There came a time when handing someone a business card without a web address printed on it was like groping in the dark for a footprint when the whole wide world already had firm impressions under the brightness of the Sun.
Today, it is somewhat of a similar scenario if all you have to show for an online presence is a website. If you are wondering why, here are some stunning statistics about today's internet users.
80% of internet users have a smartphone.
Apps account for 89% of mobile media time, with the other 11% spent on websites.
Over 50% of smartphone users grab their smartphone immediately after waking up.
68% of companies have integrated mobile marketing into their overall marketing strategy.
83% of B2B marketers said mobile apps were important to content marketing.
An important tech trend called "Internet of Things" is very mobile app-centric.
Mobile apps have taken centre-stage in our lives in many ways - reading news, shopping, searching for like-minded people, ordering food, looking for services, checking out reviews, testing new products, booking tickets for events, using social media- mobile apps have slowly but surely entwined themselves in our daily lives because of the sheer value they offer.
1. Increased visibility
Due to the amount of time an average mobile user spends on the mobile device( 75% people even take the phone with them to the bathrooms!). With the usage being so high, it's much more likely that the user comes across your app and subconsciously registers it while scrolling for what he needs- even if he seldom uses your app contributing a great deal to the brand-building exercise.
2. Effective marketing
Apps make it easier to serve what your customer is really looking for with the ability to provide insights into prices, flash sales, news, booking forms, etc. 4. Build Brand and Recognition
3.Improved availability to customers
Apps make it easier for customers to reach you(and your clients), with most apps offering the messaging or the helpdesk feature. Certain apps like FoodPanda trigger a domino effect of better customer engagement with other business they sign up with as well. For example, if a customer orders food via FoodPanda, the restaurant which picked the order also has to stick to better customer support standards.
4. Customer Loyalty
An app that serves customers literally at their fingertips has a much better chance of building a long-lasting connection with the customer than other advertising media like billboards, flyers, etc.
With all the above advantages, it's not surprising to find even your neighborhood coffee shop offering you a voucher with an enticing discount to simply download their mobile app.
Like everything else, it becomes critical to plan the resources required for a mobile app for your business.
Planning: Planning for a mobile app is similar to planning for a major product. It requires planning for timelines, mapping key features, finding the right people building prototypes. Here is a list of 12 things you must know to build your first app.
Cost : Once you have a fair idea about what your app should address, you could leverage information resources to answer your questions on the cost of developing an app. Websites like howmuchcostanapp take you through a series of questions and estimate the cost based on what you need for your app. Critical questions involved in the design of an app - What login credentials do you need? Do you need a database integrated? Do you require a website integration? It serves to help you with the design of your app and thinking through the entire workflow.
About the author:
Devishobha Chandramouli is the founder and editor of Kidskintha- a platform dedicated to helping millennial parents raise happy kids. Get your own FREE copy of the eBook "137 Proven Productivity Hacks For The Millennial Parent" now.