What You Need to Know About Building a Website with Mobile App Integration
The total number of app downloads in 2018 was 194 billion—up from 178 billion in 2017. And the multi-billion dollar app integration market more than doubled from 2014 to 2019 because companies want their websites to blend seamlessly with their mobile apps.
App usage is skyrocketing, and many businesses are developing apps to keep up. Is your brand developing an app? If you are, here’s what you need to know about creating a website and an app that are fully integrated:
What Is Mobile App Integration?
When we talk about mobile app integration, what is it that we are actually referring to? Mobile app integration means that you are building a website that is fully interconnected with your app, oftentimes using middleware.
This offers flexibility to you and a better experience for your end users: usually your customers and sometimes your employees. It means you’re designing a website that plays nicely with your app because the functionality on both is purposefully similar.
You’ll Want to Direct Mobile Traffic to Your App
Even if you build a website with a responsive design, you should redirect users to your mobile app when they access your site via a mobile device. Why is this?
Mobile apps are designed to be used on a phone. They’re more direct, more efficient and easier to use on a phone or tablet. Your website can help funnel people to your app. It leads your visitors to the best possible experience.
A good example of this is Amazon’s mobile website. While the responsive site works just fine, it invites visitors to use their mobile app, which is a simpler, more streamlined process that includes all sorts of features like the “Buy Now” button, which isn’t available on the mobile site but is available on the app.
Seamless also has an easier user experience on its app than on a mobile site; customer information is saved, which means they don’t have to type in their address or billing information each time they go to order. It’s all ready for them right in the Seamless app.
Make Sure Your Best Features Are Available on Both Your Website and Your Mobile App
If there is something that your visitors love about your website, make sure that same feature is available on the mobile app for an uninterrupted user experience.
If visitors are accustomed to having a feature available on the website, it will throw them if that same feature isn’t available on the mobile app. After all, what’s the point of using the mobile app if it lacks the features or the functionality of the website? It will seem like an inconsistency, and it will harm the trust and goodwill you’ve established with your users by having that feature in the first place.
Amazon has another strong example here: Its search and account features are nearly identical on its website and its mobile app to make users feel at home whether they visit the website or use the mobile app.
Add Some Special Features to Your App Too
The No. 1 reason that users delete an app is because they don’t use it. If you want your app to be used just as frequently as your website, add some features to your app that your users can’t get anywhere else.
What does this look like? This can be something totally unique to your brand and can look like many different things. A retail store might offer recommendations based on past purchases, or a news app might offer articles that are based on the person’s geographic location. Spotify creates custom playlists for users on their app based on their previously played music.
So while all the features on your desktop site should be available in some similar capacity on your mobile app, you can make your app a special experience too.
Design Your Website for Information and Your App for Engagement
Above all, when you are designing an app to integrate with your website, keep this in mind:
Your website should be designed to provide users with information about your brand, but your app is the best way to engage with your users again and again.
You want to ensure that with your website you are a resource for your users. When they visit your website, they are looking to you to help them find what they are looking for. With your mobile app, your aim should be to create a platform to keep your users coming back.
Can we help you integrate your app and your website? At Webbege, we are a full-service operation that provides meaningful digital experiences for your clients.
Let us handle the development and design. Ready to learn more? Contact us today.
