Small Businesses and Mobile Apps
Owners of Small Businesses are still debating over whether or not to get a mobile app. While they scratch their heads, wondering and pondering, other tech savvy new business owners are popping up with on-line stores and mobile apps. Some early adapter brick and mortar store owners who “don’t get” but get it enough to hire someone who gets it, are hiring high school interns or tech savvy staff and these businesses are definitely standing out in their communities, or… their apps are anyway.
Most business owners work hard IN their businesses and have little time to work ON them. They may be seen as an industry expert but such expert knowledge about an industry can leave little time for learning about marketing trends and the future of business. What good is it know everything about shoes if you haven’t kept up on the latest trends of how to market your shoe store? You can make the best soup in town but a mediocre chef with a strong, progressive marketing plan can put an experienced 5 star Michelin chef without such a plan, out of business.
Why Small Businesses Don’t Have a Mobile App
- App Developers are selling features and not benefits, thus not educating business owners of what an app can really do
- Small businesses are notoriously late adopters of technology
- Businesses are more comfortable buying products they understand
- Businesses owners don’t fully understand the power of a mobile app and aren’t taking the time to learn
Questions Small Business Owners Should Ask Themselves
- How much time are you spending on marketing? Do you do it alone or with a team?
- How much money are you currently investing in your marketing?
- How strong do you think your social strategy is?
- Are your Yelp and Google ratings costing you business?
- Are you growing revenue with a customer loyalty program?
- Do you currently use email marketing?
- Are your customers finding your business through good SEO
- How do you currently drive traffic to your website or store during off-peak hours and days?
- How do you fill cancellations?
- What customer service/ VIP programs and perks do you offer and how easy is it for customers to access & participate?
- How long do you plan to stay in business?
- Do you plan on selling your business?
Why Small Businesses Should Have a Mobile App
- An increase in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram fans and activity
- An increase in client retention through Rewards Programs
- An increase in positive online reviews
- An increase in emails to add to their newsletter
- An increase in e-Commerce business through the app itself
- An increase in e-Commerce business through their website
- An increase in traffic through their doors from Push Notifications and Flash Sales
- An increase in competitive strategies against on-line businesses
- An increase in scheduled appointments
- An increase in revenue streams
The Problem
Technology is the boon of entrepreneurs with more and more businesses being started on-line verses in brick and mortar locations. These on-line business owners are tech savvy and know how to tap into a long-time, local business’s marketplace. With social media transforming into social sales, a few dollars and the click of a button can send your competition’s ad into the newsfeed of hundreds or thousands of your existing or future clients. Existing entrepreneurs are so busy running their businesses with less effective practices they haven’t taken the time to learn about new technology and where the future of business is headed.
The Solution
A mobile app is a vitamin for long term health and prosperity vs a magic pill that will boom a business overnight. Its a powerful marketing tool that can build your business into a robust prosperous asset with a healthy resale value if your retirement strategy is selling your business verses closing it when you’re through. Today’s business values are no longer calculated merely on income and physical assets but include on-line presence, followers and engagement. A business with less income and high followers and fans can have a higher selling value than a business with high income and less on-line presence and followers.
Start a poll and look at your customers’ phones. Is your direct competition on there with their mobile app? Is there an app on there for any business where your customers could purchase products and services from them verses you? If the answer to these questions is yes, strongly consider a mobile app today and get yourself in the game. If the answer is no, consider yourself lucky and don’t wait any longer to get a mobile app so you can be the one with the competitive advantage.
Colleen is an App and e-Commerce expert and the Co-Founder of Brandgarden.biz with her Tech expert husband, Richard. She’s an Entrepreneur, Writer, Speaker and Trainer of Napoleon Hill principles. She enjoys Bikram Yoga, wine and a great cup of coffee. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @AppGirlontheGo.
.