Mobile Apps As Essential Parts Of e-Commerce

But what I can say is that brand recognition occurs when a client sees your logo five to seven times. Major companies spend millions on re-marketing every year to establish brand loyalty. With an app that has been downloaded, you usually get that within the first day with a user, because your logo and brand now has a spot on the screen of a user's phone or mobile device. That's a huge benefit, regardless of what features are included in the app.

Major retailers with huge budgets have their own mobile app to keep their business ahead of the technological trends as well as ensure another avenue to drive sales. It is no secret that smartphone sales have outnumbered PC sales in 2013. Tech2.in.com says that smartphone owners check their phones an average of 150 times per day. See, “Smartphone Users Check their Phones an Average of 150 Times a Day.” As a business owner who has a mobile app downloaded to these customers' phones, that means users will be more than likely to see your logo (icon) numerous times per day. This is basic branding 101. If a customer sees your company brand five to seven times, establishing brand loyalty, they are much more inclined to purchase from you or at the very least spread the word about your product or service.

In May, a study conducted by Google in conjunction with the Google Shopper Marketing Agency Council and M/A/R/C Research, said that 79% of smartphone users are using their phones while shopping to compare prices with competing stores. See, “How Mobile Is Transforming the Shopping Experience in Stores.” We all are probably guilty of price-comparing, which is an essential part of the consumer shopping experience. Knowing that customers are typically on their smartphones comparing prices, some major retailers have taken a huge step ahead and begun including special app incentives for customers while in their own brick-and-mortar store. This eliminates the time spent browsing the competitors prices against the store they are already in and gives users special incentives to purchase products from the actual store.

The Economics Of Apps

The industry is catered toward big businesses and established brands to further separate themselves from the average and up-and-comers. It's easy for a big business to cough up $20,000, $30,000 or $50,000 for mobile app development. With huge price tags and lack of resources, that is exactly what has happened in the industry.

Apps can be very pricey, not to mention time-consuming, to take from concept to being available for download from an app marketplace such as iTunes, the Apple app Market or Google Play. Most people don't understand apps and have a hard time figuring out what is and what is not possible ' and how many hours of coding it will require. Many times, finding the right professional alone is a headache, and most people don't put in the time to find the right one who can take their vision and make it a reality.

In 2012, smartphone, tablet and other mobile device users accounted for almost $25 billion dollars in online sales, an increase of 81% over 2011. See, “M-commerce Sales Near $25 Billion in 2012, Up 81%,” InternetRetailor.com. With the holidays coming up rapidly, there is no doubt mobile sales will play a major role in driving sales up for these retailers.

Businesses need to remember that they must accept these changes and not hide from the technological advancements. The future of mobile commerce sales has arrived, and with projected figures upwards of $40 billion dollars in 2013, according to research firm eMarketer, there is a huge chunk of business to go around for every retail business.

All retail industries could benefit from a mobile app to gain sales and help build their customer base. If your business relies heavily on online sales, a mobile app is a no-brainer and an essential piece to a business and its marketing strategies. The misconception that a mobile app is unsecure has been heavily debated, and since mobile apps typically run off the same e-commerce sites as the seller's website would, it would be protected by the same security as the website.

Conclusion

Many retailers and e-tailers still don't have an app for the reasons stated above, or the fact that they are unaware of the stats backing mobile app development and the benefits for businesses and brands. With the tech world moving so quickly, and our use and dependency on mobile gadgets increasing, it is inevitable that businesses survival will rely more and more heavily on mobile apps. Playing catch-up will never lead to success; innovators and forward-thinkers usually thrive as times change. Apps are the websites of 17-20 years ago, and now you either have a website for your business or you're not actually a business, plain and simple.

Arya Mokhtari is the president and founder of Allure Apps (www.allureapps.com), a Los Angeles-based Mobile App Development company specializing in Business and Brand Apps; allowing e-tailers to reach mobile users, fans and clients. Free quotes and business analyses are available to educate potential clients on the benefits of apps for any specific industry or business.

There are many reasons why an app is a key ingredient in your marketing strategy, regardless of the size of your social media following. SEO is basically showing up everywhere people search for things, and the app stores also act as search engines that generate millions of searches per month. If someone searches for your product, for example “shoes,” you need your shoe store to show up. Of course having a huge social media following will likely equal more downloads initially, but an app should be a tool you utilize very similar to a website, just for mobile clients. The age ranges of your target clients are going to be very close to the age range that is considered “mobile” by today's standards.

