Some businesses employ both apps and mobile websites. In contrast, others choose just one option based on cost, features required, audience size, usability, or audience requirements. Studies reveal that most users prefer mobile applications over websites, providing another reason for mobile app development to connect with prospective and current customers.
Why Your Company Requires Mobile And Desktop Applications Now
Many small business owners mistakenly believe that mobile application marketing, implementation, and development are solely the responsibility of giant corporations. While mobile apps might seem like the easiest way to launch the next big idea or help a startup gain traction quickly - the truth cannot be hidden: every small-business owner requires a mobile application for marketing reasons alone. Let us show why.
Why Consider Mobile App Development?
No doubt exists today regarding the success of smartphones and mobile apps; indeed, multiple figures and charts support this claim; we also can't forget how helpless it felt to leave our phones at home when leaving for an outing. What's more, users don't tend to download an application unless it directly pertains to them or their phone model - finding an ideal balance for development can only come through knowing users well and creating relevant applications tailored directly towards meeting those needs or devices is the goal we should aim towards in developing.
Mobile app developers must remain attentive to user needs when developing an app for any business - be it a small startup or large corporation - that exists to serve its users. Users are at the core of successful small businesses; responsive ideas must meet user demands; one critical success factor lies in responding directly to client requirements rather than going too far with creative 'brilliance".
Small business owners sometimes need to remember this factor when creating brilliant business plans that ignore client wants. Explore why business mobile app development projects are more advisable than other tech projects.
People Are Increasingly Using Mobile Applications
We live in an age when there are more mobile phones than people on Earth. By considering numbers as your focus for developing apps for these mobile phones, your company's options for developing such software could expand rapidly. How many apps could fit onto one device, given its abundance? Soon, desktop computers may become outdated and less practical for daily tasks than smartphones can handle.
Utilize this data to generate reports, conduct market research on your target audience (both work- and vacation environments), observe them at work or play, conduct constant observations, and take constant note-taking of observations made throughout. Analytical analysis allows you to develop an app with useful features, an intuitive interface, and seamless user experiences - perfect for business use cases.
Easy Notification Sending
Email has quickly become the primary communication vehicle among businesses over the past 20 years, used extensively (and at times misused) by them to contact customers and communicate. But its effectiveness has become less efficient as its open and click rates keep decreasing. Don't fret over anything. There's absolutely nothing to be concerned about here.
Notifications for mobile apps offer two exciting communication methods that users will appreciate: push and in-app notifications. Both provide practical ways of reaching out without intruding too heavily into users' experience of your app. Mobile applications have many reasons to appeal to businesses.
Push notifications allow users to receive in-app and push notifications at different points while interacting with mobile devices. When opening an application, in-app notifications may arrive immediately. In contrast, push notifications arrive regardless of user activity on their mobile phone device.
Push notifications have shown click-through rates as high as 40% in some instances, making Engage an excellent platform to send push notifications if your business runs mobile websites or creates applications. Make an account now to experience for free how straightforward and effortless sending notifications can be for desktop and mobile users.
Mobile Device Features To Make Use Of
Applications designed specifically for mobile devices can take advantage of features like the camera, contacts list, GPS location, calls, accelerometer, and compass to gain advantage from. Apps using these features can increase user satisfaction.
These features also allow users to reduce their effort. When filling out forms on banking apps, users will often need to upload photos. They can use their phone camera's photo capabilities for this process. Interrelated features decrease the time required to complete tasks within apps and increase conversion rates.
Offline workability
One key difference between apps and mobile websites is how they're constructed. For instance, the former requires constant Internet connectivity, while the latter offers the option to work offline. Apps may also require Internet connectivity to perform most tasks while offering core functionality and content when used offline.
Take banking apps as an example. Apps may offer features like tax calculations, loan limit determination, and installment calculations even without an Internet connection.
Freedom In Design
While web design advances have advanced rapidly, mobile websites rely heavily on browser features for functions like browsing, such as the refresh/back/address bars, for functioning correctly.
