With the ever increasing ownership of smartphones, not having a mobile presence is a great disadvantage in today’s business world. However, deciding between a mobile website and mobile applications, both have their benefits and depend on your goals. Most business should have both. If you don’t already have a mobile presence, you probably want to begin with a mobile website, since this will connect with the widest possible audience. In order to target your audience with a specific purpose, and have a more direct customer interaction, a mobile app will do just this. And with your mobile website, you can easily promote your mobile app to your prospects or existing clientele.
Mobile app creation and usage is constantly increasing. In the last five years, 40 billion downloads have occurred in just the Apple store alone1. It is predicted that 56 billion across all platforms (android, apple, blackberry, windows) apps will be downloaded this year2. These apps stand to benefit your business in several ways.
Mobile Strategy
Your mobile strategy should include a mobile website, a mobile app, mobile marketing campaigns and mobile ads. Your main purpose is to create a mobile interaction with your customers. The reason your mobile App should be a constituent part of your mobile strategy is because it brings a different experience to your app users. A wide variety of flexible options are available when creating your application in order to make the app useful, valuable and functional. Some of the features of a mobile app that a mobile website does not offer include: push notifications (messages sent to users of the app), GPS coupons, and accessing a user’s camera. There are also certain tasks a mobile app can do more effectively such as personalization, interactive engagement, complex calculations, and processing. Mobile apps are also great for usage on a regular basis, and can be accessed without an internet connection.
Accessibility with NO Limitations
A mobile application is optimized for mobiles devices. When using one, people encounter no limitations that a website not optimized for mobile could bring. You want to make your content as easy to access as possible. Since people are always searching for faster ways to get products and services they want, a mobile app comes in handy because it is the fastest way to get information. A mobile app is fast, easy and simple; exactly what your customers are looking for.
Brand Loyalty
A mobile app helps you build a one-on-one relationship with your customers. The experience you are offering your customers/clients with your app is customized according to their needs. It allows you to give them coupons (through QR codes) which are one of the most powerful aspects of mobile apps. You will be able to improve your customers’ satisfaction given that you can use the mobile app for customer support and that you can deliver personalized service and content to them. With push notifications, you can keep your customers up-to-date with events or changes regarding your business and encourage customer visits with special offers and coupons. Existing clientele will appreciate your responsiveness and the new updates, and will be more likely to share with others. The interaction with your customers eventually leads to customer loyalty.
Your clients/customers carry their phones all the time
Look around you! The one thing everyone has in their hands is a mobile phone. You probably have yours nearby as well. The “anywhere/anytime” motto was made possible with mobile devices through which anyone can search, browse, buy or share anything with the world whenever they want! For this reason, mobile apps bring a higher user’s engagement. Your customers will have your app on their phone and thus will use it more frequently. Rather than having to search for your company on their search engines, they will constantly have an icon reminding them of your business! However to have them interact within your mobile app, you must create and use it in an entertaining way. This way, they will want to spend more time on your mobile app.
Stay ahead of your competition
The last thing you want for your business is to be left behind. With more and more companies investing in a mobile app, your competitors are more than likely to already have one! And if they don’t have one yet, they certainly will in the near future as they understand the benefits an app can bring. This is why it is important for your business to have a customized mobile app and stay ahead of your competition.
Developing an app will allow your business to be accessible anytime and anywhere and it will also help you build brand loyalty. With a mobile app you’ll be certain to impress your existing customers and gain new ones!
For more information on mobile apps, contact Blue Atlas Marketing today. Our team of experts will answer all the questions you may have pertaining to our mobile app services.
1Source: WinDroidMac: Apple Celebrates 5 Years of the App Store (Over 40 Billion Downloads)
2Source: ABI Research
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