Many people feel they either need a mobile app or a website, but it’s best to have both.

A website is a must have companion for any app. Users find much of their information about an app from an app’s website.

If you research some of the most popular and successful apps, you’ll find the majority of them have a website. If you want to please your users, creating a site is just as important as the app’s functionality.

Easier To Discover

As of 2014, Google and Apple’s app marketplaces were receiving over 10,000 new app submissions every month. Simply submitting your app and hoping for the best isn’t enough. App users do more than just use apps. They use search engines to find details about the newest apps. If you have a website, you increase your chances of being found through an organic search. If your site is mobile friendly, your chances are even better. A site makes it easier for users to discover your app.

Takeaway: Create a website to launch before or on the same day as your app. This increases visibility and helps you stand out among all the new app submissions each month.

Build Buzz Before Launch

Why wait to start marketing after your app has launched? A website is the perfect way to build buzz for the app. Use the site along with your social media following to spread the word. A few site elements to include are:

• Bulleted list of app features
• Suggestion form
• Email sign-up to provide updates
• Launch countdown
• Blog with recent updates

Obviously, you keep using the site to promote the mobile app long after the launch. Having the website ready at least a few months before the app releases gives you ample time to build a following and increase your number of downloads when the app first launches.

Takeaway: A website is a vital element of mobile marketing. Consider hiring a professional to create a simple, yet effective site with all of the above features.

Provide Support

If users don’t have an easy way to ask for support, they’ll leave a bad review in the app marketplace and uninstall your app. Some apps rely solely upon the marketplace reviews to see what users want while others add a support feature to the app. Overall, a website with a simple contact form or forum is much easier to use. Plus, users look for a website first. You can even have a live chat feature for one on one support to make your users feel even more valued.

Takeaway: Use your website to provide valuable support and advice to users. They’ll appreciate it. A professional developer can help you create the site and even ensure your app links to the support area of the site.

Keep Users Up To Date

Are you planning on added limited time features to your app? What about planning a major upgrade in the next month? Your users want to know. Adding all of this information into the mobile app itself is difficult. Users don’t want to be bothered with numerous pop-ups or long blocks of text in their app. Add a simple News or About link to the app that links to your site’s blog. Or, use this section of your app to list blog titles with links to the posts themselves.

Takeaway: Build excitement for new features with a website with all the app’s latest changes. A developer can easily link your site and app so your users always stay updated.

Gain Valuable Feedback

Trying to figure out what your users want can seem impossible. Create a website with a suggestion form. Users love being able to influence an app’s features and design. Give them the chance and finally find out what your users want most. While you don’t have to use every idea, the submissions you receive will help you see if there’s anything you need to change or add.

Takeaway: Use your website as a valuable tool for improving your app. If you’re working with an app developer, you can show the developer the submissions so they better understand your target audience’s needs.

Conclusion

It’s not a question of why should you have an app website. The real question is why don’t you already have a website? Your app and website work hand in hand with each other to market, provide support and gather feedback for your app.

Are you ready to create a companion site for your app? Contact StuartMedia today to find out how to get started. 

Image: Jason Howie