Day 26- Does your business need an app?

"My business needs an app"

Maybe but you need to focus on your website first!

I'm fed up hearing this from business owners and you go look at their websites and they aren't clear and easy to navigate or they don't have a mobile version or worse they are built in flash (this was the case for a local web design/solution company I was discussing recently who also happens to be an apple device retailer!)

Bottom line is if your business is not utilising its website to its optimum the chances are that the huge investment in app development would have a greater return on investment by putting the cash on the fire!

And yes that sounds extreme but its true.

Lets look at this analytically.

What does your website do for your business?

For current customers

How can your existing customers benefit from visiting your website and from coming back again and again? If your existing customers like your site and feel it makes their working with you–or even their lives–easier, they will spread the word. You can:

Have a password protected area where they can review the work you are doing for them or where they can download project documents.

Have an online scheduling system to make it easier to request your services (i.e. if you own a hair salon or a massage therapy business.

Add the ability for them to upload documents you need from them.

For Prospects

We all want new business from our websites. To achieve this, our websites need to look professional, offer fresh content, and be better than the competition. Adding a little functionality can go a long way. You can:

Show your portfolio in clever ways so they can find or sort samples in categories or groupings that make sense to them. Make it a little interactive so they get involved.

Think about upgrading your testimonials to video testimonials. Showing is much better than telling.

Give them a taste of what you are all about.

Is your website mobile optimised?

With 51% of people using a mobile device to access the internet and only 43% of these people being satisfied with the mobile web experience this is really an area that needs to be tightened up on.  You need to speak to your web specialist about using a responsive web layout for optimal visuals on the array of devices that are out there from different sized monitor sizes, to tablets to smartphones.

New York Times Optimised site responds to the device you are viewing on

And yes if you go and look at my website you will see that none of this is current in my site but this is under construction and I am hoping that I take my own advice on this subject and utilise my web space to the optimal benefit of my business.