food Discounts

Making the Most of Your Coupon App for Fast Food

5 video advertising statistics for 2018 shaping mobile marketing

Video Advertising Statistic #1: Long is Good, Just Not for Everyone

The viewing platform:

Competition:

Content type:

Video Advertising Statistic #2: Personalization Makes Viral Videos Possible

A multifaceted video approach:

Provided interesting content:

Offered value:

Video Advertising Statistic #3: Incentivizing Users with Rewarded Video

Paywall bypasses:

Shopping app rewards:

In-game advertisements:

Video Advertising Statistic #4: Interactive Mobile Video Content

Encouraging active viewing:

Building on a multimedia platform: