As mobile applications continue to create exciting and engaging user experiences, many technology experts are starting to wonder if the app will eventually replace the website entirely.
\r\nApps allow for much better engagement with consumers. Besides offering more advanced security options, they also provide opportunities to create additional sources of revenue.
\r\nMobile apps also are usually much less clunky than mobile websites, giving users an intuitive and increasingly pleasant way to navigate to what they need. Apps provide a great way for users to have a more personal experience with the content they’re seeking.
\r\nWith 86 percent of mobile users spending their time using apps, app developers are certainly doing something right.
\r\nOnly time will tell if apps replace the old browser-based web experience, but a closer look at how you can boost your ROI with apps provides some insight.
\r\nApps seamlessly integrate with a device’s existing security system to ensure the absolute best level of encryption. Mobile Device Management (MDM) software is also audited and meets strict security standards that are more secure than a standard website.
\r\nTraditional website security, such as anti-virus programs, can get expensive and provide other headaches like bloatware, making them more trouble than they’re worth. Save your current and prospective clients the hassle and utilize all that the app has to offer.
\r\nRelated Article: Financial Apps & Tools That Will Change Your Life (and Business)
\r\nWith today’s fast-paced society, people need speed, especially when they have little to no time to browse the internet for the next necessity. Mobile apps can be accessed and provide solutions much more quickly than websites.
\r\nWebsites must be opened via browsers and can therefore take longer to load, making them more difficult to use when looking for answers fast. Although many mobile sites don’t work offline, websites frequently run into the same problem. Your app can work around this by making content available for local downloads and instant access. Websites can be viewed offline, but most are at the mercy of their browsers.
\r\nIs your app customizable for the user? Mobile apps usually prompt users to login and setup preferences from the outset. Set up your app to track user engagement and use this data to offer custom suggestions and updates, introducing your users to other relevant products or services you offer.
\r\nApps can also log important information, such as user location, to help provide your user with geographically based content. The more customized and personal the experience, the higher the conversion rate.
\r\nYour app boosts current and prospective client engagement. There are two factors that allow apps to be a more immersive experience for users. Not only do they run within their own interface, they often have a unique icon on the home screen of the mobile device that allows the brand to become more integrated with each user’s behavior.
\r\nNotifications and badges on this icon help keep users returning to the app to see what they’ve been missing. Websites rely on user interaction to deliver notifications, just as apps do, but the method of delivery is typically in the form of an email. This places an extra obstacle between the user and the desired content, which interrupts engagement. Your app can draw a user in with nothing more than a passing glance.
\r\nRelated Article: Can You Run a Business Entirely From Your Phone?
\r\nBesides push notifications and badges, apps are compatible with a device’s hardware and software, which add integration with address books, audio recordings, device vibration, cloud sync, and offline access and caching. This results in more functionality than mobile websites can offer.
Include special features in your app that users can utilize instead of opening multiple apps to serve one overarching goal. If you sell cooking supplies and/or cookbooks, make select recipes accessible within your app and include a timer. When your app is multifunctional, you’ll find more people downloading and using it, leading to a higher conversion rate.
Most consumers and business professionals are hammered with a deluge of email, which can greatly diminish the effectiveness of engagement. Mobile texting, sharing, and posting, on the other hand, offer opportunities to communicate with users in a less-intrusive manner.
\r\nDepending on the app, push notifications are powerful tools, resulting in click-through rates of up to 40 percent. While websites can be shared via many of these same methods, they are often limited to the browser’s sharing capabilities.
\r\nApps that connect to other apps or services can make the experience of using the program more interactive and fun. The more integrations your app has, the more widely it will be used. Suppose, for example, that you could use an app to add a preferred photo to your new driver’s license.
\r\nYou could take 50 selfies and find one you actually like as opposed to having to accept a horrible washed out one taken by a clerk at the local DMV. The ability to use your device’s tools gives apps a significant advantage over websites.
\r\nUsers can move faster when they don’t have to use a browser. Make sure your app is designed to move your users swiftly through the interface using gesture-based interactions and more intuitive controls. Even mobile websites are only as user-friendly as the browser with which they are viewed.
