As smartphones reach near ubiquity, business owners are realizing the value of a mobile app. Now is the time to do it.
Currently almost 90% of Australians aged between 18 and 50 own a smart phone, yet less than one quarter of businesses have a mobile app.
Three years ago, a business might have seen 10 percent of its total traffic coming from mobile, but now, it’s closer to 70 percent. Within the next couple of years, most business will consider building a mobile app.
So, aside from popular demand, why create an app?
Increase sales. Being visible to customers at all times is the best way to boost sales. A good mobile app can facilitate quick checkout for a purchase, which ultimately leads to a sales increase. Apps can offer a more convenient way to browse and shop, allowing customers to make purchases from anywhere.
Improve Stickiness. An installed app can create a direct marketing channel, offering easily accessible information right at their fingertips. Mobile apps are better suited for user retention and re-engaging with clients than just a responsive website. It’s always on your home screen and always logged in. Apps also allow companies to notify their customers about new deals, products, events, and so on, pulling them back into the app.
Compete in a specific market. If customers facing business want to compete with others in their market, they must hold a strong presence on mobile devices. The more often you can get customers interacting with your app, the more likely they will buying your product or service. In advertising this is called the “effective frequency”.
The following elements are the most valuable to include in mobile apps:
1. Push notifications, to allow businesses to keep close contact with news, updates, and deals.
2. Social networking, to get your users to share which is essentially free advertising.
3. Personalization, so users can configure their notifications and favourites.