Do Your Customers Have You in the Palm of Their Hand?
By SOLTECH
If not, they should. Mobile devices are on the rise and businesses need to take advantage of this anytime anywhere marketing tool. How many times have you been standing in line at Starbuck’s or waiting for a doctor’s appointment and you look around and everyone is either on his or her smartphone or tablet?
Mobile applications are no longer an option for businesses–they’re a necessity. “Small businesses can really take advantage of the perception that apps are only for large companies,” Michael Schneider from Entrepreneur.com says. “Home Depot has an app, but people don’t expect Joe’s Hardware to have an app. It’s an impressive thing for any business to have, like a website was 20 years ago. It sets your company apart, and it puts you on the same playing field as the big boys.”
The big question is can you take advantage of a mobile app? Or do you need a mobile friendly website?
If you have a website that provides information about your company and products/services then YES you need a mobile version of this website today. With more users doing their web browsing on mobile devices and social networking sites, you should provide a usable version of your site for a mobile audience.
As a business owner, if you decide there’s good reason to develop your own mobile app, there are several ways to do it. Mobile-optimized websites and apps have the potential to change how and when businesses interface with their customers. But before you dive into the deep end of the app development pool, familiarize yourself with a number of the more advanced mobile development options.
