New Dloky App Offers Local Promotion for All Retail and Events
Dloky is a worldwide platform with millions of users and visitors and already more than half a million businesses. Dloky offers the latest deals and actions of retail and hospitality in the user's direct vicinity, based on real-time or planned GPS position.
AMSTERDAM, September 12, 2017 (Newswire.com) - Of course there are solutions for local promotion and proximity marketing for retail, restaurants, and events, for instance through social media, search, beacons, and review apps. However, there is not yet a universal, free and worldwide platform for local businesses to promote their deals, news, new products, and actions (e.g. new menu items, happy hours, concerts, DJ’s, activities, events, attractions etc.) to the general public in the vicinity of their business or to people planning a visit nearby. City visitors might be looking for the latest deals, things to do, action, events etc. nearby without following, or even knowing all those businesses.
Now there is Dloky, a worldwide platform with millions of users and visitors and already more than half a million businesses. Dloky offers the latest deals and actions of retail and hospitality in the user’s direct vicinity, based on real-time or planned GPS position. "One can compare Dloky with the digital equivalent of the local brochures and leaflets that you can find at hotel receptions, in taxi's or in local city guides or event agendas," says Robert Hoevers, founder and MD of Dloky.
Dozens of categories and subcategories can be selected such as women’s or men’s fashion, cosmetics, sports, shoes, restaurants, museums and nightlife. The user can select the desired search distance and sort on distance or date. A sort on local businesses is currently in development to favor local businesses due to user’s demand.
Webapp (or ‘Progressive Web APP’ / PWA), Polymer, Firebase
Robert Hoevers; “We have begun as native mobile app but since the launch of our Dloky webapp (a website looking and ‘feeling’ like an app on mobile), traffic really began to take off. Shops, businesses and promotions now have their own Dloky page and will be indexed on Google as well using our state-of-the-art, super-fast PWA and making use of instant loading ‘Accelerated Mobile Pages’ (AMP’s) as well. The webapp uses Google’s new Polymer framework and is hosted on Google’s Firebase CDN (Content Distribution Network) platform so also the small businesses that sign up can make use of the latest mobile technologies through the Dloky platform.”
"But I already have a Facebook business page." is a common reaction. Robert Hoevers: “Of course and I would advise any (starting) local business to setup a page. However, it is very hard to increase the organic reach of a local business page beyond friends, family and regular customers who like to follow your business. There are not many people who like to follow all the shops on Facebook where they come. Moreover, as a local business you particularly want to reach the tourists, travelers and visitors that don’t even know your business. Dloky works the other way around, you initially see all the places around you and hide the ones you are not interested in. Dloky will remember your settings across your browsers and devices.”
Business model
"If Dloky is free for all businesses and consumers, what is the business model?” is a frequently asked question. Robert Hoevers: “We are currently developing the first payment option, the ‘Google type’ advertising model is a logical solution where a business could have a paid promotion on top of the results page of a category in a certain location. But also cashback, discount or savings programs are being considered.” However, Dloky will always be free for users as well as businesses. Setting up a Dloky business page is a matter of minutes with the easy Facebook Sync option.
Dloky hopes to contribute to a more diverse retail experience in cities, malls and shopping areas and to help (small) retail business making maximum use of digital marketing strategies. Dloky believes that the physical shopping experience will transform more and more towards an experience of true consumer involvement, discovery, engagement, activity, authenticity and adventure. Dloky hopes to contribute towards this transformation and experience, both for consumer and business.
Malls
Dloky also offers white label solutions for malls and (open air) shopping centers.
Dloky Video: https://youtu.be/gPQReb789Lw
Source: Dloky.com