Have you been weighing the pros and cons of creating a mobile app for your business? Many business owners, especially small business owners, often wonder if it’s really worth the time and investment to create a tailored mobile app that will just be one of the countless others they already see popping up within their industry.
However, it should actually be a simple decision. Mobile business applications have become a necessary marketing tool for all businesses, regardless of their size. You may be one of those small business owners who think developing and having an app is an unnecessary and expensive investment. However, a mobile app can actually help you engage with and build your customer base, all while driving sales and improving your business’s reputation within its specific market.
Let’s take a look at a few vital ways a mobile app can help build your small business.
Engagement with a “wired” generation
According to a 2018 Global Digital Report, worldwide internet penetration has reached 53% of the world’s population. The rate for Australia, however, is 88%, making the nation among the 20 most wired countries in the world. In addition, the number of active mobile users here is just over 18 million, nearly 74% of the country’s population.
The majority of these mobile users access the internet on their smartphones and other mobile devices, and while your small business probably has its own website, a mobile app can actually be a more effective platform for generating more sales, providing optimized customer service, and reaching an audience your website might not.
Increased customer base
A mobile app provides you with an opportunity to reach many more customers than a traditional website alone. For example, once your app is available on the different app stores and you’ve advertised it through your various social channels and networks, your product or service will gain greater exposure to a larger audience which will most likely lead to increased sales.
In addition to building your audience, a mobile app allows you to interact with your customers in real-time. So, whether you’re offering a promotion or running a customer survey, a mobile app will engage your customers in a more authentic way than just a simple transaction on your website. This enables you to build a relationship that will hopefully lead to more satisfied and loyal customers. Plus, by giving you real-time feedback from customers, a mobile app helps you determine what’s most in-demand and what’s “sitting on the shelf”—giving you the ability to focus on what your customers like most.
Promotion of your products and services on an optimal platform
A mobile app is an excellent marketing tool to showcase your products and services. The product descriptions and reviews that your app can feature will give your business an edge.
In addition, users visiting your app have instant, one-stop access to you. That being said, it’s important to stay fresh by updating your app on a regular basis to feature different products, announce exclusive sales, and offer new customer discounts.
Your well-designed mobile app will help your business and your product or service stand out amidst the competition, and the frequent updates will help develop and retain your customers’ interest. Another bonus, it will help you save money and time previously spent on other types of promotional techniques such as advertisements in newspapers, magazines, on billboards, or even on radio and television.
Improved ROI
The benefits of building a mobile app far outweigh the initial cost of investment. For example, it can help you increase the sales of your products or services at a faster rate. If you have a specific product that you want to sell out of before a certain time period, you can send “limited time” promotional coupons to your customers via your mobile business app. Promotions like these help encourage sales and also provide added publicity for your business.
In addition, you will be able to track your sales and obtain your business analytics more easily. One of the best things about technology is that it has made it easier to collect records. Your mobile app will help you track downloads, user engagement, and the products that your users are most interested in. It’ll also help you determine how to make your products more customer-centric.
Strong brand awareness
Brand awareness is vital for any business. You want people to be able to recognize and know who you are. A mobile app gives any business, big or small, credibility and helps them stand out from the competition. Mobile apps also make it easier for customers to find out specific details about your business, like your location and contact information.
And don’t forget, your app isn’t like your website where your customer has to constantly manually search for it whenever they want to visit it. Your business app will always be handy because it has a permanent home on your customer’s smart device and reminds them of your company every time they see it. It is an effective tool that connects your customers with your company and spreads awareness about your brand. Even the carefully crafted icon of your app can be instrumental as it continually reminds customers about your products.
When you decide to incorporate a mobile app into your business strategy, you are opening up a world of possibility for growth, exposure, and customer loyalty. So, whether you develop a mobile app yourself or hire a professional to do it for you, you’ll be able to expand your reach to the over 18 million people in this country who use their mobile device as their preferred form of internet interaction.