On the other hand, apps created specifically for mobile devices do not fall under such restrictions. Apps have become more sophisticated over the years and employ advanced gestures such as tapping, swiping, dragging, pinching, and holding to complete various functions.
Apps using swipe gestures enable innovative features that help the user complete tasks more efficiently, from providing access to further steps within an activity to moving seamlessly from step to step.
Brand Experience
A mobile app development company provides users with a unique brand experience as it exists independently of the company website. It enables companies to experiment with various branding styles, enabling an app's branding style to differ significantly from company websites or overall businesses. Companies can go one step further and create apps explicitly tailored to help their transition between brand styles.
Mobile applications often allow users to customize their appearance to meet their tastes, creating an app tailored specifically for you. By personalizing it for yourself and adding details that suit you personally, users will create their ideal experience using it. This also adds another personalization element.
Convert Users Through Mobile Applications
Mobile apps offer users a powerful way to move through the conversion funnel quickly and smoothly. Apps can help your company acquire users at the top of your funnel (ToFu) and bottom (BoFu). Utility apps may attract ToFu users that could eventually become BoFu leads. In comparison, eCommerce applications tend to attract BoFu customers who are more likely to convert.
Brand Presence
Consumers are increasingly utilizing mobile devices, and with that comes frequent interaction between apps installed and users who utilize them - an opportunity for branding the application in question. Brand recognition remains even when users do not actively utilize mobile applications; app icons act as mini advertisements that promote brand awareness.
Application-related experiences on mobile phones can subliminally influence consumers' impressions of brands. Signal Detection Theory suggests that even ads previously ignored by users are processed on some level by some parts of their brains.
Apps Are Faster Than Websites
With adequately developed applications, tasks can often be accomplished more rapidly than mobile websites. Apps store data directly on mobile devices instead of websites' servers, making retrieving it quickly possible.
Apps save users time by remembering their preferences, taking proactive actions on behalf of users, or even saving their preferences directly. Mobile app frameworks are five times more efficient than javaScript codes in terms of efficiency and speed of action within them, contributing to an enjoyable user experience for end-users.
Your Brand Is Visible Worldwide
With mobile technology omnipresence, users are now more accessible than ever, interacting and engaging your brand anywhere - be it their pocket, office desk, cafe table, or home. Mobile applications offer unprecedented engagement rates that often far surpass expectations, making mobile an invaluable component of any successful business strategy.
Your brand will be noticed in New York City, Shanghai, Cape Town, or London, work or vacation. Mobile apps made specifically to promote brands can have limitless potential; all it requires is an excellent idea and expert implementation in software.
Creativity Is Essential When Developing Mobile Applications
If you find most business goals apps dull, creating to-do lists for your company could help set yourself apart, make an impressionable statement, and show your exquisite taste and creativity. Decide whether creating the app for business or fun purposes only while including some creative features is best; an MVP (minimum viable product) version could even be developed initially to test user response and gauge results more precisely.
Imagine outside of the box. A successful user experience extends far beyond an attractive interface; instead, an engaging, attractive experience provides lasting user engagement that engages, attracts, and maintains its members. Give users what they need with your app by carefully crafting experiences for users to remember.
Imagine you have enough information about your business to generate a list of tasks needed while meeting user group demands. In such a scenario, an app version that contains these elements and an automated function to track them could be the way forward. According to current trends, being creative or weird is acceptable, and mobile apps provide another excellent means of drawing users in.
Diversifying Demographics With An Emphasis On Young Population
It would be helpful for your company to define an exact target market. Say your chosen demographic consists of teenagers or young millennials - you could consider creating mobile applications explicitly aimed at this audience segment, as there are more possibilities open than serving elderly consumers directly. Besides serving seniors directly, small business apps have become part of everyday life for children and adults.
Your audience has expectations and wants certain features in a mobile application; what would teenagers prefer in one?
