2 Girls Design Studios

Does your business have an app for that?

        Written by: Dee

Everyone is familiar with the phrase “there’s an app for that“.  I have to admit, I’m a huge fan of my iPhone.  And, yes, I have alot of apps on my phone.  Did you realize, however, that every useful app serves as a walking advertisement for your business?  Think about it.  It’s better than any web ad, magnet, or yellow page box.  With an app that is relevant to your business, you are reaching hundreds, possibly even thousands, of customers and potential customers every time they do something on their smart phone.

We often brainstorm with customers about apps.  The number one question is “What kind of app would my business benefit from?”  The answer, of course, depends on the business.  We recommend a few different ways of reaching your mobile customers.  The first one is fairly simple (and automatically a standard feature of every website we develop):  give them a mobile version of the site that they can bookmark on their “homepage” (on the iPhone, that means that it’s given a little icon and appears on the phone along with other apps).

The second one is developing an app that your customers would find useful. . .and make it free.  Yes, you read that right.  We suggest that clients have an app developed for their customers that is free to download.  Why would a business or individual pay to have something created to simply give it away?  For exactly the same reason that you *pay* for magnets, pens, notepads, stress balls, etc and give THOSE away for free.  It’s good advertising.  To make it sweeter, we should remind you that after that one time expense, you will have an unlimited “freebie” to give away.  Better yet, it’s going to be with your customers whenever they have their smart phone with them.

I have a few free apps on my phone that have prompted me to purchase from that company.  I didn’t purchase the first day I had it on my phone.  But, the more I used that free app, the more I thought about that company and was interested in seeing what they offered.  The app “hooked me in” and gave those companies a new customer for very little [per customer] expense. Every time I use those apps now, as a customer of those companies, I’m reminded of them.  This means that I’ve also become a repeat customer because the reminder of the company is [almost] always with me.

The ideas for apps are endless.  The key is to make the app something that is relevant to your customers and ties in with your business.  If you are interested in learning more, simply contact us.  We would be happy to brainstorm with you on an app that could become the best ongoing “advertisement” that you’ve ever offered your customers and future customers.

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