Apps and Mobile Websites

            Apps. I am sure everyone has heard the phrase “There’s an app for that,” but did you know that Apple trademarked the phrase back in 2010. Why? Because it is true and they wanted the rights to its use. When looking up the phrase it also pulled up an app that people share funny phrases or memes about the phrase “There’s an App for that.” Seems a little ridiculous that we need an app that imitates popping bubble wrap or gives us a list of excuses to give to get out of a phone call (those are real apps, people) but our phones have essentially replaced our watches, calendars, calculators, address books, dictionary, pens, remote controls, voice recorders and Walkman or Discman depending on your generation. With the addition of Mobile apps that list could be made infinitely longer. But how important is it for a business to have a stand-alone mobile app vs. a mobile website?

              According to adweek.com “Standalone apps, with their single-minded purity, have the viral edge over apps trying to do too much.” Gone are the days of the days of telling your friend to check out a cool new website, nowadays it is all about the app. People will talk about and encourage one another to download an awesome new app but as the article points out even apps that try to do too much aren’t very successful. It sites apps that have something that makes them totally unique in the market as the apps that really take off. Snapchat for example is not usable on a web browser only in a downloaded app and its unique hook is the photo “self-destruction.”

              Now stand alone apps are obviously not conducive to every business, it is hard to make an app if you are a say a small beekeeping business. But making a mobile friendly website can be equally as important. There is nothing more frustrating than going to a website in your mobile device to find that it doesn’t work with mobile devices. Practicalecommerce.com says  “Having a mobile-friendly website isn’t just good practice — it’s a prerequisite. For the first time in history, mobile has exceeded desktop Internet usage.” They have a few easy ways to convert your already existing website into a mobile-friendly website. 1. Use a company to convert to your website for you. 2. Many hosting sites have easy to add plugins to make a mobile friendly site. 3. Design your site with a mobile-first approach.  Just by making some small changes you can make your website mobile friendly and hopefully increase your visits.