Cliff Clark | Jefferson Post

Parker Tie Co. co-owner Rick Woodie looks over the mobile app his business purchased during its annual customer appreciation day on Wednesday. Edward Bissell, president of Union Grove Saw & Knife, Inc., who was one of the many vendors showing off their products and services at the customer appreciation day, looks on.

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The Jefferson Post is opening new doors to its advertisers, their current customers and a whole world of new ones, all with the stroke of a fingertip.

And it’s been done through MyOwn Apps, a new high-tech advertising venue that offers advertisers a way to reach on-the-go consumers looking for information fast and in the palm of their hand.

“It’s an affordable avenue that advertisers can utilize to get their word out,” said General Manager/Editor Cliff Clark, “and it is a convenient way for consumers to do business locally.”

With the help of mobile experts at Civitas Media, the Post’s parent company, a buffet of opportunities are now available to advertisers, and thus consumers, through their mobile phones, the place, statistics show, most people now go to find everything from news to the latest restaurant special, and everything in between.

“In the past three years, over 20 billion apps have been downloaded between iPhone and Android devices,” said Lynn McLamb, director of revenue enhancement services for Civitas Media.

“What’s more, in 2013 for the first time there will be more smartphones than laptop computers being used,” McLamb said.

Armed with this information and the desire to help local businesses thrive, McLamb said Civitas decided to roll out the MyOwn Apps program, a simple and affordable way to put local companies on the mobile map.

“MyOwn Apps will help bring in new business and increase repeat customers for our local businesses,” McLamb said, stressing that everything about designing and preparing the app will be handled by the mobile experts within Civitas.

For consumers, the mobile apps will allow them to do everything from schedule an oil change to see what the daily specials are at local restaurants.

“There’s no question, consumers are utilizing their smartphones more and more to do business,” said Matt Swanson, chief technology officer for Civitas Media. “Customers are already using their smartphones to find the competition. We want to make it easier for them to find our local businesses and then frequent them. The statistics prove that in today’s world, not having a mobile experience can lose you business.”

Now, The Jefferson Post and Civitas are making it easy for advertisers to not only increase their business with loyal customers but bring in new customers as well.

“People rarely, if ever, leave home without their phone,” Clark said. “If they are out, after church, and interested in finding something for lunch, the app would be right there at their fingertips for them to search. With our apps, consumers can look at a restaurant’s menu, see a map directing them to its location and, with one click, call them for a reservation.

“Everything is at their fingertips, and that’s the way consumers want it these days. We want our local businesses to be able to provide that quick, easy access which will benefit them greatly,” Clark said.

“We’re pleased to announce that two of our local businesses have taken advantage of the new technology we now offer. Parker Tie Co. has its mobile app up and running and looks, and works, great. The app is available through the Apple Store and Droid Marketplace. Also, Little’s Health & Fitness Center has purchased an app and it is currently under construction and will be available for upload and use in a few weeks,” Clark said.

MyOwn Apps will provide consumers push notifications about special offers, sales and updates; GPS coupons and loyalty rewards that are easily accessed; and links to a business’ social media pages, increases Facebook fans and Twitter followers.

“This is an extremely valuable service both to our advertisers and to consumers, and we are able to offer it at a very reasonable price,” Clark said.

For information on MyOwn Apps, contact Clark or any of The Jefferson Post’s advertising representatives at 336-846-7164.

“It’s a bargain businesses will love, and it’s a convenient tool we know local consumers will use,” Clark said.