The world has shifted towards smartphones as the primary device for digital access. There’s no denying it. The number of smartphone users surpasses that of laptop users multifold. Even for people who own a laptop, a smartphone is way more accessible.
Mobile app development is the best way to reach out to smartphone users. However, developing a mobile app from scratch is a time-consuming endeavor. Most businesses don’t feel the need for a separate app. This is where converting your website to a mobile app comes into play.
In this blog, WDI will tell you the lucrative benefits of converting your website to an app and how it can be done.
Reasons to Convert Your Website to an App
Let’s start by understanding the advantages of transforming your website into an app.
More Accessibility
Making your products and services more accessible to your users is the primary goal of every business. A website, although mobile-friendly, is not the best way to reach out to mobile users. Users have to open their browser and enter the URL every time to access it.
A mobile app, on the other hand, is way more accessible as it can be downloaded and installed on the phone. The steps required to get there are much fewer than on a website. The mobile app is always there to remind users of your brand.
Designed for Mobile
A website is designed primarily with desktop users in mind. Making it mobile-friendly is usually an afterthought.
Comparatively, a mobile app is built for smartphones from the ground up. Elements such as buttons, menus, and icons are designed specifically for smaller screens. Users don’t have to pinch and zoom in to access certain functions. Everything can be accessed without having to switch to desktop mode.
A big advantage is that gestures can be used to navigate through the app, which is not possible with a website.
Improved Performance
A big drawback of websites is that they reload every time you open a new page unless you have a single-page application. This can be fixed with a mobile application.
Mobile apps store data locally on the user’s device. This means they don’t have to load every time the user performs an activity. Everything can be opened in a snap.
Secondly, mobile apps have access to the device’s hardware. They can unlock the full power of the processor to improve performance.
You reduce the chances of users getting irritated by long loading times and quitting the app.
Access Native Features
While websites can access native features, they aren’t as seamless as mobile apps. With mobile app development, you get direct access to the device’s native features and enhance the user experience. Here are some of them:
Accelerometer
If you are in the healthcare industry, you can use the accelerometer to track steps. This is simply not possible if you only rely on websites.
Contacts
With a mobile app, you can request access to a user’s files and contacts. This makes sharing and social interactions a whole lot easier.
Biometrics
Mobile apps are way more secure than websites, as users can use Touch ID or Face ID to open them.
Camera
Users can use the camera to scan QR codes, upload things, or experience AR-based features.
GPS
By accessing the user’s location, you can provide personalized content recommendations to keep them engaged.
Bluetooth
You can use Bluetooth to connect the app with other devices, such as wearables, to deliver interconnected experiences.
Data Collection
Data is everything for a business. Mobile apps serve as excellent tools for collecting large volumes of data. You can track each and every action the users take on the app. The time they spend on different sections gives you an idea of which ones to prioritize and which ones need improvement.
The best part is that you can collect user data even when they’re offline. You can use this data to optimize your app and marketing efforts.
Offline Accessibility
An internet connection is mandatory to use a website. But that’s not the case with mobile apps.
Mobile apps are stored directly on the user’s device and use features such as cache to facilitate offline access. Why is this so important?
While most users may have a steady network connection, there are many scenarios when they might not. This includes a flight or venturing into a remote location. You can ensure that your business is accessible to users in such scenarios with offline access.
More Monetization Opportunities
Mobile apps open doors to new monetization opportunities. Let’s have a look at some of them:
Advertisements
While websites can display ads, modern browsers can easily block them. That’s not possible on a mobile app, allowing you to generate revenue.
Subscriptions
Smartphone users are less likely to invest in a website subscription as they don’t access them as frequently. It’s an entirely different case with a mobile app.
Freemium Model
You can make your app free to download and charge money for accessing advanced features.
Even if you don’t opt for an additional monetization pathway, just the additional reach you get from mobile apps is enough to boost your leads and revenue.
How to Convert Your Website to a Mobile App
WDI is a top mobile app development company that can convert your website to a mobile app and ensure seamless connectivity between the two. With over 25 years of experience in the field, we can provide you with deep industry insights to help you capture the mobile app market.
WDI will hold your hand from start to finish, ensuring smooth onboarding into the world of mobile apps.
Book a meeting and let’s start developing your mobile app without any ado.
