Five ways to use Mobile Apps to grow your Business

As of mid-2015 Google officially announced that more consumers access the Internet via mobile devices than on desktop PCs. For this reason, the savvy business owner will find ways to use mobile apps to grow his or her business. If you are wondering how this marketing model can work for you, consider the following five ways to use mobile apps to grow your business. Some, if not all, can be effective in building brand and increasing sales, so take advantage of as many as humanly possible.

1. Develop apps for delivery of promotions

One of the most successful ways to use an app to grow your business is to create one to give away as a freebie. People love to get something for nothing so an app that is useful, but free, is going to be a great way of promoting your business or line of products. One thing to be cognizant of, however, is that you need to target your market before having an app developed. Would your audience, your potential customer base, be more likely to use an Apple phone or a Windows phone? At the moment Apple is king so chances are good that you might want to have your app created to work with iPhones and iPads. When it comes to app development, iOS would need to be the operating system since that is what those two devices are built on. It’s vital to get a good app development iOS team on board, however, to ensure that your app fully delivers to its target audience.

2. Build a following with social apps

From Facebook, to Twitter to LinkedIn, there are social apps that keep you connected with followers. Although these wouldn’t be apps you have developed specifically for your company, they would still be apps you could download and use to ensure that you are staying in touch with your audience and keeping them engaged.

3. Create an informative app

No matter what your industry, an informative app is always a big hit. Today’s consumer wants to be informed about everything from trivia to politics so an app that provides useful information, of any kind, will probably be a huge success. You can interject ads for your company in the app and this will keep your name fresh every time the app is used.

4. Companion apps for your products

Some products simply cry out for a companion app. Usually these are a functional part of the product which could also be used as a standalone but are made much more enjoyable with the app. Again, look at the Facebook app. Yes, you can access Facebook from your mobile device, but the app lets screens load much faster and the messaging app is even faster yet.

5. Build exposure with a free promotional app

Some companies have paid an app development company to create an app that has absolutely nothing to do with their own industry. By placing the app in the app store as a free download they can be assured that anyone who downloads it will also view the free ads built into the app.

These five ways to use mobile apps to grow your business are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many ways that both iPhone and Windows mobile apps can benefit your company that it really is worth your time to find some that will help build a stronger customer base and increase your visibility with your target audience. It’s a mobile world we live in so why not let mobile apps work for you?

Basic Questions to ask before Developing a Mobile App for your Business

No one can deny that mobile is the new digital standard and a modernizer for brands worldwide. A lot of global corporations and businesses have understood that a mobile presence is indispensable for business success in the current market. Your customers should be able to effortlessly communicate with you via any device where on earth they are, so a full-featured dedicated mobile application should be developed. Really, having a mobile application for your business or promotion or for whatnot can be a game-changing marketing tool to boost revenue and traffic.

If you’re planning to develop a mobile app for your business, there has never been a dead-on time. But before you invest some precious time, capital and manpower into a mobile development project, you should probe these questions.

 

Who is the target audience?

 

For a mobile app creator, it is very imperative to identify their target audience because they lack confronting sales prospects. The unsurpassed method to find your app’s target audience is by researching and exploring the market prior to, during, or post the concrete development process. Find out which segment is more obsessed with your app, you can get an idea about the design and functionality according to their predilections, which will also help you with framing a marketing plan determined by the past achievements and failures.

Which mobile app platform to develop for?

 

Unquestionably a lot of media attention is given to Apple’s brand iOS platform, but Google’s Android operating system is quite extensively dispersed across the world of mobile devices and tablet. Prior to developing your app, you must gauge what your target audience prefers and then choose accordingly if you would count on launching cross multiple platforms or, possibly only support any of the one iOS or Android.

What should the app do?  

