The onward march to a fully mobilised digital age continues, as 2018 finally sees mobile phones edge out in front of desktop systems, now responsible for 52.4% of website traffic according to statista.com. Whilst this upward trend has long been predicted, the rapid rise of mobile-geared e-commerce has left some businesses racing to catch up to their fully mobile optimised competitors.

Mobile responsive website or mobile app?

Today's market is saturated with apps, with over 5 million currently within the Google Play and App Store combined according to statista.com. Many small businesses are feeling the pressure to develop mobile apps in order to compete, however, in a lot of cases this may not be necessary. Statistics from Localytics (https://www.localytics.com/lp/cheat-sheet-overall-app-benchmarks-h2-2016/) suggest that 80% of apps are no longer being launched 3 months after installation, and small business may not be getting the return on investment they are hoping for.

On the other hand, developing a personalised app can offer some businesses the perfect solution for streamlining services and keeping customers happy. According to a survey by Clutch (https://clutch.co/app-developers/resources/small-business-apps-survey-2018) the most valuable features of mobile apps for small businesses are mobile payment, social media integration, enhanced customer communication and customer loyalty programs. Canberra Web can also help to create unique app designs with innovative functionality to ensure businesses stand out in this flooded app market.

The impact that website functionality can have on a company’s bottom line cannot be underestimated. Google recently reported that 61% of users who had an unsatisfactory experience on their first time trying to access a mobile website did not return to that website again. However, before investing time and energy in mobile app development it is worth reviewing your current desktop website and its performance on a mobile web platform.

In many cases, responsive web design can offer the mobile-friendly online experience that users are looking for, without the need to download new apps. Responsive web design optimises a desktop site by adapting it to suit the smaller screens and software capabilities of smartphones and tablets. Reduced text size and streamlined content help users to navigate sites more easily and without compromising on speed by trying to load a full desktop site on a portable device.

The Canberra Web experts can work with you to determine the best way to represent your business online. If you would like to get in touch to further chat about the services we offer, please feel free to contact the team.