Mobile technology is here to stay. By the end of 2012, it is estimated that there will be more smartphones than humans on the planet. And since we now live in a mobile world, it’s inevitable that citizens will want to do more on their phones, including interacting with their local governments.

There are a number of different types of apps being used by local governments. You can use them for crime reporting and prevention, severe weather updates, transportation, public works reporting, paying bills, voting, surveys, promoting volunteerism, and much more.

So what should you keep in mind when developing apps for your citizens? In today’s session, “Using Mobile Apps for Citizen Engagement,” Lee Worsley, Jr., Deputy County Manager of Durham County, North Carolina, and Sharon Wright, IT Director of the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, gave some helpful hints on setting up some useful apps.

• Keep your apps simple, fresh, and relevant. Don’t just develop an app, put it out there, and then forget about. Always keep it fresh and relevant.
• Know your audience and how they use apps. It’s important to think like a citizen, get their feedback, and develop apps that they find useful and increases engagement.
• Apps should have a geospatial element to them.
• Develop apps that are cross-platform compatible. Don’t rely on just one platform.
• Make sure data from mobile apps integrate to back office.

Mobile technology is another tool in your citizen engagement toolbox. Apps can make your government more open, transparent, and collaborative.