Nowadays, marketing is all about being flashy-catchy, staying 24/7 connected to a customer, and delivering firsthand information in the most original and entertaining way. How can a small business manage all this at once? You’ve got the answer right in your pocket.
The smartphone is steadily becoming an essential element of everyday life; thus, an app is one of the easiest ways to draw attention to a product. Hence, it is only natural that the issue of “whether a small business needs a mobile app or not?” will be raised sooner or later before every thoughtful businessman. Stay calm; the solution is as simple as flipping a “yes/yes” coin. And we are here to nudge your hand.
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, having a mobile app can serve as a vital touchpoint between small businesses and their customers. Amid the global push towards mobile-first strategies, a dedicated app not only enhances customer experience but also aligns with the increasing preference for mobile transactions and interactions.
As smartphones become more interconnected, small businesses can leverage mobile apps to provide seamless services, timely communication, and a personalized user experience that meets modern consumer expectations. This strategic approach is crucial for staying competitive and relevant in a digital-centric market.
Table of Contents
What are the main hardships of deciding?
1. “My business doesn’t need a mobile app”
A small business might not be in need of a mobile app right now because it simply cannot afford it. It’s especially tough for a startup to manage the budget so that app expenses would fit the plan.
By reviewing current trends, you would come to the conclusion that a mobile app for a small business is becoming a necessity. And deciding between sooner or later, you prefer to relish the marvelous benefits of a mobile app for your business ASAP.
2. “I already have email and social media marketing.”
Actually, everyone does. You’re a grain of sand on the beach, so what is your brilliant plan to win over a customer? On social media, everyone’s busy with their personal lives and rarely interested in buying a sofa, for instance. However, we should agree that SMM is really suitable for entertainment and some other kinds of services.
Emails are becoming history. According to research, only 20% of emails are opened by the recipient, and only about 5% of people click the link within. In contrast, 30-60% of users open push notifications, and about 40% interact with the app immediately following the notification.
While email and social media marketing are foundational elements of digital marketing, they often lack the personalization and immediate engagement that a mobile app can offer.
A mobile app allows for more targeted and real-time interactions, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty. With features like personalized push notifications and unique in-app offers, Businesses can create a more engaging and interactive marketing environment that sets them apart from competitors who only use traditional digital channels.
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3. “What makes an app such a valuable marketing tool?”
It’s certain that email marketing, SMM, TV ads, etc., are all important marketing tools. Also, a mobile-friendly site is a real necessity for today’s digital market, and it seems like it might do everything a mobile app can. Still, a mobile app contains a couple of useful functions you might find attractive.
Push notifications Not only can customers bother you now, but you can also pay back! Right in the middle of the night! Or 10 minutes before the alarm clock! Make them suffer! Ahaha! Wait, don’t really do that. Instead, send something sweet. A compliment or a good luck wish would be appreciated even at 4 a.m.
Also, if you have a service business, let clients make appointments or sign up for your courses via your app. In the same way, you can remind them of the upcoming date and time. This has incredible practical usefulness.
Combining geo-location with personalized data gives you information about regular or valuable customers located within a radius of your store. It allows you to spot a potent buyer and send him a greeting notification and a coupon to encourage making a purchase.
Mobile shopping Cleverly developed a mobile app for your business that just ought to contain an in-app purchases option and other required transactions.
The mobile site isn’t working offline. Enough said.
Uniting these new features with existing marketing tools and transforming it all in one harmonious process gives its owner a new range of possibilities to develop and expand their small business independently of which niche the business is in.
4. “Would anyone want to use my app in the first place?”
First, ask yourself, “Would I want to be my own customer and use this app?” Ask your wife and your colleagues to make a poll for your website visitors.
After you make sure it’s a great idea, propose that your website users download your new mobile app, which is oh-so hilariously comfortable even compared to your oh-so-awesomely friendly mobile site.
Essentially, your app is a product, so it needs its own advertisement strategy. That’s why one of the main factors of your app’s success is a thought-out promotion among other apps, App Store Optimization (ASO). Usually, this includes designing a catchy icon with a snappy name, compelling screenshots, and enthralling descriptions.
Other factors in your app’s success are elaborate UX design and a pretty UI design that makes your app both convenient and good-looking. Sales policy is also essential because loyalty programs and bonuses for using an app attract a bigger audience.
Benefits you should consider
– Financial perks
- It makes additional profit, for example, by placing ads of your partners into your mobile app.
- It saves money in the long term by a one-time investment in a mobile payment and booking system by decreasing the time staff fulfill respective responsibilities.
- Push notifications may supersede leaflets since they perform the same function more effectively, which can save you money.
– The app saves you time
Mobile shopping boosts income flow. Connection with your customer quickens the acquisition of feedback. The app sorts out the duties of actual stuff and accelerates the process. Let’s not waste time on this issue anymore.
– Competitiveness
Do your competitors have a mobile app? If yes, consider whether you don’t lose money because of this disadvantage. If no, why not make it your trump card? It’s still rare among small businesses to own a mobile app, though it’s becoming a notable trend. So, at the present moment, you have a substantial chance to one-up your competitors and, more than that, to stand along with big companies.
– Building the brand and expanding a network of loyal customers
The app means love. Make an app, not aggressive ads. – Unknown user
You acquire direct and instant access to your target audience, a chance to get fast-living feedback or propositions, and you collect business analytics, etc. But remember that, first of all, a mobile app is an act of caring for people who already know and love your product; it’s a step to refine the service for them, considering their needs and interests.
How does it work?
- Attracting new potential customers. Yes, it works this way too.
- Providing general info about your products. Basics – done.
- Offering information about ongoing loyalty programs, specials, deals, bonuses, and coupons—all the tricks that will make a buyer come back again and again.
- A way to communicate with a service provider, to ask details, express opinion, or even complain, and if necessary, to seek compensation. “The Customer is always right. Of course, we cannot develop this option, Master.”
- More attention by surveying. Asking your clients for their opinions might make people feel valued and strengthen their affection for your brand or product. As I said – the app is love.
- Additional flashy-sweety shticks that afflict positive experiences to your customers will bind positive feelings with your brand. The more positive your customers are the more likely they will recommend your brand. Word of mouth effect as it is.
Down to the nuts and bolts
Let’s talk about making an actual mobile app for business and about the possible difficulties of its development.
1. iOS or Android?
The first question a developer gets. Using Google Analytics, we will define what platform is prevalent among your customers or even what type of iPhone. Depending on statistics and other aspects, we will make a decision on which OS would be better for developing your mobile app. But of course, the obvious answer is for both.
2. Mobile app interface elements
Our designers will provide you with fresh information about the latest trends in interface element design so that your authentic custom design will easily win people’s hearts, enter the market, and get the recognition your small business deserves.
3. Supporting
As the app was created, the next developer’s task was maintaining its working capacity. We can promise, in emergency cases, responsible conduct toward work capacity support.
4. Price and time to develop a mobile app for a small business
Let us grant your wish. How much do you want to invest? What kind of app do you want to see in the end?
Let’s say it’s a small application that includes only a plain design, has a few features, and a couple of integrated APIs. The average timeframe is two months: 50-70 hours are dedicated to designing an app; 400-500 hours consume the development and QA. This means that developing a mobile app will require $ 15,000 – $ 20,000, and it will require two months of anticipation.
If you are worried about the price of building a mobile business app, discuss this with our managers directly and identify all the costs involved. You’ll see that the benefits of creating an app outweigh the initial cost of investing in it.
Let’s turn the project of your dreams into an actual mobile app together. Contact us, and you will never regret your decision to create an original mobile application for your promising business.
