I’m sure you’d agree that your students are no exception. While some might look upon this shifting mobile landscape with skepticism, over 75% of students believe that technology helps them achieve their academic outcomes and they are looking to their instructors, institutions, and libraries to provide them with the tools to achieve academic success.

How can my library keep students engaged with an app?

Students may be glued to their devices, but they’re not using their browser nearly as much as they are using native mobile apps like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In fact, mobile users, in general, are spending almost 90% of their time on mobile devices in native apps. These apps are quick, intuitive, and don’t require many taps to get where they’re looking to go. Bringing your library to your students in the same manner is an excellent way to drive student engagement, foster academic success, and even increase student retention. Making your library one of those easily accessible icons on your students’ smart phone or tablet screen is a great way to get them interacting with your library and content.

Once they’re in your app, things only get quicker from there. What your students see is more than just your catalog. All of your library’s resources are aggregated into one central location on your home screen. Your ‘Ask a Librarian’ functionality is front and center. Your students can get directions to your any of your library locations. Our Smart Prefix proprietary search finishes your students’ searches for them and gets them well on their way typing 2.4 as many searches as they would otherwise.

How can I market/distribute our app to our students?

You may have decided that you want to reach your students in the most seamless, intuitive manner possible, but are wondering how you can ensure that students are aware of your app so they can reap all of these great benefits. Maybe you’ve gotten your app and running and you’re well aware of the great features you have to offer, but you’re thinking, “How can I make sure that my students are tuned in to this exciting new tool?”

At Boopsie, we are invested in the success of your library and app, so we happily provide free marketing assistance and host regular customer webinars to help your library most effectively reach your students. Additionally, our homegrown Boopsie Analytics enables you to keep your finger on the pulse of how students are using your app once it’s up and has helped uncover some interesting patterns with successful apps.

For example, Boopsie Analytics quantified that proper website promotion for libraries increased app usage by 450%. Three out of the four libraries boasting the highest app usage rates engaged in website marketing and we can help you get there, too. In spite of varying size and geographical location, website marketing was able to help their app bring in a majority (nearly 60%) of their student population to their app.

One of the other great features of a Boopsie app is that it allows you to bring your library’s unique identity to your app. From the arrangement of your app to colors and icons, you have complete control over the look and feel of your library-branded app. That said, if you’re looking for ideas for where to begin or what was worked in the past, we have no shortage of marketing materials available to you to get you started.

We’re not a generic app shop – we love libraries and we’re in this to help you see your library and students thrive. We’ll help you get set up, keep your app up to date and working smoothly, and will be a partner in supporting your journey to mobilizing your library!