Photo by Warren Wong on Unsplash
With a completely new marketplace being established for smart phones, watches, and tablets, the amount of business being conducted at your fingertips is absolutely astonishing. Take, for example, the Square. You’ve undoubtedly seen it before – that little white block that people plug into their phones that allows you to pay for a good or service – but maybe haven’t thought about using it for yourself. Square opens up a whole new marketplace, making cash registers essentially obsolete with very simple technology. Some other good examples are Paypal and Venmo. Paypal prides itself on its reputation as a reliable third party, and Venmo takes advantage of the accessibility factor, making transferring money to others as easy as touching a button. So what do these apps have in common, and why should you, as a company, have mobile options?
- Accessibility for the consumer. If there’s no way for the consumer to get to your product, then there’s no way for them to buy that product. You can increase accessibility through social media marketing, email marketing, or setting up your company in a way that permits online transactions. Knowledge of a product, and the ability to purchase it at the moment you want it, are essential in conducting business successfully.
- Simplicity. The idea of simplified technology is increasingly popular, and rightfully so. If the consumer wants the product right now, then they should get the product right now without having to figure out an unnecessarily complex operational platform.
- Usefulness. All successful apps are satisfying. Your company should aim to fulfill a need or opportunity in general, but while mobilizing it, you need to think about the best method in which you execute that desire. When will the consumer need to have mobile access to the company? How can you make that process comfortable and enjoyable?
- Keeping your name in the mind of the consumer – especially with apps. If someone has your company’s app, they’re constantly reminded of your product and what you have to offer. Even if it doesn’t necessarily influence them to buy at that moment, it will make them think about you next time that they’re in the market for your product or service.
Mobilizing your company doesn’t only put you on the consumer’s shortlist, it also provides your company with exactly what it needs to expand into new avenues. If you give consumers the option, they’ll take it.