The “mobile apps vs. mobile websites” debate has been going on for several years and, although each side has had its share of arguments, the debate is far from over. It’s time to think about calling it a draw.
It all depends, it always does
A huge reason why the “mobile apps vs. mobile websites” debate hasn’t had a clear winner is the relative nature of the question itself. There are numerous ways you can assess that question, but, ultimately, it all boils down to communication. Today, communication is a requirement for almost anyone who is remotely serious about doing business.
There is no denying the fact that the mobile web is at an all-time high. With Google heavily emphasizing mobile-friendly websites and with Wi-Fi and mobile-connected devices expected to generate 68% of all Internet traffic by 2017, it’s easy to see why mobile web-first approach has been so popular in recent years. However, this still doesn’t settle the debate.
Now, perhaps the biggest problem of the whole debate is the debate itself. The mobile app market is simply staggering when it comes to growth, with global mobile app store gross revenue set to exceed $101 billion by 2020 and it is unclear just why one has to be picked at the expense of the other when they both work great as a team.
The bigger they are, the less talkative they get
The sole reason the Internet was invented was to communicate so it’s no wonder why modern businesses place such an emphasis on communication. Every website communicates by informing visitors. The complexity of communication is what makes the digital world turn around. The future of business is humane, according to Google and many others, and a digital playground is the perfect opportunity for multilateral communication for most businesses and humanity.
You don’t have to look very far to see what kind of companies communicate the most. Many, especially smaller and local businesses, get this right. Their communication is quite easy to maintain. It’s easier for them to become humane. As the size of a business increases, it’s harder to maintain that degree of humanity, but the potential results are worth the effort. This is where mobile apps shine as a great addition to your business.
A Perfect Partner
Business mobile apps are a perfect partner to any business who wishes to challenge the old and boring concepts of uniform and cold market predators. By building a mobile app, you get to create your own world. Sure, the same can be done just by building a website but imagine making a sculpture using a sledgehammer instead of a chisel. The difference is that big.
Here are some things to ponder on the subject:
- Building a mobile app allows you to communicate seamlessly and enables you to quickly handle customer support with ease.
- Content is the king. Customers can create their custom content and interact with brands and other customers. This builds trust and brand recognition.
- Apps give value to customers. Instead of bombarding people with ads, L’Oréal builds loyalty through an app that helps people with choosing and applying makeup.
- Apps give another dimension to offline businesses. Without an elegant app solution, Uber would hardly have become such a powerhouse.
- Apps are your playground. Use that to your advantage, have fun and differentiate from your competitors.
- On top of it, Google loves and indexes apps, as well.
If having a mobile website in a modern digital world is like being able to speak, then having a mobile app is like having a British accent. It makes everything you say sound more charming and in today’s market, that’s a true key to success.
