Mobile apps are a huge part of both consumers’ and business’ daily lives. Pretty much everyone spends some time on their phone (okay, maybe a lot of time for some of us,) throughout the day. Most of this time is spent within various apps. When a business is able to offer a mobile app that encompasses all of the key services they offer in a clean, user-friendly package, it takes them to the next level. In 2017, it’s less of a question of “Should we get a mobile app?” and more of a question of “When should we get a mobile app?” If your business doesn’t have a mobile app, or your mobile app is lackluster, here are five reasons why you should consider creating or improving it:

Having a Good Mobile App Means Having a Great Marketing Tool

If your company doesn’t already have one, then your marketing team is probably pushing for mobile apps—and with good reason! A mobile app can double as a valuable marking tool by easily integrating it with your social media feeds. Customers will be able to share your app at the tap of a button with all of their social networks—you can even incorporate features into the app that encourage social media shares, such as offering coupons or discounts for those who share your app with their friends. Push notifications are also a great, easy tool for sharing promotions and special events to interested parties.

How do you create the perfect mobile app? Our in-depth e-book on app development can show you step-by-step. Download it for free here.

A Great Mobile App Helps Your Company Stand Out from Competitors

While mobile apps for companies are becoming more and more standard, a company having a good mobile app is still scarce. Finding an aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly, functional app for a business is often difficult for a consumer—it is usually a “pick two of these three things” situation. If your market is starved for high-quality mobile apps, then being one of the first companies to create a great app can set you apart from the competitors who haven’t made mobile apps a priority. The ease of use mobile apps provide will also drive customer engagement and brand loyalty.

Mobile Apps Can Help You Target Highly Specific Groups

Beacons and geo-targeting (Pokémon GO is a great example of geo-targeting,) have made it easy to target key groups of consumers. According to Mendix’s CTO, Johan den Haan, “By integrating geo-location technology into a mobile application, businesses can send special offers to customers who are in close proximity to stores.” Using this approach can drive foot traffic and narrow the focus of targeted ads. The grocery store Kroger uses its mobile app to targeted ads nicely: The app can tell when a user is inside of a Kroger store, and send offers and, allow users to pull up their loyalty cards through push notifications. However, it’s important with this feature to not  go overboard on push notifications, as they could begin to get annoying to users.

Compliment Your Company’s Website with a Mobile App

You may be thinking “My company has a great website, why do we need a mobile app?” The truth is, a mobile app opens new doors your website cannot. A website’s purpose is to attract new customers, while a mobile app exists to create customer loyalty. The relationship between the two is symbiotic, and a website cannot always do the same things a mobile app does. Plus, to access a company’s website via a mobile screen can be difficult for some users—particularly if your website isn’t mobile friendly.

Go to Where Your Customers Live: Their Phones

In a 2015 Pew study, 68 percent of adults own a smartphone. This number continues to increase daily, and cellphones continue to be the most commonly owned piece of technology. People are also more on-the-go than ever, and sometimes using a computer to look at a website is inconvenient when tethered to mobile technology. Limiting your online presence to a website does you a disservice. While having a website is important for gaining new customers, keeping those customers coming back is often best served by creating a mobile app that can send them loyalty rewards, company updates, and push notifications to keep them engaged with your brand even after their purchase has been made.