Nowadays, there is an app for everything from finance, lifestyle, entertainment, education, retail, healthcare, food, telecom, media, fashion, travel, real estate and lot more. Numerous approaches are there which you can espouse, but you must endeavor to deliver an engaging yet helpful app with cutting-edge features and general information. It all relies on your business, the user and what you wish to cater them with. You can also think of building more than one mobile application for diverse purposes if you believe that your business is big enough to upkeep such a project, but it’s not off beam to keep it simple.

Which basic features should the mobile app incorporate?

 

There are countless mobile applications available in the store, but not all of them have extensive features that every app must-have. The list of features and functionality that without fail must be integrated to cater an outstanding user experience, as well as user interface, are

• Feedback system
• Mobile commerce
• Loyal programs
• Scheduling
• Direction and maps
• Video gallery
• Push notification
• Mailing list
• Fan Wall
• Contacts
• Coupons
• Google Calendar
• Custom Form
• Social media integration
• Advanced Analytics
• Games and a lot more

 How to go about with application designing?

 

Once you have decided other particulars, the next aspect to determine is the design. Then, you must conceptualize about features, functionalities, esthetics, appearance and a lot more. It’s the gospel truth that design is an important element of developing an app. If your mobile application is deprived of aesthetics, feel, readability or navigation, it is star-crossed or good-for-nothing. According to the statistics, the average smartphone users download around twenty-five apps, and you must make sure that yours is a unique one. Appropriate Wire framing helps in working out the fundamental layout and design of the app. Further special prototyping will support in creating an actual and functional version giving an apt indication as and when required. On the whole the app must be well-designed, efficient, user-friendly and highly functional because users have a lot of options available in the app stores.

Whether hire an in-house team or outsource?

 

Every coin has two sides, similarly, in one way we can have a greater control and supervision over the mobile app development project if carried out in the house. It also gives you the opportunity to share your ideas and have a more practical approach, which is all quite crucial for a marketer. The other side of the coin says it can be time taking task, and more costly. Generally, in-house mobile development teams are more expensive compared to the outsourced equivalents. Businesses that choose to outsource the project to a reliable company can with complete control save money and time without the burden of developing an app.

How much would it cost to develop a mobile app for business?

 

Do not assume that as a lot of mobile apps are free (or at a low price) to download, a notable mobile app can be built overnight for the price of a drink at the bar. The mobile revolution may have restyled how we dwell, buy and connect—but one time-tested proverb remains as true forever: you gain what you are paying for. Moreover, this question is more like asking how much would it cost to build a house or buy a motorcycle – it depends on what kind of motorbike you are willing to buy or type of  house you want to build. Although it is feasible to give a rough estimate on app development costs based on the customization one requires in the mobile app.

How to go about with future updates and app maintenance?  

 

Actually, the mobile app is not just a one-time task, it needs recurrent updating and maintenance. If you develop a cross-platform mobile app, you will only have to maintain iOS & Android both. A mobile maintenance strategy requires only planning not for critical failures, but also more routine circumstances like upgrading the app to the latest versions of Operating System or modernizing the app when any of the backend APIs alters along with testing.

Also, do not forget to keep in mind the causes that avoid rejection of your mobile app on stores such as

• Trademark & Logo illegality
• Containing porn (Note: Android does permit it if you are using a third party adult market.)
• Making an attempt to upload unfinished or beta app
• Prolonged load time
• Using 3^rd party payment system
• Unfriendly User Interface
• Damaged links
• Making use of private APIs
• Irrelevant keywords terms
• Misusing brand’s button and icons etc.

By knowing them, you can have high probabilities of your mobile app being approved at the first go.

So, prior to contriving a mobile application, ensure you ask yourself with above-stated questions. They will certainly prevent you from developing a mobile app needlessly, or creating an obsolete app.

Are you are looking for a reliable mobile application development company?

AppSquadz Software is a leading mobile app development company in India with 12+ years of experience in delivering custom iOS and Android mobile solution. We have hand-picked expert mobile app developers who are up-to-the-minute with the latest mobile technology and will cater you with quality product at economical cost.