If you are a small business owner and don’t have a mobile app, you need to build one. Many small businesses understood, to stay competitive in the current business scenarios, you have to take business on mobile. Having a web presence or a mobile-friendly website is not just enough, as online user activity is rapidly shifting to mobile. A business app means connecting with on-the-go customers and employees as well as providing a platform to both your employees and customers to connect with each other anytime and anywhere.
Simply put, business apps are no longer “Branding Exercise” for small businesses, it has become an effective marketing and operation tool which can simplify online purchases to easy-to-access information. The benefits are undeniable, that’s why every company must have one mobile app for a smarter business.
Why you need a Mobile App?
There are many business reasons to build an app for your business, which we will discuss in the later part of this blog. Earlier, there were many challenges like the higher cost of custom app development, longer time, user complications etc. in developing a business app. But the recent evolution of software development and related technologies has streamlined the app development process and made it affordable as well as user-friendly. The quick development time and reduced cost of development has allowed businesses to take their business to mobile.
In 2020… There will be a widespread belief that the World Wide Web is less important and useful than in the past and apps are the dominant factor in people’s lives.
Pew Research Internet Project
Another reason is the dramatic rise of the social media user base. Customers are getting more tech savvy and are open to engaging with brands socially on a day-to-day basis. Business owners are taking this opportunity to interact and personalize their service more. Personalised content, fun to use features and more customer engagement strategies with a strong call-to-action option can boost your business revenue and brand value.
Business Advantages of having a Mobile App
The mobile device world is constantly growing, evolving, and creating staggering opportunities for businesses that market themselves through mobile apps. There are various advantages of having a mobile app for your business. Let’s check few of them:
Visibility
Research shows a USA citizen spends more than 2 hours on the mobile phone every day. While they use only a few applications, but are always curious about new applications. Users always scroll App Stores and also search applications they are looking for. It can be an advantage for you to be there in the app list. Mobile visibility is very important for any business.
A Marketing Tool
Your mobile application can be one of the best marketing tools for your business. Applications serve many features and functions like company info, product info, product list, product descriptions, prices, search options, messengers, news feed, user accounts, buying option, booking option, tracking option and much more. Your customer can get all these information with a fingertip. You can easily promote any product or service at any point of time to anyone. Push messages can be sent as a promotional option.
Personalized Service
Your offerings could be personalize. Mobile apps allow you to engage your customers more closely and One-to-One. You can digitalize your loyalty program. Mobile apps can offer your customers to earn reward points by sharing or purchasing your products. This will increase your mobile app traffic and more users would love to return to your app. Personalized wishes, offers, coupon codes, promotional information are proving out to be a great marketing strategy.
Brand Building
A mobile app is like a black paper. You can design it the way you want. You can make it functional, powered with features, attractive, technically sound, informative, or surprising. Ultimate motive behind building mobile app is to provide an awesome experience to your users. The more you can engage your users in your app, the more are the chances that they will buy something from there. In marketing, it is known as effective frequency. This can boost your brand value and brand recognition.
More Customer Engagement
Every business needs to think of a strategy, by which they can interact with their customers and customers can easily reach them. A mobile app is the most convenient way for service provider and users. A simple help desk feature can minimise the gap between the service provider and the customer. There are many established businesses following this business model. Instead of calling, your customers can book, buy a product of their choice and preference directly with a 3D view. Ultimately, you will have a “more engaged customer base” around your business.
I can’t overstate how mobile is changing how we interact with our customers, we have to embrace these changes
Joel Anderson, CEO of Walmart
One step ahead from Competition
Small businesses are still far from a business app. Though many are thinking about this, you can take a step forward and implement the mobile strategy. It will definitely allow you to go one step forward from your competition. It will also surprise your customers.
Call to Action
The reason behind companies adapting a mobile strategy is to increase their brand value as well as to use it as a source to maximise revenue. If you have a kickass mobile marketing strategy and enable your users to visit your application more often, you need a call to action option to convert the visit into customers. Customers are spending less time in decision making before purchasing anything. A call to action option can simplify the process and you can add revenue quickly.
More than sales, it is Experience
An app can power your business a constant presence on your customer’s phones, offering them an easily accessible information right at their fingertips. A mobile-friendly website and a mobile app both are different tools. Native Mobile applications are the best suited for customer retention and higher engagement. An app offers your customers an experience, more than sales for you. An experience which made them open your app often.
Mobile Scheduling, Reminders, Payment
Mobile apps have various features for various industries. E.g. you are into service industry like online food retail, healthcare, salon, spa, laundry etc. A mobile app can be helpful for your target customers to book an appointment. Then you can use push notifications or messages to update them about their appointment. Mobile payment is one of the most popular online payment option now-a-days. Small businesses can integrate payment option in their mobile app and can collect direct payments through credit cards, debit cards, online payment or payment through any third party. Mobile payments are user friendly, secure and very fast.
Also Read: How can a Mobile App help your Retail Store to Succeed?
Communication and Collaboration
Those days are gone when customers used to write emails or have to wait in a queue to connect with a customer service executive over the phone to communicate with their service provider. People expect quicker communication and even faster service. Mobile app can be a very effective way for communication. It will minimize time, cost and enhance collaboration. You can connect with your customers irrespective of geographical presence at any time.
Customer Support & Analytics
A mobile app can be used as a customer support tool. You can provide 24/7 customer support through your app help desk. It reduces time per customer as well as improves efficiency.
Mobile Analytics is a blessing for any business. You can have a 360 degree view of your entire business process. You can keep track of emails, contacts, appointments, team meetings, projects, financials etc. Sale support analytics can be added, which can automate your entire sales lifecycle and your sales team can close more deals quickly. A mobile analytics solution integrated with your business app saves time, gives you real time actionable insights, looks more organized and can optimize overall productivity. It can be proved as a perfect growth model for your business.
Conclusion
Convinced? Still thinking? Why almost all successful businesses are there on mobile? Facebook, Amazon, Verizon Wireless, Bank of America and many more having mobile apps along with web applications. They are successful and market leaders. There must be some reason behind.
Convinced? I think, for sure. Now you understood the importance and numerous benefits of a business mobile app. how are you planning to start? You have two options. Either you build it by yourself by hiring experts or you can outsource it to specialists who has already build market leading mobile applications. Either way, you plan, a mobile app is going to be a standard component of any business in the future. The mobile strategy you make today is going to decide your future credibility.
Apogaeis, is a world class mobile application development company. Our team of android and iOS mobile application developers developed a lot of innovative and user centric mobile applications for all kind of industries and businesses. We create long term value for our clients by identifying both risk and opportunities in the market. Feel free to talk to our consultant, do not hesitate to as for quotation, it is FREE. We will give your idea a mobile touch. Contact Us now and share your idea.
