Over the past fifteen years, the smartphone has absorbed or integrated with just about every household device you can imagine, from the remote control to the thermostat to the alarm clock. So it’s only natural that radio listeners now expect their phones to take on the role once played by the radio, too. To thrive, radio stations need to ensure that they have a presence on their listeners’ phones.
A mobile-responsive website alone won’t cut it. According to eMarketer, 90% of the time that people spend on their phones is spent in apps, while only 14% is spent on a mobile web browser. So if you want to capture the attention of your listeners, you’ll need a mobile app.
Our sister company, jācapps, has built over 1,400 mobile apps for radio stations, In that time, they’ve learned a thing or two. They’ve also seen some common mistakes made by radio stations when it comes to their mobile apps. Here they are:
1. They Don’t Know Where the Mobile App Fits Into Their Overall Digital Strategy
When it comes to digital strategy, always start by setting goals: What do you want your listeners to do? Once you have clearly stated goals, then you can start to think about how your different digital tools — including your mobile app — help your station achieve those goals. For example, if one of your station’s goals is to capture data about listeners, is your mobile app set up to do that? If one of the goals is to drive online listening, does that app put that functionality front and center? You don’t need an app just to have an app; you need an app to achieve specific station goals. Know what those goals are.
2. They Include Too Much Stuff
When it comes to deciding what goes into their mobile apps, radio stations have a tendency to cram everything in. This can result in an app that is difficult to navigate because it’s overloaded with things that listeners don’t really care about. Just because something’s on your website, that doesn’t mean that it should be in your mobile app. Be judicious with what you include: live streaming, podcasts, and concert listings should rank high on the list. But that doesn’t mean that you also need to include the playlist from the Saturday night techno show. Less is more.
3. They Don’t Showcase Their Brand in The App
Your mobile app is an ideal place to strengthen the connection between your station and its listeners. Make sure that your app showcases your station’s brand properly. The station’s logo should appear in the header of every screen in the app, and important content, such as “WKRP’s Phone Scams,” should be named so it aligns with the station’s on-air programming.
4. They Only Think About Smartphones
While smartphones are one of the most important places for radio stations to make apps available, it’s far from the only place. As more cars roll off the assembly line with Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto in charge of the dashboard (and fewer and fewer with AM radio), stations need in-car apps to maintain their presence in vehicles. As smart TVs and home streaming devices like Apple TV and the Roku penetrate more homes, radio stations will want to be available there as well. And as smart speakers, such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home, see robust sales, radio stations will want to ensure they are also available as on these devices.
5. They Don’t Perform Usability Tests on Their App
One of the most important tests we run on radio station websites is a usability test, in which we invite average people to think out loud as they use a website. This helps us figure out how websites get used in the real world, and uncovers any tasks that people find challenging.
A usability test can also be run on a mobile app. Pay a handful of testers to come into the station. In one-on-one sessions, ask them to open the app and perform basic tasks: listen to the station, find the venue for an upcoming concert, set the alarm clock up, etc. Watch to see how easily the testers are able to perform these tasks. You’ll quickly discover any issues that need to be fixed.
6. They Don’t Promote the App
Many radio stations develop a mobile app, only to let it languish in the app stores. Once you’ve got a mobile app, develop a plan to tell your listeners about it. You have a number of tools at your disposal: live on-air mentions, sweepers and recorded promos, your website, your email database, social media, QR codes on signage at on-site events, paid ads in the app stores, etc. You should even promote it on the side of the station van!
Occasionally, we hear radio broadcasters object, worrying that if fans listen to the station through a mobile app, the station might lose a PPM meter. While there is this risk, we think it misses the larger picture. These days, people expect to consume media when they want, where they want, and on whatever device they want. It’s important for radio stations to make their content available on as many platforms as possible.
7. They Don’t Monitor the Analytics on a Regular Basis
You would never put a radio station on the air and then ignore the ratings. Yet many stations build an app but never look at the analytics to see how it’s performing. Set aside a regular time, such as your Weekly Web Meeting, for your staff to review your app analytics as a group. Pay attention to how many downloads the app gets, the reviews it is receiving in the app stores, and any data points related to the goals of your digital strategy.
8. They Don’t Protect Their Brand in the App Stores
When is the last time that you searched for your brand’s name in the Apple and Android app stores? You may be surprised by what you find. Some app developers may be trying to cash in on your station’s good name. I wrote about this issue in depth last year. A quick peek reveals that many of these stations have not enlisted their attorneys to protect their stations from copyright infringement.
These days, your listeners rely on their mobile devices for almost everything – from shopping to gaming, social media to entertainment. That’s why it’s imperative for radio stations to have a coherent strategy for their mobile app. A well-crafted mobile app strategy can give radio stations an edge over their competition, providing them with more opportunities to reach and connect with their listeners. Be sure to avoid these mistakes and your mobile app strategy can grow your station’s audience.
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Thanks Seth – a much appreciated reminder- that promotional/branding stuff can slip away and your analysis is spot on.. I know the Coast Crew are anxiously awaiting my next memo….
Thanks for reading, Tom. Glad it’s helpful!
I think this is a good list of mistakes. I’d like to offer a list of technical issues I sometimes encounter using radio apps. These are not necessarily app issues but problems with the streaming experience:
Uneven volume between programming and commercials
Mystery gaps of silence, several seconds to several minutes each
Streaming down for extended periods of time
Mistimed commercial break inserts
Ads in a different language than the programming
Varying audio processing versus consistent over-the-air
Ad agency IDs not removed from streaming ads
No support from local stations (“Our group handles streaming.”)
Thanks for considering my comment.
That’s also a great list, Steve. Thank you!