Mobile apps.. should I stay or should I go.. or should I build?

Congrats, you made it and you own a successful online store. Or maybe you're just starting up in the entrepreneurial world with a great idea, ready to conquer Mount Musk (I'm sure there is gonna be a mountain named after him.. in Mars probably). And finally let's not forget the "Light bulb" Edison moments that usually come late at night when you have few drinks with your buddies.

So, does it worth the trouble of creating an app? One more amongst the millions that are out there? Quick answer is YES,! Don't second guess me, I 'm the writer and I know what I write (if you watched American politics around 2006,?you'll get the joke).

Although there are currently 2.2 million apps out there, we also have more than 100 billion downloads and the prediction is that by 2025 the downloads will reach 200billion.. ?? That is a metric you should keep in mind.?

And that's where the psychology behind mobile app downloading comes into play. When you see an ad for a new app, your brain immediately starts trying to figure out whether or not it's worth your time and effort to download it. This process is known as "cognitive evaluation," and it happens every time we encounter something new that we need to decide whether or not to pay attention to.

There are a number of factors that our brain takes into account when evaluating whether or not to download a new app. One of the most important is whether or not we think the app will be useful. If we think an app will be helpful, we're much more likely to download it than if we think it will be useless. Another important factor is how much effort we think it will take to download and use the app. If an app seems like it will be easy to use, we're more likely to give it a try.?

Let me put on my doctor's clothes again.. Other psychological factors include the need for social approval. People want to be seen as using the same apps as their friends and peers. There is also a lot of peer pressure to download certain apps. Another psychological factor is the need for instant gratification. We live in a world where we want things now and mobile apps provide that. We can get what we want with just a few clicks. This instant gratification can be addictive and lead to people downloading more and more apps, even if they don't really use them. There is also the issue of FOMO, or the fear of missing out. We see our friends using cool new apps and we don't want to be left out. So we download them too, even if we never actually use them. All of these psychological factors contribute to why people download mobile applications.?

And that explains the billions of downloads.. we all have a lot of issues to resolve..

Business talk now

There are many reasons to build a mobile app. Maybe you want to improve your customer service or offer a loyalty program. Perhaps you want to increase sales or better engage with your audience. Or you just have a great idea.

Whatever the reason, a mobile app can be a great addition to your business. From engaging customers to increasing sales, there are many benefits to consider. So read on to learn more about how a mobile app can help you reach your business goals.

Assuming you already have a website for your business, building a mobile app can help you reach new markets and grow your customer base.?

With over two billion active smartphones worldwide, it's clear that mobile is not going anywhere. By building a mobile app, you can tap into this vast market of potential customers. Even if your website is mobile-friendly, an app can provide a better user experience by being specifically designed for mobile devices. In addition, apps can take advantage of features that are unique to smartphones, such as GPS and push notifications.

Another great reason to build a mobile app is to improve customer engagement. Apps make it easy for customers to contact you and give them quick access to your product or service. With an app, you can also send Push Notifications which are a great way to keep customers updated on new products, services, or promotions.

Building a mobile app can also help you generate leads and sales. By offering exclusive deals and discounts through your app, you can encourage customers to make purchases from your business. You can also use your app as a tool for upselling and cross-selling by recommending complementary products or services to customers.

Overall, building a mobile app is a great way to reach new markets, engage with existing customers, and boost sales and revenue for your business.

Love those "5 reasons to", so here are 5 benefits of building your own app

1. Increased brand awareness and visibility: With a mobile app, your business will have a constant presence on your customers’ devices. This increased visibility can lead to more brand awareness and potential customers.

2. Improved customer loyalty and engagement: A mobile app can help you build stronger relationships with your existing customers by providing them with a convenient way to engage with your brand. Additionally, it can help you increase customer loyalty by offering loyalty rewards or discounts through the app.

3. More opportunities for upselling and cross-selling: A mobile app provides you with an additional sales channel to promote and sell your products or services. You can also use it to upsell or cross-sell complementary products or services to your customers.

4. Increased customer insight and data: By tracking how customers interact with your app, you can gain valuable insights into their needs and preferences. This information can help you improve your marketing and sales strategies, as well as the overall user experience of your app.

5. Generate new leads and boost conversions: A mobile app can be an effective lead generation tool, especially if you offer exclusive deals or discounts through the app. It can also help boost conversions by making it easier for customers to purchase your products or services on their mobile devices.

So, how do I get started with building a mobile app?

Assuming you have a great idea for a mobile app, the next step is to start building it.. hmm, really Mr Writer? Omg you are so smart!!.. But where do you begin? This section will give you a high-level overview of the steps involved in building a mobile app.

The first step is to come up with a concept for your app. No, no, NO! Just wait... The 1st, 1st thing you have to do is search the internet to make sure that you didn't think that you discovered America- I mean, that something similar is not out there. Continuing..What problem does it solve? Who is your target audience? Once you have a clear vision for your app, you need to start planning the design and user experience. What features will your app have? How will users navigate through it?

Once you have the design figured out, it's time to start coding! If you're not a developer yourself, you'll need to hire someone to build the app for you. But even if you are a developer, there's still a lot of work to be done. You'll need to test and debug your code, and make sure everything works perfectly on all devices.

And finally, once your app is complete, you need to get it out there! You'll need to submit it to the App Store or Google Play, and market it to potential users. Getting your app noticed can be tough, but with some hard work and luck, you can see success.

Need to know - types of mobile apps

There are several different types of mobile apps, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Native apps are written in the native language of the platform they're being built for, which allows them to take full advantage of all the features of that platform. However, this also means that they can't be easily ported to other platforms, and you'll need separate versions for each one.

Web apps are essentially websites that have been optimized for mobile devices. They're usually quicker and easier to develop than native apps, but they don't have access to all the same features and can't always work offline.

Hybrid apps are a combination of the two, using web technologies wrapped in a native container. This gives them the best of both worlds, but can be more complex to develop.

And what about the future of mobile apps and web3?

Mobile apps are the future of digital communication and engagement. Web3 is the future of the internet.

The two are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are complementary. Mobile apps can help people connect to web3 services and applications. And web3 can help mobile app developers create more engaging and interactive experiences for their users.

There are already a number of web3-enabled mobile apps available, and many more are in development. These apps allow users to interact with decentralized applications (dapps) built on Ethereum, Bitcoin, and other blockchain platforms.

With web3, you can create apps that are more secure, private, and efficient than traditional apps. Web3 also provides access to a new generation of decentralized applications that could revolutionize the way we interact with the digital world.

The combination of mobile apps and web3 has the potential to change the way we live, work, and play.

The mobile app market is constantly evolving. New technologies are emerging that are changing the way we interact with apps.

Give me the trends please

Here are some of the most exciting trends in the future of mobile apps and web3:

1. Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology is one of the most talked-about innovations in recent years. It has the potential to revolutionize how we interact with apps, by making them more secure and transparent.

2. Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is another cutting-edge technology that is starting to make its way into mobile apps. AR allows users to superimpose digital information on top of the real world, creating an immersive experience.

3. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is another area of mobile app development that is rapidly advancing. AI can be used to create personalised experiences for users, as well as to automate tasks such as customer support.

4. The Internet of Things

The internet of things (IoT) refers to the growing network of physical devices that are connected to the internet. This trend is opening up new possibilities for mobile apps, such as being able to control devices remotely or receive real-time data from them.

So I've given you the facts and fiction and it's up to you to decide whether it worth you time and money to invest on a mobile app.