sales Archives - Blog Mobile Roadie

Read this already? Click here to continue on to learn what 5 things you need to start building your app!

Websites, storefronts, and phone lines have one thing in common: they are no longer enough to keep up with your customers’ needs. So, what do you need to make your business stand out and succeed?

You’ve probably felt the push for businesses and brands in 2016 to develop a mobile presence. After all, with the average person spending nearly three hours on their phones a day, getting some mobile screen time has proven to be a profitable and powerful investment. As a result, 42% of companies have increased their spending on mobile development. What questions should you be asking yourself before taking the leap to build a mobile app?

Do your customers need your product/service to be available anytime, anywhere?

As phone technology becomes more powerful, the advantages of personal computers over mobile devices are rapidly disappearing. Google puts a map of the entire world in your pocket, while Uber gets you almost anywhere in the world. But even if you’re not a mobile-first business, you can benefit from placing your business into the hands of your users in the same way. The ability to access the apps we want and services we need any time of the day has quickly grown into an expectation. A mobile app allows you to be there for your customers when they need you.

Do your competitors have a mobile app?

Yes? Then they may be onto something you’re not. Don’t worry though. Just as every business has its niches, your app can have features that deliver a distinct interface and user experience to your customers and give you plenty of opportunities to make your business stand out.

No? Then you already have a head start just by running through these questions. This is your chance to distinguish yourself in a climate where customers are spoiled by choice. You can be sure that customers are going to take notice of the ease of access and in-depth support you’re providing them with. A mobile app is a surefire way to give you an edge over your competitors.

Is it expensive to build a mobile app?

Running a business keeps you busy and learning to code or hiring coders to develop your app can be time-consuming, frustrating, and expensive. Luckily, the surge in mobile app development has pushed companies like Mobile Roadie to create an “app building platform for everyone.” What does that mean? Mobile Roadie has developed a system that requires little coding but packs a punch with a plethora of features like push notifications, geofencing, community boards, photo galleries, and e-commerce interfaces. You can get a high quality app at a fraction of the price which companies were paying when mobile apps first broke onto the scene.

Do you need to reach a wider audience and generate more customer loyalty?

When you have your own mobile app, you appeal to more users. Of course, your users will mainly consist of those who are constantly on the move and require portable access but you also open the door to a new user segment, those more comfortable using their PCs. Problems arise at different intersections of life (often away from a computer) so having a mobile app better anticipates your customers needs. Being able to connect to reliable customer support with the tap of a mobile app is something your customers will thank you for.

How will push notifications help deliver your product/service?

Okay, so your brand isn’t trying to “sell” anything. The good news is the potential of a mobile app extends far beyond e-commerce. Push notifications, or messages that you can send to all of your users that deliver pertinent information and bypass their lock screen, has over a 50% open rate when compared to emails. These messages can be anything from a timed contest announcement, nudging users to reach the optimal amount of daily exercise, displaying emergency information, or just to letting your customers know when their driver has arrived. These notifications provide engagement with your users and let them know that you’re thinking about their convenience even when they forget.

Could your business and employees benefit from automating daily processes?

Mobile enterprise apps can address your side of the business too. Employee productivity has been proven to improve by 30% when previously complex/tedious functions are automated with an app. This frees up time for your business to focus on other tasks which ultimately means your team will have more time for your customers. Companies have reported an:

Increase in sales/revenue
Improvement in customer service
Better access to internal databases
Reduction of other operational expenses (paperwork, manpower)

More and more businesses are recognizing that having an accessible port of call for new and existing customers means creating a mobile app. There are 258 million people with smartphones in the U.S. alone and having your business only a few finger taps away could make a world of difference for your product.

If you asked yourself if you need an app and the answer is yes, it’s time to begin thinking about what goes in the app. Read the next article in our “How-To” series and make sure you have these 5 things to start building your app.

If you’re part of a mobile app development company with a new release – or even just a recent app creator – you’re probably riding pretty high. After all, you’ve just invented what is undoubtedly the best thing since sliced bread (or at least Flappy Bird). Your app should fly off the virtual shelves.

But there’s one problem. Since the inception of the Apple App Store in 2008, the number of apps offered has grown from 800 to 1.5 million. With this oversaturation of the app market, there’s a good chance that your invention might get lost in the crowd.

With this in mind, app developers need to understand that creating and bringing products to market are only half the battle. As any Clash of Clans player knows, there’s no point to building a mega-village if your army isn’t strong enough to defend it. Without an effective way to interest and retain customers, your creation is similarly vulnerable.

These three methods are all easy and incredibly effective ways to increase visibility, profits, and total sales.

BE INTERACTIVE

According to a recent study by Media Dynamics, Inc. the average consumer is exposed to 362 advertisements per day. Of these advertisements, an average of 12 will make an impression and trigger a conscious response. So how do you create advertising that’s memorable? Move away from flashing banners and towards an immersive, engaging advertising experience. Mobile app development is a cutting edge field – there’s no reason its ads shouldn’t be the same.

The ability to have a conversation with a consumer is extremely powerful. It allows you interact with him or her on a level that would be impossible with a simple sidebar or banner advertisement. In our age of increasingly short attention spans actively engaging consumers is an absolute must. Facebook’s Canvas ads, which allow consumers to experience a sort of mini-site within the advertisement, have been shown to drastically increase ROI compared to conventional advertisements.

THINK BIG

If you want your app to start turning some serious profits, it only makes sense to seek out the deepest pockets. By targeting your app towards larger entities and businesses instead of consumers, you significantly raise your potential for sales. According to a 2015 report, 43% of apps developed for enterprises pulled in $10,000 or more per month. Only 19% of apps targeted towards consumers met this standard.

If you’re at an app or software development company that’s already created a consumer-targeted app, don’t despair quite yet. As it turns out, there’s a significant amount of overlap between apps targeted towards enterprises and those aimed at consumers.

Specifically, the top five categories in both consumer and enterprise apps include those focused on utilities, education and reference, and business and productivity tools. If you’re not already targeting the biggest players, it might be worth your while to brainstorm on how to adjust or scale your product in order to meet their needs.

GIVE ‘EM A FREE TASTE

Unless you’ve created something truly revolutionary, chances are that a free alternative to your app exists. No need to feel bad; before Facebook there was Myspace and before Googling on Chrome the original Internet Explorers Asked Jeeves. Some of the greatest breakthroughs in technology come from improving on an existing model. But with so much competition, sometimes being the best simply isn’t enough. Even if you’re a great app development company or developer, you’ve got to get recognized.

One easy way to gain recognition is offer your app free for a limited trial period. The boost in installs and – knock on wood – positive reviews will show consumers that you’re the real deal. With this proof on your side, customers will be more willing to drop a few bucks on what you’re offering. Alternatively, a more basic free edition of your app, with teasers compelling users to upgrade to the pay version is another route to profitability.

Now that you’ve got some tools at your disposal, go ahead and show the world what they’ve been missing in the world of mobile app development. After all, there’s nothing worse than unrecognized genius.