Small business owners often mistakenly believe that a mobile app development is only worth it for large corporations or certain industries. They often believe that such applications are too expensive or too specific for their needs and assume that a generalist website will suffice. This could not be further from the truth. Almost any business, regardless of industry or size, can benefit from a mobile app. In fact, with the powerful apps on the market today, some businesses would not be able to survive without them.
Below we show you 4 reasons why investing in an App is the best thing you can do for your business.
Benefits of Creating an App
- Commit to Your Clients
Mobile apps offer businesses the opportunity to engage with customers in real time with valuable location information and other demographic data through user profiles. Effective Apps mean happy and engaged customers, which usually translates into customers who buy.
For example, the Wells Fargo App allows users to photograph a check to fund their accounts, saving the time and effort of having to find a bank or ATM. Should an ATM be needed, the app can inform users of the nearest machines based on their location. Customers can also connect with customer service managers with a single click through the App.
- Promote Your Products and Services
Marketing research has shown that customers perceive companies that offer mobile applications more positively than those do that do not. An App can make your business stand out, and help you build relationships with customers. Apart from promoting your brand, an App can also help you promote your products and services to boost sales. For example, if you own a clothing store and have an app that provides information about the user's location, you can send a discount coupon for an item to customers who are near the store, to give them an incentive to go there and buy.
- Maximize ROI
You might be wondering if you can afford a mobile app for your business, but you probably cannot afford not to invest in one.
Distimo, an app analytics company, reports that the average expense of building an app is less than one percent of business revenue. While the cost of developing an app may seem daunting, it pales in comparison to the brand improvement and additional sales it could generate.
- Expand Your Customer Base
You may already have a traditional site, but trends are increasingly moving towards mobile search and navigation. In fact, Ericsson's 2014 report indicates that mobile subscriptions will reach 9.3 billion in 2019 and $5.6 million of those will be smartphones. It can be foreseen that companies that do not have Apps and design websites compatible with mobile devices could quickly become obsolete in the market. What's more, mobile apps, especially those that are integrated with social media, can reach a younger demographic that may never otherwise come across your business.
If you still have doubts about whether an App will be good for your business, and if it is worth the investment, you should know that you could start small to test the waters before making large investments. Consider your first mobile application development design as a prototype, including only the features that will add the most value. If the pilot version of your App works in your market segment, you can start adding more features later.
It is worth trying to develop an App for your business, taking into account that it is not relatively expensive to test if it works. If the App ultimately does not suit your business, a website adapted to mobile devices may be a better option. Any of these options will allow you to engage and converse more with customers, build your customer base, and drive business sales.