How a Mobile App Can Help Your Bottom Line
Still not sure about mobile apps? Here's a statistic that
might interest you. In July 2012, the IBM Retail Online index reported that
retailers experienced a 15% growth in sales due solely to mobiles. By focusing
their efforts on mobile shoppers, whose numbers are increasing by leaps and
bounds, offline businesses are raising their bottom line. And this number is
only expected to keep rising.
How does mobile marketing increase sales? You do it by:
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Customizing the shopping experience and making
it easier to buy from you
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Branding your business and getting it exposure
by offering useful apps that make life easier for your customers
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Giving customers access to the information they
need quickly
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Saving your human resources by automating the
shopping process
All of this is done through mobile apps, which are software
programs designed to work on mobiles.
Helping People Shop Smarter
Your head is now probably swimming with ideas for creating
your own app. The cool thing about apps is that you're only limited by your
imagination. There's practically nothing a skilled developer can't create as
long as you've got it planned well. When designing your app, focus on improving
your customers' experience with your business.
Store Locators
Mobiles have built-in GPS capabilities and creating an app
that uses them is a sure winner. A store locator app uses the customer's phone
GPS to find stores that are nearest to them. All they need to do is press a
button and it shows them a map. You can also include driving directions and
store information like open hours.
Product Info at Your Fingertips
Lots of people are using their mobiles when they shop
offline to compare prices and get product information. Your store can put QR
codes on your products so that mobile users can quickly scan them and get
information. This saves them the trouble of searching for the items online
themselves.
Order Before You Arrive
Many businesses use apps that speed up the ordering process.
They can order through their mobile and it's ready for them when they get
there. This is great for pizza shops, restaurants, cake shops and anything else
where customers build their own product.
Checking in and Saying 'Hi'
Location-based services are extremely popular nowadays.
These are apps where your customers can 'check in' at your offline location,
telling all their friends where they are. They can then leave a review or
comment through the app that others can read. Word of mouth is really powerful.
They could be raving about your appetizer and spreading the word before the
main course even arrives.
Creating Your Own App
It's easy to make your own app and business of all shapes
and sizes do it. Come up with a plan for how you want it to work from your
user's point of view. Take some process related to your business and make it
quicker, easier or more fun. Hire a developer and explain how it should work
for the customer.
Mobile is becoming increasingly important for offline
shopping, so it's time for your business to cash in. Create an app that helps
your customers and you'll see your sales skyrocket.
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