October 16, 2024
Does your brand have an app yet? If not, you could be missing out on a lot of business from current and potential customers. A well-designed app with a good interface and user-focused features has the potential to improve your relationship with loyal customers and get them to spend more. Here are some of the reasons why you need to invest in mobile app solutions if you're still unsure.
The first reason is pretty simple. All brands need to tap into the potential of mobile tech as best they can to thrive. All websites must be optimised for mobile use to make them accessible to those browsing and shopping on their phones. Therefore, it makes sense that all brands should capitalise on this with mobile apps to improve accessibility and customer interactions. Apps are meant to be more fun to use and more convenient than signing into a website. They are also more effective when users enable push notifications.
It's cliched to say that Generation Z is constantly on their phones, but they certainly are very attached to them. It's not surprising when our phones hold so much that's important to us and connect us with so many people. The combination of phone contacts, wi-fi connectivity, social media apps, and games means hours of scrolling. It's going to be the same for Generation Alpha, too. So, if you want to be sure of reaching that younger target market, an app is the way to go.
A big selling point of a company app is the concept of customer loyalty. This is a two-way symbiotic relationship where you both benefit over time. By offering an app to regular customers and getting them to be part of "the club", they feel valued as a customer and may be more inclined to make purchases in the future. You then get the benefit of having these happy customers paying for goods and services and recommending the app to others.
Part of this customer loyalty scheme is the chance to get access to special member promotions that you can't get by shopping online. For example, big-name chains may set up promotions for seasonal events or specific products that are exclusive to app subscribers. As annoying as this is for those who don't have the app and aren't inclined to use it, it does make app users feel more special. It could also help convert more people to the scheme and result in more sales.
On top of these great member promotions on the app, customers should be able to use the app for easy access to coupons and discounts. Email marketing does work here, too, for those who don't have the app. Customers can collect barcoded coupons or QR codes on their devices and have them scanned in-store. Or, they can copy the link to an online store. Either way, the app makes it easy to see how much people can save, what the coupons are valid for, and the expiry date.
Gamification is a term that marketers are more familiar with these days. The concept essentially means turning a customer experience into a game with the chance to earn the equivalent of XP points and level up. The success of these schemes hinges on a customer's desire to complete challenges and prove themselves. They feel great about earning rewards through their spending habits, but actually end up spending more than they expected in the process. The rewards handed out at the end should pay for themselves.
Mobile app solutions also allow for integration with other smart systems to improve the customer experience. Clothing brands have learned to bring in AR tech for virtual try-on services to boost sales. Opticians do the same to help people find the best frames. When this is available through an app, it puts these smart tools in the customer's hand to use on the go. It can also improve the gamification side of apps by layering images of the real world and characters. If it worked for Pokemon, it can work for other brands.
There are three main aims to all of this. The first is to increase profits. All of these smart features, promotions, and the improved accessibility should lead to increased revenue. As more people download the app and make use of the features they will start to spend a little more and take advantage of more tools. It might be a small change in behaviour to them, but these changes add up when thousands of people use the app. Eventually, the money put into schemes will be worth it.
The second aim is to build brand recognition. You want everyone to know your name, your logo, and your brand aesthetic. Regular shoppers, either in-store or online, will be able to spot your promotional material pretty easily. When you create an app and make that available on multiple platforms, your logo and name end up on online stores, ads, and customer's devices.
Finally, there's the chance to build your authority as a brand. There is an expectation among consumers that all top brands have some form of app. If you don't, they might start asking why you don't, but your rivals do. Are they more successful and profitable than you are? Are they more technologically savvy than you are? Are they more focused on improving the customer experience than you are? Even if none of those things are true, you've already left a bad impression.
Hopefully, all of this has shown the benefits of creating an app for your business. The first step in mobile app development is to get in touch with a quality developer in mobile app solutions who can build it for you. Find a team with the experience and creativity to take your brand to the next level. Build something user-friendly with all the tools and gamification features you need to keep customers engaged. Work with the design team to ensure it's attractive and engaging enough to build brand recognition and make an impact. Once it's built and promoted to your customer base, you can start to enjoy the benefits.
