Real You: Meet Your New Best Friend

Posted on | June 13, 2008 |

By Kaira Sturdivant Rouda

It’s here: the new, the improved—the affordable Apple iPhone. Companies have started to develop applications for the iPhone with a software development chip released by Apple. This will allow you to create programs consumers need and want without the feel of “in your face” advertising.

Do you hear opportunity ringing? I do! If you’re tech savvy—and even if you’re not—going mobile with your marketing provides some very real benefits. For example, real estate companies are developing applications to help consumers search for homes from their mobile phone. This application will use current iPhone programs like Google maps to allow users to pinpoint their exact location, view photos of the homes and access information about the agent, while seamlessly calling that agent to set up an appointment. But this only scratches the surface, as more and more people—especially women—are using their cell phones to help navigate their lives.

Unfortunately, the demands on a woman’s time have not changed in the last 50 years. Add to that her presence in the workforce, and it’s easy to see why she is more than just a little time-starved. She wants a gadget that will help her multi-task. She wants it to be both efficient and attractive. Does it need to be pink? No, but aesthetics are important, and they will probably always be more important to a woman than a man. Finally, she wants it to be easy to use. She doesn’t have time to tinker. Apple understands all this. That’s why the iPhone is good-looking, easy-to-use and full-featured. Bingo!

Best of all, the ownership of an iPhone is now more affordable to the general population. Even still, middle-market Americans are willing to pay a premium for luxury goods, and this phone is no exception. With more income at their discretion, women are making the buying decisions—and they’ve got the dollars to back it up. Knowing all this, women may end up liking the iPhone more than the typical gadget geek.

So, the question is this: Is your company keeping up with the evolution of technology? Remember, women have the world at their fingertips 24/7. And that spells opportunity for your business.

Check back next Friday for another Real You column.

Kaira Sturdivant Rouda is the creator of Real Living, the first women-focused real estate brand. She has more than 20 years of experience marketing to women and is the author of Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs. To learn more, visit www.RealYouIncorporated.com and join the community.

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