\r\nRelated Article: Ways to Pay: Credit Card Processing Tools All Small Businesses Should Use
\r\nSince apps are different from websites, they offer an opportunity to try out new branding experiences. Companies can experiment with new branding styles which differ from those found on a corporate website. Apps provide new and exciting possibilities to existing brands. When your app successfully identifies a need and fills that need adequately for the user, the value of your entire brand rises.
\r\nIn terms of pure, simple, and unfettered content consumption, websites will always have a place. But as the app continues to become more ubiquitous across all digital mediums, it already has become the more popular option for those who rely on mobile devices to carry them through the day. The benefits and features of your company’s mobile app will provide a stronger bond between your brand and your users, provided you do it well.
\n","docType":"article","guid":"articles_aab5678f3ca4ee0fb4f2aa58300e11dc","lastModified":"2016-05-10T21:00:00.000Z","published":"2016-05-10T21:00:00.000Z","structuredData":null,"subtitle":null,"template":"legacy","title":"Build It and They Will Come: 9 Ways to Maximize the ROI of Your App","type":"article","author":{"avatar":null,"bio":"Mike Canarelli is the CEO and Co-Founder of Web Talent Marketing, a full-service digital marketing agency based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.\r\n\r\nAs the force behind Web Talent, Mike lays the foundation for his clients’ success by applying his experience, expertise, and passion for excellence to every account. His mission, and the mission of the agency, is to partner with clients to deliver exceptional results. Mike’s leadership and resolve has driven Web Talent to the upper echelons of the Internet marketing industry. His commitment to fair and honest principles has ensured Web Talent remains focused on scalable long-term solutions for its clients, rather than quick fixes and short-lived remedies.\r\n\r\nMike holds a B.S. from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management where he studied Entrepreneurship and Management Information Systems. After six years as a freelance designer/developer he founded Axis Creative Group in 2006 and later merged with Web Talent SEO in late 2010. Although the business occupies much of his time and energy, Mike still finds time to enjoy an active lifestyle with his wife, Natalya, and their dog, Chester.","name":"Mike Canarelli","image":null,"slug":null,"social":{"facebook":"","linkedin":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikecanarelli","twitter":"mcanarelli","website":"http://www.webtalentmarketing.com/"},"status":"disabled","title":null,"type":"Old BDC Member","user":{"imagePath":"https://staging.business.com/images/undefined","profile":{"company":"","jobTitle":"Founder","website":""}}},"breadcrumbs":null,"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Technology","slug":"technology"},"sub":{"name":"Software","slug":"software"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Here are a few reasons why mobile apps might replace websites as the go-to solution for smart consumers.","title":"9 Ways to Maximize the ROI of Your App - business.com"},"parsedContent":{"toc":[],"json":[{"component":"p","children":["As mobile applications continue to create exciting and engaging user experiences, many technology experts are starting to wonder if the app will eventually replace the website entirely."]},{"component":"p","children":["Apps allow for much better engagement with consumers. Besides offering more advanced security options, they also provide opportunities to create additional sources of revenue."]},{"component":"p","children":["Mobile apps also are usually much less clunky than mobile websites, giving users an intuitive and increasingly pleasant way to navigate to what they need. Apps provide a great way for users to have a more personal experience with the content they’re seeking."]},{"component":"p","children":["With ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/mobile-users-spend-86-time-apps-32-gaming-17-facebook/146991?__hstc=203209230.ac1ca51b3fb18a1523a455d02356f255.1426605480769.1428409850228.1428414504078.50&__hssc=203209230.3.1428414504078&__hsfp=2730629555","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["86 percent of mobile users spending their time using apps"]},", app developers are certainly doing something right."]},{"component":"p","children":["Only time will tell if apps replace the old browser-based web experience, but a closer look at how you can boost your ROI with apps provides some insight."]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["1. Provide Users With Better Security"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Apps seamlessly integrate with a device’s existing security system to ensure the absolute best level of encryption. Mobile Device Management (MDM) software is also audited and meets strict security standards that are more secure than a standard website."]},{"component":"p","children":["Traditional website security, such as anti-virus programs, can get expensive and provide other headaches like ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"http://www.howtogeek.com/218675/beware-free-antivirus-isnt-really-free-anymore/","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["bloatware"]},", making them more trouble than they’re worth. Save your current and prospective clients the hassle and utilize all that the app has to offer."]