How mobile apps can increase customer loyalty

With the rapid development of the mobile industry, devices and applications, mobile solutions have turned out to be a technology panacea.

Large companies are today recognising the strategic importance of mobile technology and allowing employees to use mobile devices for both personal and professional use.

More and more small and midsize businesses are following the trend, understanding that an effective mobile strategy involves more than just a mobile-friendly website.

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.

If you want to be ahead of the game, you need to consider developing an app for your business to keep engaged to your clients and attract clients.
It is important to have a dedicated app to highlight what is going on in your business and how clients can benefit from their loyalty.

It doesn’t have to be a big business; it could be a super market, a restaurant, beauty spa or even a car hire business. Business with apps are ahead of the game when it comes to taking their marketing to the next level.

MOBILE PENETRATION

Recent data from the industry regulator, the Communications Authority of Kenya, indicate that the number of registered mobile subscriptions in the country currently stands at 33.6 million.

Mobile penetration is growing fast and currently stands at 82.6 per cent. The number of smart phones in Kenya is also growing fast.

The majority of subscribers spend considerable amounts of time on their phones, which would present them with a perfect opportunity to see your app and, therefore, your business.

Apps serve many functions: they can provide general info, prices, booking forms, search features, user accounts, messengers, news feeds, and much more.

SALES PROMOTIONS

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 the need arises.

What you really want to do is create an app that has features your customers will love, while at the same time is well branded and beautifully designed.

The more often you can get customers involved with your app, the sooner they will be inclined to buy your product or service.

In advertising, this is called the “effective frequency”: as a rule of thumb, hearing or seeing your brand approximately 20 times is what will get you truly noticed.

With all the noise out there — roadside banners, billboards, flashing signs, newspaper ads, flyers, websites, website banners, Facebook ads, and email marketing — we slowly lose our impact on customers.
It’s time to go back to making a true and sincere connection with your customers, and making them loyal users of your product or service.

It can be a way to bring your customers closer and increase their loyalty. Be the first in your neighbourhood to offer a mobile app to your customers.

As a start, there are a number of application builders that you can review. These include Como, BuildFire, or AppsBuilder. They have great features to use as you build your own mobile app without having to worry about coding and technicalities.

Which ever way you go, a mobile app will be a standard component of any business in the future. The choice you make today will set the foundation for the future of your business. It’s upon you to decide whether you’d like to be one of the first.

Sam Wambugu is an informatics specialist.