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Kapture relies on mobile app to bolster user engagement

Kapture has rolled out a mobile application that rewards consumers when they take photos of their favorite brand and share them with friends.

The app lets merchants, businesses and brands take part in the action and drive consumer engagement. Companies such as Vince Camuto, Strand Bookstore, Organic Avenue, C.H.C.M, Dos Toros, and Duncan Quinn are using the app to garner new customers, as well as entice loyal ones. 

?Our strategy has always been to provide the best experience possible, for both the user and the brand or merchant,? said Michael Szewczyk, president of Kapture.

?We want to take a behavior users are already used to ? taking photos ? and simply connect them to the brands and services that they love,? he said.

How it works
Consumers can download the Kapture iPhone application for free within Apple?s App Store.

From there, consumers are encouraged to take and share a photo of their favorite brand. Then, a custom Polaroid is generate and sent to the user?s social network, such as Facebook and Twitter.

Additionally, users can claim their reward and present it to a cashier at the point-of-sale. 
 
?Kapture helps brands and merchants by not only allowing people to tell their friends about the brands and services they love, but by showing their friends via photos,? Mr. Szewczyk said.  
 
?Brands and merchants have been very receptive to Kapture, and are heavily promoting on their ends,? he said. ?Whether it's via social media or in store marketing, we've had great success around brands and merchants letting their customers know about Kapture ? and how to Kapture a photo for a reward,? he said.

Incentives
A mobile app such as this is a great way for merchants and brands to reach consumers.

Nowadays, it is all about incentives. If there is a reward attached, consumers will be more inclined to participate and engage with the app.

Moreover, photo-sharing apps such as Instagram are gaining traction. Therefore, asking consumers to take photos and share them will be a great way to bolster interaction.

?Billions of photos are taken and shared a month via social media networks, and this is all done through mobile,? Mr. Szewczyk said.

?Starting with the iPhone device, it was clear that Kapture had to start here,? he said.

Final Take
Rimma Kats is associate editor on Mobile Marketer, New York