7 Ways To Develop a Killer iPad Strategy for Your Blog

The iPad is one shiny, powerful tablet. It can be used as an entertainment device, a gaming tablet, or an e-book reader. Apple has already sold hundreds of thousands of units, and it is expected to sell millions of more in the near future. What does that mean for you as a blogger? It’s all simple really. The iPad is going to be another channel for you to connect with your readers in and gain more followers for your blog. If you own a small blog, chances are you are not going to have enough resources to build a killer iPad app for it. Those of you who do have a strong team behind your blog and have the resources to focus on yet another channel should not ignore iPad.

When you build an iPad for your blog, you don’t want to offer just the same old content through your app. You need to offer extra value for iPad owners to truly care about your app. If your app is going to be a paid one, you better give people a reason not to regret their purchase. Here are 7 ways to do just that:

• Offer High Quality Content: this goes without saying. If your content is crap, for the lack of better term, people are not going to use your app or read your blog. It’s really a no brainer. That’s why I talked about having a resourceful team. iPad is a tough channel to master. You’ll need to have your “A” game to have a chance.
• Interactive Content: Wired.com’s iPad application shows exactly how iPad is different from all other e-book readers. Developing interactive content can be costly, but if you have a paid iPad app, you are better off offering this type of content.
• Don’t Forget Multimedia: this is much easier to do than the previous item. Exclusive videos and audio commentary is not that hard to add to an iPad app.
• Exclusive Content for Loyal Followers: don’t forget to link your blog to your iPad app. Your iPad app should help your blog become more successful. That would not be possible if you are not leveraging your app properly to achieve that goal. Providing exclusive tips and content to your loyal blog readers is a good start.
• Convenience & Usability: forget about the bells and whistles. Not until you have an app that is easy to use and does not confuse your readers. Give your readers the tools they need to share your content with others on their iPad. Don’t try to be too fancy with your app.
• Performance Matters: nobody likes a sluggish iPad app. If your app is paid, you should double your efforts to make sure your app performs well. Crashes and bugs are annoying too. So work them all out with your team.
• Aggressive Pricing Strategy: you can monetize your app properly and make a decent chunk of profit if you play your cards right. You will have to focus on content and value for your readers if you expect them to pay for your app. There are so many useless paid apps in iTunes. Don’t let yours be one of them. Don’t be too greedy either. If it makes sense to offer your app for free, don’t hesitate.

What are your suggestions on how to build a killer iPad app for a blog?