Can your business benefit from developing a mobile app? All local businesses should ask this question. Typically, business owners think of mobile apps as only tools that larger organizations need. However, we live in an age when developing an app is quick and affordable. As a result, it has opened the door for small, local businesses to reap the benefits of developing mobile apps as well.

Enjoy Geotargeting

Whether you’re a plumber, attorney, or florist, your business can benefit from geotargeting. With geotargeting, it’s possible to determine the geolocations of customers who use your mobile app. This makes it easier to send location-specific ads or messages to them. By only targeting customers who live near your business, you can save on marketing costs.

For example, let’s say that you send out a special offer through your app to customers within 10 miles of your business. This is effective marketing because they’re already in the area and more likely to visit your place of business. The special offers that you send are the incentives they need to stop by your business. Mobile apps are one of the easiest and fastest ways to send ads to customers within the vicinity.

Engage and Communicate With Consumers

Investing in a mobile app provides your local business with an easy way to engage with your customers. Depending on the type of interaction you seek, you can set up your app to allow for real-time communication or simply provide a way for customers to send direct messages to you.

For an attorney, a mobile app is a convenient way for clients to ask questions without having to call you directly. Studies show that consumers are much more likely to ask questions or engage with a specific business if they don’t have to make a phone call.

On that same note, you can use your app to allow customers to leave feedback about your business. Regardless of the type of business you run, receiving feedback, suggestions, or reviews about your products or services can provide the insight that you need to improve.

Also, mobile apps make it easy to send push notifications to your clients, which is another great form of communication. For example, plumbers could send push notifications to let clients know when they’re on their way. Consumers like good communication, and mobile apps allow for it.

Create a Customer Loyalty Program

Loyalty programs reward your loyal customers with exclusive benefits and deals. However, creating a loyalty program can be a big undertaking for local businesses. Thankfully, a mobile app can make creating and tracking your loyalty program easier than ever before. You can even use the app to survey or poll the rewards that your customers want.

The goal of a loyalty program is to make your customers feel like they’re appreciated. When they feel valued, they’re more likely to engage with your company, which increases revenue. Unfortunately, many local businesses limit their loyalty programs to nothing more than punch cards. You can take your offering to the next level with a mobile app.

Accept Mobile Payments

We’re quickly moving into an era when cash is no longer used. In fact, few people carry cash with them now. As a result, the more that you can accept payments from customers, the better. Developing a mobile app gives you the ability to take mobile payments from customers who use debit and credit cards.

Mobile phones already make it easy for you to accept payments from customers. In fact, you can buy attachments for your phone, such as Square, to process physical card payments. However, you can take this ability to the next level with a mobile app.

For example, let’s say that you run a flower shop. With a mobile app, you can allow customers to order and even pay for flowers through the app. When they come by the store, they can simply swing in and pick up their orders. Customers love this kind of convenience.

Don’t Get Left Behind

In order to stay with the changing times, you need to be willing to adapt. Most companies have or are planning to develop mobile apps. In fact, Vanson Bourne published a survey in 2016 which found that 90% of the companies planned on developing mobile apps. As we move forward, even more companies are investing in digital services.

What does this mean for you? It means that many of your local competitors are thinking about or have already taken the plunge into mobile apps. If you don’t want to get left behind, now is the time to invest.

A Mobile App Is the Perfect Marketing Tool for Local Businesses

No matter what your local business is, there’s a way for you to benefit from having a mobile app. In fact, consumers interact more with companies via mobile apps than websites. While having a website is still important, having a mobile app is just as important. Gaining a little spot on your customers’ smartphones means that you have direct access to them at nearly all times. This is a type of marketing that other methods simply can’t compete with.