Once your setup wizard is complete, your Layout app is ready to be shared with customers. At this stage, your app is fully branded, connected to Square, and capable of accepting orders, sending notifications, and displaying announcements. The next step is driving downloads and making customers aware that your app exists.
Your app will be available on both iOS and Android. Layout handles app distribution and hosting, so you don’t need to manage app store accounts or submissions yourself. When your app is live, you’ll have a direct download link that routes customers to the correct app store based on their device. This link can be shared anywhere you normally promote your business, including social media, email, websites, and in-store signage.
One of the most effective ways to drive downloads is through Layout Tap. Layout Tap is an NFC-based feature that allows customers to download your app by tapping their phone on a physical NFC tag in your store. These taps can be placed near the register, pickup area, tables, or entrance. When a customer taps, they’re instantly routed to your app download page. Layout tracks tap analytics so you can see how many people interacted with each tap and whether those taps resulted in app downloads.
In addition to NFC taps, staff education plays a major role in app adoption. Training your team to mention the app during checkout or pickup helps customers understand the value of downloading it. Common talking points include faster ordering, skipping the line, earning loyalty rewards, and receiving updates or promotions directly in the app.
Once customers begin downloading the app, you can start using push notifications and announcements to keep them engaged. Push notifications allow you to send updates, promotions, and reminders directly to customers’ phones without paying per message. Announcements create an in-app feed where important updates remain visible even after a notification is dismissed. Together, these tools help you maintain an ongoing connection with customers outside of the store.
It’s important to monitor analytics after launch to understand how customers are interacting with your app. The Layout dashboard provides insight into downloads, usage, orders, and NFC tap performance. These metrics help you identify what’s working and where there may be opportunities to improve engagement or visibility.
Launching your app doesn’t need to be a one-time event. Many businesses see the best results by continuously promoting their app through in-store signage, social posts, seasonal promotions, and exclusive in-app offers. Because Layout keeps everything synced with Square, you can update your catalog, pricing, and availability at any time without disrupting the app experience.
If you’re unsure how or when to launch, or want help planning your rollout, Layout support can help review your setup and suggest best practices based on your business type. Support is always available through the dashboard or at [email protected].