It isn’t uncommon for us here at Atmosphere Apps to advise potential customers not to build an app. The most common reason we advise against developing an app is because the app must fit into the larger picture. If the rest of the picture isn’t there or there’s no plan, then the app is likely to fail.
The picture I’m referring to is the “mobile strategy,” a plan for how a business will be successful in the mobile environment. Having a mobile strategy is crucial for success in today’s business environment.
The good news is that you don’t need your own app to have a mobile strategy. A mobile strategy starts with the understanding that your customers are already interacting with your business on mobile. On mobile, customers have a different mindset than when sitting behind their desktop computers.
As the business owner, you should think about what priorities your customers have when they interact with your business in a mobile context, and then deliver what your customers want. Here are some useful things to consider as you formulate your mobile strategy:
• Claim your business on Google. Make sure all pertinent information is up to date.
• Ask customers for reviews on Google, Yelp, and other web and mobile platforms. Learn how this works by leaving reviews for businesses you interact with, and then provide clear instructions for your own customers.
• If you don’t have a mobile-optimized site, you should invest in one. Google penalizes websites that aren’t optimized for mobile.
• Speaking of mobile-optimized, your mobile site should prioritize information a little differently than your desktop site. For example, make sure your phone number is a tap-to-dial link and is displayed prominently on mobile.
• Start a text message club. Google search “Text Marketing” to find providers. Your most loyal customers will happily sign up in exchange for periodic promotions and discounts.
• Engage customers on social media. Assign someone the responsibility of posting something new on your social media channels on a regular basis.
• Submit your events to local event apps, like myGainesville, and post them on Facebook.
ERIC POIRIER is CEO and co-founder of Atmosphere Apps, a Gainesville-based mobile app development company that has been successfully developing mobile software since 2001. Since then, Atmosphere has developed over 150 mobile apps on nine different mobile platforms for clients worldwide. Eric is a graduate of the University of Florida and enjoys raising his family in Gainesville.
atmosphereapps.com