With the ever-expanding growth of online and mobile marketing, it seems as though every single day there is a new social media platform or mobile app that your company “must join” in order to stay relevant. And while many of these sites and applications can provide a real value for your brand if used correctly, they can also do a great amount of harm if you are signing up without a plan and are simply trying to ensure your brand is present on every single platform.
Therefore, before signing up for any new online platform or social app for your business, you should first ask yourself one very important question: “Will this provide value to my audience?”
If you are thinking of bringing your company into the mobile world, whether it is through an enterprise-level mobile app for your employees or a multi-use consumer app for your customers, here are a few ways to determine whether or not your mobile application would provide a real value to your audience:
1. Does It Offer Something Your Website Does Not?
Your company’s mobile application should not simply be your current website but in a mobile-friendly interface. It needs to offer much more than that. For instance, ask yourself, “What is this app providing my audience that my website cannot?” Your mobile application should answer a clear need that your audience has, such as a quick and easy way to order products on the go, or a simple way to access important documents while your employees are in the field. No matter what your mobile app’s purpose may be, it’s important that you have a clear one.
2. Does It Streamline Your Current Processes In A User-Friendly Experience?
Expanding further on the topic of offering something new to your audience through your mobile app, you may find that the need of your audience is simply to have an easy, fast way to access information on the go. For instance, an enterprise mobile app that allows employees to fill out important client information while they are out at a job site, rather than having to take down notes and fill out paperwork once they are back in the office. In addition to streamlining complicated processes, your mobile app should also be as user-friendly and easy to use as possible—quick navigation between pages, straightforward capabilities, easy-to-understand design, etc.—or you will find that your audience won’t use it.
3. Is It A Clear Extension Of Your Existing Brand?
While your company’s mobile app should offer something new to your audience, at the same time, you should not allow it to steer too far from your existing brand. For instance, do not create an app that features games, humorous content or funny lingo if your website and social media channels are more business-focused. Instead, your mobile app should be a clear extension of your existing sites with features that make sense for your brand.
If you are thinking about creating an enterprise mobile app for your company, but are unsure about how it would add value to your existing brand, contact 7T today. Our team of expert mobile strategists can work closely with you to come up with a mobile strategy that meets your long and short-term business needs in a way that makes sense for your business.
In addition to app development, we also specialize in custom software development, data governance, and system integrations. Based in Dallas, 7T maintains regional offices located in Chicago and Houston.
