In our app-focused culture, it can be easy to fall into the mindset that you, too, need an app for your unique business. Today, we’re going to chat with you about how you can use your website as an app. This way, you can determine whether you really should invest in an application. Or, maybe your website can pull more weight than you think it can…
Let’s get started and find out.
Why Are Apps So Popular?
First and foremost, let’s take a look at why this is even a consideration in the first place. What’s the allure of having an app for businesses?
Apps are tiny programs that can be installed on mobile phones and, sometimes, tablets. Apps are stand-alone and can sometimes even have different functionalities than your website. Most companies who have mobile apps tend to go this route because their website is clunky and has far more features than mobile users need.
When Is an App Preferable Over a Website?
There are instances where an app will be beneficial to your brand. For example, you probably have an app for your bank account that works far better on your phone than their desktop website. For this application, an app is a great solution with limited, user-relevant utility that makes it a good choice over the full desktop website on mobile.
However, this isn’t the standard across all brands – most brands don’t need an app to augment their website. Let’s take a look at what your website can do for you, when built by a professional team:
What Your Website Can Do:
Websites can pull more weight than you might realize, especially when you work with a dedicated team that understands your brand. Here are some things your website can do for you and your customers when properly configured and designed.
#1: Serve Information That Looks Pleasant on Small Screens
It should be noted that not all websites look good on mobile devices – and that’s a huge problem if you fall into this category. Your website can look good on small screens, and it should if you want to get the most engagement and conversion from your audience. If this is your main consideration for getting an app, you need to redesign your website.
#2: Offer Appointment Bookings
Do you think you need an app simply because you need to offer appointment booking to your clients? This couldn’t be further from the truth – in fact, all it does is create additional steps for your customers that might confuse them and cause lower conversion rates. With a professional website, booking integration works seamlessly and isn’t cumbersome (plus, we set it up for you).
Here at Snellville Websites, we use VCita for appointment scheduling. With VCita, you have an online portal for clients to make payments, send you documents, and schedule appointments. It’s an all-in-one solution that’s mobile-friendly and easy to use!
#3: Allow You to Accept Payments for Services
If you think you need a separate application to accept payments for services you offer, that’s also inaccurate. Luckily, there are tons of plugins that pop right into your website. You can have an online portal on your mobile-friendly website that accepts payment. This makes this process simple and efficient, eliminating the need for users to download yet another app.
#4: Help Customers Contact Support
You also don’t need an app for support if your website is set up properly. On a good, mobile-ready website, you’ll have a contact page with all relevant information. Sometimes, if needed, we can even install chat support right into your website.
Another Consideration: App vs Website Security
The Snellville Websites team also wants you to consider the security of these two different options. App security is far more complicated (while possible to adjust) than website security. Furthermore, security will be different on each device. Apps, while useful in some cases, can potentially open your business up to critical issues and security breaches.
So, Do You Really Need an App for Your Business?
All this being said, we really do believe that apps have a place in business strategies. However, we don’t want you to assume you need one just because other businesses do. Rather, ask yourself “how can I make my website work harder for me?”
This, in the long run, will save you money and help you secure more customers if you don’t really need that technology.
So, which of those four functionalities do you need to add to your website? Get a quote for a new website design today or schedule an appointment with our professional website design team.
