Part One: Does My Business Need a Mobile App?

Stick with a mobile-unfriendly website and say adios to your clients: it’s that simple. Here’s why.

Can you believe we now live in a world where you can order a tent on your smartphone, on a Sunday night, from your bed, and it will be on your doorstep in two days? Or book a doctor’s appointment or a hair blowout at midnight—for eight hours later? Some of us still remember a time when business was conducted from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Seems like a very long time ago indeed.

Then again, do your customers feel that your business has kept up with the times? These days, it’s not just enough to be open seven days a week, or have an online presence. Since people can shop anytime, they might shop anytime—and most likely, they’ve got their smartphone in hand. This impulsive burst of shopping is called “snacking,” and it’s changing the very nature of retail. You need to be there when the urge to snack strikes.

Driving Ecommerce with Mobile Apps and Responsive Websites

While sales from desktop computers far out measure sales from mobile devices, their annual growth slowed to 8.1 percent from 12.5 percent in 2015, according to comScore. By contrast, the gains in mobile sales are astounding. Last year, U.S. sales from mobile devices jumped 56 percent, to $49.2 billion.

Here’s the thing: If your website hasn’t been optimized for smartphone use, you’re missing out on this ecommerce boom. Responsive websites, which self-adapt to iPad, iPhone, or Android screens, are now the norm. If a client visits your website on their phone, and it doesn’t resize to the screen, takes a long time to load, or chews up data with big images or video, they’ll quickly move on to your competitor.

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How Your Business Can Benefit From a Mobile App

National retailers and service providers have been swift to go one step further, and built custom hybrid or native apps. You’ve probably downloaded the Amazon app, or booked a spin class on the SoulCycle app: these are designed specifically for smartphone use, and offer the best experience for customers. But is this sort of opportunity available to the small business owner? The answer is yes—and it’s a big moneymaker.

When compared to a standard website, a responsive website or custom app will drive revenue and reduce operational costs. According to digital advertising technology firm Criteo, nearly 40% of desktop transactions in the fourth quarter of 2015 took place after a customer visited the retailer’s app or mobile-responsive site. A quick five minutes of smartphone research is often a customer’s final incentive to make larger purchases online or in store. Make it as easy as possible for that to happen at your business. Need we remind you that now, more than ever, time is money? The easier and faster you make it to book appointments at your business online, the less you lose out to the other guy, or have to rely on whoever’s staffing your front desk.

Custom Mobile App Development and Responsive Website Design

Simply180 builds or retools websites just like yours to become smartphone-responsive. We also create custom downloadable hybrid and native apps that create an even more user-friendly experience. Which option—responsive website, hybrid app, or native app—is right for your business? That depends on your needs, budget, and time frame. Stay tuned for Part Two of this discussion, and you’ll have your answer.

Can’t wait another day to start making more money 24/7? Connect with Simply180 at 561-674-0757.