Knowing your ABCs is a basic skill, but do you know the ABCs of using mobile apps to grow your business? If not, you could be missing out on a valuable source of revenue: a tool that can provide direct access to your target audience. Even if you have a website and social media, you may also need an app as part of your marketing plans. So Mike McRitchie invites you to go over those app ABCs. 

Apps Can Boost Your Business 

The benefits of having an app for your small business are clear. With an app, you can expect: 

• Increased visibility.
• More customer loyalty.
• Enhances engagement. 

In addition, you’ll also have a direct channel for connecting with and marketing to your customers, which can help set you apart from your competitors. 

But Apps Can Be Hard to Create 

Unless you’re tech-savvy, building an app can be quite the chore. There are tools online that you can use but the results may not be exactly what you expect. DIY app building platforms tend to produce generic apps that may not help your business stand out. 

Choosing the Right Platform Can Help 

If you want to simplify the process of building an app, you can try focusing on a single platform. For example, you may want to create an app for the iOS store for compatibility across Apple’s wide range of handheld devices — which, in turn, puts your app in the hands of more consumers. Of course, coding and building an app are still complicated. 

Developers Can Eliminate the Guesswork 

Instead of taking chances with a DIY app, why not hire a freelance developer to help you out? The right iPad application developer will have the technical skills to deliver a seamless, user-friendly app for tablet users and will also be able to customize your app as needed. It’s easy to find such an expert on online job boards, so make sure to compare reviews and rates before you settle on one.

Experienced Pros Will Prioritize Security

As you consider developers and/or agencies to help with your mobile app, you should also ask questions about security. Candidates should possess a thorough knowledge of the steps needed to secure mobile apps from some of the most common threats, including data breaches. It’s also important to have a disaster recovery plan in place in the event that something does happen to your business. According to Commvault, your plan should include ways to monitor your systems and protect yourself against a cyber threat.

Forgetting Security Can Cost Your Business 

Think that having an app that’s not properly secured isn’t a big deal? After you consider the potential costs of a breach, you may want to think again. Small businesses can expect to shell out a whopping $200K for a single data leak, which a small business might not be able to handle. It’s just one more reason you should trust this task to a professional instead of trying to DIY.

Getting Downloads Is Half the Battle 

Once you have a user-friendly app, you need to start getting it on phones and tablets. Hop on social media and let your audience know about your shiny new app! Promote, promote, promote — you are bound to have people excited to add your mobile app and start using it. 

Help Increase Downloads by Offering Incentives 

Still can’t get folks to download and use your app? Why not offer a special discount or other tantalizing incentives to your audience? It’s a tactic that many corporations use to get people to download their apps and use it to shop for products and services, and it can work for you, too. In fact, most consumers expect special deals and discounts when they use a business’s app. 

It Pays to Ask for Ratings and Reviews 

As more and more people use your app, be sure to take advantage of this momentum by asking them to rate and review it! These reviews and ratings are important to other consumers on the lookout for new apps. If you want the most ROI and the most users, your app needs a rating of 4 stars or higher. 

We didn’t quite get to Z, but you should have enough tips and insights to avoid making mistakes with your small business app. Remember, the first mistake to avoid is not having an app at all! Make sure your app is intuitive, user-friendly, and secure, which is a given when you work with an experienced developer. Finally, don’t forget to promote it! 

Mike McRitchie is an author, “Top 100 Career Blogger”, and job search and small business strategist with over 20 years of experience managing wireless telecom build-outs for all the major U. S. carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint) as a project manager, program manager, and director-level leader. Call 425-760-9835.

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