Teenagers tend to take to mobile apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube Kik that allow for chatter and sharing photos and music videos - these may need to be better received among millennials and older generations. But remember that teens are an ideal target market, and their interest in mobile devices changes often.
On the one hand, creating a startup app may simplify capturing their attention, and you may face less stiff competition with other top mobile or business apps. Your goal should be to stand out among millions of other startup apps to make an impressionable statement about yourself or an impactful statement of intent.
Build A Mobile Application Quickly And Affordably
Mobile smartphone applications can be developed more rapidly than desktop or web-based systems. However, be aware that you can build one in an afternoon or for $1,000; simple apps with no third-party integrations tend to take two months at most to develop.
Release of more complex apps with integrations such as third-party APIs and payment systems will typically require three to four months or longer, requiring careful concept development, planning, design, and development efforts for maximum impact. To develop an unforgettable mobile application, you must invest time, planning, and effort throughout its creation - not to mention user testing. To be a genuinely outstanding mobile application.
Startup companies on a tight budget may benefit from developing their small business app. By taking complete control over time, budget, and implementation frameworks for the development of an app, they will bear ultimate responsibility for any delays and bugs that arise as part of implementation - this means hiring professional software engineers if desired for optimal results.
Any business should hire experienced mobile app developers to stay proactive with its mobile app needs and avoid delays. Hired engineers could form part of your engineering team; starting one might seem costly when considering insurance costs, wages/salaries/bonuses each month when hiring developers may prove more suitable.
Another suitable approach would be forming a technology partnership with an established software development firm. You should ensure the firm you select has experience working with companies of various sizes; then, you can rely on quality engineering and professionalism from your chosen dedicated team in managing and creating mobile apps for your project.
Also Read: From Your Desk To Your Pocket- Brands Shift From Websites To Apps!
Which Should Come First: The Mobile App Or Website?
While developing both can be expensive, you may need to decide between them according to budget and goals. Mobile apps offer greater operational efficiencies and personalization features for customers, providing excellent conversion rates while keeping existing clients.
How can you ensure that your mobile app delivers on its promise and drives growth for your company, rather than becoming yet another channel you must manage? One solution lies in rigorously testing it.
Enhance the user experience of your mobile app through A/B testing features, flows, and other UI changes that enhance conversion rate, engagement, and retention rates. Mobile App Testing offers a robust mobile experimentation tool designed to create engaging user experiences while mitigating risk in development project requirements - request a demo today from one of our experts to learn how this innovative solution can boost critical metrics.
Businesses of all shapes and sizes can benefit from mobile apps. But it takes more than simply creating one with your brand name to increase sales or strengthen customer relations - what are the secrets to running an effective app store and Google Play Store competition? There are more than 2,67 million applications on both stores combined - we will explore some top apps from leading brands in today's post as we examine why businesses require an application.
How To Create A Successful Business Mobile App
Mobility provides your customers a new means to interact with you: Not about you or any personal goals, and should be engaging and trustworthy. Your app idea must reflect directly upon your brand to successfully meet PR and marketing goals.
Solve problems for users: Create an idea in your mobile app that will address business challenges faced by clients and enable them to overcome issues intuitively.
Use the monitor to gather insight into customer habits when using their phones and then integrate the apps to match. This can simplify life by giving insight into which features and functions customers most commonly utilize and when and what actions are performed within apps. Businesses can then leverage this data to tailor the features and functionality of their app to enhance overall user extensive experiences.
Surprise and Delight. Beyond providing practical functionality for users of an app, its emotional element should be addressed - such as offering unexpected discounts or services at no cost or sharing an engaging narrative story that adds extra meaning for everyone involved.
Also Read: Understand the difference between Mobile Commerce and E-Commerce
Here Are Five Mobile Applications That Have Brought Great Brands Success Through Mobile Technology
There needs to be more than just launching mobile applications or running several small businesses alone; many entrepreneurs struggle to run more than one enterprise despite seemingly limitless opportunities. Successful enterprises share some common characteristics.
