iPhone apps can be a strong tool to promote existing brands to their customers. Not only is there the option of to sell additional tools or services related to the brand, apps enable brands to stay in the minds of consumers when they are engaged in other activities in their life. Brands can be present when they are not normally, reinforcing customer loyalty and the chance of repeat sales.

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However, not all brands are making their apps work. In fact, thestreet.com has reported that 80% of brand iphone apps are downloaded less than 1,000 times. In many cases, this level of sales will not be enough to cover the cost of iPhone app development. Here are three of the best branded apps, which companies could learn from:

Domino’s Pizza

This is a free app which, basically put, allows you to order a pizza from your mobile device. However, it really works. After you put your delivery information in, you can browse the full range of pizzas, adding the toppings you love, right down to choosing which topping to put on the left and the right hand side. Choose your base and apply any offers you may have then place your order. Then track the pizza from the store right to your house.

Ben 10 “Mouth Off”

This is a great little app for kids, especially popular with little boys. Choose the alien mouth from popular Cartoon Network’s Ben10 show and put the iPhone in front of your own mouth, facing out. The microphone will then pick up your voice and sync it perfectly with the animated mouth. Warning: could encourage children to scream and shout! Cost: Free or $2.99.

Jamie Oliver – 20 Minute Meals

The celebrity chef has really outdone himself with this app. Beautifully illustrated and complete with 60 quick meals, it is a serious cooking app. With a price tag of $7.99 it is appealing more to the cookbook market then traditional apps, but our personal experience and the reviews online suggest that this is a highly usable app that can really help you put together a tasty, healthy meal in hardly any time at all.

The secret is finding being able to bring what your company or brand does to the consumer in a way that is cool (so hard to define, but something everyone knows when they see it) and flawlessly simple to use. There’s the challenge, but these companies prove that when you get it right, you reap the rewards.

Guest post by OneResult Web & Mobile Solutions, who created the StaySafe iPhone app safety management system, launching soon.