A lot of small businesses run on a tight budget, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, it can often keep people from investing in new methods and technologies that could otherwise help their business to grow. While TV commercials were once the primary advertising medium, internet ads have now become the main driver. Because most people access the internet primarily from their phones, a mobile app becomes a must for many companies.
Does My Small Business Need a Mobile App?
Most small businesses do need a mobile app, and there are several reasons for this fact. First of all, a mobile app presents the customer with a reminder every time they look at the main screen of their phone. It allows you to put an advertisement on a screen that people look at very often throughout the day. It may be a subtle advertisement, but it’s there nonetheless.
Another reason to make a mobile app is communication. When you are having a sale or some other promotional event, your customers aren’t likely to notice unless you do something to put that information in front of them. A mobile app, because it can give alerts, is an ideal way to let them know what is going on at any given time.
Creating a Mobile App Is Easier Than Ever
In the past, you needed a computer programmer to create one of these things, and that kept out most of the smaller players. However, it has now become as easy as designing a webpage. Like the design of a webpage, the design of a mobile app can be done using templates and tools. This allows virtually anyone with a minimum of computer skills to create a custom-made app.
If you want an example, simply look at some of the inane and useless apps that make it onto the major app stores. Most of these were designed by private individuals for niche or amusement purposes, and you can tell that no one put a lot of work into them. Yet, these things will still be able to perform their core functions. The bottom line is this: just about anyone can learn how to create a mobile app, but only if they have the right tools.
Of course, that leaves you with the problem of trying to find the best app development software. There are many choices, and some of them are open-source (meaning that they are free). Many of these apps, in addition to being affordable, are very easy to use.
The Importance of Feedback
No matter what goods or services you might be selling, good feedback from your customers is always essential. This includes both positive and negative feedback, and some would say that negative feedback is more important. When your customers are unhappy, that equals lost business and lost profits. As such, you need to make it quick and easy for your customers to bring their complaints to your attention. Such complaints are not always polite, but no business can grow without learning from its mistakes.
Your mobile app must allow customers to leave a comment/complaint/message without a lot of trouble. Don’t make them give you a whole page of personal information because they will probably be annoyed with your company already. Instead, just ask for a name and an email address. Apart from these messages, you can also get feedback in the form of analytics. You can instantly see how many people have been using the app, how many purchases were made through the app, and other relevant details.
The fact is that people spend a lot of time looking at their phones. Ever since the mobile internet became viable, it has remained the most convenient way to get online. When it comes to promotion, convenience is king because your customers aren’t going to make the first move. You have to make things easy for them, and a mobile app does just that.
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