My Thoughts on Technology and Jamaica: How a US$2 listing on Digital Noticeboard app can help Promoters advertise Events

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

How a US$2 listing on Digital Noticeboard app can help Promoters advertise Events

Apps that track events in Jamaica seem to be quite popular with App developers. Developers Vilakis Innovations are no exception and have become the latest set of developers to throw their hat into the Events listing App ring.

Their App, DN (Digital Noticeboard), which was launched on Tuesday July 5th 2016, makes events information available in one single online source as reported in the article “And now...the party App”, published Tuesday, July 26, 2016, The Jamaica Observer.

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The Digital Noticeboard App, which is available on both Google Play Store and the Apple iTunes Store, allows promoters to advertise events and promotions directly to people who have the App installed in their smartphone.

Users of the recently launched App login using their Twitter or Facebook accounts. Then they can also use DM (Direct Messaging Feature) built into the App to send emergency notifications, making the DN App a Mobile Social Network as well.

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They can also browse the directory listings for the following:

1.      Business Events
2.      Social Events
3.      Dining
4.      Leisure & Attractions
5.      Theatrical and Cultural Events
6.      Sporting Events and Accommodations

For now, it's free for promoters to list on the App; there's a US$1 to US$2 listing per event fee coming in the future. Also, the DN App is currently listing university programmes and activities free.

This allows the developers to assist promoters on a limited budget to promote their events as I'd pointed out in my Geezam blog article entitled “Social Media Marketing - Advertising and Marketing in Ja on a Shoe-String”.

Their strategy seems to be working, as their listings are scattered across the globe:

1.      Jamaica
2.      Barbados
3.      New York
4.      England

If this all sound familiar, it should; there is already another App, the E-Direct App that does the same thing as I'd reported in my blog article entitled “How the JA$2 million E-Direct App is listing Business events, products and services across Jamaica”.

So how does the Digital Noticeboard App distinguish itself from the E-Direct App?

The Digital Noticeboard - Locating the party next door just got easier

Well it does everything the E-Direct App does, only a lot more professionally built with a smoother, more seamless interface that’s better organized and pleasant to use!

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The DN App is similar to the E-Direct App in that promoter pay to advertise their event:

1.      Website
2.      Event Details
3.      Location

They can attach promotional material in various forms:

1.      JPEG Images of their event poster
2.      YouTube Video from their YouTube Channel promoting the event
3.      Audio File from their Soundcloud account promoting the event

Users can learn of ticket prices in advance and the integration of Google maps means locating a part near to you is fairly easy.
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The build in calendar feature also help promoters see when other promoters are having their events. Thus they can change their posting in real time and plan more effectively to avoid clashing with other parties.

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There is even something for the reluctant partygoer, as the DN App also features Social Media connectivity to Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp as well as email and event chatrooms on these respective social media platforms. The DN App still lack numbers as it's still in its promotional phase.

However, I suspect a few well-placed ads in traditional media as well as a few celebrities endorsing and promoting the App as I've argued in my Geezam blog article entitled “Why App Developers, Celebrities and TV Ads increase App Downloads” would help them gain ground quickly, as their App is well organized and defined.

Also the use of in-App purchases, such as tickets via mobile money integration for some of these events as well as Google Adsense advertising would also allow them to make residual revenue as their App gain traction.

Let the battle of Events tracking Apps begin!

Here’s the link:



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