Apps VS Mobile Web for Local Business

"What I have noticed is businesses "think" they need an app but they are not sure why or how they will really benefit. "


Hype. It's the "in" thing - sit around with friends for 15 min, and as soon as someone has their phone out, they're raving about the newest/coolest/funnest/(etc) app they downloaded.

I think that's why businesses are noticing it and are told they should have it - to be on that "real estate" of a person's phone... just like years ago, it was the "in thing" to try to get everyone to have a desktop app/icon on a person's pc... heck, I try to minimize how many icons are on my desktop, so I never saw the point on this one. (And although I have a blackberry, I still hide most of the icons on my phone lol)

And the simple answer for push:

Give people more than one option.

i.e., most apps are for iphone/android. Blackberry users typically have to just use a mobile site as (till now) its not all that easy to get a blackberry app done (or cheap).

So people could offer a QR code to scan to opt in via SMS, or download the app depending on their phone.

That's of course "IF" a business REALLY wants their own app.... as I said, practical for some, others... eh. not so much.

I'm finding that more companies are developing "apps" for businesses that in reality are nothing more than mobilized Web sites. That includes the companies that feature DIY "app" building online.

I think the proper term for those applications is "Web apps".

YAY! Finally someone who gets it! LOL

I just started working with Apptopia. They buy and sell mobile apps. Overall I think apps are meant to be global and not local. At least that's my opinion so far. I am diving into the industry day by day.

But that being said I agree with Amber that push for certain businesses like auto shops may work. Then again as an end user do I really care to have an app to remind me of an oil change? Probably not.

RE SEO, we (IMers) have SUCH an advantage knowing how to place keywords because most mobile app creators completely leave SEO out when they are listing their apps and that is a big piece of the success puzzle. It's crazy.

Today when I spoke to an app buyer who's main business is consumer goods, he was really interested in buying apps to rebrand for a digital marketing strategy to compliment his consumer goods businesses he invests in.

Got me thinking maybe a business like a gym would benefit from buying a pre existing app like this soccer game listed here and rebranding it to their company name rather than trying to build an app from scratch.

Overall I think local businesses, like dry cleaners, unless they are looking to gain huge exposure across many areas they should just stick with classic local marketing in their neighborhood. A solid website and an email marketing campaign. Maybe a text marketing strategy. Classic, but works.

Just looked up App Cat that lets you create an app fast and easy with no programming. If it is indeed as it claims to be then this seems like something I would try out.

@vladcanada

Funny you should mention Pizza Pizzas App as I brought this up to a friend who is just your regular Joe internet user but a bit of a techie.

My question to him was:

Would you download and install an APP for a local business?

An he mentioned the Pizza Pizza app and how it can track loyalty and give you discounts etc by using the app.

There is definitely a place in the market for Apps but lets get something stragght here. Pizza Pizza is a multi-million dollar Canadian brand/franchise and not exactly "Willies Pub and Grub"

Yes Kevin, you have mentioned some valid points. However, apps sell well if you bundle it with other services. Local search, mobile site, sms, etc.
Just my 2 cents.

I spoke with people that build business apps. I don't build business apps and I do not see how it can be a viable solution for business.

In my opinion an app should be entertaining. How entertaining is an attorney's app? Makes no sense to me.

I do not play games, do not use apps if they do not help me, but not everybody is like me.

People I spoke with that build business apps, they do not program. It looked to me that they were using 3rd party software tools to build apps. Those are not real apps. That's how I think.

Depends on the platform for the cost to small businesses anyway.

Read an interesting article here:

Mobile applications: native v Web apps

"8) What do native apps do better than Web apps? How long will this remain the case?
When we asked publishers that offer both application interfaces to compare the two, twice as many publishers saw higher user adoption, usage volume and user engagement (i.e. duration of usage per session) over native apps. In particular 30 percent of these publishers actually saw over 100 percent higher usage volume and engagement on native apps as compared to Web apps. Our study also found that native apps deliver a higher click-through rate (CTR) among the ad-serving publishers, although experiences can vary by company and content category.

While we do expect native apps to maintain their lead in user adoption and engagement in the near future, it is important to recognize the large variances in publishers' experiences and, in many cases, the difference in adoption is driven by the gap in user friendliness between the same company's native and Web app interfaces. Many developers argue that the relatively poor user experience offered by currently available Web apps are due to a lack of access to native device features such as GPS, camera, calendar and accelerometer, but that is soon to change."

Not sure why, I just put a post with a link to an article that I thought was good... I won't repost, maybe it's in moderation? (It wasn't an ad in any way).

It simply talked about the differences between the two.

You're exactly right.

That article discussed (and I've said this too), that people want apps for things like entertainment.

I could see them downloading an app for an event, concert, festival or something like that - and maybe a favorite restaurant that they could get loyalty rewards for, but honestly, I would never want even 5 restaurants on my phone, and I can't see too many others wanting it either.

I think it makes sense to make it an OPTION for businesses (if you have the capability of doing it), but I would emphasize the mobile website more than anything.