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Unread 29th Sep 2012, 10:55 AM   #1
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Smart Phone Local Coupons System. Input, Please.
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So I have yet to see or read about anything like this, but I think it would be quite successful. Let me know what you think, as I will outline it in detail.

I live in a medium sized college town, not directly bordered by any other town or city. There are 17,000 people here and probably a third of them are college students. Regardless, smart phones are not rare at all here. The average income is above average, I believe.

I am thinking about a smart phone app that basically shows a map of the city. Participating businesses pay a monthly rate to list their deals (whether they be daily, weekly, etc) and even their full menu, if they like. Where there are daily deals, there will be a specific icon, etc. This will allow people in my city to open the app and see what deals are going on and decide where they'd like to go. This can be used for events, as well.

Pretty simple. I, though, don't know how much it will cost to develop this app or even where to begin.

What say ye?

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Unread 29th Sep 2012, 11:15 AM   #2
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Re: Smart Phone Local Coupons System. Input, Please.
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I have thought about an application somewhat like that but here is the problem that I think most of us run into with mobile application. You must have a user base ... the key is getting the subscribers first before building this mobile directory application.


My thoughts is to first build a directory site, once you have your directory site and you have users using the site... then you will build the application.

I have seen numerous mobile application ideas and concepts like that but the biggest problem is getting the users to download the application and prove to the business that you are selling that you have a subscriber base.
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Unread 29th Sep 2012, 11:35 AM   #3
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Re: Smart Phone Local Coupons System. Input, Please.
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I think that I'd offer the service to businesses free for the first month. That way you can get them on board easily for the first month, build traffic easily through word of mouth and clients promoting the app, and then the following months begin charging once everything is in order.

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Unread 29th Sep 2012, 01:52 PM   #4
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Re: Smart Phone Local Coupons System. Input, Please.
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Originally Posted by Larches View Post

So I have yet to see or read about anything like this, but I think it would be quite successful. Let me know what you think, as I will outline it in detail.

I live in a medium sized college town, not directly bordered by any other town or city. There are 17,000 people here and probably a third of them are college students. Regardless, smart phones are not rare at all here. The average income is above average, I believe.

I am thinking about a smart phone app that basically shows a map of the city. Participating businesses pay a monthly rate to list their deals (whether they be daily, weekly, etc) and even their full menu, if they like. Where there are daily deals, there will be a specific icon, etc. This will allow people in my city to open the app and see what deals are going on and decide where they'd like to go. This can be used for events, as well.

Pretty simple. I, though, don't know how much it will cost to develop this app or even where to begin.

What say ye?
Its def about building the list, getting subscribers ect. I have been building mobile list for awhile now and it is much harder to get people to opt in than it is for email. Check out my thread for a few ideas on creative ways to get opt ins.

http://www.warriorforum.com/mobile-m...marketing.html
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Unread 1st Oct 2012, 10:40 PM   #5
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Re: Smart Phone Local Coupons System. Input, Please.
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building both email, text lists as well as facebook like page will be essential tools in marketing your website. May I suggest instead of a monthly payment charge a small percentage or a per deal listing fee sort of like flippa.com.


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Unread 2nd Oct 2012, 11:21 AM   #6
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Re: Smart Phone Local Coupons System. Input, Please.
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Another option that might be viable is to not charge the businesses for their listings in exchange for promoting the app.

Make it a discount driven app (exclusive discounts that only appear in the app). With the businesses promoting it, you get some credibility and free traffic.

You monetize a number of ways. First, you can upsell the businesses by offering premium Push notifications. Charge them $100 to do a push for a special deal or event.

The other is to have some affiliate links inside the app. Have a section for 'online deals'. Show them Groupon and Living Social deals with your affiliate link. Since it is a local app, look for affiliate links like Ticket Network and promote concerts, sporting events and shows.

Once you have built up your install base, you might start charging for the listing for each business. Setup individual QR codes for your early adopters and track the number of installs per business. If a business gives you a certain number of installs, they can be charter members and never pay.

I have not done this, but have certainly brainstormed my way through the process.

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Unread 2nd Oct 2012, 11:50 AM   #7
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Thank you Brandon and MoBuzz for posting completely irrelevant things. You guys are very valued members here, in my eyes.

AUK, what do you think it would cost to have said app built? Have you ventured far enough to have an estimate on cost?

