What does the “app universe” look like at this point for small business? Does anyone really know how many thousands of small business apps have been developed, and how small businesses are benefiting from them?
A study for the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE) that polled U.S. small business owners with fewer than 20 employees, found that an increasingly mobile world translates into vast “app-ortunities” for small business. In fact, apps on mobile devices are helping small business owners in several distinct ways:
- Save time
- Reduce costs
- Increase revenue and productivity
- Work more effectively
- Better serve customers
This study says that significant time savings, especially, that mobile apps afford both business owners (an average of 5.6 hours weekly) and employees (an average of 11.33 hours weekly), not only computes into real and significant dollar savings but also enables both groups to focus more attention on customers and business development.
Wired.com also takes a look at the small business mobile app world with insights contributed by Abhinav Girdhar, the chief business officer of cloud-based Appy Pie. (Appy Pie, believe it or not, allows anyone to create their own custom mobile app.)
The article reiterates the benefits described in the SBE study but also emphasizes the ability that apps have to give small businesses and their products and services quick and broad exposure to and engagement with their audiences. This was—and is—unheard of with traditional marketing channels.
In an example from a New York Times article a few months ago, a consulting firm that marketed its book by mobile app. With minimal effort and manpower, the firm nets nearly $250,000 in a year from the increased traffic that the mobile app drives to its site. That’s impressive.
Also noteworthy is the notion that the significance of using mobile apps for small business isn’t just in the upside potential. It also lies in the likely missed opportunities and pitfalls if a business owner decides not to harness the power of mobile apps. If costs are holding you back, don’t be tempted to be “penny wise and pound foolish,” as the saying goes. The numbers say that your app will probably more than pay for itself. And if you’re still feeling skittish, there are platforms (Appy Pie mentioned above is one) that let you develop and test-drive trial models (with no coding experience!) to see how they’ll work.
Maybe the place to begin is with existing small business apps. Yahoo Small Business suggests looking at apps that do two things: make your life easier while making running your business easier at the same time. Here are seven that could make a big difference for you and your business:
- DropBox. Can 100 million+ users be wrong?
- Google Analytics. Google has been a major player in the small business space for a while now.
- Asana. One easy-to-navigate interface for multiple projects, collaboration.
- QuickBooks 2013. Clean navigation for one-stop syncing up of a variety of things.
- Appointment Plus. Viewed as “best of breed” in a growing field of competitors.
- Expensify. You can stop dreading tax season with this incredible app!
- Square. Accept mobile payments, effortlessly, from anywhere and for a minimal transaction fee.
Not surprisingly, there’s no dearth of recommendations for the best small business apps to consider.
Still craving more info on mobile apps? Check out this great infographic at dashburst.com.
Image courtesy of FrameAngel / FreeDigitalPhotos.net