Incentives for App Use

Devising creative incentives for potential users to download the app is a great start for your mobile marketing strategies. The majority of companies don't have the privilege to attend trade shows with tons of live traffic and potential app owners to which to spread the word. There is always a question of whether those who download the app keep it, but that should not be a concern ' these things apply to every form of marketing. How do you know they'll keep following you on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook after they initially do? Or pay attention to your tweets and posts even if they don't actually “unfollow.” Or if they'll revisit your website after they've already been there once before? Or if they'll come back and purchase other products from you after they have once?

But what I can say is that brand recognition occurs when a client sees your logo five to seven times. Major companies spend millions on re-marketing every year to establish brand loyalty. With an app that has been downloaded, you usually get that within the first day with a user, because your logo and brand now has a spot on the screen of a user's phone or mobile device. That's a huge benefit, regardless of what features are included in the app.

Major retailers with huge budgets have their own mobile app to keep their business ahead of the technological trends as well as ensure another avenue to drive sales. It is no secret that smartphone sales have outnumbered PC sales in 2013. Tech2.in.com says that smartphone owners check their phones an average of 150 times per day. See, “Smartphone Users Check their Phones an Average of 150 Times a Day.” As a business owner who has a mobile app downloaded to these customers' phones, that means users will be more than likely to see your logo (icon) numerous times per day. This is basic branding 101. If a customer sees your company brand five to seven times, establishing brand loyalty, they are much more inclined to purchase from you or at the very least spread the word about your product or service.

In May, a study conducted by Google in conjunction with the Google Shopper Marketing Agency Council and M/A/R/C Research, said that 79% of smartphone users are using their phones while shopping to compare prices with competing stores. See, “How Mobile Is Transforming the Shopping Experience in Stores.” We all are probably guilty of price-comparing, which is an essential part of the consumer shopping experience. Knowing that customers are typically on their smartphones comparing prices, some major retailers have taken a huge step ahead and begun including special app incentives for customers while in their own brick-and-mortar store. This eliminates the time spent browsing the competitors prices against the store they are already in and gives users special incentives to purchase products from the actual store.

The Economics Of Apps

The industry is catered toward big businesses and established brands to further separate themselves from the average and up-and-comers. It's easy for a big business to cough up $20,000, $30,000 or $50,000 for mobile app development. With huge price tags and lack of resources, that is exactly what has happened in the industry.

Apps can be very pricey, not to mention time-consuming, to take from concept to being available for download from an app marketplace such as iTunes, the Apple app Market or Google Play. Most people don't understand apps and have a hard time figuring out what is and what is not possible ' and how many hours of coding it will require. Many times, finding the right professional alone is a headache, and most people don't put in the time to find the right one who can take their vision and make it a reality.

In 2012, smartphone, tablet and other mobile device users accounted for almost $25 billion dollars in online sales, an increase of 81% over 2011. See, “M-commerce Sales Near $25 Billion in 2012, Up 81%,” InternetRetailor.com. With the holidays coming up rapidly, there is no doubt mobile sales will play a major role in driving sales up for these retailers.

Businesses need to remember that they must accept these changes and not hide from the technological advancements. The future of mobile commerce sales has arrived, and with projected figures upwards of $40 billion dollars in 2013, according to research firm eMarketer, there is a huge chunk of business to go around for every retail business.

All retail industries could benefit from a mobile app to gain sales and help build their customer base. If your business relies heavily on online sales, a mobile app is a no-brainer and an essential piece to a business and its marketing strategies. The misconception that a mobile app is unsecure has been heavily debated, and since mobile apps typically run off the same e-commerce sites as the seller's website would, it would be protected by the same security as the website.

Conclusion

Many retailers and e-tailers still don't have an app for the reasons stated above, or the fact that they are unaware of the stats backing mobile app development and the benefits for businesses and brands. With the tech world moving so quickly, and our use and dependency on mobile gadgets increasing, it is inevitable that businesses survival will rely more and more heavily on mobile apps. Playing catch-up will never lead to success; innovators and forward-thinkers usually thrive as times change. Apps are the websites of 17-20 years ago, and now you either have a website for your business or you're not actually a business, plain and simple.

Arya Mokhtari is the president and founder of Allure Apps (www.allureapps.com), a Los Angeles-based Mobile App Development company specializing in Business and Brand Apps; allowing e-tailers to reach mobile users, fans and clients. Free quotes and business analyses are available to educate potential clients on the benefits of apps for any specific industry or business.