By 2020, it’s estimated that there’ll be 6.1 billion smartphone users worldwide, led by the huge growth in emerging markets.
Mobile phones are a massive part of people’s lives at home and in business. Pretty much everybody spends their time on the phone throughout the day. Most of the time is spent on several apps.
When a business offers an app that contains all the main services they provide in a neat, user-friendly package, it can get to the next level.
Today, the question you should ask yourself as a small business owner is when you should get a mobile app rather than if you should get one.
If your business has no business mobile apps yet, or your app is jaded, here are 5 reasons why it’s time to create one or improve the existing one.
Always Be Visible to Customers
Most stats show that the average time people spend on mobile gadgets is increasing rapidly the world over.
According to the latest statistics, the average American spends at least two hours on a mobile device. Most of the time, the user spends time on just a few mobile apps. So, in general, this is maybe the largest exposure a business receives from users when they actively use its app.
Of course, not all mobile apps for business drive the same level of engagement and traction. In other words, not all apps require the level of user engagement that world-famous brands get. They can go after more achievable goals and get a loyal customer base.
But the biggest benefit they receive is the constant connection and visibility among their loyal customers and users. Even if you’ve got a small business, staying connected and visible all the time strengthens the bond between you and your customers.
This consequently increases your brand’s value.
Business Mobile Apps Create Brand Loyalty
Brand loyalty is massive for your business.
If you have no mobile app or any technical abilities, you might look dated or out of touch with the latest trends. This can negatively impact the performance of your small business. Creating a mobile app will set your business apart.
An app is more than just a means of distribution.
It’s a communication medium and if used properly, it can help you adapt to, learn from, and interact with your customers. Therefore, you’ll be able to address the needs of your customers while meeting your business goals at the same time.
There’s no doubt that a website offers various benefits that help strengthen a brand name. But today, it’s no longer enough to have just an online presence. Mobile apps for small businesses are now an essential part of business that you shouldn’t ignore.
Marketing and Communicating Medium
Mobile applications can be used to successfully create brand awareness through several marketing campaigns. That way, you grow your potential customer base and create trustworthy relationships with them.
The truth is that starting your own mobile application is an advertising move anyway because it lets you use other marketing media. For instance, you can release press releases or publish news about relevant resources.
In this context, what’s especially valuable is the potential to receive feedback from customers. For example, you can conduct surveys, run polls, allow customers to report errors, etc.
Monetary Profit
Even after understanding the massive potential of mobile applications in driving sales and growth, many small business owners underestimate the value of making mobile applications. In fact, they fear that the cost of developing apps will be beyond their budget and won’t pay dividends as early as they’d like.
Let’s disabuse this notion with a few credible facts.
Firstly, if your business already has a website or blog, converting either to a simple application won’t cost a fortune. Even when making a mobile app from scratch, it’s always possible to find a good developer with experience who’s willing to undertake the project at a very competitive rate.
Create a simple, content-focused application that won’t cost much while allowing quick interaction with a simple interface. Now the next question is whether your app offers something more important that others don’t.
If yes, then you can actually monetize the app and make money from it. You can do so through cross promotions and partnering with another top app or through paid downloads in feature-rich premium versions.
Long before selling your offerings, your app can market itself and make you money.
Cultivate Customer Loyalty
Lastly, the number one reason why you should make your own app is consumer loyalty.
With all the ruckus out there–newspaper ads, coupons, flyers, websites, website banners, email marketing, Facebook ads, billboards, flashing signs, and roadside banners–businesses slowly lose their hold on customers due to the huge amount of advertising going on.
It’s time to start making a real and genuine connection with your customer base and making them loyal users of your product or services. But this doesn’t mean that an app can help save your dwindling business. It can be a means to stay in touch with your customers and be only a touch away 24/7.
How to Make Mobile Apps
Now that you’ve got an idea of the various benefits of having your own mobile application, where should you start? You’ve got two options when it comes to how to build a mobile app:
- You can hire a mobile app development company, or develop your own app using an in-house development team
- You can utilize one of the best mobile app builders to create your own app without worrying about the technicalities and coding
Either way, a mobile application is fast becoming an essential component of all kinds of business. Your choice is going to lay the foundation for your business’ future, so always keep that in mind.
Wrapping Up
Business mobile apps are fast becoming the means through which customers find the products or services they need, as well as access the information they need online.
Instead of being left behind, building a mobile application for your business can help keep you visible and help your business grow.
And for some helpful articles about other ways to advertise your business, be sure to go through the business page on our blog.
