1. Market your business in multiple ways.

Apps can help you bring together multiple marketing tactics and make them all work more effectively in your favor. For example, a loyalty program is a time-proven marketing tool and Americans place more value than ever on such programs. In fact, according to Nielsen, 64 percent of consumers say loyalty programs influence where they do business. Apps provide small businesses with an easy, effective way to recognize and reward customers. This can be something as simple as allowing your app to track qualifying purchases toward a reward, rather than using an old-fashioned punch card for the task. Or, if your app has geo-location capabilities, you can use it to text special offers to loyalty program members when they are near or in your store.

2. Create a Direct Marketing Channel
Apps serve many functions: they can provide general info, prices, booking forms, search features, user accounts, messengers, news feeds, and much more. One of the biggest benefits of having a mobile app is that all the information you’d like to provide to your customers – including special sales and promotions – is right at their fingertips. Through push notifications you’re getting even closer to a direct interaction, and can easily remind customers about your products and services whenever it makes sense.

3. Boost revenue.

Consumers are used to buying your products or services through your mobile website. Building purchasing capabilities into your mobile app ensures they can buy what they need from you at any time. Your app can include a product catalog, ordering and reservation capabilities — so if customers are away from their PC, they can order what they need and pay for it from their mobile devices.

4. Mobile is King

If you’re in business, you know that mobile is where the action’s at today—just look at the stats. Since 2008, the average smartphone user has gone from spending just a few minutes a day on his device to spending nearly three hours each day consuming mobile digital media. In 2014, mobile use topped desktop use for the first time, and that trend is only growing year over year.

5. Engagement

Having a mobile app opens the lines of communication between you and your customer like nothing else can. A live chat, messaging or alternate type of communication feature can make a real difference in how engaged your customer is. With an app, customers can find the information they need quickly and easily— and reach out to you when they have questions.

6. Stand Out From the Competition

These days mobile apps at the small business level are still rare, and this is where you can take a big leap ahead of your competitors. Be the first in your neighborhood to offer a mobile app to your customers. They’ll be astonished by your forward-thinking approach!