How Branded Apps Build Brand Loyalty: Explore and Considerations

Aug 26, 2023

unleashing the power of brand-name apps to create brand loyalty, backed by research.

As mobile technology continues to permeate every aspect of our lives. Branded apps are an intriguing new way of building the brand's loyalty. Businesses use apps with branded names to put their brands to the attention of their customers. provide a brand-inspired experience on various channels and establish a connection through high-value services.

In today's highly competitive business, ensuring your brand's image isn't merely an "nice-to-have," it's a necessity. Branded apps are continuing to transform the way businesses interact with their customers, clients or learners, understanding how to use them can assist in building brand loyalty and maximize the return on your expenditure, as mobile apps are the ones that people want.

In this piece, we'll explore a wide range of definitions for apps and then compare branded and unbranded apps. In the next article, we'll examine the most recent research compelling on the role of brand-name apps in creating brand loyalty and share how you can reap these benefits with no high cost associated. Let's get started:

Go ahead.

What exactly is a brand-named app? There are a variety of branding apps.

A brand-named application is an app for mobile devices that was designed and developed by a certain brand. It is designed to showcase the identity of the brand, which includes the logo, color scheme and other distinctive features. Apps for businesses that have brand logos that are branded to improve the interaction with customers as well as build brand loyalty in addition to providing services, goods and content.

Companies often invest in brand-name apps because they give companies the capability to interact with their clients and deliver content directly to smartphones. They also provide an experience more personal to the user that's an expression of the brand's ideals, ethos, and style.

Company Branded Mobile App Examples Screenshot

Brands like Starbucks, Walmart, and Nike utilize brand-specific apps to attract customers, improve branding recognition, and improve sales.

Nike is another top-rated application that is branded utilizes the Nike Training Club app to make Nike a fitness and lifestyle companion. The app is capable of doing this through providing top-quality content such as mindfulness-based exercises, self-care routines, and exercises at home for its many users, as well as promoting its products offerings.

Although Starbucks and Nike offer great examples of what an application with a brand name can accomplish for your company, we're only getting started. But before we get into the ways brands can to build brand loyalty and trust with customers, there are two additional applications "classifications" to be sure to learn about: unbranded and white label applications.

What is an unbranded application?

In contrast to apps that have branding logos or apps that carry a brand name, they are applications that offer products, services or content online that do not feature a primary brand logo.

Examples of applications which aren't branded include Seven Minute Workout along with Smile.io. Smile.io For instance, Smile.io allows businesses to create loyalty and referral programs for mobile customers. But, they can also interact with several brands using the application on their phones.

Then we'll get to the final and third app style you need to be aware of.

What exactly is a white-label application?

White-label apps are generic application developed by one company (the developer) and sold to another (the buyer) so that the purchasing firm can make use of the same branding and distribution strategy to promote the app under its own name.

White-label apps are a brand-driven alternative to apps without branding that makes them a great option for people who want all the advantages of brand-name apps, but without the price tag or the necessity of building internal apps.

What's the difference between brand white-label applications?

Now that we've covered branded white-label, nonbranded, and brand-named apps, we can examine what makes them different and why companies select one over another. The first step is to look at what sets these app experience apart, by looking at our previous cases.

It's the Nike Training Club application. This is one of the apps with Nike's logo specifically created to appeal to those who belong to the Nike users. Nike's name appears within the app's name. Its logo is displayed on the icon of the app as well as Nike branding is visible across the app's content, including the video content.

Compare that to the 7 minute Workout. 7 Minute Workout is a non-branded exercise app. This means it's not affiliated with any large fitness companies. You won't see Nike, Underarmour, GNC or other brands as you use the application.

The white-label applications differ from the others because they're not technically "branded" as well as "unbranded" apps. They instead mix the best to both.

Good Firms reports that a standard brand-name app can cost anything between $12,000-$30,000. advanced apps range from $34,000 to $60,000; and sophisticated apps could cost anywhere between $56,000 and $82,000. Beyond these astounding costs, the simplest applications take between three and seven weeks for development the more complex ones take eight to 14 weeks, while advanced apps can take between 13 and 19 weeks to complete the development.

