The app industry is a profitable but definitely crowded space. Early this year, Apple announced that users spent more than $10 billion in the App Store in 2013. But with more than a million apps available for download, it can be very easy to get lost in the shuffle — especially if your app falls under the label of health and fitness. A search for “health and fitness” alone turns up 2,199 results in the App Store. We know that apps can be a great way for healthcare providers to reach new, old and current patients, but how can they enter an already crowded space? What types of healthcare-related apps are mobile users spending their time (and money) downloading? Rishabh Software recently dug deeper to find out. Of the healthcare apps downloaded…
- Weight loss apps received 50 million downloads
- Exercise apps received 26.5 million downloads
- Women’s health apps received 10.5 million downloads
- Sleep and meditation apps received 8 million downloads
- Pregnancy apps received 7.5 downloads
- And other assorted fitness tool apps received 24 million downloads
How can healthcare providers use this information for their own app development?
Identify under-represented health and fitness niches.
Is there a niche market that hasn’t been tapped yet? Consider reaching out to them via a special app. Are there slim pickings when it comes to men’s health or kids’ health? Consider becoming a leader in that space with an app that speaks to those needs.
Consider your facility’s own expertise.
What do you specialize in? What services spur your patients to travel miles and hours to receive? If you’re known for your weight loss programs, then you should explore how to translate that expertise into an app.
Don’t try to do too much at once.
Don’t spread your efforts across too many specialized apps. Instead, focus on building and perfecting one. If you find that your first attempt falls flat, you’ll be able to quickly and easily retool it.
Make sure it’s branded (but don’t forget your keywords).
Give your facility the credit it’s due. Make sure that the app (and the screenshots you’ll be using) are branded with your facility. You’ll also want to make sure that your app’s name and/or the description include your facility’s name. Remember, there could be mobile users who come to the App Store and search for your facility’s name, rather than other keywords. Depending on the services your app is providing, you should also make sure that any applicable keywords are included in your description.
Wondering how to optimize your app screenshots? Learn the science behind it here.
