SCAM WARNING Learn more ⚠️
Mobile apps are a business investment, and more often than not, a costly one. However, when they are developed right, apps can have a significant return on your initial investment, as well as acting as a fantastic marketing tool.
Mobile apps are a business investment, and more often than not, a costly one. However, when they are developed right, apps can have a significant return on your initial investment, as well as acting as a fantastic marketing tool.
Given how much people use their smart devices, apps are becoming as much of an asset as a tool. Even businesses where apps don’t seem essential can gain more traction by releasing a relevant app. Small businesses stand to greatly benefit from apps because people tend to love being able to find whatever they need on their smart devices.
There are many reasons for any business to take the plunge and invest in an app. This blog provides some of the most common reasons, giving you something to think about as you consider your next major investment for your business.
Marketing and promotions can take up a large part of your budget. Mobile apps can act as a great promotional tool, showing people what services and goods your business offers. For smaller businesses, it can really make you stand out from your competitors.
Apps don’t replace marketing, but they can reduce how much you spend on marketing as your app is downloaded more frequently. You can probably even drop some of the more traditional types of marketing, like billboards.
Increasing visibility frequently results in an increase in sales. Apps give you a way to advertise, show off what you have to offer, and reach a wider potential customer base. Having the ability to send push notifications can reach a lot more people than emails as people are more likely to read a sentence or two that appears on their phone. It also reminds them that they have your app on their phone, increasing the likelihood that they will make a purchase, even if you don’t offer any sales over the app. If customers receive the message while they are out running errands, they are more likely to make a stop by your place, particularly if you are promoting a sale or other offer.
One of the reasons that customers love apps is that they provide regular, easy access to find the information customers need. You can also contact and interact with them over the app. It is the quickest and easiest way to let your customers know about sales and promotions. You can also use your app to get feedback and find new ways to improve your product or services based on their feedback. Customers love to know that companies are listening to what they want, and you have a way of getting a bit of extra insight in how things might be changing.
There are many kinds of apps. You may have internal troubles with communication or want to make it easier for people who work in different locations to quickly update their tasks for other team members to see. Managers can use the app to monitor progress of a project or to let their teams know about changes that affect them.
From running reports and viewing statistics to task management and automation, team apps can help improve your company’s business processes. And this kind of app is also becoming more popular because it provides a more convenient way of managing projects. Just like customers are more likely to use an app because they have constant access to it, your staff will likely take the same approach to documenting and updating their progress on an app.
Loyalty programs have always been a great tool in helping to build a long-term relationship with customers. Apps can have that same effect because they are always present on the customers’ phones and tablets, but people are more likely to remember that they have an app than a loyalty card. Being able to integrate your current loyalty program into an app encourages you to give loyal customers additional benefits, such as exclusive deals or early access to new services.
Apps are a great way of collecting a lot of data about your product, what customers like, and what needs to be improved. It is much easier to track what is selling the most, to read customer feedback, and see how much time they spend looking through the app before making a decision.
Getting a better understanding of your customers through apps is a benefit that could give you a jump on the competition. You’ll have a better understanding of your customers' demographics and interests.
There are definitely some industries where apps are nearly essential, but most businesses could benefit from having an app of their own. Once you decide that you want or need an app, there is a good bit of work to do to ensure you start with a great first impression with your app. Getting started may seem overwhelming, but with guidance you can turn your investment into an asset.