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Unread 2nd Oct 2012, 12:20 PM   #8
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Re: Smart Phone Local Coupons System. Input, Please.
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Originally Posted by Larches View Post

Thank you Brandon and MoBuzz for posting completely irrelevant things. You guys are very valued members here, in my eyes.

AUK, what do you think it would cost to have said app built? Have you ventured far enough to have an estimate on cost?
Sorry wasn't meaning to be "irrelevant". You did ask what people thought of the idea correct?

I was just simply saying that it is a great idea but the key is in building your subscribers or in your case getting people to download your App. If you can show that thousands have downloaded your App, then getting businesses to pay should not be a problem.

My other point was that it is not easy to get people to download something to their phone or to opt in to get text ect. Be ready to have some kind of contest or give away to get people to to download the app.

As far as the App its self it should not be to hard to put together. Even most of the free App building software offers geo targeted coupons. We played with a program that would send a push notification leading to a coupon when a subscriber visited a participating business.

Anyways good luck its a nice idea

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Unread 2nd Oct 2012, 01:08 PM   #9
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Re: Smart Phone Local Coupons System. Input, Please.
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I would not be a good judge of the cost to build the app. I am an app developer and could have it built in a day or 2 on any one of the 3 app building platforms that I use.

This 'niche' is on my todo list, I just have not gotten to it yet. I have about 80K installs among my various Android apps and think this is a viable and potentially strong idea.

The other potential monetisation method here is if you are an offline marketer, you will be gaining credibility with business owners. Offer them a free listing, get some customers to their business and become a trusted adviser. Next step is offering them their own app, SMS, reputation management et al.

Originally Posted by Larches View Post

AUK, what do you think it would cost to have said app built? Have you ventured far enough to have an estimate on cost?

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Unread 4th Oct 2012, 04:09 AM   #10
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Re: Smart Phone Local Coupons System. Input, Please.
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Larches are you based in the UK? If so I have come across an opportunity very similar to this idea of yours.

Let me know if you would like details on the opportunity.

Cheers

Dave
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Unread 4th Oct 2012, 10:19 AM   #11
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Re: Smart Phone Local Coupons System. Input, Please.
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I too like the idea.Even a local directory app of local area would be good.So thing is someone in the mobile app world who can build it,please build it and I'm sure have some buyers here.

Last edited on 4th Oct 2012 at 10:19 AM. Reason: spell
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Unread 19th Jan 2013, 12:03 PM   #12
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Re: Smart Phone Local Coupons System. Input, Please.
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I actually already have an app that does what you are asking for except the app I have is throughout the entire U.S. and parts of Canada. We'd like to expand the Canada presence and are always looking for more merchants to belong to the U.S. network. The network is both online and mobile enabled.

Since you specifically mentioned mobile app I'll address some of that. This app has GPS enabled so that it searches a radius up to 100 miles from wherever you are and tells you exactly what discounts/offers are within your search criteria. The discounts will be listed from closest to your location to farthest. You can also hard code a zip code or city into the tool in case you are going to be traveling and want to see what is available in the location you are going to. There's many more options and I'd love to tell you about them if you contact me through PM.

Currently there are over 300,000 U.S. based Merchants in the network and over 17Million consumers. Retail costs for a merchant to belong to the network is $150 per year and consumers buy in for $97 (both retail prices listed). We have affiliate programs available but I've never offered it through the Warrior Forum and would love for someone to guide me through that process.

We also have a PLR option if you'd like to brand it your own but may be more costly to do it that way.
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Unread 19th Jan 2013, 12:42 PM   #13
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Re: Smart Phone Local Coupons System. Input, Please.
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PM sent nice idea prices for business sound good you actually get users to pay the fee mentioned also.
May be a good Canadian thing and others in Canada also interested.I live in a major tourist town so it has some possibilities with tourist businesses for sure.
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Unread 19th Jan 2013, 05:22 PM   #14
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Checked out video you sent of app really nice.As for your main website I think you need to change it or come up with new one that is for the app you showed me.Too much gong on with the other website with the different things your offering I would not know this app is available when I went on the site,should be a stand alone description focusing on the app and what it does with the video segment on it too.

Last edited on 19th Jan 2013 at 05:23 PM. Reason: spell
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Unread 26th Feb 2013, 11:11 PM   #15
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Good to know. thanks

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