Get A Website

Part of the plan for GhostRide is to have a promotional and community website wrapped into one. The final name of the application is not yet finalized so the domain name has not yet been purchased. Promotion is planned to being in January, so the basis of the promotional portion of the website will be developed by then.

Web hosting is already paid in full for the next year, so that is complete. The development of the website will be almost completely by mean. As a fairly competent web designer, I don’t think this poses a particular challenge. Almost every app has its own promotional website, and GhostRide will be no different. It seems fairly intuitive that the look and feel somewhat replication what you see on those website, with quick easily accessible information about the app, and a link to the download in the app store.

Participate In Events

While this will be difficult in the middle of the winter, I’m a regular at the local bike shops (Rose, Ski Rack and Pats). I could talk to some of the people that do group rides and get the word out, perhaps recruit some of them for testing of the app.

Put Up Flyers

In the budget there is already some funding allocated to the production of physical advertising. While posters could serve inside the bike shops and popular biking options, the production of decals and “bonus” stickers that could be interacted with people in the app could help bring buzz and encourage people to talk about the app.

There is also plans for the production of a promotional video, that will hopefully serve to make the app look like a really great experience, and be worth trying. This will, of course, be embedded on the GhostRide promotional website but also on youtube and vimeo.

Put Out a Sampler, Give it Away for Free

The plan is that GhostRide will pay for is hosting costs by very minimal advertising within apps. The app will be offered for free in the final version, with no demarcation between free and “premium” users like many other applications. Perhaps as the community grows there will be a need for increased revenue but as it stands for the foreseeable future the very low (free) barrier to entry will help grow the community.

Branding

GhostRide will have consistent branding developed after the first interatrion of the project is developed and tested some to see what direction the look and feel of the app will take. As an (amateur) graphic designer I plan to work extensively at developing a professional looking branding scheme. From logos, websites, color schemes, and app visual and interaction design.