Johnson County and Southern Indy News

Does My Small Business Need a Mobile App?

Does My Small Business Really Need A Mobile App?
With smartphone usage on the rise, small businesses find themselves bombarded with the pressure to create their own mobile app. App development can be time consuming and expensive, so before your business takes the plunge, make sure an app would be a benefit and not a burden.

First: Look at your website
Is your website up to date and easy to navigate on a mobile device? Consumers are choosing to spend more time on their phones than any other device so how your website looks on a smartphone is very important. If you do not have an updated, mobile friendly website, this should be your first step before you consider developing an app.

Next: Consider the purpose
The purpose of mobile apps is to improve the customer experience. If your app does not supplement your website in some way—whether it is in convivence or performance—then there is no benefit in having one. Does your business have a loyalty program? Mobile apps increase the ease with which customers can participate in loyalty programs, thus supplementing the website. If you are looking to increase customer involvement in incentive programs, an app would be a valuable tool.

Finally: Check out your competitors
Seeing if your competitors offer apps is a great way to know if your business would benefit from an app as well. Go on the app store and look at the downloads, ratings, and reviews of your competitor’s apps to see if an app of your own would have any traction in the market.

So, does your small business really need a mobile app?
If your business’s website is updated, your app would have a purpose, and your competitors have successful apps - a mobile app might be a great addition to your small business. It could give you the chance to strengthen your brand and directly engage with your customers. Check out these links for more information on The Benefits of Mobile Apps for Small Businesses and How Small Businesses Build Mobile Apps.

However, if you found your website to be difficult to navigate on your phone or your competitors have unsuccessful apps - hold off on developing an app for now. Make sure that your website is clean, updated, and easy to use on smartphones. Consider offering loyalty programs through punch cards or advertising discounts on your social media until you build more of a base for an app.