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Designing branded mobile apps: Fundamentals and recommendations

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  • Zhao, Zhenzhen
  • Balagué, Christine

Abstract

The development of mobile applications has represented a challenge and opportunity for companies to market their brands and products through a new channel; however, the branded mobile applications (branded apps) currently available in the market are far from perfect and existing app designs do not yet have well-established mobile and social features. This article offers systematic guidelines for branded app design by identifying different levels of strategies that should be taken into consideration by companies. We illustrate five business objectives (communication, customer relationship management, sales, product innovation, and marketing research) and identify five types of branded apps (tool-, game-, social-, m-commerce-, and design-centric). Three functional building blocks are proposed to specify how mobile features, social features, and brand mention elements should be incorporated into branded app development. Various examples of branded apps are provided to illustrate relevant best practices in order to guide marketers in improving branded app design.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Zhenzhen & Balagué, Christine, 2015. "Designing branded mobile apps: Fundamentals and recommendations," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 58(3), pages 305-315.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:bushor:v:58:y:2015:i:3:p:305-315
    DOI: 10.1016/j.bushor.2015.01.004
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    1. Bellman, Steven & Potter, Robert F. & Treleaven-Hassard, Shiree & Robinson, Jennifer A. & Varan, Duane, 2011. "The Effectiveness of Branded Mobile Phone Apps," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 191-200.
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    15. Tutunea Mihaela Filofteia, 2016. "Mobile Applications For Tourism. Study Regarding Their Use By Romanians," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 4, pages 78-84, August.
    16. Pop, Rebeka-Anna & Hlédik, Erika & Dabija, Dan-Cristian, 2023. "Predicting consumers' purchase intention through fast fashion mobile apps: The mediating role of attitude and the moderating role of COVID-19," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PA).
    17. Lara Stocchi & Naser Pourazad & Nina Michaelidou & Arry Tanusondjaja & Paul Harrigan, 2022. "Marketing research on Mobile apps: past, present and future," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 195-225, March.
    18. Alnawas, Ibrahim & Aburub, Faisal, 2016. "The effect of benefits generated from interacting with branded mobile apps on consumer satisfaction and purchase intentions," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 313-322.
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