Mobile Smartphone apps are certainly a growth market at present. Google’s “Android” operating system and Apple’s iPhones are duking it out for top market share in the world. They both use the quantity and quality of apps as a key marketing tool.

More close to home, recently both SLOCAMA (San Luis Obispo Creative and Marketing Alliance) and SOFTEC ( Central Coast Software and Technology Association) hosted guest speaker Professor Randy Scovill of Cuesta College. Scovill teaches Cuesta students how to create mobile apps, and Cuesta College was indeed one of the first colleges in the USA to have its own app.

Apps are relatively fast, easy and inexpensive to create, if you think through what you want before creating it. Of course, this applies to all custom software.

One key feature of apps that can be exploited is geo mapping, or the ability to know exactly where the user is in regard to what locations would be of interest to them.

So think about how your organization might benefit from an app.

What about an app for local tourists? For example, the SLO County VCB just launched a mobile app, showing the closest restaurants, hotel, wineries and events to where the visitor is located. Other organizations in the tourist space are creating customized walking tours, winery tours, etc.

What about an app for your employees? Trucking firms often require drivers with mechanical problems to check with the home office to find the nearest approved repair center. Imagine the ease of use (24/7 !) of seeing the nearest repair center(s) on an app, with a map showing how to get there.

What about an app for clients/customers? Yes, you can have an app that is all about you (usually boring) OR you could provide a useful branded service that reminds customers of your existence. For example, if you are in the local agriculture industry, how about an app that gives the latest predicted local weather conditions and crop prices?

What about an app for other stakeholders? What if your church launched a daily Bible verse, with a brief commentary from the minister? Talk about keeping “top of mind” awareness!

There are now over 100,000 apps available. Even if you and your employees can’t think of an app that would help your organization, look at what others in your line of work are doing outside of the county. Who knows, you might see a great idea you want to "borrow.”

Dave Kastner was Webmaster for the SLO County VCB for over 8 years. He is now principal of "Central Coast Web Services", providing WebSite and Social Media Maintenance Services to local organizations. He blogs about the local tourism industry and provides Tech Tips at www.CentralCoastWebServices.com.