A brand such as Nike who invested more than 3 billion dollars on advertisements in 2022. An app that is priced at $100,000 may be considered pocket money. However, for the majority of companies, the cost as well as the lengthy development time required for brand-name apps makes them difficult to access which opens the way for apps that do not have a brand name.

The apps that aren't branded are created and maintained by one particular business, while the customers (different brands) operate within the boundaries of the app to engage with their customers and establish loyalties. The apps that aren't branded work as commercial space for rental. In this way, retailers may choose to rent area instead of building it themselves, helping firms avoid risk like the costs of maintenance, construction, along with development costs associated with building an actual brick and mortar store.

The less expensive and non-branded applications offer limited ability to control the program. However, the ones with branded names provide full control over every element of the user experience. The difference between the two are the white-label apps.

White-label apps are essentially templates that other businesses can use. Instead of paying several thousand dollars, brands can pay only a small portion of the price for a fully operational app while still creating custom-designed experiences for smartphone users. This allows you to benefit of the benefits and advantages of apps that have the brand name.

Apps that are brand-named help to build brand loyalty

We'll turn our attention to reasons why you're here. bonds of loyalty.

One of the most significant advantages of creating a branding app, shadowing its cons it has the capability to enhance branding recognition. This is both crucial and difficult for the vast majority of companies. To make it easier, we've identified five crucial ways to differentiate brand-name apps from those that aren't branded for building brand loyalty.

1. Deliver a customized user experience

One of the biggest benefits of using an application with a white label or logo is its ability to offer users a smooth experience, effortless navigation and an attractive and user-friendly interface, while not distracting users or diverting users' attention to rival brands.

Nike Training Club Nike Training Club is one of the best examples of a brand-name app designed to appeal to the brand's target customers, mostly the people who train and work out for Nike's instance. After opening the app, users will be presented with a clear and easy to navigate user interface. High-quality images reflect Nike's value as a brand, bringing inspiration and ingenuity to all athletes worldwide. Nike did its best to provide an experience on mobile that matched the brand and appealed to its target audience.

2. Provide a user-specific experience

The words "customized" and "personalized" user experiences sound similar but they're not the same. The phrase "customized" refers to the experience that all mobile users have. A personalized experience, on the other hand is the unique experience each user has that are specific to that particular user.

To build on to build upon this Nike Training Club example, as users regularly consume or save content Nike's application can provide further and more appropriate outcomes under the "Top suggestions for you" section.

3. Offer incentives and reward points

Certain, apps that are not branded can offer loyalty programs and referrals however, they generally do it for different brands in the same way. If you're urging clients to download your application, it's likely that you would prefer them not to sign up on an app that has its plumber, barbershop as well as fitness trainer.

Branded apps keep the user within a space that is completely committed to your branding. Therefore, when you reward customers for achieving a goal, meeting the requirement or making a purchase, they is likely to associate your brand with that satisfaction of the user.

4. Establish relationships

Similar to all the relationships you have with your customers aiding them in building connections with your brand is an essential requirement. Maintaining that connection. For apps that are branded, this is done by using notifications to send news about deals or remind users of when to finish the lesson.

Do you recall the last time Snapchat brought you back to your death or Dualingo reminded users to keep their learning going? The push notifications can be the perfect way to bring users to return to the application. The apps that are branded allow you to control the time and date you send notifications and the way they appear.

In addition to the notifications function, brand-name apps help create the brand's reputation by permitting the user to receive feedback as well as offer help. Feedback is essential in evaluating the efficiency of your application. Are you able to meet the needs of users? One of the most efficient methods for determining this is to speak with the customer directly. Incorporating support services to your mobile offering repertoire will also allow you to have greater interactions with customers and help keep them satisfied and happy with the experience they have had.

5. Create an experience for customers throughout all channels

Omnichannel customer experiences are an experience with numerous touchpoints for customers, clients or learners. Additionally, customers must be able to begin with a particular activity in one channel, and then continue the place they left off on the next.

In order to shop online, consumers who add footwear to their shopping cart while waiting in the doctor's office must be able to connect to their computer at home and make purchases without missing a beat. Online course creators should be able to learners must be able create lessons from their office desk and then finish the course from their phones using Uber. Uber.

