Part One: What Not to Do
If you’re not using mobile apps to boost your business, you could be missing out. While mobile still accounts for a comparatively small percentage of overall retail sales, 79% of global retailers are hopping on the mcommerce bandwagon. And because mobile apps and other multichannel (or omnichannel) retailing methods are such an integral part of any innovative business, that number will continue to grow.
But first, let’s talk about the potential pitfalls and mistakes when considering the design, launch and investment of your company’s mobile app.
There…Might Be an App for That
There are about 1.6 million mobile apps on the market right now. By the time you finish reading this sentence, that number will probably climb. This year, 91% of retailers offer customers the option to conduct business over multiple channels and devices. That’s up 84% from last year. That’s a lot.
So, one mistake you can make is blindly assuming there’s a customer demand for your mobile app. That is, designing and creating an app based on an unresearched notion. To break into the mcommerce market and get noticed will take research, testing, and validation.
If you have an idea for an app, put the prototype to action. Focus group the idea, crowdsource it. That way, you’ll be able to gauge how many people want the app, thereby building a potential customer base right off the bat.
