6 Reasons Your E-commerce Site Needs an App Too

Everybody’s got an E-commerce site, most of them are well-designed & optimized for users, so what are you doing to stand out? Level up with an App.

6 Reasons Your E-commerce Site Needs an App Too

It goes without saying that your e-commerce store needs a website where customers can browse, select, and eventually buy your products. But with the world of e-commerce rapidly developing and the amount of competition on the rise, is a website alone enough?

Today, simply having a well-designed, fast, responsive and user-friendly site is often the ultimate goal for e-commerce businesses, but the truth is that when all your biggest competitors are doing the same it can be difficult to stand out in what can often be a highly competitive and cut-throat market. The good news is that going a step further and developing a mobile app for your e-commerce business can give you the edge that you need to get ahead.

Here are some of the main reasons why you should seriously consider developing a mobile app for your e-commerce brand.

#1. It’s a Preferred Option:

There’s no denying that online shopping is the preferred option for consumers these days. In fact, according to analysis by ThinkWithGoogle, users first conduct a quick search on their smartphone when they want to shop for a certain product, and only after checking prices online do they consider looking in local and high street stores – usually if they haven’t been able to find a suitable product to buy online first. Online shopping offers convenience, which in turn creates a more flexible experience for customers. It allows them to compare prices, check reviews, and learn more about brands before making a decision. Having a mobile app allows you to tap into the current market and consumer behavior, enabling you to form better market strategies.

#2. Improve Engagement:

With the majority of shoppers now turning to their smartphones when they want to buy, why should you create the extra work for them that comes with opening up their browser and searching for a website?

A mobile app can not only be easily accessed from a smartphone’s menu in a couple of clicks, but they can also seriously improve the engagement levels that you enjoy with your customers as well. By offering a mobile app, it becomes easier for brands to track user browser history and keep a log of earlier products that users have purchased or shown interest in so that they can then be presented with relevant suggestions that they will find useful. In addition, apps tend to be easier to navigate from a smartphone compared to a website, whilst having the ability to store transaction information and delivery addresses, making for a much easier experience overall. If you’re developing a mobile app for your e-commerce brand, it’s important to use a range of mobile testing tools to ensure the usability is where it needs to be for customer satisfaction.

#3. Boost Customer Retention:

Statistics point to the fact that if a mobile app offers a customer a poor first experience, around 34% of customers would leave it for another brand as a result. However, when a user takes the time to download a brand’s app, they are showing a specific interest in that brand. The reason behind this is because they will often think that this particular brand offers a better experience than what they have had in the past with others. The users who have downloaded your brand’s app will tell you a lot about what your customer retention rates look like; they are more likely to choose your brand when shopping compared to users who won’t download your app. Additionally, customers tend to browse more on shopping apps compared to sites, which results in increased sales and re-purchases.

#4. Reduce Cart Abandonment:

With almost a whopping 70% of shopping carts abandoned online today, developing a mobile app could be key to your brand tackling this problem head-on. There are many reasons as to why cart abandonment occurs – sometimes it’s simply because the user is browsing products and isn’t ready to part with their money just yet, whilst others may have been avoided. For example, the customer isn’t enjoying their experience so has left in search of an alternative brand to shop with, or they have managed to find the same items at a better price elsewhere and there is nothing to encourage them to spend the extra with your brand instead. Some other reasons include high shipping costs added on at the checkout, the need to create an account, a slow site, or a lack of preferred payment options. These experiences can all easily be improved by creating a great mobile app design.

#5. Strengthen Your Brand:

There are many ways in which a well-developed mobile app can actually strengthen and even market your brand. Actually, the simple fact that your brand logo is always there in the form of a mobile application on your customers’ smartphone homepages can serve as a gentle yet constant reminder of your brand to them, whilst customers who approve push notifications can be targeted with deals, offers, and personalized updates to encourage them to stay interested in your business and what you have to offer. In addition, having a mobile app that customers can use to shop and stay up to date with your brand can be a very strong trust symbol that leads to increased customer loyalty and stronger word-of-mouth marketing.

#6. Boost Customer Trust:

Finally, whilst simply having a mobile app itself can ensure that your customers trust your brand as being modern and current, there are several other aspects of developing an app that can improve the relationship between your brand and your customers. First of all, shopping online using a mobile app tends to be more secure in comparison with a website, and third-party integrations with Google or Apple pay, payment wallets, and more can ensure that your customers are able to retain the utmost level of convenience when shopping online without compromising on the security of their sensitive data.

These are just some of the best reasons to consider investing in a mobile app for your e-commerce store!

What do you like the most about mobile shopping apps? We’d love to know!