Charities 'must know what they want from apps'

Written by Matthew Carter

While apps for smartphones can offer charities with a potential new avenue for marketing and revenue generations, they must first know what they want from them, it has been claimed.

In order for apps to be successful charity fundraising tools, different organisations must know what they want form the units and how they can target their potential audience.

A report from Third Sector reveals that while apps tend to be useful to raise awareness for a particular project, they tend to be less successful at generating income.

However, in order to be truly successful with the use of apps, charities must ask themselves a number of questions regarding their development, the news provider adds.

Managing director of digital agency PublicZone, Jonathan Simmons, told the publication that charities must ask "who will use it, why and what it's worth" to them before pressing ahead with development.

Such questions should also be asked before the development of a website, he said.

A number of charities currently using apps offer a service to those who download them, helping to promote awareness rather than direct fundraising.