More and more businesses are turning to mobile app marketing
Photo by cottonbro
Mobile apps have been around for well over a decade, yet we are seeing an unprecedented rise in businesses creating their own apps. Companies and brands are starting to recognise the importance of an app, and the benefits one can bring to an organisation.
For the longest time, mobile apps were viewed as games or gimmicks. They were fun little things people could download and enjoy, but they didn’t hold any marketing potential. As global smartphone ownership has surged to 6.6 billion people, the importance of mobile apps has grown. Instead of being a gimmick, they now possess great power over the consumer market. Consequently, it’s no surprise to see more and more businesses turning to these apps for various purposes.
Mobile apps provide a new wave of marketing
Many businesses are hiring app developers to create apps as a form of marketing. These apps are downloadable for consumers, giving them access to a business’s complete product or service catalogue. They can browse through different items and make purchases directly from an app – it’s like a mobile-friendly website, only in an application format.
Therefore, the marketing possibilities are endless. Developers are able to configure custom notifications for every user, sending push notifications relating to their browsing history. It means companies can send promotions directly to a user’s smartphone, and with the press of a button, they are taken into the app.
It’s a style of marketing that has never been seen before, almost rewriting what we know about inbound marketing techniques. Because so many people carry their phones wherever they go, these apps provide a constant source of marketing at all times. It is far more direct than anything else out there right now.
Alternative revenue sources
On the other hand, many companies are turning to mobile apps as an alternative revenue source. Some businesses are developing applications that people can purchase. Or, and this is perhaps more popular, they are creating apps that people pay a subscription to use. The apps themselves can be a business idea, but they could also provide people with services relevant to your current business model.
As an example, a company that sells clothing may develop an app that offers styling services for customers. People pay for the app, and it helps them create different outfits based on their needs or preferences. Likewise, you could have companies that sell food that create apps giving people access to lots of different recipes.
There are many ways businesses can use apps to generate more income, and they don’t need to be via payments. Free apps still make money through advertising – much like a website. Consequently, companies could also charge a fee to remove adverts, meaning money is made no matter what.
We are entering a world that will soon be dominated by mobile apps for businesses. So many companies are realising the potential these small applications have. Whether as a marketing tool or a source of income, apps are certainly here to stay and we expect even more companies to start turning towards them.
