There are very few people that do not have a smartphone. This, of course, can be great for business, giving potential customers an easy way to find and interact with your company. Having the Internet in the palm of your hand gives you the potential to branch out and tap into this easily accessed market.
You may be asking yourself, “Is it time my company launched its first mobile app?” Such an endeavor could be your possible next step, and here are a few ways to tell.
- If your company delivers a product or service that needs easy access for its customers, it makes sense to invest in a mobile app. Think of it this way; Amazon was practically made to have an app, while Coca-Cola has no business being in the App Store. If your company does not require direct, seamless access to the customer, it is highly likely that an app would be a waste of time and money for you. If it would be beneficial to both your company and its customers to have mobile, frequent access, then consider the app venture.
- Consider your competitors- if they have a well-functioning mobile app, it is likely time for you to invest in one as well. If it is working for them, it will likely work for you as well.
- Assess if your company needs to provide its customers with real-time analytics.
Apps allow for ridiculously easy access. Services such as shipping need to keep customers constantly up to date. So if your company provides something that a customer needs to check frequently or wants to stay up to date on, an app is certainly the way to go.
Here are a few specific functions that would do wonderfully in an app:
- Easy product image sharing
- GPS-based store finding
- Sale and coupon notifications
- Customized e-commerce shopping experiences
- Biometric feedback as a customer sees your products for the first time and after he or she purchases it (UsabilityGeek)
A mobile app may be the next best step for your company. We here at Empowered Pulse want to be certain that you and your company are growing and expanding in a way that is beneficial to everyone, including your customers.