Nike
Nike, the sportswear giant, has expanded their clientele through providing comprehensive health and fitness services. Beginning in 2006 with their loyalty program to increase customer numbers, Nike unveiled their fitness app accessible to all. This app has given Nike customers a competitive edge by offering guided exercises and acting as sales tools that encourage purchases of Nike merchandise. It is used effectively as part of its sales strategies.
Nike recently unveiled their Nike App. Through this platform, members can access products offered by Nike across Southeast Asia, India, and other regions - offering advantages including access to all their latest offerings and benefits for membership.
Nike is showing incredible progress these days; according to reports, its revenue increased 96% year over year since being affected by the lockdown last year, reaching $12,3 billion and up 21.1% year on year compared with 2019 fourth-quarter revenue figures. Revenue also shows an upward trend from pre-pandemic figures; digital solution and direct performance has driven direct sales up 73% at $4.5 Billion, which represents 31% of their overall total revenues.
Find Out More About Ikea
Ikea Place allows customers to photograph their home and virtually place Ikea furniture to see how well it fits the room. It creates excitement while helping customers locate products quickly in-store. Users were instructed to lay the printed catalog down after selecting an item by scanning its page; then, this catalog served as an anchor image in 3D space for viewing purposes.
Results: According to company reports, the application has significantly strengthened customer loyalty while streamlining multiple company decision-making processes. According to download figures from iTunes Stores worldwide, over 8 Million apps were purchased via this channel alone.
McDonald's
McDonald's used Instagram - the world's premier photo-sharing and sharing videos app - as an engagement strategy and promotion vehicle, inviting their customers to use the platform by taking photographs of their meals via this photo-sharing application. In March 2013, they conducted an Instagram campaign encouraging customers to use it and post images via this platform.
McDonald's recently unveiled an app offering free plans. Customers can access their menu while receiving exclusive coupons that encourage ordering.
Results: McDonald's launched their sixth iAd to advertise products while taking full advantage of this device's interactive abilities to deliver an engaging experience to their target customers. Their Instagram expansion proved immensely popular as new eyes were drawn to old products. In contrast, user-generated material proved influential for customer retention and engagement.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, another well-known brand, has mobile app development services for its business. Coke uses modern technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to analyze consumer purchasing patterns and how consumers respond to campaigns or offers.
Coca-Cola initiated its digital transformation initiative to better meet consumer needs, including mobile app usage. Customers now use loyalty points for discounts or special offers on drinks; some countries even allow one app for purchasing brand-name soft beverages from vending machines.
Results: Coca-Cola was another of our companies that saw both profit and growth during the period leading up to the pandemic outbreak. Revenue exceeded estimates by $10.13 Billion over its expected $9.32 Billion for 2019.
Starbucks
Starbucks' Business Application was released for free and paid use in 2009. It allows users to locate nearby coffee shops and learn about coffee types and roasts; additionally, they may suggest drinks. Two years later, Starbucks strengthened its digital footprint with Card Mobile App integration onto user phones.
Starbucks provides customers with many features and services, from ordering for pickup in advance or paying on the spot to their loyalty program, whereby users earn Stars that can be exchanged for food and drinks at Starbucks stores nearby. Furthermore, their mobile app features other helpful functions like typing your barista's name or searching for songs being played locally.
Results: Starbucks's mobile platform assets in 2013 totaled 621 million dollars; revenues generated through mobile platforms totaled $146,000, or 8.8% of overall revenues in 2014. Annualized transaction costs have decreased as no third-party credit card companies are involved with transactions anymore.
Last thoughts
Imagine there were as many mobile applications on Earth compared to all of its phones; how many apps might currently reside on your device and match up with all possible situations and needs of millions?
Mobile applications have become an indispensable aspect of modern business strategies, and companies cannot ignore them. Apps provide small business owners with tools that help keep in contact with customers while keeping things organized - as well as becoming instantly recognizable by them. An increasing number of smartphone users demand quality products to gain ground in this competitive space. Quality must always come first if your goal is to break into it successfully.
