Can a business app boost your business? We all know that more people are accessing the internet using their smart phones than ever before. By now you should have a responsive (mobile friendly) website. But, should you take it a step further and build an app for your business? 90% of the time people spend on their phones is spent using apps. So, yes now is the time to have an app built for your business.
Once you have decided to make or have a business app created, you need to decide what sort of app you want. Your app can be a promotional tool for your business or website, or your focus can be to make money from your app.
If your main goal is to make money from your app, then the app should not be targeted towards one country. Also, avoid making an app for a seasonal event because you want people to use your app year-round. To maximize your revenue, start small and build as your app takes off. That way you have not spent a bundle on an app that no one wants. Create your app for both iPhone and Android to maximize profit.
The best way to make money from your app is to know that there is market demand for your app before you start to develop it. Go into the App store and Google Play and look at the top free, top paid, and top grossing apps in the categories in your area of interest. Download the apps and use them. Are people downloading the type of app you want to make? If they are not, maybe put that idea aside and move on to your next app idea.
If you want your business app to be a promotional tool, you will want it to be something useful that your customers can use. Apple will not publish apps that are primarily marketing material. If you want the most possible downloads, set your app’s price to ‘free’. Then, once it’s live, tell all your customers about it.
You can also make an app version of your website. Do not confuse this with a responsive website. A responsive website “responds” by rearranging and re-sizing itself depending on the type of device on which the website being viewed. Responsive design makes your website look and operate better on mobile devices.
A mobile app is a software application that you download from either Google Play (Android devices) or the App Store (iOS devices). Apps are fully functioning entities that exist separately from your website.
So, why create a business app if your website is already responsive? An app is “native” to the device on which it is designed to run, so it loads and operates faster than a responsive website on the same device.
Additionally, an app doesn’t need an Internet connection to work, which means your mobile app can always be opened and used. This is handy when a customer is not connected and wants a critical piece of business information like your phone number. If you would like to convert your website into an app version, contact us for help with this.
If your business is one that can reward your customer’s loyalty using punch card, such as a restaurant or salon, you don’t need to create an app. You can go to http://stampme.com/ and create a punch card that customers keep on their smart phone.
Once you have decided what app you want to create, you need to decide how you are going to make it. There are websites that allow you to create a free app or charge a fee for more advanced apps. However, many times this fee is a monthly fee. Your other option is to pay someone to create the app for you.
Your new business app will help you communicate with your customers and build your brand. It can also help make you’re “the expert” people go to for help.