Mobile Apps are growing. As we all know, mobile devices have shifted the online landscape to the point more than 50 percent of all Internet access is now being done using handheld devices of some sort. Mobile owners are using their devices to download social networking apps and many use apps such as Facebook before getting out of bed, according to a recent survey conducted by telecommunications equipment vendor Ericsson.
Stanford Graduate and CEO of Buuna, Paul Lin is a Mobile App expert and strategist, designer, and engineer behind innovative advertising and marketing apps. Lin understands the relationship between business objectives and the mobile ecosystem and says that businesses need apps to better engage and connect with customers and prospects in the place where many of them spend most of their time; their mobile devices.
A mobile app is a software program you can download that is designed to run on smartphones, tablet computers and other mobile devices and usually available through application distribution platforms like the Apple App Store and Google Play. If you have a smart phone or other mobile device, you probably use apps. They are easy to download and often free. Mobile apps allow you to play games; get directions; and access news, books, weather, music, videos and so much more.
Lin says: “Consider how much you use your phone. Statistically every adult checks their phone every 6 minutes – that’s a lot and within the 6 minutes, 86% of that time is in native apps, it’s not even in web browsers these days. If you look at these stats you realize mobile is a new way of doing things, a new channel, and a new tool that every business should consider.”
Mobile apps are now an integral part of almost every business, irrespective of their size and industry. While most small businesses have their own website, it can be more profitable for them to also develop a mobile app. A website is important to showcase your products or services but the number of mobile users is growing and most of them access the internet on mobile devices for commerce, research, trading and payments. Developing a mobile app and promoting it among your users is hence extremely beneficial to further your business.
A recent article in the Huffington Post supports Lin’s view: “Before you start to search for mobile developers, you need to understand why your business needs a mobile app. A business mobile app is a branding tool which is used for keeping your clients aware of your service, for increasing the level of customer loyalty and for bringing them back to you at the first possible chance. The app should not only solve the problems of a business owner, but also be useful for a user. Otherwise they simply won’t download it. The application should serve two main purposes: solve a client’s problem and solve a client’s problem quickly.”
According to Lin, “Branding and awareness is a big part of it. Depending what business you are in there are things you can do to open up other functionality to support your core business, like mobile banking for example. At this stage, it’s all quite new so there is a lack of understanding on what mobile apps are and how they can benefit a business. Once we explain the whole mobile usage thing to potential clients the light bulb goes off and they see how valuable mobile apps can be.”
Any business can get a mobile app created. But before you do, have a thorough understanding of your audience. The best way to use apps is to create something that is useful, valuable and functional. Make it easy to use so people only need a few clicks so they can engage wherever they are. It seems clear; Mobile Apps will become the future of engaging with your target market.
For more information, visit: http://www.buuna.com.