Are you aware of how brand-name and white-label applications appeal to a variety of companies? The ability to connect seamlessly and without interruption is being demanded from customers increasing. Offering a smooth user experience will enhance the experience of users as well as create confidence. This will increase brand loyalty.

To recap, applications featuring a name brand assist users in the following areas:

  1. Create unique experiences
  2. Share personal stories
  3. Give incentives and reward points, encouraging loyalty
  4. Establish relationships with mobile users of mobile phones.
  5. Provide a seamless, omnichannel customer experience

However, don't simply trust us to tell you the truth. Let's look at what the science has to say about branded apps and building the trust of your brand.

Branded apps: the science behind them and loyalty to brands

In 2022, Daria Plotkina along with Landisoa Rabeson composed an article in 2022 titled "The value of transactional behavior within mobile apps that are branded with a brand experience, and the effects it has on loyalty." The study was designed to comprehend how the brand's name, non-transactional applications affect the loyalty of brands. What did they find? Profound.

The Journal of Brand Management's study about branded apps

We've collected three of its top findings to free our readers from the lengthy 14-page paper. Before that, we'll give you an explanation of the significance.

Plotkina and Rabeson offer some interesting research on the way users perceive brands-related apps. Before presenting their conclusions they stress that users view free apps as being more enjoyable intriguing, fascinating and distinctive in comparison to apps with cost. So, consumers tend to favor non-transactional apps more that semi-transactional (think freemium) or applications that are transactional.

With this in mind, they went into their research hypothesizing that free branded apps will generate more brand loyalty than transactional apps by facilitating more brand personality, satisfaction, and identification--spoiler alert, they were right.

Let's look at the major outcomes.

     1. Branded apps are now defined using a brand new definition. apps

The term "branded app" was defined in the first part of this piece. But, it's vital to know how other people use the term.

Plotkina and Rabeson employ this definition: "software downloadable to a smartphone which clearly demonstrates an image of the brand in its name, description of the app, and also the presence of a logo representing the brand throughout the user's experience."

     2. Brand recognition as a brand is a revolutionary mediator between the customer experience and loyalty

Plotkina and Rabeson found that brand identification can be a previously unknown mediating factor between the experience of brands as well as brand loyalty.

They assert, "Specifically, the results of laboratory and field testing demonstrate that the process of branding is a reliable method to trigger the loyalty of customers for brands following the experience of brand-name mobile apps."

In order to be precise to be precise, the term "brand identification" here is not referring to how people or consumers are identified with the brand like when you notice the Swoosh logo and identify that it is Nike. Actually, the phrase "brand identification" refers to the way the consumers identify with your business.

It is suggested that the Nike Training Club app should be focused on activity since Nike clients are usually active. This helps its active clients feel connected to the brand.

What does this all means to you? You can create and keep the identity of your company intact with the use of branded apps. This is a proven method to create brand loyalty.

     3. The effect of sporadic application uses on the individual connection to the brand

It's good to know that your customers do not need to constantly be engaged to build and enhance the trustworthiness of your brand. Plotkina and Rabeson observed that even occasional app usage increases the personal connection to the brand and further strengthening brand loyalty. The main reason behind the increase in loyalty is the intimacy that comes with the app's permanence in the device of the user.

Based on their own words, "...having an app on one's smartphone and using it occasionally can increase your connection to the application since it "lives" on the screen of the person who is closest to them."

Researchers also discovered that the quality of the content the users see once they are inside your app is more important in comparison to how often they visit your app. The team of researchers concluded that content available for free must be "very" top-quality and that's the goal that marketers, developers as well as the rest of us strive for.

If the mobile app that has been branded permits a certain amount of transactionality. If so, users must consider the transactions are an opportunity for making their experience better rather than considering it a commercial transaction--which, again, emphasizes high-end and quality.

 Additional insights

It's evident that mobile apps with no transactional features boost its reputation better than apps which are transactional. That is, in the minds of consumers, mobile apps need to be about more than being a way to conduct commercial transactions. If companies are looking to create the brand's reputation, they need to focus on changing the perception of their brand, and ensure customers are satisfied with new experiences such as an app that is branded.

