The Highlands Chamber of Commerce Phone App is online and growing in popularity as evidenced in several local news articles.
WFSC 104.9 in Franklin, NC and The Laurel in Highlands have highlighted the benefits to the community, especially in our tourism-centered local economy. The growth of digital marketing and the use of mobile devices and tablets, is ushering in the need for a phone app for most businesses, just as once the phone book ad was the business necessity, now a mobile business presence is a must, for every business.
If you need a mobile business presence, whether via a phone app or a mobile website, call us. We will be glad to discuss options for an affordable web presence. 
Forbes Makes A Point Why Every Business Should Have A Mobile App….
So Why does your business need a phone app?
1. Customer Visibility (Phone Billboard)
The average American spends more than two hours a day (yes a day!) on their mobile device. Whether or not a handful of applications make up the bulk of this usage, does not impact the fact that each user has to scroll, unlock, and scan their phone for the apps they’re looking for. Being “on the screen” can be an advantage to your company, like that billboard you drive by every day…yes, you know the one…it just gets in your head.
2. Direct Business
Phone Apps can serve many functions: they can provide general hours, info, prices, booking forms, pretty much anything you can do with a website…but you don’t have to have someone type you url…just touch an icon and they are there…. plumber…pizza…accountant….hair salon…or yoga class. Touch and go….
Let them be a part of your club… the biggest benefits of having a mobile app is the information or promotions, insider tips you’d like to provide to your customers and they fell special for being in your loop– including special sales and promotions – is right at their fingertips. Use Push Notifications, you’re even closer to a direct interaction (your bakery here…the cookies are Hot out of the oven!!!), and can easily remind customers about your products and services whenever it makes sense…and with Geo-Fencing…where it makes sense…Psst…you are driving past one of my real estate listings.
3. Value and your Customers
We love you…yes we do. How about mobilizing that loyalty program you have in place or create one? No more ratty, folded point-collection card, your customers collect their rewards via your mobile app, you are the technical trailblazer. The result? More downloads, sharing, posting and more return customers. Our apps include this at no extra charge…
4. Brand, Brand, Brand
A phone app for your business can greatly contribute to your brand awareness. I’d like to break this topic down into two aspects, the combination of which will make your app a true winner:
Brand. A phone app is like a small billboard sign. You can do what you want with it; functional,you can make it stylish, hip, engaging, or informative. What do you want it to do? An app that has features your customers will love, while at the same time is well branded and beautifully designed, is loved by customers.
Be recognized. The more customers are involved or engaged with your mobile app, the sooner they will be inclined to buy your product and/or service. The advertising term used for this is “effective frequency”: as radio or tv would tell you, hearing and/or seeing your brand approximately 20-25 times is what will get you truly noticed. Make it easy on yourself…not having to determine if you customer are listening to this station or that…they are all on their phones…
5.Engagement
No matter whether you are booking yoga classes, selling flowers or spa services, your customers need a way to reach you. Having a messaging (or help desk) feature within your app can really make a difference in the way you communicate with your customers. Think about it: OpenTable, built its entire business model around this principle. Instead of calling a restaurant for a table,tap here… you can book it with less than five clicks on their platform. How many customers would prefer to communicate with your business via text than via phone? Either way..it is on their phone…so does a phone app make sense now? It kind of sneaks up on you when you realize your own habits.
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. Also, think demographics, millennials, absolutely…but also remember the baby boomers…Grandma just got an iPad…It is hard to find a non-smart phone on the market. Plus your customers will view your business differently. They’ll be astonished by your forward-thinking approach!
7. Cultivate Loyalty
Lastly, the most important reason why you should consider your own phone app is the holy grail…customer loyalty. With all the noise out there — billboards, flashing signs, radio ads, newspaper ads, flyers, coupons, websites, website banners, Facebook ads, and email marketing — we slowly lose our message to our customers can get lost… because of the immense amount of advertising messaging bombarding us constantly. Making a true and meaningful connection with your customers by making them a loyal lover of your product and/or service. We are not saying a phone app is going to save your business, but it can be a way of staying closer to your customers, and being just a “fingertip” away at all times.
Convinced yet? I am, for sure! Now that you have gotten a taste of the numerous benefits of your own business mobile app, where are you going to start? You have two options:
So where to start…give us a call. Our team at altCloud can create you phone app quickly, easily and at a price which pays for itself in weeks…not months.
Just think of where all of the business cards are…you know… the ones you have handed out over all these years… but your phone…that you always know where it is.
