Does it make sense for your business to have a mobile app?
You might have been considering whether or not it’s advisable for your business to spend the time and expense needed to develop and implement a mobile app for your business. Does a mobile app even make sense for your small business? What would it cost? Who’s going to update it? These and many other questions need answers in order to really make an educated decision. Let’s examine some of what you need to know.
Developing a Mobile App: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Over 50 percent of adult Americans are using smartphones for consumer and business functions
- Keeps your brand visible in the marketplace
- A great tool for increasing customer loyalty and retention
- App users typically spend much more time on apps than on mobile sites
- Mobile apps usually load faster than mobile sites
- Mobile apps are available offline, though users will need to login to perform any actions, such as purchases
Cons:
- Mobile apps are required for each different mobile platform
- Mobile apps require perpetual care, both as regard fresh content in addition to technology updates
- Mobile apps are not as easy to optimize as a mobile website
- Mobile ads may very well serve the same purpose
- Apps can be very expensive! If you go the Do It Yourself route, be prepared for a lot of headaches, as they frequently break, and need to be updated.
We all know that there are as many uses for an app than you could ever imagine, but some are superior to others. This is an example of how apps were developed in the health care market. Making sure your app is useful and not a mere novelty goes a long way toward helping you make your choice. While it’s pretty much a given that you need a mobile version of your website, the question of whether or not you should shell out what might be big bucks for an app is one you want to examine carefully. Take your time to weigh the pros and cons for your business before you leap into building a mobile app!