Top Reasons to Build a Mobile App

Although there are many business and personal preference reasons to build an app, three of these reasons are the most resounding. The reasons are to increase revenue, increase customer engagement, and to remain competitive. Many businesses out there have these reasons in mind when they decide to build a mobile app. For those not already thinking of building an app, the three top reasons may be enough to sway you to considering a build. Right now only about 30% of small businesses have built an app and another 30% or so are expected to build in the next few years.

Increase Revenue

The top reason for businesses to build an app is that having one increases revenue. Mobile apps can increase revenue in a number of ways. Businesses can send out Push Notifications to send out coupons, promotions, or other marketing materials to customers who have downloaded their app. With digital coupons being used up to 10X more than paper coupons, this is a great way for businesses to increase their revenue. Loyalty programs are another feature that can be built into an app. By creating loyal, return customers revenue will increase. Online stores can also be built into an app. Stores that are contained in apps are easier to navigate and purchases can be executed much quicker than within a mobile website. Since the whole process is quicker and easier, revenue increases as a result. Mailing lists can also be generated within an app that allow you to build lists of customers to send information and marketing materials. Also, just having an app further builds your brand and leads to increased customer engagement which leads to higher revenue.

Increased Engagement

Another important reason to build an app is to increase engagement with your customers. Every time a customer uses your app they are engaging with your brand and the more engagement, the better your results will be on just about any metric. Many features are available as you build your app that will increase engagement. Many are the same features as those that increase revenue such as Push Notifications, Loyalty Programs, and Online Stores. These are all ways for businesses to communicate and engage with customers. Another great feature that you can include in your app is connecting to websites like Facebook, Twitter, or a company blog. By adding this feature within your app you make it easy for your customers to be social with you. Customers can stay up to date with what is going on within a company by following you, liking, retweeting or sharing content, commenting, sharing pictures, or posting their own commentary to you wall. All of these are great ways for customers to engage with your brand through the use of an app. Another great way to communicate with customers through an app is by having an appointment scheduling or reservations feature built in. By doing this you are making it easy for your customers to communicate and do business with you which increases engagement and leads to higher revenue. These are just a few of the most popular options to increase customer engagement. If you have another idea it can very likely be built into an app. That’s the great thing about software, if you can dream it, you can build it.

Staying Competitive

For the many reasons listed above and others you have probably thought of, many businesses have already built an app and many more plan to. If you want to stay competitive it may be essential to build a customized app of your own. Not only does it instantly build your brand and credibility but having your very own app will increase customer engagement and revenue. If you don’t have an app you may start to see your business get outpaced by a competitor who has decided to invest in a custom built app.

Mobile apps are a fun and engaging way to interact with your customers. They lead to increased revenue, increased engagement rates, and may give you a leg up on your competition or at the very least put you on the same level. With new improvements in technology it is also now possible to build a customized app for a very affordable price that will give you a positive ROI in a year or two versus 10 years or more. This is because apps no longer have to cost upwards of $100,000 to build. Based on advancements in technology and a streamlined process, companies like Watson & Behringer can build you a custom app for only a few thousand dollars plus a monthly maintenance cost. This maintenance cost also enables you to log into an account and send out Push Notifications and view app analytics whenever you want to. Have you looked into building your business a customized app yet?

This article was written by Joshua Zielinski, Founder of Watson & Behringer.