Ok, you get it.
You understand that your business really should provide a mobile-friendly experience to accommodate the ever-increasing number of mobile users.
But the $64,000 question is, “Do you build a mobile app or a mobile website?”
Well that depends.
Some of the factors you’ll need to consider are:
- Who is your target audience?
- What is your available budget?
- What is the intended purpose?
- What features do you require?
Therefore, let’s take a look at the main similarities as well as differences between mobile apps and mobile websites.
Similarities between mobile apps and mobile websites:
- Both are a great extension of your brand and can increase user engagement due to the fact that a mobile app as well as a mobile website are formatted and designed to be viewed on the touch-screen interface of a mobile device.
- Both can take advantage of the native features of a smartphone, such as “tap-to-call” (aka “click-to-call”).
Differences between mobile apps and mobile websites:
- Mobile apps need to be downloaded to your phone. A mobile website is immediately available in the web browser of your mobile device.
- A mobile app can be designed in a way where an Internet connection may not be required to use the app. With a mobile website, an Internet connection is required.
- With a mobile app, a separate application must be written for each mobile operation system (i.e. Android vs. Blackberry vs. iPhone), whereas a mobile website is accessible across all operating systems.
- Apps cannot rank in the search engines because they reside on the mobile device. Mobile websites are fully indexable by search engines like Google.
- The approval process for release of a mobile app can be somewhat lengthy. A mobile website, on the other hand, can often be designed and published within a matter of days.
- When updating a mobile app, the update must be “pushed” to the mobile user, then the mobile user has to download a new version of the app. With a mobile website, updates happen immediately and are experienced automatically by the mobile user without any action required on their part.
- Mobile apps are often more expensive and take longer to develop than mobile websites.
For the needs of most businesses, a mobile website is probably going to be the way to go.
However, if your interaction with the mobile user requires more of a mini downloadable computer program instead of a website (think “Angry Birds” or a mortgage payment calculator), then an app might be what you need.
I agree.
As far as local businesses go, apps can certainly have their place and will be a benefit to some businesses . But it really has to be a business with an established following of loyal fans, or regularly returning customers.
The problem is I can’t really see someone having 10, 20, 30 restaurant apps on their phone because they’ve eaten there once or twice and really like it.
I’ve even read article’s where app developers say that the majority of businesses should consider a mobile website before an app, because then their business will be more accessible to EVERYBODY searching for information about them on their mobile phone.
AND a good mobile website can then encourage people to download your app much more effectively than a regular website experience on a mobile phone – if it is relevant to your business.
You’re right, Alan, about the # of apps a person really needs on their phone. For example, on my iPhone, I rarely use any apps other than maybe a calculator and an app to check the weather. Other than that I use my phone mainly to talk, text, send/receive email, look up something on the Internet or navigate with GPS.
I can also highly recommend Shazam for when you’re being driven mad on hearing a song in a film or an ad and you can’t for the life of you remember what it is… Essential