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Related Article:"]}," ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"http://www.business.com/mobile-apps-and-tools/financial-apps-and-tools-that-will-change-your-life-and-business/"},"children":["Financial Apps & Tools That Will Change Your Life (and Business)"]}]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["2. Give Them Instant Access"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["With today’s fast-paced society, people need speed, especially when they have little to no time to browse the internet for the next necessity. Mobile apps can be accessed and provide solutions much more quickly than websites."]},{"component":"p","children":["Websites must be opened via browsers and can therefore take longer to load, making them more difficult to use when looking for answers fast. Although many mobile sites don’t work offline, websites frequently run into the same problem. Your app can work around this by making content available for local downloads and instant access. Websites can be viewed offline, but most are at the mercy of their browsers."]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["3. Make It Personal"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Is your app customizable for the user? Mobile apps usually prompt users to login and setup preferences from the outset. Set up your app to track user engagement and use this data to offer custom suggestions and updates, introducing your users to other relevant products or services you offer."]},{"component":"p","children":["Apps can also log important information, such as user location, to help provide your user with geographically based content. The more customized and personal the experience, the higher the conversion rate."]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["4. Engage With Them"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Your app boosts current and prospective client engagement. There are two factors that allow apps to be a more immersive experience for users. Not only do they run within their own interface, they often have a unique icon on the home screen of the mobile device that allows the brand to become more integrated with each user’s behavior."]},{"component":"p","children":["Notifications and badges on this icon help keep users returning to the app to see what they’ve been missing. Websites rely on user interaction to deliver notifications, just as apps do, but the method of delivery is typically in the form of an email. This places an extra obstacle between the user and the desired content, which interrupts engagement. Your app can draw a user in with nothing more than a passing glance."]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Related Article:"]}," ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"http://www.business.com/mobile-apps-and-tools/can-you-run-a-business-entirely-from-your-phone/"},"children":["Can You Run a Business Entirely From Your Phone?"]}]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["5. Add Features"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Besides push notifications and badges, apps are compatible with a device’s hardware and software, which add integration with address books, audio recordings, device vibration, cloud sync, and offline access and caching. This results in more functionality than mobile websites can offer.",{"component":"br"},{"component":"br"}," Include special features in your app that users can utilize instead of opening multiple apps to serve one overarching goal. If you sell cooking supplies and/or cookbooks, make select recipes accessible within your app and include a timer. When your app is multifunctional, you’ll find more people downloading and using it, leading to a higher conversion rate."]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["6. Add Sharing Options"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Most consumers and business professionals are hammered with a deluge of email, which can greatly diminish the effectiveness of engagement. Mobile texting, sharing, and posting, on the other hand, offer opportunities to communicate with users in a less-intrusive manner."]},{"component":"p","children":["Depending on the app, push notifications are powerful tools, resulting in ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"http://andrewchen.co/new-data-on-push-notification-ctrs-shows-the-best-apps-perform-4x-better-than-the-worst-heres-why-guest-post/","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["click-through rates of up to 40 percent"]},". While websites can be shared via many of these same methods, they are often limited to the browser’s sharing capabilities."]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["7. Make It Integrateable"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Apps that connect to other apps or services can make the experience of using the program more interactive and fun. The more integrations your app has, the more widely it will be used. Suppose, for example, that you could use an app to add a preferred photo to your new driver’s license."]