It’s go time. Your business has finally decided to jump into the world of mobile apps. But, where do you start? There are so many decisions to make. Do you develop “native” apps for iOS and Android? What is this mobile Web thing that people keep talking about? What the heck is an API anyway?
Creating a mobile strategy is a matter of both knowing your business and knowing your app options:
- If you’re a Main Street shop like a restaurant, dry cleaner or hardware store, you don’t really need an app in Apple’s App Store or Google Play. It’s a waste of your time and money, and the mobile Web will work just fine.
- If you’re a big brand with many different locations, a marketing and advertising team and a high degree of social engagement, an app might the way to go. Depending on your priorities and scale, sometimes both approaches can work.
- If you’re a local business looking for sales lead generation, an app is not for you. You want to have your mobile presence easily found by Google’s search engine, access to Yelp and other directories, maps through the browser and so on. The goal is to make it easy for the customer to find you.
- If you’re a national chain, you are going to want the same presence as a local business, just with more panache. You might want an app or mobile Website that gives customers directions to your closest, current prices and offer special deals. You might also consider marketing apps like games or contests; they might be tangentially tied to your business, but if they strike sparks with consumers, you’ve potentially made some inroads for your brand.
To help you make a decision on a mobile strategy, the folks at Mutual Mobile whipped up this fun “decision tree” to help you get from Point A to Point B. Note that Mutual Mobile is a development shop that specializes in the mobile Web and responsive design, so the tree does push in that direction.
Check out the infographic below and let us know in the comments: What do you want to do with your mobile presence? How do you plan to get started?
