LivingSocial has just released apps for the iPhone, iPad and Android that broadcast daily coupons in a user’s detected city, according to an article from Mashable. The release of this app comes directly on the heels of a mobile app for the iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry platforms that Groupon released just two weeks ago. LivingSocial offers daily deals on products and services. They encourage new followings to local businesses through their voucher deals.
Groupon and LivingSocial have been in an on-going game of cat and mouse. For instance, LivingSocial offered consumers a 50 percent off deal on Amazon gift cards in January, and Groupon came forward with their own version last week, which involved Barnes & Noble. The two companies are seemingly neck and neck when it comes to the day deal industry, but there are several others coming into the fray, so the deals should only continue to get better and more plentiful.
Groupon has taken their own path toward consumer engagement in comparison to the typical social networking daily deal platform.
From the start, Groupon has asked consumers to provide their info in exchange for targeted daily discounts. The daily deal website has also rolled out a beta program in a few cities, (Groupon Stores) that enables consumers to keep track of their local merchants’ updates and offers. Businesses offering traditional Groupon deals have to offer 50% to 90% off, but within actual brick and mortar stores, the control is completely in the hands of each business. Even on its own, with no offers created, it’s still a great way for companies to network with target markets.
Another interesting aspect is that people are able to see what their friends are purchasing through Groupon, which increases the potential for offers to go viral, and explode companies’ business in a very short period of time. Getting the word out is imperative for any business, but to do so in a way that lands in a consumer’s very hands through an app or SMS message is truly as good as it gets. That way, no matter where a company’s target market is any time of the day, they can be made aware of the latest sales and up-coming clear-outs in real-time.
As weeks pass, it will be very interesting to see who emerges, and who falls by the wayside. There’s no doubt that daily deals are the hot topic of the day, so expect a lot more competition to come along in 2011.
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