},{"component":"p","children":["You could take 50 selfies and find one you actually like as opposed to having to accept a horrible washed out one taken by a clerk at the local DMV. The ability to use your device’s tools gives apps a significant advantage over websites."]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["8. Put Time Into the User Experience"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Users can move faster when they don’t have to use a browser. Make sure your app is designed to move your users swiftly through the interface using gesture-based interactions and more intuitive controls. Even mobile websites are only as user-friendly as the browser with which they are viewed."]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Related Article:"]}," ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"http://www.business.com/credit-card-processing/credit-card-processing-tools-all-small-businesses-should-use/"},"children":["Ways to Pay: Credit Card Processing Tools All Small Businesses Should Use"]}]},{"component":"h3","children":[{"component":"em","children":["9. Brand It"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Since apps are different from websites, they offer an opportunity to try out new branding experiences. Companies can experiment with new branding styles which differ from those found on a corporate website. Apps provide new and exciting possibilities to existing brands. When your app successfully identifies a need and fills that need adequately for the user, the value of your entire brand rises."]},{"component":"p","children":["In terms of pure, simple, and unfettered content consumption, websites will always have a place. But as the app continues to become more ubiquitous across all digital mediums, it already has become the more popular option for those who rely on mobile devices to carry them through the day. The benefits and features of your company’s mobile app will provide a stronger bond between your brand and your users, provided you do it well."]}]},"resource":null,"sponsorship":null,"thumbnail":{"path":null,"caption":"Monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images","isBlurred":true},"bestPicks":null},"related":{"relatedArticles":[{"title":"Build It and They Will Come: 9 Ways to Maximize the ROI of Your App","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/9-ways-to-maximize-the-roi-of-your-app/","slug":"9-ways-to-maximize-the-roi-of-your-app","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/channel/technology.jpg","dek":"Here are a few reasons why mobile apps might replace websites as the go-to solution for smart consumers.","lastModified":"2016-05-10T21:00:00Z","published":"2016-05-10T21:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"10 Key Performance Indicators Every Business Using Mobile Should Track","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/10-key-performance-indicators-every-mobile-business-should-track/","slug":"10-key-performance-indicators-every-mobile-business-should-track","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/577/2a6603187b152028f409a/1500-0-","dek":"These data points will give you a clear picture of your app and path the way for enhancements needed to take your app to the next level.","lastModified":"2016-06-28T20:00:00Z","published":"2016-06-28T20:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Stop Watching the Clock: Time Tracking and Invoicing Shortcuts","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/top-time-tracking-and-invoicing-shortcuts-for-2015/","slug":"top-time-tracking-and-invoicing-shortcuts-for-2015","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/558/963523087b123728b45b9/1500-0-","dek":"Here is a comprehensive list of some of the best online time tracking and invoicing solutions in 2015.","lastModified":"2015-06-23T16:00:00Z","published":"2015-06-23T16:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"The 5 Most Neglected Inbound Marketing Channels","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/the-5-most-neglected-inbound-marketing-channels/","slug":"the-5-most-neglected-inbound-marketing-channels","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/558/41aeb3187b1f7128b4582/1500-0-","dek":"Improve your existing inbound marketing results or liven up your old campaign, by trying one of these too-often neglected avenues.","lastModified":"2017-02-22T23:57:52Z","published":"2015-06-19T16:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Quantifying Love: 16 Tips for Measuring App Engagement","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/quantifying-love-16-tips-for-measuring-app-engagement/","slug":"quantifying-love-16-tips-for-measuring-app-engagement","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/57b/db2dd3087b17715d9fd73/1500-0-","dek":"Measuring the love for your app is a means to an end, and that end is increasing the love for your app. Here's how to do it.","lastModified":"2017-02-22T23:59:26Z","published":"2016-08-24T18:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Quantifying Love: 16 Tips for Measuring App Engagement","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/quantifying-love-16-tips-for-measuring-app-engagement/","slug":"quantifying-love-16-tips-for-measuring-app-engagement","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/channel/technology.jpg","dek":"Measuring the love for your app is a means to an end, and that end is