Mobile apps are a great marketing tool. And since web surfers spend more time on apps than websites, a mobile app strategy it might make sense for one to be a part of your overall marketing plan. Mobile apps are not just for mega-brands, fast food restaurants, or social media platforms. Many mid-sized businesses are taking advantage of the mobile app trend, too. However, before you jump into the app game, think about what you want to accomplish by creating an app for your business and consider what the strategy for rollout should be. Then, contact our specialists to get your development phase started.
This is really the first step in the process. Decide if you really need an app. The alternative is to ensure your website - which is undoubtedly necessary - is mobile-friendly. Here are a few reasons why you might possibly need a mobile app.
Most importantly, you should ask yourself, "What purpose does a mobile app serve our business?" Mobile apps are popular, and it's easy to jump on the bandwagon, but you want to make sure that you don't spin your wheels getting a mobile app off the ground if it's not going to directly benefit your organization.
One of the first things you want to decide is what platform you want to use. Approximately 70-80% of the app market is made for Android devices, but iOS is the choice of most developers. What does that mean for you? If iOS is more widely used by developers, it's going to be easier and more cost-effective for you to find a developer that specializes in that platform.
Part of what should drive your platform decision is deciding who your target audience is. The customer persona defines every area of marketing a business, so it's something that should definitely be considered with this venture as well. Once you've defined who your target audience is, you will be better informed about which platform to use.
Again, the features you choose will likely be driven by your audience. If you are a clothing store and you are trying to inform customers of the newest products, that should be a feature set you build into your app. Try creating a wish list of tasks you want your app to accomplish. No app is going to be able to tackle everything you hope it will. But during the discovery phase of the project, your developer can help guide you about the best possible direction to take for your app. It might be that the app can accomplish your top three tasks with the flexibility to add new features down the road.
During your planning/brainstorming for your app, you might want to take some of the following tips into account. They will help to direct your enthusiasm.
There is an estimated 6.3 billion smartphone users globally, and each one of those smartphones has a number of apps installed on it. You don't want to miss out on this targeted marketing opportunity. Just make sure you attack it with intelligence and not just because it's a trend.
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