Nine reasons why your business needs an app

Apps, apps, apps – what is all the fuss about? Are they just a passing craze or does your business really need to have one? Here are nine reasons why you should consider an app.

The short answer to the question “Does your business needs an app?” is, “Yes, your business may well need to have one”. It’s almost 2021 and if your business doesn’t have an app then you’re missing a trick. But why? 

While many people think apps are just an accessory that big brands have, they actually serve more of a purpose than that and many smaller businesses are now following the trend and getting an app of their own.

Having an app can be part of an effective mobile strategy which involves more than just having a mobile-friendly website and is essential for a successful business as more and more people are using their mobile devices to surf the web as opposed to laptops or desktops. 

When it comes to app development, it’s important to choose a company who has the experience and can help you to create something that adds value to your business.

Having a dedicated mobile app that is working for you will not just set you apart from your competition and put you ahead of the game but it will also give you the following nine benefits.

1) You’ll have increased visibility

Statistics say that people spend more than two hours a day on their mobile phones, and while this doesn’t mean that they are using every app during this time, it does mean that they’re only the touch away from their downloaded apps.

And if they see your app icon right in front of them, then they might just click on it. Or if they receive a notification from your app while they’re on their phone then you might just be able to grab their attention at the right time.

Even if not, your business certainly stands a better chance at being at the top of someone’s mind if your app logo has been starting them in the face during the day.   

2) They’re a direct marketing channel

You can choose for your app to do whatever you want it to do. For example, if you want to be somewhere where your customers buy your products or book your services, then you can.

Or it can be a place to provide information for people, a place where they can get deals and offers. It gives you another platform for you to market your business and let people know what’s going on with it. 

3) It builds your brand reputation

Having a branded mobile app that looks good and is user friendly will make your business more attractive to potential customers.

It tells people that you are professional, that you are modern, that you are ahead of the game, that you’re on the ball and you give your customers what they want and think about them in your business decisions

4) You’ll improve your customer engagement

It doesn’t matter what business you have, customers need to be able to get hold of you when they need to, and an app gives them another way of doing this.

It means that there is somewhere else where they can find the answers to their questions or message you directly. Having this as part of your business will make a big difference in how you communicate with your customers and they will appreciate that. 

5) You’ll stand out from the competition

Many businesses are still unsure whether they need an app or not and they’re not sure what they would do with one. So if you have one for your business and get it right, make it useful to both your business and your customers then you will set yourself apart from the competition and be one step ahead.   

6) You’ll get more sales 

If as mentioned you use your app wisely to let customers know about promotions and discounts then you will encourage your customers to buy more.

With the help of geolocation technology, you can even use your app to target customers who are walking past and send them an offer there and then or you can incentivise your app by offering discounts to those who download and use it.  

7) You’ll have valuable analytics

Apps are a great way to collect useful information such as products your customers buy the most, how much time they spend on the app and which functions they use the most. You can use this information and analyse it so that you can build on what your customers love about your business. 

8) You’ll be available offline

And finally, one of the biggest differences between a mobile app and a website is that your customers don’t need to be online to see the essential information and content.

With a website, visitors need a good internet connection to download a page so they can see it. While apps still require an internet connection or data, many of them can still offer basic functionality when they are offline.

Photo by Christian Wiediger