Clowder Blog

Our goal with this new video series is to present casual conversations about apps and the evolving trends we see around mobile engagement. We also want to make this collaborative, so after each video, we’d love to hear your thoughts as well as what questions or topics you’d like us to cover in our next episode. In the Clowder Demo app, there will be a new Clowder Convos Forum. You can use that thread to drop your questions, requests and responses there, or use the hashtag #ClowderConvos on Twitter! 

We talk a lot about influencers. I mean think about it, they're everywhere. Social media, the news, politics. Telling you what to buy, what's cool and influencing the actions you take. Clowder client Shelley Seavers from AGC San Antonio recognizes the importance of influencers. She sent out an email to 11 individuals she identified as potential app influencers to help drive engagement. Read more about her thought process and expectations below from our one-on-one interview.

Many organizations have trouble pulling the trigger for large initiatives because they want assurance that the ROI will be worth the manpower and money it will take to launch. They want assurance that their staff won’t be overwhelmed and that their tech team has the bandwidth to provide support. While these are valid concerns, our advice when it comes to contemplating mobile is simple – don’t overthink it. Trust us, your members want an app.

When considering a mobile solution, some organizations have a hard time wrapping their heads around what exactly their members will do with an app. In their attempt to justify the investment, they want to know what functions their members will consider “worthwhile.”

In Fall 2019, the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) launched its mobile app, My ABCA, to its 12,000+ members. Their promotion of the app, execution of its launch and commitment to user on-boarding is illustrative of their dedication to their membership value and to exemplary service. Earlier this month, ABCA welcomed 5,000 of its members to Nashville for its annual conference (#ABCA2020) where they discussed coaching strategies, networked and learned from other coaches and companies who love the game of baseball and have built their livelihoods around it.

It’s an easy thing to do when you’ve been operating similarly for decades. Resting on your laurels happens out of comfort in doing things the way they’ve always been done. In the case of associations, it’s not a great habit to possess.

Proven Design Practices are Key to an App’s Success

No matter what industry you’re in, what demographic you serve, or what initiatives you’re launching, everything you execute should have your audience experience in mind. How do you meet their needs? How can you be of service, how can you delight them and keep them engaged? Creativity and innovation are valuable assets of course, but when it comes to mobile app design, using tried-and-true best practices is what will garner the adoption and retention you're after and will deliver the greatest experience.

Commerce has naturally progressed from a brick-and-mortar model to e-commerce and, more recently, into mobile commerce, a.k.a. m-commerce. M-commerce includes any monetary transaction using a mobile device or tablet, including banking, investing, peer-to-peer payments, donations and shopping for consumer goods and services. M-commerce is a subset of e-commerce and is rapidly outpacing all other kinds of commerce.

DCA Live recently interviewed top association leaders which included President & CEO of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, Michelle Korsmo. She was asked - “What will the biggest issue facing ALL association leaders in 2020 be?” She responded with, “Knowing the association’s value proposition. The days of joining associations because that’s what industry members do is past. Associations have to earn their dues like every business must earn their customers.”

HR teams know that the employee experience is as important as the customer experience. But keeping employees happy doesn’t just happen; it requires an ongoing effort to implement strategies that will resonate. Employees crave two-way communication, team building, feedback, recognition, and the belief that they are valued for their contributions. Today’s mobile-first workforce uses apps to manage most of their personal and professional lives, so it stands to reason that a dedicated organization app is a clear solution for fostering real employee engagement.