Have you ever thought about building an app for your business? Below are five reasons why you should put that thought into action.

Be visible to your customers 

It’s hard in the 21^st century to stand out on or offline. The best thing about optimised mobile apps is that the average cost to get a user to install that app is just £2.33, according to the 2018 Mobile App Engagement Index. Also, depending on your target audience, millennials are more willing to pay for mobile apps, with 1/3 purchasing more than one per month (ComScore).

Once a user has downloaded the app there is a larger sales and marketing impact. The user can repeatedly visit the app, search for products or services, bringing attention and the possibility of further, repeated sales.

The app becomes a direct marketing channel

The majority of apps that we all use daily are free apps, so it’s easy to question whether we’re actually spending money on purchases in or out of apps. The evidence shows that in 2018 consumers spent £80.49 billion worldwide on or in mobile applications, according to App Annie. Also, in 2017, 46 percent of millennials made five or more in-app purchases and 70 percent made more than one (ComScore).

Depending on the nature of your business, generating revenue from an app will depend on whether you offer a free service, or provide an app that allows consumers to make purchases.

You will provide added value to your customers and improve loyalty 

A mobile-app will be an asset to any business, ensuring it is fully optimised and performs well.

Ninety percent of people polled who described a mobile experience as ‘helpful’ would purchase from that brand again according to App Annie. A mobile app is a reflection of the service or product you offer, so quality is key. It’s important that if you do develop an app, you provide added value and ensure the app is easy to use and fast to load – otherwise you run the risk of customers quickly deleting it.

Build the brand, deepen recognition and improve customer engagement 

It’s easy to take for-granted the seamlessness of today’s technology. The smartphone in your pocket easily connects with your computer, tablet, car etc. This ease is one of the many reasons people are drawn to Apple products. 30 percent of people in the UK own five or more connected devices, according to the most recent Connected Consumer Survey from Google.

Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer Division, advises that ‘the average UK household will contain 50 connected devices by 2023’ so a seamless experience across devices is incredibly important to maintain a business’ brand.

Stand out from your competitors 

The way we consume information and advertising has undeniably changed. We now carry portable computers in the palm of our hands, everywhere we go, so it’s no surprise that in a US survey taken by ComScore, it was presented that mobile users are spending 87 percent of their time in apps, versus just 13 percent on the web. When you take into account that ‘the average person spends over four hours a day on their device’ (Inc.) it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stand out against other businesses.

Apps are clearly the most popular viewing method for content, so to ensure you hold up against competitors it is important for your business to have one.  It’s crucial your business’ app is well designed, functional and seamless so it stands out from your competitors for the right reasons.

SixPorts can create customised app solutions to suit the needs of your business, contact the team here to discover exactly what they can do for you.