The swift advancement of mobile computing in the business world paired with rapid technology growth has seen the use of applications explode in the digital marketing landscape. With over 64% of Americans using a smart mobile device, mobile apps today are crucial to the success and growth of thousands of businesses across the globe. A successful app can prove extremely profitable for nearly any size business in any industry when done right. If you really want to activate your mobile marketing strategy, then mobile app integration is a crucial next step and here is what any beginner needs to know to get started.
Benefits of Creating an App
A strong business app will reinforce customer relationships as well as increasing exposure to your products and services.
- Increased Visibility: The majority of the population is spending a steadily increasing amount of time on their mobile devices. Follow your customers and make yourself readily available on their terms.
- Audience Connectivity: 24/7 mobile service establishes an invaluable connection between brand and consumer. By allowing instant easy access to services and contact information, you can also instantly resolve issues and deliver a higher quality of service right at their fingertips.
Get Started With Research
User research is pertinent to the foundation of any software, website or app development. You may be making assumptions about your audience and missing critical opportunities for improvement. UX Surveys are a relatively easy way to gather data about your current users and potential customers. If you are reaching out but receiving limited responses keep in mind what may motivate you personally as a consumer. The likelihood of returning a survey increased by 30% for those who received an incentive offer.
Lay it All Out
Logistically, your app development process can’t run smoothly if it is all off the cuff. Sit down with your team and plan. Nothing will stall the process like running with an unrefined idea and getting lost halfway through. Consider what you want to run smoother, faster and more efficiently. What services do you want people to turn to your app for? What solutions the issues your customers have outlined? Focus on isolating your primary goals. Sometimes it’s best to simplify and perfect, rather than attempting to solve all the problems in one fell swoop. You need answers to these questions first and foremost before diving into development.
Features of a Great App
- Overall Experience
Maintaining a user-friendly and visually appealing interface is important for a positive user experience… Keeping things as clean and simple for your customers is ideal. Allowing users to log in to your app through social media accounts like Gmail and Facebook gives them one less thing to keep track of. Customization options for profile and settings also might help maintain interest and increase value.
- Feedback and Improvements
Feedback is arguably one of the most important features, as user input is invaluable. Having an easily accessible and highly responsive feedback system will help you remain in touch with your consumer’s wants and needs. Keep track of your users experience by incorporating some sort of analytics monitoring.
Maintaining a High rate of Function
Although WiFi today is almost always accessible, connections can vary. It’s important to incorporate offline capabilities and content to ease user frustration when an app is malfunctioning due to a weak network connection.
Invest in Development
It’s natural to have reservations about trying something new. The development will take a fair amount of effort, time, and money, no matter the current size of your business. If you are worried you are too small to afford the process, 48% of small businesses spend less than $25,000 to design, launch, and build their mobile app. There are even more and more DIY strategies that can help if you are operating on a tighter budget. Take this with a grain of salt as low budget apps can be easily spotted because in most cases you truly get what you pay for. Using an in-house team for as many developmental aspects as possible is one way to avoid excess cash outflow.
Don’t get ahead of yourself by launching an app before properly testing it, as you will inevitably pay for the time saved in dissatisfied customers. Unless bugs are taken care of, they can not only strain trust and customer relationships if personal information is released or the app continues to crash with use. A bad app can be worse than no app at all. Now that you know where to start, start brainstorming how Modern App Ltd can take your marketing strategy to the next level.
