An App is a "Convenient" Extension of Your Web SIte

A website allows a business to be open for customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Whether it is for window shopping, placing an order, answering a question, your businesses website acts as the first line of customer service.  However, your customer is not sitting in front of a computer screen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  It might feel like it to some of us, but it is true,  But how many of us always have our smart phones with us?  Now, your businesses website can be always accessible as a Mobile App installed on your customer's smart phones.  Whether they are home, at work, at a movie, or at a baseball game, if they have cellular service, they can reach your website.

In addition to having the same information or being able to buy something from your store, a Mobile App has the advantage of sending marketing messages, coupons, or even directions to your nearest store right to your customer's pocket.  There are businesses I have purchased items from more then once, but have never been to their store, if there was a store.  Imagine being able to have your website pop up a window and letting your customer know about a special 2-Day sale every time he or she turned on their computer.  With a Mobile App, now you can.

Let's look at one example.  The Starbucks App is a free downloadable app from the iTunes store.  It is free because if it is on your phone, the more likely you are to purchase their product and every person that downloads their app is now another customer to collect information about and refine your marketing.  The features include:

There are five opportunities for a customer to purchase something with the Starbucks App and only two opportunities with on the website.  Directions to the closest store are delivered right to the customer with the App, and special offers and coupons are delivered via SMS directly to the customer, without other e-mail messages cluttering their view.  the chance of a customer not opening an e-mail is eliminated with the App.

And once again, a customer will only view a website when they are in front of their computer.  With a mobile App, a customer can view a "website" while they are at home, in meetings, driving, or even while sitting at Starbucks enjoying a double decaf non-fat frappuccino double shot with a hint of cinnamon.