By : Sarah Saker
There is little doubt that business is going mobile. More and more users are on tablets and smartphones more often than desktops systems. This implies that your ideal customers are less likely to get into a car and go to a building to do their business. They turn to the internet before they turn to their vehicle.
Business has also gone global. The corner market is no longer limited by its physical location. With the advent of world-wide rapid shipping in conjunction with online ordering, getting your product or service to the opposite side of the planet is a viable option for even the smallest company.
This also means that cultural difference awareness is crucial – and not just a Western American way of life. Modern business leaders need to be alert and sensitive to a variety of different global customs and general internet culture. Showing that you have done your research and are familiar with potential customers is critical to increasing your bottom line. When you are able to meet the them in the traditions that they live in, they will respond positively.
What does this mean for typically brick and mortar companies?
It means that accessibility is key. Your users need to feel like they can do business with your company anytime, anywhere, and with ease. They will be travelling, waiting in line, or binge watching a show and want to access your mobile app. In the context of a global market, potential customers will be in a completely different time zone and need to use your app to get your product of service. Be there for all of them.
How can you be there for your customers?
Your mobile app needs to be simple, aesthetic, and reliable. The functions should be intuitive and straightforward to navigate. Multiple clicks to get to the main task of the app will frustrate your user and cause them to quit utilizing it. By keeping it effortless, they will come back to it repeatedly and willingly.
In some cases, your software will need to be friendly for persons with disabilities. This means keeping images at the forefront with appropriate links embedded in them (and make sure those links are not broken).
It also means using a readable font size. If it’s too small, you will lose customers. Along those lines, be sure to offer PDFs for FAQs and other relevant documents. Users will appreciate the option to download and magnify those docs.
It may necessitate including audio and video on your app. A rising trend is to personalize a user’s experience with these tools in order to communicate. This can make it accessible for all ability levels or they can be attention-grabbing tools for those who may have stopped in for a cursory look at your software.
What else is necessary for creating a mobile friendly experience?
Having an appealing app will attract a discerning clientele. A clean background with a few relevant images and strategic wording of your product or services will draw users in. If design is not your strong suit, it is important to hire a designer. Much like the importance of accessibility, having an attractive place for them to interact with will garner a positive resulting in returning visitors.
The app should sync with all devices, including desktop systems. While mobility is the trend, consumers have not completely discarded desktops. By employing a sync function, users will appreciate having all their current information in all locations needed, when they want it.
The bottom line is to anticipate your user’s wants and needs and meet them before they ask. This is the heart of excellent customer service. You must raise your bar in order to attract and retain visitors.
Three important benefits of a mobile app are:
- With a growing number of mobile users, and in tandem with worldwide cultural sensitivity, visitors will choose your business and your customer base will expand. With that expansion, revenue will increase naturally.
- Developing and designing a highly functional, dependable, and attractive app, users will become loyal and trusting customers for a long time. They will return because of the usability, but they will stay because of your service and the aesthetic.
- These same customers will also become your greatest ambassadors. In a social media connected global market, if you offer sub-par service or usability, it will hurt your reputation and your bottom line faster than you can imagine. However, when you have a great website or app, a different kind of word spreads – the positive kind. As a result, business relationships grow and develop into a sensation.
Building a strong, positive culture is built over time, with intention, and with the customer in mind. Paying close and careful attention to these details are what will make your business a success.
