Both SnapChat and Poke have been making headlines lately, bringing new attention to the popularity of mobile apps. Meanwhile, use of smart phones and tablets is growing faster than ever; Forbes contributor Mark Fidelman reported that by 1.2 billion smart phones are projected to enter the market—and mobile app development projects will outnumber native PC projects by 4 to 1. Thus, many wise business owners are incorporating mobile apps in their digital marketing strategy.
But should you jump on the bandwagon? If you’re on the fence about mobile app development, consider these advantages:
- Increased accessibility: Your customers and prospects will literally carry your brand in their purse or pocket wherever they go. This gives them the power to connect with the brand on their own terms, on their own time. And today’s consumers are more mobile than ever. An app makes you more accessible to on-the-go customers who may not have access to a computer when they’re ready to engage. Since mobile apps can be designed to function without an internet connection, they remove one more barrier to access.
- Reinforced branding: A well-designed mobile app should both support your traditional branding and offer an exceptional user experience. Both these elements can reinforce customers’ feeling about your brand and product. Every aspect of your mobile app—from aesthetics to functionality—is an opportunity to strengthen your connection with customers. Apps that offer creative, useful functions will also help to expand the user’s appreciation of your brand, so they come to see your company as a part of their lifestyle, rather than just merely a company that sells a product they use.
- Higher sell-through and repeat business: Downloading an app is its own kind of “opt in,” so customers who use your app are generally more motivated to make a purchase because they’ve already had positive interactions with your brand. They’re more likely to make purchases through the app when they’re browsing your products. They’re also more likely to be repeat customers, especially because your app can provide notifications about special offers, promotions, and discounts.
- More social marketing opportunities: One outstanding feature of many apps is that they interact with other including platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Users may even log into some apps through their accounts on these other platforms. The advantage here: app users can easily share their purchases or brand interactions via these social networks, exposing a new audience to your app and your brand.
- “Push” possibility: Apps allow you to send users “push notifications,” which means you can connect directly with the user—through no work on the part of the user. These push notifications pop up just like a text message, alerting the user that there’s something new worth checking out through your app. Compare this to email marketing, where the user must choose to check the mailbox and open your individual message (if it’s not sent to spam,) or a mobile website, which still requires the user to go online and actively search for you.
Mobile apps are certainly here to stay, and they offer plenty of opportunity for business owners who are looking for cutting-edge digital marketing solutions. Let Latitude 27 Marketing develop your app. Contact us at 813.644.34
