What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

I am putting together a mobile package for car dealerships and was wondering what is better to list their inventory a mobile site or an app?

Also what do you think is a reasonable fee for updates as I expect there will at least a few per week from larger dealers?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Re: What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

I would say a mobile site because an app is just another barrier to entry for people to get over to get the info they want.

As far as fee for updates why don't you just include X amount of updates in the package and any more over set a fee for that?

Re: What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

Think about this from a buyer's perspective. Suppose a car dealer was able to convince me to download their app, how many cars am I going to buy? Once I buy, why would I keep the app, and clutter my phone

Definitely a mobile site

Re: What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

Sounds like a mobile site:
-- cheaper to develop
-- doesn't send you or the visitor through the hoops of the app stores
-- can still be saved as an icon to the phone's home screen (works just like an app in that regard)

Re: What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

@ TJ, rogerfung, elenaen - Thank you for your responses. I was thinking more towards a mobile site for the reason you all outlined. The rerason I posted the question is that I read a case study where an app did very well for Volvo but it was more of a banding tool for a new model.

So here is my overall plan: offer an sms system to capture after hour leads and combine this with a QR code for smart phone users and have it tied to a mobile site that lists their car inventory.

I am going to request $30 to $40 per lead (I will decide once I get more info on there sales volume) for the sms lead generation. I am going to build the mobile site and host it. I am thinking $247 to build the main site up to 5 pages and $20 per page for each extra page. To do updates up to 3 pages per week I will include this in the hosting for $100 per month.

What do you think?

Re: What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

my vote is for mobile website.

- coded once, will work in all mobile browsers / iOS / Android
- will naturally integrate into their main website (i.e. main website will automatically redirect to mobile site when mobile device detected)
- I see no compelling reasons to have this packaged as an app really

Re: What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

Use the mobile site. It will be more convenient for the client which will make things more convenient for you.

Re: What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

The way this works is: you market the "app" somewhere and then send them to the app store. Why not just send the visitors to the web app directly? The website can still be saved to the phone, so there is zero difference to the user.
in fact, a no-app version is better, since they don't have to log into any app stores to get it.

I would make it simple for the client and charge for the initial web app setup plus per leads, or something they understand. They don't care about nor understand pages. I'd base my pricing on the initial site built based on the # of listings, and just mention the updates to the X # of listings per week (again, something they can relate to better).

Re: What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

Just to clarify: I'd offer a package of, say, $600 a quarter for hosting and up to X listings updates (includes picture updates, text or prices changes, new listing additions, or deletions). "Please send me your updates by Monday to see them live by Wednesday" (so that you can do them all in bulk in <1 hour on Tuesday).

Re: What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

Thanks Elena, solid advice. BTW have you done something like this already?

Re: What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

I would absolutely agree that a mobile site is better than an app. Not only is it easier for the user, but apps (as amazing as they are) alienate a lot of people. With a mobisite you can also design it with an "app" look and feel, so that those with feature phones can also gain access and get the information quickly and easily.

Re: What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

Hello Bryson,
I would like to say that a mobile site is better than an app.It would be more convenient for the people to get the updated information they want.

Re: What's Better for this - App or Mobile Site?
 

You need to ask yourself why someone would download an app for a car dealership (very few actually would. It's too inconvenient and that alone will lose customers). If your client was cars.com or autotrader.com (huge car search engines), then that might be different.