If you are a small business owner and your business does not have a mobile app, then you surely need to get one. If you have a proper web presence along then it is no longer sufficient as online activity continues to shift to mobile. Smartphone apps have become very important marketing tool for small business owners no one can do without.
The use of Smartphone has been rising nowadays. As per statistics, Americans check their mobile phones at least once per hour. Most of the mobile phone time is now devoted to using apps. Nowadays people spend more time looking at the mobile phones than they do at watching television.
This rise in mobile-phone usage means that Smartphone apps have become the key marketing tool for companies of all sizes including small businesses. Mobile apps increase engagement with customers. They can boost repeat visits, and permit a wide range of online transactions which include deployment of loyalty cards, push promotions and ecommerce transactions. Apps deliver coupons and send announcements which build the sales with customers. Apps can surely accelerate the contact with the company which will be enhanced by buyers. With Smartphone icons you can even build brands by providing visual design which the customers will recognize.
The common pre notion of various small business owners is that getting an app is surely expensive and difficult. In fact, they are worried about the need to build different apps for various platforms which the customers’ uses like iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry. They are unsure about building dynamic or static apps and there is difficulty of coming with the right app design. Moreover, there are various small-business owners which do not have the expertise to build the apps themselves.
Those who think that they do not need a native mobile app because their site is mobile friendly they are surely missing huge potential apps have over websites. Just think about these questions, before you think about the right step the thing why you need an app
As per statistics, the average American spends more than two hours a day right on his or her mobile device. Probably only a handful of applications make up the bulk of the total usage but it does not change the fact that each user has to unlock, scroll and scan the device for apps one is looking for. Our mind unconsciously records every image and text it comes across- even if it happens unnoticed.
Apps serve various functions as they provide you general info, prices, booking forms; search features user accounts, messengers, news feeds and much more. One of the big benefits of having a mobile app is that all the information you would like to provide to the customers is there including promotions right at the fingertips. With push notifications, you can get closer to direct interaction easily reminding customers about the products and services.
Taking about on-hand information and also about how digitalizing impacts loyalty program? Instead of sticking to various old-point collection cards, just make it possible for customers to collect rewards via mobile app. The result? More downloads and more return customers.
A mobile app for the business can greatly contribute to the brand awareness. There are two aspects which can make the app a true winner:
Brand: Your mobile app is a like a brand billboard sign. You can do whatever you want with it right from making it stylish, functional, hip, shocking or informative. But what you really want to create an app which has features which the customers will love as well as same time be well branded and beautifully designed.
Recognition: The more often you can get to customers involved with the app, the sooner they will be inclined to buy product and service. In advertising, this is called effective frequency increasing your brand to be noticed nearly 20 times than what they will get truly noticed.
No matter whether you are offering flowers or spa services, your customers surely needs to get in touch with you. If your app has a messaging feature within it then it can surely make a difference in the way you communicate with the customers. Customers will seriously prefer communicating with via text rather than phone.
Small business sector has still not started building mobile apps in full-fledged manner. It is rare to find mobile applications at small business level. This is the area where you can gain an edge over the rivals. You will be the first company in the region which offers mobile application? Your customers would certainly competition.
Last and but the least, the most important reason why should consider building your mobile app is customer loyalty. With all sort of noise out there- roadside banners, flashing signs, newspaper ads, flyers, coupons, websites, websites banners, Facebook ads and email marketing- we slowly lose the impact on customers because of the immense amount of advertising surrounding us. It is certainly time to go back to make a true and sincere connection with the customers making them a loyal lover of the product or service.
Surely the above points states the fact that opting for a mobile app for your business can be beneficial. So why not give it a try and take these services and you may seriously benefit from it.