Mobile App Launches in Okaloosa to Drive Customers to Local Businesses along the Emerald Coast

Source:  Bobby Dewrell, Emerald Coast Connected

DESTIN / FORT WALTON BEACH, Florida—October 25, 2021—The Emerald Coast Connected community mobile app has launched.  The app services visitors and residents of the five counties that make up the Emerald Coast (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay.) The community mobile app offers a unique way to shop locally and support local businesses. The app enables promotions, Bluetooth proximity marketing, push messaging, and other functions that drive customers to local businesses. Local events, news, and weather further add to the app’s value to people in Okaloosa. 

“You won’t see big-box brands on this local app,” said Bobby Dewrell, a spokesperson for the app. “Our passion is about supporting our locally owned businesses here in town and along the Emerald Coast.” The app offers a way for smaller businesses to compete with chain stores and other big companies that can have a negative impact on the local economy.

Local businesses using the app get access to a dedicated online portal. They can log into the portal and create a listing for their businesses. They can also create promotions that go out to app users. “You can run multiple and up to unlimited coupons and specials in the app,” Dewrell added. The portal provides detailed analytics and reporting. This makes it possible for local business owners to understand how effective their promotions and ads have been on the app.

Direct customer push messaging lets business owners send notifications directly to app users’ mobile devices. Bluetooth proximity marketing sends promotions to app users when they are in the vicinity of the business. “If a potential customer drives by your store, they can see a promotion from your store in real-time. You can literally pull people in off the street.” App users who are looking at local news and weather can be shown in-app promotions and links. The app can forward users to other websites if that is what the business owner wants.

The Emerald Coast Connected App is available for iOS and Android devices. For more information, or to download the app, visit https://www.emeraldcoastconnected.com.