Dec 17th 2020
Travel Apps and COVID-19
Living through a time for which not many could’ve been prepared, makes everyone stand in the same line and start from the beginning. It’s not like every company has a backup plan in case of a global pandemic - at least not before COVID-19. But how have different traveling apps taken this time and changed their marketing systems? Or have they at all? Let’s take a look, how the following apps have taken COVID-19 into consideration regarding screenshots and description, in their US App Stores.
I chose to compare six relevant and known apps, which all have the same purpose and category: traveling. They are different in some ways, but all have the purpose, which has probably been the most effected one during this pandemic.
Airbnb, Google Maps, Momondo, Trivago, Uber, Lyft
After examining these apps in GeekLab's Optilab, which shows me every piece of information from their App Store page, my words are running low on this post, since there is not a word about Covid or health - except in one; Lyft. In its description, Lyft has a very clear part which explains to the user their protocols during this time. The description explains that they want the customers to feel safe and that they have followed the CDC and local health officials, to create safe and proper health measurements. Lyft requires you to confirm that you don’t have COVID-19 or have any related symptoms, you have to wear a mask and have to keep the and your hands clean. You cannot sit next to the driver and the windows have to be open during the ride. Also, they mention that the drivers are instructed to keep the car clean by using the right products.
If you compare Uber and Lyft, it is clear to say that if someone who is really taking precautions, wanting to be sure that the ride if safe and has not yet tried either of the apps, Lyft will be the better choice, since Uber has not written anything related to the description. It goes without saying, that yes, Uber has taken precautions and is likely to be as safe as Lyft, but they are missing a valid ASO tool window for not using the description.
Regarding the other apps as well, these apps should’ve taken the advantage of promoting, for example domestic traveling, and turn their marketing plan to another direction; to a direction that is POSSIBLE in the first place. Obviously, a brand such as Momondo, cannot really do that, when planes are simply not flying. But Google Maps? Trivago? They had all the right ingredients to benefit from this situation and make them stand out from the rest. Just staying silent and hoping for the best is just staying put and not going forward. Obviously marketing techniques are different depending on where you are and the level of this pandemic is different among countries and some countries have stricter rulers than others. Some countries don’t even allow domestic traveling and some do. But as an example, the first screenshot on these apps, could be a screenshot reassuring the safety and/or alternatives of the moment. It is a small detail to add, but can make a huge difference during times like these.


Related Stories
Facebook Pixel and iOS 14.5 with Geeklab
With Apple's iOS 14 and its privacy updates, the F... Read More
Step by Step - Artificial Intelligence
Step by step is a series in which complex subjects are ex... Read More
Mobile Operating Systems - Harmony OS 2.0 influencing a new era?
Android OS and iOS were both released over 10 years ago, ... Read More
Instagram vs. TikTok
TikTok as an app was released back in 2016 where as Insta... Read More
6 hidden features in popular apps
Many people use apps everyday not knowing they contain fe... Read More
Popular TV-shows' and movies' influence on people's shopping behaviour
The variety of available TV-shows and movies today could ... Read More
Gradients and their hype
You have probably noticed how gradient colors have been r... Read More
Top 5 Apps in January - All categories
To continue the series, next up is the first one of 2021!... Read More
Step by step - How to protect your app and understand copyright, trademark, patent and agreements
Step by step is a series i... Read More
When working on your mobile strategy: Mobile App or Mobile Website?
Coming up with a mobile strategy can seem like a never en... Read More
Why should you update your app often enough?
Today is the 22nd of January, so Christmas was almost a m... Read More
Gaming communities and friendship
These times have put us all in a situation we have never ... Read More
Questions to go through before developing an app for your company
Making an app seems like a good investment in a world whe... Read More
WhatsApp vs. Signal: Who rocks its security game better?
The comparison between WhatsApp and Signal has people buz... Read More
Top 5 Apps in December - Games
Let’s continue the series of Top 5! This is such a fun ... Read More
ASO in 2021: Secure user journey and overall creativity
This year has been crazy for the whole world and from so ... Read More
App icons - Has iOS 14 made them worthless?
In the past, companies haven’t had the need to update t... Read More
The End of Skype for Business - Why and who’s next?
We are living a time where online-courses, online-meeting... Read More
ASO Guide: 11 ASO Mistakes
ASO is a very new thing to many companies and thus, there... Read More
Push notifications - How to use them efficiently
Have you ever wondered the core reason of push notificati... Read More
ASO vs. Influencer Marketing
Approximately 10 years ago, digimarketing started using t... Read More
Colors and their effect on us - Part 2: Secondary colors
In Part 1 I examined the primary colors; blue, red and ye... Read More
Colors and their effect on us - Part 1: Primary Colors
Coloring is an essential part of the branding process, si... Read More
Suomalaiset opiskeluapplikaatiot ja niiden kehityskohdat
Ajat joita elämme, on laittanut kaikki meistä tilanteis... Read More
How many people have installed iOS 14?
iOS 14 adaptation rates are coming in fast. After just a ... Read More
Top 5 Apps in August - Business
Welcome back to analyzing the Top 5 of the month. In this... Read More
How to validate your marketability with Facebook campaigns!
Setting up campaigns can seem to be an overwhelming techn... Read More
How to setup an ASO Facebook Campaign!
Setting up campaigns can seem to be an overwhelming techn... Read More
Top 5 Apps in July - Education
To continue the Top 5 series, next up is Education! This ... Read More
Top 5 Apps in July - Lifestyle
To continue the Top 5 seri... Read More
Top 5 Apps in July - Action Games
In this new series, I am going to analyze different App c... Read More
ASO Guide: Vocabulary - First steps in becoming an ASO Specialist
ASO
App Store Optimization, improving seve... Read More
Make it stand out - How to make an App: Part 3
In order to make your App ... Read More
Screenshot Trends - What is next?
Screenshots are an essential part of alluring users in do... Read More
Set your goal and brainstorm - How to make an App: Part 1
Today Apps vary from so many categories to another. You c... Read More
Apple WWDC 2020: ASO recap
Due to the current situation, Apple kicked off its annual... Read More
Am I a gamer?
I scrolled through my iPhone's screen time the other day ... Read More
Perfecting the Finished Product: Why A/B Testing is a Vital Step for Your Digital Marketing
Today's digital marketplace can be an overwhelming experi... Read More
Custom Details Page (CDP) by Google Play. What will it change?
Regardless of the number of ads you run, in most cases, t... Read More
Mobile Apps: What are the next industries to benefit by shifting their operations to apps?
Everyday, we are taking more and more steps towards mobil... Read More
Case Study: How Rovio decreased their user acquisition cost by 20%
Rovio has been using Geeklab for both ASO A/B te... Read More
The Ultimate App Submission marketing guideline 2020
Screenshots come in multiple sizes. Big and small, portra... Read More
Improve marketability, save millions
At its core, improving marketability m... Read More
Why and how to add a Facebook Pixel to Geeklab
Facebook pixel is a tool that allows external application... Read More
3 production phases to run ASO in 2020!
App Store Optimization is crucial, but... Read More
Why you need to focus on your icon!
The one single element that follows you through the entir... Read More
App Store Optimisation, what and why?
Imagine if Coca-Cola had the opportunity to single-handed... Read More

