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Mobile Pro Bono

Virginia Poverty Law Center

2013 Annual Statewide Legal Aid Conference

1. What is …

Mobile?

“of or relating to cellular phones, handheld computers, and similar technology”

“Mobile” covers four primary types of online engagement:

Mobile messaging: sending text messages to your constituents

Text-to-give: enabling your constituents to text a $5 or $10 donation to your

organization, paid via their mobile bill

Mobile Web: presenting content and engagement opportunities in a way that is

optimized for mobile device browsers, including things like donation forms and

advocacy action forms

Mobile Apps: packaged content or functionality

Mobile landing page (text site)

1. A mobile landing page is a simple mobile web page that is the destination

location of mobile advertising or QR code. - http://source-pro.org/terms-and-

definitions/

A mobile landing page is a simple mobile web page if you do not already have a website

optimized for viewing on mobile devices. It may include text, a phone number provided

by you, links, your company logo and other text. The links take you to other web pages

you wish the user to see. Text “key word” to 99999, for example, can call up a landing

page. You use a template provided by a vendor. Monthly or periodic fees apply and are

generally very inexpensive.

Advantages:

You are simply linking to content you have online somewhere else

No need to admin content in multiple places

Easy setup

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Mobile site?

A website optimized for mobile browsing, i.e. on a device like a smartphone or tablet.

The user access the site through a device's web browser and “surfs” the site just as one

surfs on a laptop, desktop, etc..

Advantages:

A mobile site works on any mobile platform that has a browser

Easier and far less expensive to develop

A trimmed down or “distilled” 'version' of your primary website

More searchable—a user can Google you and land on your mobile site quickly

Easier-to-use interface for admin

You are not managing content in multiple places

Typically you highlight the most critical content or “campaign” content, but you

can make all content accessible

Disadvantages:

You rely on a vendor or your website developer

Charging for access or usage requires extra steps

Does not integrate your device’s features (e.g. camera)

Bookmarking your mobile site

Mobile app?

A mobile application (or mobile app) is a software application designed to run on

smartphones, tablet computers and other mobile devices. -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_app .

An "app" is a software application that is written in the native language of a particular

platform.

People tend to download apps for things they do regularly or for things that tie into

their lifestyle.

Advantages:

Performance

Self-contained libraries

Users purchase the app and download to their device

An app can work offline

Launched easily

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Disadvantages:

You must develop the app for each operating system your end-user might have

(IOS, Android, Blackberry, etc.)

Requires development skills

An app isn’t directly accessible on the web—it must be downloaded by a user who

has a device that will run the app

An app requires someone to discover it and then download it

2. Why Mobile?

What a question! Do you have a smartphone?

Data on mobile devices and usage:

http://pewinternet.org/Commentary/2012/February/Pew-Internet-Mobile.aspx

As of May 2013:

91% of American adults have a cell phone

56% of American adults have a smartphone

28% of cell owners own an Android; 25% own an iPhone; 4% own a Blackberry

34% of American adults own a tablet computer

As of January 2013:

26% of American adults own an e-reader

!! And according the US Department of Commerce, a mere 4 out of every 10

households with annual household incomes below $25,000 in 2010 reported having

wired Internet access at home.

These numbers suggests many things, but here are some thoughts/assumptions:

People are abandoning landlines with monthly fees in favor of cell or

smartphones

As cell phones fade out of popularity, users move to lower-end smartphones with

internet and (metered) data capacity

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Our client base does not have access to the internet or to mobile devices,

right?

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Here are some things you can do with Mobile:

Abbreviated intake for clients

Online volunteer pledge forms

Text campaigns for fundraising

Pro bono event reminders

Direct clients and volunteers to your unique web resources

Satisfaction surveys

Appointment reminders and calendaring

Alert clients or lawyers to developing news or emerging legal issues

Create “membership”

Remember, there are some things you just can’t do on a smartphone (yet)!

Lengthy online applications

Require mobile-only access—“Mobile” is just an additional entry or access point

“Sign” documents – easily (there are ways)

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3. Mobile Examples

APP

Arkansas Pro Bono App

- Via iTunes Store

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iprobono/id495613533

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Georgia (in development)

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Mobile Landing Pages – Texting and key words

Text “probono” to 99699

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Text “MilVets” to 99699

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Mobile Site

http://probono.mymobisite.us

Embed video (here, Youtube)

Provide URL to users

Extensive usage data

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Contact:

Mike Monahan

Attorney at Law/Pro Bono Director

State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Project

probono@gabar.org

http://twitter.com/probono_ga

Text “probono” to 99699