In the past decade, there’s been a surge in businesses developing apps. It’s no wonder—apps are a fantastic way to promote and sell products or services, engage customers, build brand awareness, and even drive sales. But, do you need an app for your business?
This is a complex question to answer. Even though there are a lot of potential pros to having an app for your business, there are also some hurdles.
For example, with so many businesses now using apps, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. Also, it can be difficult to accomplish, especially if you don’t have much experience in app development and decide to take a more DIY approach.
So how do you know if an app is right for your business? Keep reading to find out!
Take a Look at Your Competition
There are a few key indicators that will let you know whether or not your business could benefit from having an app.
It actually is not as hard to figure out as you might think!
First, take a look at your competition. Do they have an app?
Apps are becoming increasingly commonplace, so if most of your competitors have one, you should too. Take a close look at the situation. Even take a look at their apps and see exactly what they do and what they look like.
Research is key here. Only once you know what your competitors are doing, can you respond and innovate something even better!
Do You Have a Loyal Customer Base, or Want to Build One?
Another indicator is whether or not you have a loyal customer base. If you do, an app can be a great way to engage them and keep them coming back for more.
But, how do you determine if you have a ‘loyal’ customer base or not? If you’re unsure whether or not your customers are loyal, think about how often they purchase from you and how often they refer others to your business.
If they frequently make purchases and referrals, they’re likely loyal—and an app would be a great way to reward them for their loyalty!
Apps can also be a way to help build loyalty by keeping customers aware of your business. This is one of the big reasons that many existing businesses choose to add apps to what they offer.
For example, you can send out push notifications alerting users of sales, important announcements, coupon codes, and more. This is something that you have likely seen from the makers of the apps that you already use.
This is why they do it, and you can do it as well!
Think About If Your Business Lends Itself to the App Experience
Does your business lend itself well to an app experience? For example, if you’re a retailer selling physical goods, an app may not make sense because customers can easily browse and purchase your products on your website or in-store.
However, if you offer services like haircuts or car washes, an app could be incredibly useful because it would allow customers to book appointments directly through the app.
However, there is far more than this which goes into deciding if an app would improve your business or not. Many large retailers offer apps for their products, even though they have websites and physical stores. This includes companies like Asos, Target, and Walmart.
There are really no strict rules here. After all, every business and every app is different.
For example, while some entrepreneurs build apps to complement an already existing business, some make their apps their entire business.
If you’re still not sure if an app is right for your business, reach out to a professional who can help you assess whether or not developing an app makes sense for your specific business model.
At Chop Dawg, we have about a decade of experience working with small businesses to help them create the apps of their dreams!
You can reach out to us for more information here!
Do You Know What Goes Into Building and Maintaining an App?
Once you’ve decided that an app could be beneficial, you need to think about whether or not you have the resources to develop and maintain it.
Creating an app takes time and money, and someone will need to be responsible for updating it regularly with new content and features.
One common misconception amongst people who are new to the app development game is that app development is a process with a clear beginning and end.
For example, many think that you create the app, put it in app stores, and walk away.
This could not be more wrong!
Apps need to be updated as long as they are used for a lot of reasons. For one, newer versions of mobile devices are being released all the time. On top of that, app stores also change their requirements from time to time.
If you never update your app, its likely that over time it will not work on mobile devices anymore and may even be booted from app stores for failing to keep up.
This requires time, effort, and resources. Some opt to build their apps in-house, while others opt to work with separate agencies and outsource their apps.
This is a critical decision to make early on!
What Kind of App Do Your Customers Need?
You also need to consider what type of app would be most useful for your customers. There are lots of different types of apps out there, from simple games to complex productivity tools.
Again, the key here is to make something that your customers need and would improve their overall experience. What can you offer via mobile app experience that you can’t do in any other way?
Figure out what sort of app would best fit your needs and then start looking into development costs.
Final Thoughts on How to Know if You Should Create an App for Your Business
An app can be a great way to promote and sell products or services, engage customers, build brand awareness, and even drive sales—but only if it makes sense for your specific business model.
Before investing time and money into developing an app, take a look at your competition, assess your customer base, and determine whether or not your business lends itself well to an app experience.
If you’re still unsure whether or not an app is right for your business, reach out to a professional who can help guide you in making the best decision for your company, like us here at Chop Dawg!
What do you think? Comment below.
Since 2009, we have helped create 400+ next-generation apps for startups, Fortune 500s, growing businesses, and non-profits from around the globe. Think Partner, Not Agency.
Find us on social #MakeItAppn®
