This week Facebook revealed that it has a billion (yes, billion with a B) mobile-only users. These people never use anything other than a smartphone to access the site. (Honestly this amazes me because I find Facebook’s mobile access annoyingly limiting.) But regardless of the perceived limits on my end, that is a huge number.
Now, granted your audience if you’re selling a local currency program is not world-wide, as Facebook’s is. The chance of you having a billion mobile-only users is very slim but more and more people feel like their phone has enough computing features and strong enough Internet access that they leave the laptop at home.
If you’re running a local currency program, online access is a must.
Try out this scenario. A member of your community is looking for a gift. They’ve gone in and out of stores and can’t find anything. They’ve decided it’s not worth the frustration so they’re going the gift card route. They’re frustrated. They’re in their car. Sure, they can drive to your office but that’s dealing with another group of people and possibly long lines. They just want to be done with it. They reach for their phone and order an e-gift certificate. The only way that can be your local currency is if you’re online.
Or another scenario: it’s the night before the last day of school before Christmas break. It’s 9:00 p.m. And this person just realized she forgot her kid’s teacher’s gift. It’s too late to go out. The kids are in bed. The only thing left is a e-gift card from Amazon or…local currency. But only if you have a program online.
Amazon is fantastic and you can get everything your heart desires there but an e-gift card from Amazon also looks like a last-minute gift. Whereas local currency looks like you’re giving the gift of local and you thought about a nice way to give back to and support the community.
If your local currency program isn’t online you’re missing out on a lot more than just last-minute shoppers. Do your program a favor and select one that’s online. You can’t be found online if you’re not there. Get on there today. The smartphone users are waiting.