Getting people to download your Dealer App is easy and fun.  It doesn’t cost much to market your app and get customers using it.  Dealers around the nation have experienced increases in sales, customer retention and customer satisfaction when they actively promote their DealerApp.  Dealers recognize that since people love apps, giving them a Dealer App that offers an easier way to do business and communicate is a very good thing. 

There are many ways out there to promote your app for free or at least without spending more than you already do every month to market to your customers.

We put together a list of 15 creative options:

1. Build a microsite. This one or two-pager showcases your app to the web audience.  Great example www.berniemoreno.com/custom/Bernie-Moreno-Companies-APP

2. Use your mobile site. Create a banner or Pop Up on your websites that gives your visitors the option to download your app.  People love choices so why not give them one.  Check out www.victoryfordonline.com on your smartphone.

3. Share your content.  Use your Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn profiles to promote the app several times in a week.

4. Create a product video. Make it creative, funny, thought-provoking or personal. Tell the story, but in a way people can identify with. Here's a great example from Laird Noller Auto….http://youtu.be/q3MAJ8bKPuU

5. Get press, tons of it. Write a Press Release to announce your app to everyone in your community. There are many free Press Releases out there that dealers and vendors use to let people know about a new service or to make an announcement.

6. Use email blasts. You have been gathering emails for years and send out emails regularly at a high dime and with a low read rate.  Make mention of your app on these very same emails. An email list of people who have opted in is a powerful marketing tool.

7. Post on Pinterest. Use blog images, infographics and visual content from your app to create content on your Pinterest board.  You can even use happy customer photos or hold contests.

8. Get your staff involved.  If your proud staff tells their family, friends, prospects and customers to download your app, imagine how many more downloads you can get. Give them an incentive to do so.   

9. Local business promotion. Reach out to local restaurants or businesses, and gas stations to have them promote your app.  Do this by cross promoting business services using coupons, discounts via Push Notifications and Geo Fencing. People love coupons and discounts. 

10. Run a contest. For example, you can encourage people to tweet and share content on their social networks promoting your app. A random person every week can win a prize just for downloading your app and entering in their profile information. 

11. Take advantage of voicemail. Include a creative mention of your app in your phone's voicemail recording.

12. Be obsessive about resolving negative reviews. Remember: A happy customer is a brand ambassador for your app.

13. Optimize your email signature. Provide a catchy one-liner about your app along with the link to download it in your email signature.

14. Use your CRM System.  Add the QR code and downlink for your DealerApp to all automated or triggered messages that get sent out to customers and prospects. 

15. The Traditional Way.   Tell your customers about your DealerApp in your TV or Radio commercials.  Add it to your billboard.  Add it to your mailers.  Why not? You are doing these things anyway. The new East Coast Nissan billboard says Download Our New App. 

Your existing Marketing or Advertising agency can do most of these things for you.  After all, you spend thousands of advertising dollars every month for them to promote your dealership.  Mobile should be the number one way to get this done. If they don’t understand how important it is to incorporate mobile apps into your digital marketing strategy, you may lose out on valuable business.  Who can afford to do that?

Or partner with a Mobile Solutions provider that offers a turnkey solution that will do most of these things for you.  Remember, the best way to profit from Push Notification messages is to get as many people to download your DealerApp.