Remember payphones? It wasn’t terribly long ago that payphones were a staple of existence for most people. I don’t think most people could imagine a world where a payphone wasn’t on corners, in restaurants, outside of theaters, etc.. Once the cell phone became mainstream, though, payphones quickly started disappearing and nobody really noticed. Now when you see one, it’s kind of novel. That was just a few short years ago, and now that same cycle is already happening to what we used to know as a cell phone. Smartphones are becoming the standard phone. Think of the last time you saw someone pull a flip phone out of their pocket. It’s kind of novel, right?

The smartphone market is growing at a rapid pace. There are 310 million people in the United States, and according to Flurry, there are at least 165 million active Android and Apple iOs devices in the US and they are being used by 78% of the adult population. Looking at these numbers, it’s pretty easy to see that if you are a business owner and you aren’t doing everything you can to get on these screens, you are missing a huge opportunity.

Too often the question business owners ask is “Is my business too small for a mobile app”? The quick answer is no. No company is too small for an app. Every company should be doing everything in their power to connect with their customers and keep them coming back, and development of an app has never been more affordable and hassle free.

A better question to ask is “How would I use my app to promote my business?” Maybe you’d want to send special offers directly to your customers. If your app is on someone’s phone, it seems a pretty safe bet they’re interested in hearing from you. Take advantage of that. Give them a reason to come back. Or, maybe you’d want to use your app to schedule appointments, or send invoices. An app is a great tool to streamline tasks you are presented with on a day-to-day basis. It’s all up to you. Your mobile app can work the way your business works. And don’t let development of an app scare you away. You can have an app customized for your business with no coding required on your part, and it’s probably more affordable than you think.

The bottom line is: if you want to grow your business, a mobile app should be one of your first (and easiest) steps.

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Sources:

Why Your Company Needs an App Right Now – WebsiteMagazine.com

2013 Roundup of Smartphone and Tablet Forecasts & Market Estimates – Forbes

The Smartphone Revolution Has Entered The Late Innings – Business Insider