How do you design engaging VAS for mobile users in emerging markets?

1 Understand your users

The first step in designing engaging VAS is to understand your users' needs, preferences, and behaviors. You need to conduct market research, user testing, and feedback surveys to identify the pain points, motivations, and goals of your potential customers. You also need to segment your users based on factors such as age, gender, location, income, education, and device type. This will help you tailor your content to their specific interests, needs, and expectations.

3 Make your content accessible

The third step in designing engaging VAS is to make your content accessible and inclusive for all users. You need to consider the literacy and language levels of your users, as well as their cultural and social norms. You need to use simple, clear, and concise language, as well as visual aids, such as icons, images, and videos, to convey your message. You also need to provide options for voice, text, and video communication, as well as subtitles, captions, and translations, to cater to different modes of learning and interaction.

4 Make your content engaging

The fourth step in designing engaging VAS is to make your content engaging and interactive for your users. You need to use gamification, personalization, and socialization techniques to increase user retention, loyalty, and satisfaction. Gamification involves adding elements of fun, challenge, and reward, such as points, badges, levels, and leaderboards, to your content. Personalization involves customizing your content based on your users' preferences, behaviors, and feedback. Socialization involves enabling your users to share, comment, and collaborate with others, such as friends, family, or peers.

5 Make your content valuable

The fifth step in designing engaging VAS is to make your content valuable and relevant for your users. You need to provide content that solves a problem, fulfills a need, or satisfies a desire for your users. You need to demonstrate the benefits and outcomes of your content, such as improved skills, knowledge, health, or entertainment. You also need to provide content that is timely, fresh, and updated, as well as exclusive, scarce, or premium, to create a sense of urgency and demand.

6 Monetize your content

The sixth and final step in designing engaging VAS is to monetize your content and generate revenue for yourself and your partners. You need to choose a suitable business model and pricing strategy for your content, such as subscription, pay-per-use, freemium, or advertising. You also need to choose a suitable payment method and platform for your users, such as mobile money, credit card, or carrier billing. You need to ensure that your monetization strategy is transparent, fair, and convenient for your users, as well as profitable and sustainable for yourself and your partners.