Wondering if it’s time for your business to optimize for mobile? The truth is, it’s far past time. Slightly over half of all money spent on digital advertising efforts target mobile in particular, a figure that will increase dramatically in the next two years.
Add to that the fact that your average American spends hours a day on a mobile device – another statistic that will continue to trend upward. The simplest reason to go mobile is that that’s where the customers are.
There’s Money in Mobile
Many businesses are on board with mobile devices like tablets, and the average consumer uses those, too. Still, the overwhelming majority of internet users own a smartphone, which they can and will use any time, any place. This fact alone is enough to inspire many businesses to inquire further about mobile app development.
If you have a website, you’ve probably optimized for search engines, or at least considered it. You can also optimize an app for the Apple App store and Google Play, which is a much more forward-thinking way to increase traffic back to your website.
Not to mention, many businesses take the opportunity to monetize these apps. While the majority of users aren’t fans of ads, this is a common revenue-generating strategy. Other options include more exclusive in-app features that users pay for, or even charging for the app itself.
Finally, it’s just essential to be present where your customer is. As far as the internet goes, they’re more likely to be scrolling through their phones waiting to happen upon you, rather than purposely seeking you out on a desktop.
Get Smart with Mobile Technology
Mobile technology can also declutter your workday. A great deal of companies will use apps to schedule and assign tasks, create invoices, and communicate with other team members. With the convenience of mobile, this can be done from virtually anywhere. Therefore, expanding your business in the modern age doesn’t necessarily mean opening additional offices or adding another cubicle to the lineup.
In addition to improving your management style, mobile tech teaches you more about your customer base. The way your app performs will uncover key demographic information that helps you make better plans for the future. For instance, if you find that a certain category is attracting a younger customer base, you can increase offerings, or make this feature a larger part of your brand image.
Even if you’re not looking into creating an app, making your website mobile-friendly is crucial. Responsive design is number one in facilitating customer engagement. You never want a user driven away from your website by design that doesn’t support their device, and by extension, them. At this point, responsive design is standard, and if you’re missing it, that is absolutely the top reason why the internet isn’t benefiting your business.
Going mobile adds a ton of new customer-grabbing tricks to your repertoire, from push notifications that ring the alarm on sales and special offers, to smoother workflow and site visits. With smartphones expanding the consumer’s options, it’s high time you made your business a contender.
