The world has drastically changed in just the past year. For example, the pandemic has altered online shopping, speeding up its growth and popularity as visiting physical locations became unfeasible due to safety concerns. But this shift to more digital commercial experiences has been a long time coming. Current events have only pushed it to the forefront.
Now, businesses of all sizes have to catch up with the rapidly modernizing commercial landscape. Business websites, social media marketing and online shopping platforms are just a few methods entrepreneurs are using to cater to the needs of their tech-savvy customers.
But there is one method that your business can and should use as soon as possible. Your business needs to develop an app. Find out why this is important and what features you can incorporate in one to make them as effective as possible.
Why Does Your Business Need an App?
You may be wondering what advantages an app can offer that a host of more standard measures cannot. If you’re business needs an image tune up, why not just hire one of the many experienced public relations agencies in the country? If you’re having trouble drumming up business, why not schedule a meeting with a marketing firm? What can apps do that these measures can’t?
Here are a few of the advantages of developing a business app for your enterprise.
- Your Competitors are Doing It
According to one survey, 42 percent of small businesses have built a mobile app. A further 30 percent are planning on creating one in the future. Your competitors can and will seize every opportunity they can to get ahead of the rest. In this increasingly digital world, your enterprise can’t afford to be the only one that doesn’t have an app.
- Everyone Is Using Them
People spend literally hours on their phones and the time spent is increasing every year. In America alone, the average citizen checks their phone for updates up to 80 times in a single day. What’s more, the time they spent on their phone is used for checking on apps. In 2020, the average American spent a little over four hours on their phones and over three and a half hours of this time was spent on apps.
- They’re So Convenient
Apps are so ubiquitous because they’re so convenient. Whether your customers are looking for something fun to do or an easier way to accomplish a task, apps are right there on their smartphones. Need to catch a ride? Get a ride-sharing app. Want to edit a picture before posting? Download a photo editing app. Trouble finding a dentist? There are apps for that, too.
What Features Does Your App Need?
When developing your own app, you need to determine what sort of features it should have. These features should be useful both to your users and to your business. Establishing this confluence is essential if your app is going to be a successful sales and marketing tool. Some features that meet these requirements include the following:
- In-App Purchases
If your business is a retailer or provides certain products, your app needs to have a mechanism that allows users to purchase them right on their phones. This can drive sales up as well as make it easier for your customers to buy from your business.
- Appointment Booking
If your business provides a service rather than a product, your app should have a way that allows clients to set up appointments. You can have them book a consultation session first and afterwards they can schedule an appointment for your service.
- Feedback Function
People may have suggestions for your app or business. They may have questions about your products and your services. Or they may have complaints they’d like to be resolves. Including a feedback function will allow you to respond to these communications as well as make improvements to your services.
- Few Clicks
Users dislike going through all sorts of hoops just to use your apps. You want to ensure that customers or clients get the most out of each visit with the fewest number of clicks or typing. Go through the entire app and calculate how many clicks it takes to conclude any transaction and try to reduce it as much as you can.
- Analytics Mechanism
You want to monitor the behavior of customer son your app without impinging on their privacy. The best way to do so Is by enabling analytics mechanisms. Through these features, you can determine which products are the most popular, what time do most of your customers log in to your app and which features they like the most. This will enable you to tweak your app and your business.
Apps are everywhere and your business should be part of this digital landscape. Unless you want your business to slip into obsolescence, you’d find a good programmer and start building an app as soon as possible.
