Small businesses owners looking for a mobile app platform may be scared off implementing one by the perceived large capital costs involved.
I have some valuable insight on the topic from two perspectives, 1) I was a small business owner looking for a mobile app solution for my retail stores a few years ago, 2) Not finding a solution, I created my own platform that caters to small business owners.
My background is retail, I have owned and operated retail boutiques for the better part of 25 years, so I understand clearly the predicament small business owners face when looking to adopt a mobile app solution.
Let me start off by saying that for business owners today no mater how big or how small, it is imperative that they implement a mobile strategy. Aside from the many intrinsic benefits that mobile apps provide, like push notifications, food ordering systems, integration of all digital assets, and loyalty programs, they also provide ancillary benefits, like helping rank your business higher on google searches.
The goal of every business owners marketing efforts is to get their message, (whether it is a sales promotion, new arrivals, special event, or general updates) seen by their own customers, and to know that their messages are being seen. Look at the available marketing mediums that are available to businesses today:
- Radio
- TV
- Flyers
- Paid Web
- Organic/Word of Mouth
The mobile app will over time become the best and most effective way to communicate with your customers, boost engagement and drive sales! Technology today enables a business owner to design build and publish a mobile app, for less then it would cost them to build a website. The Mobile App will be for businesses today and moving forward, what the website was for businesses in the past.
The other unique perspective I have is that of the founder of a tech start up catering to the small business market. We have built a platform from the perspective of a user and that perspective gives us the ability to understand the needs of our clients and how they will use our platform daily.
With the introduction of the IPhone, and the dominance of smart phones today as the primary method of accessing the internet for a majority of the population – it is imperative for businesses to adopt a mobile first marketing strategy moving forward. Cost should no longer be an obstacle for small businesses in finding a mobile app platform.