The world is becoming increasingly mobile. By 2026, experts predict more than 7.49 billion people will have a smartphone. They’re using these tools not only to communicate with contacts and search for information online, but also to interact with businesses, frequently through apps.
On average, people spend 88% of their smartphone time using applications, as opposed to the web. That’s one of the reasons why countless companies are investing in turning their standard mobile-friendly website into an app.
The question is, how do you ensure your mobile app stays within budget and lives up to expectations?
It all starts with making sure your app has the right features and capabilities.
The rising demand for mobile experiences has led to an increase in tools that make it simple for companies to convert their website into an app. Simple software solutions can eliminate the need to pay for complex development support, or invest in lengthy coding sessions.
However, there are still key factors businesses need to focus on to ensure their app is successful. Here are just five of the most important things you should be focusing on when developing your own business mobile app.
1. A User-Friendly Interface
It almost goes without saying, but even if you convince someone to download your company’s app, they won’t continue to use it if the experience they get is poor. A mobile app should provide customers with a truly native experience, one that aligns with the actions they already take with their phone each day, like swiping and tapping on a touch screen.
Focusing on adapting your app experience to the average user’s journey will lead to better results. Think about how you can make it easier for customers to navigate through pages with simple swipe commands. Consider how easy it is to click on buttons and links within your app, and how intuitive the experience feels.
Make sure you use testing tools to track the effectiveness of your design, and check to see if your mobile app works well with both Android and iOS operating systems.
2. Security
Cybersecurity issues are a common concern for both businesses and consumers. Nobody wants to risk their data by downloading an app that doesn’t take user privacy seriously. This is particularly true if your app allows for things like “in-app purchasing,” which might require people to enter payment details.
When investing in mobile app design, be cautious about security. Ensure you’re not collecting any unnecessary data from your audience, and check to see whether you’re adhering to compliance guidelines. Leverage end-to-end encryption and PCI-compliant payment methods.
Additionally, make sure your customers can take advantage of extra security measures where necessary, such as multi-factor authentication. The safer your customers feel when using your app, the more likely they’ll be to trust your brand.
3. Simplicity and Speed
One of the reasons many people prefer to use mobile apps over mobile versions of websites, is they’re often more simple, intuitive solutions. Mobile apps should cut out the “extra clutter” that people on your website might encounter, such as display ads or extra animations and effects.
Creating a simple app goes hand-in-hand with delivering an excellent user experience, and also ensuring your app can load and process information quickly. No user will want to sit around waiting for each section of your app to load. If they have to wait too long, this increases the chances that they’ll simply uninstall your app.
Make sure your app has straightforward, clean code, and isn’t weighed down by any unnecessary features. Implement only the capabilities that are essential to your users.
4. Push Notifications
If you’re using a mobile app to connect with your customers, increase engagement, and potentially improve sales, then you should definitely be using push notifications. Having an app is a great way to increase the visibility of your brand, by placing your logo on a customer’s home screen.
However, sometimes they need a little extra nudge to continue interacting with your mobile experience. Push notifications give you an excellent opportunity to highlight new features, product promotions, and news your customers might want to hear about.
Just make sure you’re not using these notifications too aggressively. If you send messages to your audience too often, they’re likely to silence them, or uninstall your app. You can consider using intelligent tools to automate your notifications based on different audience segments and preferences.
5. Convenience Features
Finally, one great way to separate your mobile app from other business apps, is to think of unique ways you can make the experience more convenient for your audience. When you’re designing your mobile app, ask yourself whether you can:
- Offer offline functionality: Allow customers to access certain features and tools on your app when they’re not connected to the internet. This ensures that they can continue to interact with your business wherever they are.
- Battery saving modes: Avoid draining your user’s battery life by implementing a “battery saver” mode that reduces screen brightness, or eliminates some of the more advanced features on your app for a short time.
- Local app capabilities: Local capabilities, like geofencing tools and notifications sent based on a customer’s location, can make your app more relevant and appealing to your specific target audience.
Ensure there’s a simple “customer service” option on your app too, such as a contact page with a way to reach out to your team with technical issues – or, at the very least, an FAQ section.
Does Your Mobile App Have Everything It Needs?
Creating a business mobile app is an excellent way to give your company an edge in today’s competitive landscape. It’s a fantastic opportunity to earn more engagement from your loyal customers, and potentially increase conversion rates.
However, just like any business asset, your mobile app needs to be carefully designed to offer an exceptional user experience, great security, and fantastic results. Follow the tips above to ensure your app has the right impact on your target audience, and your brand’s reputation.