TLDR
You know a streamlined mobile app is essential for scaling your small coffee business in today's on-demand economy. But app without an effective promotion strategy won't cut through the noise. To maximize mobile orders and revenue, you need savvy marketing that spotlights your app front and center. The top coffee shops know this and aren't holding back. From dedicated website sections to irresistible incentives, they're showing you exactly how to turn app merchandising into profits. Read on to discover the proven tactics of 8 coffee shop owners who are mobile app marketing pros. You'll find examples and actionable tips to drive downloads and dominate mobile orders in your area. With strategic app promotion, you can speed to five-star reviews and record sales. The playbook is here - let's dive in.
The Rise of Coffee Shop Apps for Easy Ordering
Convenience Drive Growth
According to surveys, only 24% of respondents ordered coffee through an app in 2020. However, the coffee apps market is forecasted to grow at 8.2% annually until 2030 as more customers seek convenient ways to order customized drinks.
Promoting an App Builds Loyalty
For small coffee shops, a mobile app provides an opportunity to boost brand awareness and build customer loyalty. An app allows coffee shops to directly engage with customers by sending notifications about new menu items, deals, and rewards. Square report shows that 75% of customers are more likely to choose a coffee shop that offers a loyalty program.
Best Practices for Promoting an App
The eight coffee shops profiled effectively promote their mobile app through their websites, a key digital touchpoint. They merchandise the app, devoting an entire section of the homepage to raise awareness. The descriptive text highlights key benefits like ordering ahead, skipping lines, and earning rewards to motivate downloads.
An app image with complementary colors and a call-to-action button makes it easy for visitors to find and download the app. Coffee Dose takes it a step further with a cheeky tagline appealing to their target customer. These best practices have enabled the coffee shops to build their mobile business and strengthen customer relationships.
Promoting the app on the website is an easy, low-cost way to boost brand visibility and sales. An engaging user experience, rewards program, and social media marketing will keep customers coming back for their daily brew. By meeting customers where they are - on their phones - small coffee shops can compete with larger chains. The rise of coffee shop apps means more convenience and customization for customers and more business for shop owners.
How 8 Trendy Cafes Promote Their Custom Apps
To thrive in today's competitive coffee shop industry, adopting a robust mobile ordering system is essential. According to studies, 72% of coffee shop customers use mobile apps for ordering and spend 20% more per order. For small businesses, building a custom app may seem daunting, but white-label solutions make it easy and affordable.
Lancaster Cupcake
Lancaster Cupcake promotes its app prominently on its landing page, enticing new users by offering a free cupcake with the purchase of a dozen cupcakes order through the app. This clever promotion boosts app downloads and customer loyalty.
Joanie's Murfreesboro
Joanie's Murfreesboro also spotlights its app on its homepage, highlighting its award-winning features and offering 10 reward points for new users, redeemable for a free drink. This incentive encourages customers to download the app and place their first order.
Crema Coffee & Soda
Crema Coffee & Soda dedicates a section of their homepage to promoting the benefits of their app, which offers delivery, rewards, and exclusive deals. The clean, minimal design matches their brand and appeals to their target customers.
Lucky Coffee Roasters
Lucky Coffee Roasters promotes their app just below their header, keeping it visible but not distracting. The simple call-to-action invites customers to "Download the app!" to order on-the-go, aligning with Lucky's convenient, grab-and-go brand.
Madison Perk
Madison Perk also highlights their app prominently, devoting a section of their homepage just below the header to promote its features. The eye-catching design visually represents their fun brand.
Bagelers Coffeehouse
Bagelers Coffeehouse markets its app as an "easier way to order for pickup" on its homepage. The accompanying app image incorporates their logo and brand colors, creating a cohesive look that resonates with customers.
Coffee Dose
Coffee Dose takes an edgy approach, promoting their app as being "for the bitches who don't have time to wait." This cheeky tagline matches their rebellious brand and appeals to their young, progressive customer base. The call-to-action invites customers to "Order ahead, skip the lines, and collect rewards."
These cafes demonstrate how a well-designed custom app, promoted strategically on a company's website, can boost brand engagement and drive sales. With the right marketing, a mobile ordering app can become the key to achieving a competitive edge.
