Popular Brands Like Starbucks Use Mobile Apps
If you are a Starbucks lover you know the drill. You can order your Starbucks coffee and treats via the mobile app and as you arrive at your local store, there is your order waiting for you, no muss, no fuss.
The Starbucks mobile app is booming. Starbucks Rewards has 13 million active members, a 16 percent increase from last year, Forbes reported. Mobile order and payment makes up 7 percent of total Starbucks orders in the United States, double its percentage this time last year.
But, wait a minute, you aren’t Starbucks, right.
The cost of developing a mobile app used to be huge. Starting at $15,000 to over $100K, for a Starbucks type app. This is way out of the reach of most small businesses.
Times have changed, thanks to new technology. Apps can now be built through ‘templated’ features – which means coding is not required from
scratch. So as long as you don¹t need your app to unlock a door or do something as customized as letting your users do their own thing within
your app, you can own an app for thousands under what they used to cost! Take LikeUs Communications, for example, who are building apps for small
to large business owners at well under $5,000 – a price most businesses can easily afford.
What Could A Mobile App Do For Your Business?
It’s all about customer engagement. How many different ways can you help your customers? Here are some ideas.
If you are a meal prep/delivery service an app could send coupons, advise delivery, send meal suggestions.
If you are a new home builder you could use the app to advise prospective buyers of a new release, show them which units are still available, and add floor plans. You could link out to mortgage options, preferred vendors of upgrades, show the model suite and book appointments. The list is endless.
If you are a yoga studio, you could use push notifications to tell your members when the next yoga class is starting 45 minutes prior.
If you are an event organizer an app could be applied in multiple ways to keep your event top of mind for the attendees, before, during and after the event. In addition, a mobile app can help attract and give value to sponsors, advertisers, and speakers.
If you are a restaurant a mobile app could offer many solutions for prospective customers, from reservations to meal ordering, take out services etc.
If you are a dress shop think about the possibilities. From flash sales, showcasing new products, ordering online, and sending messages to the store with just one tap. It also could show customers the top-selling items, check the stock/size of an item they are thinking of purchasing.
In short, a mobile app can help you solve customer pain points in a fast and efficient way. Artificial intelligence is the way of the future to deliver low-cost solutions for increasing customer engagement. It personalizes the customer experience while lowering the per cost transaction.
Still not sure of the applications? Listen to our podcast with Tricia Belmonte, a mobile app specialist and you might be surprised at how you could use a mobile app for your business.
App Ideas for Your Own Small Business To Use
There are so many that it can be hard to decide but three types come to mind for most small businesses. Sticking to the basics, here are the essential apps.
- Accounting Apps
- Cloud Storage Apps
- Online Backup Apps
For the top 30 apps in these three areas, check out the list by Cloudwards.
Want to have a handy checklist for your app launch? We have it for you here.
XL Consulting Group is a marketing agency helping entrepreneurs through startup and rebranding phases of their business. Our services include business building, coaching for business growth, marketing strategy, website design, branding and social media strategies. Contact us for a free consultation.