Often, when thinking of digital marketing, people typically think of scroll-stopping social media campaigns, email newsletters, or targeted ads on search engines. Those are strong channels, but they are very popular channels, which means they are crowded.
There is a sea of brands vying for the attention of the people you are trying to connect with. A channel that most businesses overlook is a custom mobile app.
According to a report, 90% of mobile internet time is spent in apps. App usage is continuously increasing, with more than 100 billion hours spent in apps each year.
A custom mobile app is a direct, personalized, and engaging communication channel that can fundamentally change the way that you communicate with your audience.
For example, customers pursuing mobile app development in Kansas put value on being able to work with teams who know their regional customers' habits, preferences, and market opportunities and challenges.
Given the competition today, it is easily becoming the foundation of effective digital marketing.
Source: VLink
Key Benefits of Custom Mobile Apps in Marketing
Custom app development goes beyond getting higher engagement, personalization, and insights that are unavailable through traditional channels.
As Steve Jobs once wisely observed in a Fortune interview:
“Users are no longer happy with cookie-cutter relationships with their apps. They want personalized experiences and app content that maps to their preferences, needs and locations.”
And data proves it out: Almost 49% of smartphone users open at least one app 11+ times a day, while millennials use apps even more (usually 50+ times a day).
Source: bitcot
1. Direct Access to Customers
- Always in Their Pocket
Unlike websites or social media platforms, where users have to search for you, an app lives on your customer’s device. In one tap, they are in your ecosystem.
This kind of direct access is priceless. It cuts through all the noise to put your brand directly in front of consumers.
- Smart Push Notifications
Push notifications are not only reminders, they are substantial nudges. When personalized properly, they can:
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- Announce exclusive offers
- Remind users about abandoned carts
- Provide custom content
Instead of waiting for customers to find you, you are keeping users engaged proactively.
2. Create Lasting Customer Relationships
- Personalized User Journeys
Apps can track how users interact with your content, products, or services. This enables you to create personalized journeys where customers feel valued and appreciated.
If users visit the app frequently for sports gear, the app can recommend similar items when available, provide curated blogs, or notify users of upcoming sales.
- Loyalty Programs Made Easy
You can see how Starbucks reinvented customer loyalty with its app. With built-in rewards programs, companies can turn shopping into a game.
The result? Repeat customers who feel valued and are excited to keep coming back.
3. Enhanced Data Collection and Insights
- Real-Time Analytics
A mobile app allows a business to analyze the real-time activity of its users. This type of analysis is more than standard web analytics. You can find out:
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- What features are the most used by your customers
- Where they drop off
- What is keeping them engaged?
This level of knowledge not only helps you refine your app but also your marketing as a whole.
- Smarter Campaigns with App Data
The information you have collected through your app can be funneled back into other marketing channels.
For example, if you see from app data that your customers are primarily active during the evening, you can schedule your email campaigns, social media posts, etc., to take advantage of their activity.
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4. Standing Out in a Competitive Market
- A Differentiator Through Experience
Many businesses can run ads on Instagram or Google. Not all businesses can offer a seamless branded app. A custom app will make your company appear more professional, innovative, and trustworthy.
- Marketing Tools Built In
Your app can serve as a marketing hub- providing blog posts, videos, tutorials, and product updates all in one location. Customers will be less likely to shop around once they know they can find everything from your company via your app.
5. Revenue Opportunities Beyond Marketing
- In-App Purchases and Subscriptions
Custom apps are not just about engagement; they are also about monetization.
In-app purchases, subscription models, and premium features provide opportunities for additional revenue streams while simultaneously increasing your overall marketing.
- Partnerships and Advertising
Depending on your business model, your app can provide partnerships opportunities as well.
For instance, a fitness app could promote health supplement brands, while a travel app could show hotel deals. Not only does this benefit users, by providing relevant offers, but you also generate new revenue streams.
Source: Reply
The Value of Localized Mobile App Development
While apps can reach a global audience, there can be distinctive advantages to working with developers who understand your local market.
When it comes to why local market understanding matters, Larry Illg, CEO of Naspers Ventures, put it succinctly in TechCrunch:
“The more you know about local market conditions, the better able you are to make the changes, often relatively minor, that are needed to succeed in new markets.”
The benefit of working with a local development team is that they will help ensure your final product is not just technically accurate, but is strategically on point and is in alignment with what your audience actually wants.
Future-Proofing Your Digital Marketing Strategy
Source: 3D Issue
- Adapting to Shifting Consumer Behavior
More and more time is being spent on mobile devices. Apps already account for over 90% of the time we spend on mobile phones. By getting a custom app now, you will be positioned for success in the mobile first future.
- Integration with Emerging Tech (AR, AI, Voice Search)
Custom apps can also integrate with new tech like:
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- Augmented reality for product demos
- Artificial intelligence for smarter personalization
- Voice search for convenience
Adapting to new tech keeps your plans relevant as trends change.
Getting Started with Custom Mobile App Development
Source: LinkedIn
Launching a custom app sounds scary, and it can be. But it doesn’t have to be if you choose the right mobile app development company.
- Define your goal: What do you want to achieve- engagement, loyalty, sales? Possibly all three?
- Select the right features: No need to overload the app with activity; only focus on the needs of your audience.
- Test, test, test: Start with a small group, get feedback and modify before rolling it out to all.
Just remember, the best apps are not always the most difficult; they are the apps that solve the problems for the customer.
FAQs
1. What exactly is a custom mobile app?
Custom mobile apps are mobile applications built for your business or organizational needs. Unlike generic apps, custom mobile apps are tailored to your specific goals, your audience, and your brand.
2. How does a mobile app benefit my digital marketing?
Apps connect you with customers directly, help to personalize your customer experience, provide real-time data on customer behaviour and usage patterns, and build brand loyalty among other benefits.
3. Can a mobile app make money?
Absolutely. In addition to supporting your marketing strategy, apps can have in-app purchases, subscriptions, or ads and create a new source of income.
4. How long will it take to build a mobile app?
The average app can take a few months to build if it’s a basic app. A fully-featured app can take much longer. It depends on a number of different scopes and requirements.
5. Why should I invest in a custom mobile app when I already have social media for my marketing?
Social media is a great tool for creating visibility and awareness, but it is also very crowded and often subject to the algorithms of the platforms, which gives you little control to ensure that your content hits your audience.
If you invest in a custom mobile app, you have a direct and controlled line to your audience without competition or distractions.
4. Are mobile apps only for big companies with huge budgets?
Not at all. Small and medium businesses can benefit just as much, sometimes more because an app helps them stand out against larger competitors. With the right strategy, even a modestly designed app can deliver high ROI.
5. What kind of data can a mobile app provide for marketing?
You can track real-time user activity: what features customers use most, when they’re active, how they engage with products, and where they drop off. This helps refine not only your app but your entire digital marketing approach.
Conclusion
Digital marketing has evolved well past the days of banner ads and sponsored posts.
In order to cut through the noise of the competition, a custom mobile app can be your ace up your sleeve. You get direct access to your audience, direct interaction, valuable insights, and new revenue potential.
Whether you are a local business or an international brand, a mobile app is the most trusted platform to build better, stronger, and longer-lasting relationships with your customers.
At the end of the day, getting started with digital marketing should always be about creating experiences. And what better way to do this than through a purpose-built app for your audience?
Author Bio
Hazel Parkery is a writer and tech enthusiast with a deep passion for personal productivity. With a background in Mobile App development, she explores the latest cutting-edge technologies and is inquisitive about harnessing the potential of AI for building better and smarter solutions.