Website Placement - Showcase Your App Above the Fold
Top Billing
As a coffee shop owner, the most valuable real estate on your website is the space above the fold. This visible area is the first thing visitors see when they land on your site. To maximize impressions, prominently feature your mobile app in this prime location. Some effective ways to do this include:
A Hero Image
A bold, attention-grabbing photo of your app’s interface or a barista using the app on a tablet is an eye-catching way to highlight your mobile ordering capabilities right away. Overlay the image with a strong call-to-action like “Order Now with Our App!” to prompt visitors to download it.
A Dedicated Section
Devoting an entire section of your homepage to your app helps establish its importance to your business. Explain how customers can skip the line by ordering ahead with your easy-to-use mobile app. List the benefits like earning rewards with every purchase and staying up to date on weekly specials. Include download buttons for both iOS and Android to make it simple for visitors to get your app now.
Social Share Buttons
Once visitors have downloaded your app, make it easy for them to tell their friends about it. Place social share buttons for platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram prominently on your homepage. Customers can help spread the word about your mobile ordering capabilities, bringing in new app users and driving more sales.
Showcasing your mobile app front and center on your website is one of the most effective ways to increase downloads and boost your coffee shop’s revenue. Give your app top billing above the fold, and make it easy for visitors to start enjoying the convenience of ordering ahead today.
Catchy Headlines to Draw Attention to Your App
Make Your App Irresistible With A Memorable Slogan
As a coffee shop owner, you want customers to discover your mobile ordering app and use it regularly. An appealing slogan is key to sparking interest and giving your app an identity. Over 850 catchy food delivery slogans and taglines are available for inspiration. A slogan-maker tool can help generate ideas tailored to your brand.
For example, “Coffee at your command” conveys the convenience of ordering ahead. “Skip the line, get your joe” highlights the time-saving benefit. A feminine coffee shop like Coffee Dose might use “Coffee for the bitches who don’t have time to wait.” Slogans are appetizers for the mind, short phrases that make people eager to experience what you offer.
Promote Your App Prominently On Your Website
Your website is valuable real estate for promoting your mobile app. Feature your app prominently near the top of the homepage, with an eye-catching image and call-to-action like “Download our app now!” Describe the key benefits, such as earning rewards or skipping lines. Provide links to download the iOS and Android versions.
For example, Crema Coffee & Soda spotlights its app in the first section of its homepage, highlighting rewards and delivery. Joanies Murfreesboro offers 10 reward points for downloading their award-winning app. Strategically placing details about your mobile ordering app on your website is an easy, low-cost way to boost downloads and engagement.
Offer An Incentive For First-Time App Users
Once customers have downloaded your app, give them an incentive to place their first order. For example, you might offer $1 off their first purchase, a free bakery treat with any drink order or bonus reward points to use on a future order. Incentives motivate new users to open the app right away and experience the convenience of mobile ordering. Their first positive experience will make them much more likely to order again.
Offer App-Only Promotions to Drive Downloads
Coffee shop owners should incentivize customers to download their mobile ordering app by offering exclusive app-only promotions and deals.
Limited time offers
For a limited time after launching your app, offer customers a discount code or special offer, such as $1 off their first mobile order or a free bakery item with any drink order over $5, that they can only redeem by placing an order through the app. These types of short-term incentives motivate customers to download the app quickly so they don’t miss out on the deal.
Push notifications
Once customers have downloaded the app, use push notifications to alert them to flash sales, seasonal specials, and new menu items that they can only access by ordering through the app. These real-time updates keep the app at the top of customers’ minds and give them a reason to keep using it to place orders
Reward loyalty
An easy way to drive ongoing app usage is to offer loyalty rewards and perks that customers can only earn and redeem through mobile orders. For example, give customers one point for every dollar spent on mobile orders that they can redeem for free drinks or bakery items. Let your most loyal customers know they’ll get double or triple points for a limited time when ordering through the app.
Using a combination of these types of mobile-only promotions, coffee shop owners can drive new downloads of their white-label ordering app and motivate existing users to keep ordering through the app. The more customers use the app, the more opportunity shop owners have to build loyalty and push sales. App-only deals are a win-win, incentivizing usage while also boosting revenue and profits.
Final Thoughts
In closing, there are many creative ways for coffee shops to promote their mobile apps, as demonstrated by these eight successful Per Diem customers. From dedicated website sections to incentives like free items and reward points, coffee shop owners have ample opportunities to market their apps to customers. By following the lead of these stores and leveraging their branding assets, any coffee shop can effectively spread the word about its new mobile ordering capabilities. With a well-designed app and smart promotional tactics, the power of easy online ordering can be put into the hands of every coffee-loving customer.