Many companies today offer mobile applications to their customers for smoother user experiences and perhaps more personalized services. However, what makes a really great and usable mobile app? What features allow the app to stand out from the crowd in terms of marketing? What do mobile users really appreciate in their apps? In this post, we look into things that instantly make any application better.
Why Everyone Wants a Mobile App
Today, almost everyone uses their smartphone as an in-pocket computer which is always with you, so as a result, many people want mobile apps for services they use on a regular basis. So the simplest answer to the question is mobile apps are sleeker and more convenient.
Whatever you do online you always want it to be quickly and effectively. User experience, design, and navigation are important at all times but especially on small screens with smartphone-specific controls. Yes, some people still do not like to have tons of apps on their phones but this is only if they do not do tons of tasks on their mobile devices. If you do, then you go for an app because it is almost always a better decision.
Both users and service providers benefit from apps. There are applications not only for “serious” tasks but for entertainment, as well. Online entertainment is a huge industry; funny enough, entertainment is picked up faster by people than other activities. Some people might be reluctant to use a VPN app but they have zero doubts about installing a Candy Crash mobile game.
This is the reason why entertainment apps are so many and why many technical innovations are to be seen first in the entertainment sector: people are never reluctant to spend money on their fun. This is also the reason why it is important to choose high-quality apps for your games or similar activities as not all of them are quality by default.
If you are not sure about gaming apps, look for advice at CasinosHunter or similar platforms first. While it is true that some gaming apps are more advanced technologically than some apps for national banks, it doesn’t automatically mean that the service is good. Users should differentiate between the quality of the application and the quality of service; it is actually better to have a high-quality service and an average app than the other way around.
And yet, whatever application you use for whatever service, or whatever application you want to market and advertise, several features differentiate a great mobile app from an average one.
Encryption & Two-Factor Authentication
It is kind of self-obvious but not quite. Some apps have an option for two-factor authentication while some don’t. However, unless the user can take advantage of the touch ID or face ID, having a little bit more protection with access to the app is always a good idea. The point is that users’ data and privacy cannot be protected “too much”; the user may choose to turn part of the protection mechanisms off if they want but they should also have the option of the highest protection, especially if the app has anything to do with money or sensitive information. Offering at least a couple of layers of protection is always an advantage when marketing such a mobile app.
User-Friendly Navigation & Interface
Many companies want their application to be stylish, pretty, and flashy, but the truth is that it has to be usable. Not outright ugly, probably, but convenient and intuitively comprehensive. If users cannot find the menu, the links do not work, the navigation is looping, probably it is not the best application after all. It is better to go for a simpler design and ensure that the basic convenience needs are met.
Nowadays, it also makes sense to add one-hand mode, left-hand mode, lite mode for saving the battery, and night mode. Users will definitely appreciate the publisher’s care for their convenience, and such an application will be easier to promote.
Compatibility with Mobile Payments
Of course, not all apps need payments, or rather, not all apps need you to pay for something on a regular basis. Most of the time you pay once a month or once a year for your subscription with your normal credit card or an e-wallet and this is it.
However, some applications actually require users to make payments (like gaming apps, trading apps, online markets, etc.) which means the app has to offer compatibility with a healthy range of payments. In many cases, payment by card only is not enough or is not convenient enough. It is expected that, for a mobile application, at least one purely mobile payment option is available. The key point here is that, regardless of how often the users utilize the app, they do not want to follow several links, copy links, open browser tabs, or indicate their e-wallet numbers manually every time. The easier and smoother the payment process, the higher the probability that users will use it.
Customer Support In The App
This is a very simple idea yet many applications still fail to embody it: customer support should be available directly in the app, regardless of how rarely users want or need it. Sending emails and waiting for days, opening links in the browser to try and find a live person to ask a question to, or being given a phone number to chat with a bot are all not good customer support options. Just add a live chat directly to the app, maybe with a bot for simple requests, and the value of the app will immediately increase.
Clear Privacy Policy and Data Protection
Users may want to skip the Terms and Conditions part but the app should have T&C, Privacy Policy, and Data Storage Policy, and these must be explained clearly. That simple. Many applications can get away with offering services without these documents but eventually, every reliable app needs them.