Almost everyone these days has a mobile phone or tablet with a web browser. That’s why it’s important to shift the focus to attracting them to your business with a website and mobile app. If someone visits a website from their mobile device and has to “pinch and pull”, they will most likely leave immediately. However, a website may take more than a few seconds to load (due to too much content or flash). Guess what, they may already be gone before he shows up.
The solution? A mobile website with an app! A proper mobile website is designed to give mobile users an enjoyable experience that is easy to navigate and loads quickly. Better yet, it’s when they have the option to add your site as an app. This will create a shortcut directly to your business. The web app works particularly well with these sites for restaurants or any other business that relies on repeat customers. It is not necessary to have a published web app. It can be easily saved as your mobile website.
When deciding which company or platform to build your mobile site and app with, make sure they offer plenty of features. You’ll want to be able to customize the look, layout, e-commerce, etc… with as many tools as possible. Another important feature is the ability to integrate social networks and third party sites (open table for reservations or yelp, etc…). It’s always a good idea to have their contact information and a map of their location. A click-to-call button works great. The customer just presses the icon and they will automatically call your business.
Mobile marketing is just as important as integrations like search engine optimization and analytics. QR codes are becoming more and more popular. When a mobile client scans a specific code, it will direct you to a specific page. This page can present a product or provide information about the company. A great mobile web app integration to add is text message marketing. Be careful not to drive the customer away with too many text messages (this can become annoying and disturbing). Ideally, you want to add a subscription page to your mobile site. This will allow a customer to sign up without having to send a keyword to a specific number.
It is becoming easier and more affordable to have a website and a mobile application. If your business isn’t mobile yet, chances are your competitor is. Stay ahead of the curve and connect your business to mobile customers.