Nike is often mentioned throughout this article and for reasons that are good. Nike has demonstrated that they understand the importance of transactions on mobile apps. The company endorses using the Nike method, saying, "Other companies may follow the Nike model, and provide transactions that are semi-transactional, or not. This is already the case with its main competitors." It goes on to make reference to Rebook and Adidas methods that are similar to those of Nike's.

If you want to get practical tips that can be shared with the team members on your team "The developers and marketers should ensure there's an extremely small number of customers who abandon the app and aren't capable of uninstalling your application." Inconsistent user experiences with your mobile application won't bring satisfaction to your customers or to an image that is positive and hinder the user's path to the loyalty of your brand.

The study's conclusion is clear: loyalty increases customer lifetime value and, consequently, yields from the investment you make in acquisition. Whatever the purpose of your application, no matter if it is transactional, semi-transactional or even non-transactional, your primary goal is to deliver an experience that is positive for users and increase the loyalty to your business.

The product is Branded Mobile offering

As with Nike's rivals increasing numbers of organizations are realizing the benefits of branding apps. Plotkina and Rabeson couldn't have said it better "Branded apps are gaining popularity in relation to marketing strategies due to the fact that they enable a closer connection with customers, and also provide an excellent opportunity to keep them engaged and loyal."

Apps with white-label labels are an excellent choice. They allow companies to offer custom-made experiences for their users without investing the amount that brand-name apps require.

Benefits and features of Branded Mobile

First in our industry, Branded Mobile has a many advantages to provide. These are just five advantages that come with Branded Mobile that we believe to be useful.

New revenue possibilities

Utilizing Branded Mobile, you can allow your users to further their knowledge with its in-app purchases feature. Your users can easily purchase additional classes and remain engaged with the material within your application. As it does not require them for users to exit the app, Branded Mobile ensures uninterrupted engagement as well as a smooth shift from discovering to purchasing that ultimately leads to additional revenue.

We'll design it the benefit of.

Our expert team at will take care of developing and managing your application that is white-label so that you can concentrate on managing your company. As opposed to developing an app completely from scratch where a large amount of time and funds will be required to of the application, and afterwards, maintaining it, Thinkfiic manages the creation of an application, and then submit it to the marketplace along with distributing periodic updates at a cost of $199 monthly.

Your brand shines

Flexible

The connection that a customized app can create between your organization and its users is unmatched. With Branded Mobile, you can deliver an intuitive and easy-to-use platform that's at your learners' fingertips, demonstrating respect for their lifestyle and strengthening bonds between your business as well as your students.

Branded Mobile is also designed to seamlessly integrate into your users' daily routines. This makes it simpler for users to learn and engage with their courses and communities in accordance with their timetables, increasing their learning experience as well as branding experience.

More reliable connection

Journal of Brand Management

In-app notifications and notification components are created to mirror your company's visual image. The unique and consistent style helps build confidence of your clients. As time passes, this trust will grow into the basis of your brand's loyalty.

Learn more about: Maximize the potential of your brand with Branded Mobile. Branded Mobile app

The next step is to build brand recognition is creating brand-name apps

Branded apps are now an efficient tool for building the trust of customers to your brand. The fact is that more and more businesses are planning to invest in them, because they've proven to be a great way to retain their customers.

FAQs

What is the difference between apps that are unbranded and branded apps?

The main difference between branded and non-branded apps is their functionality and appearance. Branded applications are employed by businesses to offer an experience for users which is distinctive and aids in building brand recognition and customer satisfaction, eventually establishing brand loyalty. But, apps that are not branded, while useful, don't always offer the degree of personalization required to convey the personality of the brand.

Which apps are the best examples?

A great example of brand-name applications is Nike's selection of apps. The most famous Nike apps include Nike, Nike Training Club, and Nike Run Club. The two clubs' apps offer an array of transactions as well as features that are keeping with the brand's products as well as its personality. The brands that are competing with Nike such as Adidas and Reebok have followed Nike's lead and have developed own apps for branding. Others include Starbucks, Walmart, Walgreens as well as Quizlet.

How do companies create the image of the brand?

Brand loyalty can be built by businesses by providing relevant, high-quality content and frequently communicating with customers via applications for mobile phones. Particularly, apps with a logo will assist firms increase their brand's recognition as well as customer satisfaction both of which are essential to creating customer loyalty.

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