At some point, every business wonders whether it’s time to expand into mobile. But, it’s important for business owners to understand that expanding into mobile doesn’t mean simply creating a mobile-friendly website. These days, consumers are more interested in using mobile apps. In fact, it’s estimated that the average U.S. adult spends about five hours per day using the apps on his or her phone. Still not convinced? Here are a few other reasons why you should seriously consider developing an app for your business:
Easier to Buy Products or Book Services
Customers love using mobile apps because they often make it easier for them to buy products or book services with a business. If you incorporate this type of feature in your app, it can help you grow your business. For example, create an app that lets customers see what appointment times are still available so they can reserve a spot ahead of time. If you sell products, let customers put all of the items they want in a cart so they can come in a few hours later and quickly pick it up. Customers will appreciate that you are making their lives easier by offering this service on your app, and they will respond by doing business with your company.
Push Notifications
Have you ever received a notification on your phone about the local weather or news? This is a push notification, and it’s a feature that allows businesses to engage with people who have downloaded the business’s app even when they are not using it. If you decide to build an app, make sure that it has this feature. Sending a push notification when you get new products, mark down your current inventory, or have an important announcement can re-engage users that aren’t currently using your app. This is a great way to increase customer retention and generate additional revenue from customers that otherwise would not be thinking about your business.
Loyalty Program
Many businesses offer customers the opportunity to sign up for a loyalty program within the app. Businesses can launch a loyalty program outside of an app, but it’s much more convenient for customers to be able to access their accounts on their phones. If you choose to do this, you can reward customers every time they spend money with your business or refer your business to someone else. This is an effective way of encouraging customers to make repeat purchases and spread the word to friends and family members. But, make sure that the rewards you offer through the app are valuable enough to entice users to work towards them. For instance, a reward valued at $1 will not motivate users in the same way that a reward valued at $10 will.
So you see, there are many reasons why developing an app may benefit your business. But unfortunately, if you’re just starting out, it’s possible that you won’t have the budget or resources to build an app. If you have a small marketing budget, don’t let this hold you back from promoting your business. There are plenty of other inexpensive marketing ideas that you can use to grow your company. These ideas can help you increase revenue so you can eventually fund the development of your app!
About the Author
Nick Rojas is a business consultant and journalist who lives in Chicago and his hometown Los Angeles with his wife. His work often discusses social media, marketing, and branding in regards to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