increasing the love for your app. Here's how to do it.","lastModified":"2016-08-24T18:00:00Z","published":"2016-08-24T18:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Tap for Success: 5 Must-Have Features of a Corporate Mobile App","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/5-must-have-features-of-a-corporate-mobile-app/","slug":"5-must-have-features-of-a-corporate-mobile-app","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/578/53d263287b18f1fa81e95/1500-0-","dek":"The most sought-after features which your mobile app should have if you really want to provide the best user experience to your customers.","lastModified":"2017-02-22T23:59:25Z","published":"2016-07-14T14:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Tap for Success: 5 Must-Have Features of a Corporate Mobile App","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/5-must-have-features-of-a-corporate-mobile-app/","slug":"5-must-have-features-of-a-corporate-mobile-app","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/channel/technology.jpg","dek":"The most sought-after features which your mobile app should have if you really want to provide the best user experience to your customers.","lastModified":"2016-07-14T14:00:00Z","published":"2016-07-14T14:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Focus on Mobile: How to Capture Customers on Their Smartphones","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/focus-on-mobile-how-to-capture-customers-on-their-smartphones/","slug":"focus-on-mobile-how-to-capture-customers-on-their-smartphones","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/56d/75c033087b1c4378b7cb1/1500-0-","dek":"If your company isn’t hyper-focused on a mobile presence, then you’re missing out on more than 60 percent of online traffic.","lastModified":"2016-03-04T14:00:00Z","published":"2016-03-04T14:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"5 Mobile App Engagement Blunders to Avoid Like the Plague","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/5-mobile-app-engagement-blunders-to-avoid-like-the-plague/","slug":"5-mobile-app-engagement-blunders-to-avoid-like-the-plague","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/571/7e5223087b1bf4deb70c8/1500-0-","dek":"By avoiding these five common app engagement mistakes, you can give your users the information they need when they need it.","lastModified":"2016-04-21T18:00:00Z","published":"2016-04-21T18:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"The Mobile Marketing Bandwagon: Get On or Get Out","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/the-mobile-marketing-bandwagon-get-on-or-get-out/","slug":"the-mobile-marketing-bandwagon-get-on-or-get-out","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/559/c169f3287b1fd1e8b4578/1500-0-","dek":"Mobile marketing methods are on the rise as the world goes the way of the smartphone. Here's the lowdown on successful tactics.","lastModified":"2015-07-08T17:00:00Z","published":"2015-07-08T17:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Faster Than a Tap: Google Instant Apps May be a Game Changer","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/google-instant-apps-may-be-a-game-changer/","slug":"google-instant-apps-may-be-a-game-changer","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/578/15d353287b13e275a5a3c/1500-0-","dek":"Use Android Apps without installation: Google Instant Apps overview.","lastModified":"2016-07-12T15:00:00Z","published":"2016-07-12T15:00:00Z","sponsored":null}],"relatedReviews":[{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5df908cc5a215e8c4a8b4568/conferencecall_Antonio_Diaz_Getty.jpg","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/best-conference-call-services/","title":"The Best Conference Call Services of 2021","dek":"Which conference call service is right for your business in 2021? We review the top-rated services.","slug":"best-conference-call-services","lastModified":"2021-03-17T18:17:00Z"},{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5e00d4787b43745d6a8b456e/Laptop_undrey_getty.jpg","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/employee-monitoring-software/","title":"The Best Employee Monitoring Software of 2021","dek":"We've narrowed down the best employee monitoring software for businesses. Check out our best picks and reviews.","slug":"employee-monitoring-software","lastModified":"2021-03-05T15:40:00Z"},{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5df905909c658a7e538b4567/Faxing_junce_Getty.jpg","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/online-fax-services/","title":"The Best Online Fax Services of 2021","dek":"Online fax services are growing as more companies divest from conventional fax machines in favor of an automated, scalable and cost-effective option. Here's a look at some of the best online fax services on the market. ","slug":"online-fax-services","lastModified":"2021-03-02T16:07:00Z"}],"relatedSponsoredArticles":null}},"pageContext":{"displayModified":"2016-05-10T21:00:00.000Z","template":"legacy","title":"Build It and They Will Come: 9 Ways to Maximize the ROI of Your App","meta":{"robots":"index, follow"},"docType":"articles","slug":"9-ways-to-maximize-the-roi-of-your-app","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/9-ways-to-maximize-the-roi-of-your-app/","skipTOC":false}},"staticQueryHashes":[]}