Mobile phones now dominate the globe. More than 5 billion people use mobile devices for everything from surfing the internet to paying taxes.

The benefits of a mobile app for a business can be tremendous if the idea is well planned. Here are 7 key benefits of mobile app development for a small business.

1. Outpace Competitors

One of the top benefits of mobile app development for small businesses is that your competitors aren’t doing it yet. Mobile apps are common usually amongst the big players in your industry.

Small businesses have yet to adopt mobile app development at the same rate as Fortune 500 companies. Developing a mobile app gives you an edge over competitors who may think of mobile apps as a frivolous or costly venture.

Stay ahead of the pack with a mobile app that acts as a resource to your customers. Guard against any mobile app design that mimics information present on your website.

Mobile apps are interactive. Give your customers an interactive experience that meets their productivity or entertainment needs.

2. More Engagement

It’s rare for a customer to visit your website more than once every blue moon. Websites are static tools that deliver information on a need to know basis.

If you want more engagement with customers, mobile apps are a great option because they can provide daily use. Of course, this depends on the style of your app, but things like games will get used on a daily basis.

The only downside to high traffic apps is the need for maintenance. You’ll need a devoted team to handle crashes and bug fixes to keep the app working correctly.

But the payoff is keeping your brand top of mind to your customers. There are few other ways for small businesses to engage daily with customers without spending a fortune in advertising.

3. Data Mining

Another one of the top benefits of mobile app marketing is gathering data about your customers. Marketing analytics are key in helping you make decisions for your business.

Most small businesses have static data about their customers like age and income, etc. But personality and behavioral marketing are often out of reach without big data spend.

Use your mobile app to gather your own data about your customers’ interests and behavior. Learn from their page activity so you can make better decisions about what customers need or want.

Target your marketing budget to these areas so that customers are more likely to buy from your brand.

4. Resource Heavy

The best way to build trust with your customer base is to be a resource. Selling is a one-way relationship that isn’t likely to be memorable to customers.

But when you make a mobile app that offers customers something free that makes their lives easier, you’re suggesting that you have their best interests in mind. Customers want relationships with brands that understand how to meet their needs.

This doesn’t mean you can’t use your app for some level of self promotion, but it does mean you’ll need to find ways to be more useful. Your mobile app won’t get downloads or shares if it doesn’t serve a practical purpose.

This could mean skipping options for ecommerce to instead offer customers a supplementary service. For example, if you’re a day spa your app could help customers try on makeup at home.

Or offer DIY facial recipes. Plastic surgeons might help customers imagine their faces after rhinoplasty.

The possibilities are endless, but the outcome must be relevant to customers.

Mobile apps are constantly evolving. Your ability to connect with customers is more comprehensive with a mobile app than any other method of marketing communication.

Yes, you’ll provide a resource for customers and build a relationship, but you also get to automate parts of your business that previously required hours and hours of preparation.

Data capture and push notifications alone help you eliminate the need for more than one CRM tool. Push notifications give you access to customers without email marketing woes.

Mobile app development might bring a heavier upfront investment, but over time you’ll save more money since you’ll need fewer tools to manage customer relationships.

6. Less Spam

Let’s face it, email marketing is history.

Most people get far too many emails to ever give them the attention they deserve. Add to this the growing ferocity of spam filters and your emails are lucky if they ever reach an inbox.

This problem even applies to email opt-ins. Customers won’t always remember where and when they signed up for your newsletters.

Relying on a mobile app to communicate with customers is a clever way to communicate without being deemed spam. Push notifications grant you access to a customers mobile phone only if they turn on those notifications.

This direct form of promoting sales, promotions, or opportunities for customers helps them stay connected with your brand in a meaningful way.

7. More Sales

Giving customers easier access to your online store via mobile means more sales over time. Instead of having to type in a web page URL, customers can tap on your icon to launch the shopping process.

The ease of access takes away any barriers to completing the sales transaction. Since more than half of all online sales happen on a mobile phone, your mobile app is a natural resource for customers looking to quickly take care of a shopping need.

Understanding the Benefits of Mobile App Marketing

The benefits of mobile app marketing aren’t just for large corporations. Small businesses can take advantage of the many communications, sales and advertising options available through mobile apps.

Customers are turning to their phones more and more to handle daily transactions. Keep your business competitive by offering more mobile options that make your customers lives easier.

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