The everyday user does not necessarily care or understand how they receive access to their favorite or most visited websites even if they are not in front of the computer. They typically only care if it works and that it is accessible on their phone and/or tablet. Moreover, in all reality, that is the way it should be. The “how it works” concept is not important to the everyday consumer and not always necessary in their eyes to understand, as long as the end product works.
Responsive Websites
A responsive website is a website that responsively adjusts to the medium with which you are accessing it. For instance, if you are accessing the site from your desktop, the site will function based on the capabilities and viewing capacity of the laptop, and if you access the site via a mobile device, such as a cell phone or tablet, the site will be viewed as a mobile site. The benefit of this is that your clients can find you on the web no matter the medium being used and can easily access your website and use it no matter where they are.
Responsive websites are great to monitor and maintain the flow of traffic to your website. They are also helpful when attempting to provide information to the end user because they allow the user access on the go.
Apps
Apps, on the other hand, are interactive applications that can be downloaded for a fee or free and allow easy access to the end user to your website without using a web browser. Apps are interactive and allow users to have abbreviated access to your website when on the go. They are often used in place of responsive websites and allow the user quick and easy use of the necessary functions of your website. Apps can be games, social media based, video based, or ecommerce based, among other uses. Many times apps appear very different from the actual website it is representing and may not have all of the features of the main website. Apps are wonderful tools in assisting with ecommerce and interactive communication between the company and its consumers.
What Should I Do?
Large Business
For large businesses it is strongly believed that both responsive websites and apps should be used to help promote a business online, however, when appealing to the younger generations, apps seem to be more prevalent. Some sites, such as Instagram and snapchat are only available in app form as they are most accessed from mobile devices. Other sites, such as Amazon and eBay allow for easy access both through an app and a website to make purchasing easier for the consumer.
Small Business
But for small businesses the reality is that a good responsive site is usually your best ROI (return on investment) value. Adding an app can be overkill and a waste of money, especially if its not planned out correctly.
No matter what type of forum you choose to use to help create your web presence, always make sure to adjust your content to the audience with which you are attempting to interact.
To learn more about responsive websites and apps and which style is the best option for your business, contact Skol Marketing at 612.787.SKOL and one of our marketing experts will be happy to answer your questions.
