Mobile site or mobile app?

Do you have a website, but you are not receiving orders from mobile traffic? At the same time, mobile traffic is growing steadily, and experts suggest that it is necessary to adapt to today's realities, otherwise search engines will drop in search results even from desktops. Competitors are acquiring mobile applications and increasing the number of orders from loyal customers. How to be? What to choose: adapting the site for mobile devices or creating a mobile application?

Let's figure out what the difference is and which option to choose for you.

Mobile version of the site

What is the fundamental difference?

The site must be mobile friendly. It's not even discussed. But the only difference will be in the device from which they visit your site. The only question is whether the site is enough for your business.

Functional

By adapting a site for mobile devices, you cut down the site's functionality. Here you post less information, fewer capture forms. In some cases, duplicate the site while retaining all the functions (which, in fact, upon closer examination, can have a bad effect on the usability and position of the site in the mobile search results). On the mobile version, with the right approach, only what can be important and useful to the mobile audience is placed. But one thing is important: the mobile version of the site is just a version of the site and no more.

The technical side

From a technical point of view, the mobile version of the site does not always display as well as you would like it to be.There are different approaches: adaptive layout, dynamic layout, mobile site on a subdomain. But in any case, the screen sizes of mobile devices are different, people use different browsers, different models and have different Internet speeds. This affects the way your visitor sees the picture.

The cost

Comparing the cost of creating a mobile version and developing an application is not worth it, since these two tasks are only at first glance similar. But for the sake of fairness, let's say that adapting a website for mobile devices is, of course, much cheaper.

Interface design

The design of the mobile version of the site should be as similar as possible to the site design for the desktop. Sometimes this issue is not even raised, because, for example, a responsive layout simply shrinks the site to fit the screen of a mobile device and makes it easy to view, and the buttons are large for pressing with your fingers.

User acquisition cost

Attracting a visitor to the mobile version of the site is no more expensive than to a regular site. In some segments, there is even less competition in mobile search results, which means it's easier to get there. If you do everything wisely.

Mobile app

Mobile app development is an additional channel for attracting customers. It is not suitable for all niches and requires more investment of labor and money. But the benefits sometimes exceed many times.

A mobile application is a separate tool, the functionality of which is not at all obliged to duplicate the site, and, on the contrary, to expand the user's capabilities, offer him individual bonuses and recommendations, and interact with the client on a more personal, intimate level. This is the main difference between the application and the site - the user takes a confidential step towards your business - downloads the application and binds his smartphone to your push messages. If you offer services or goods, then downloading your application means that the user is ready to buy from you repeatedly, if the application does not discourage this desire.

A mobile application developed by native means is a program for a mobile device that fits perfectly into the operating system of a smartphone or tablet. Therefore, it is distinguished by high-quality and high-speed work - the device understands the application code from a half-word, because it is written in the native language of the OP. At the same time, the user can receive some data without an Internet connection.

Developing a unique mobile app for your business isn't cheap. Therefore, it is important to think about the goals you want to achieve. If achieving your goals will bring you more profit than cost, why not jump into a competitive race and compete for loyal users?

The design of a native mobile application is more usable, as it fits into the style of the mobile device for which it is designed. For each platform (iOS, Android, Win Phone), manufacturers release special guidelines, that is, interface rules, and for good reason - following these rules allows you to maintain user behavioral habits and increase application conversions.

For the user of the application, you will have to compete with both marketing ideas and the budget for promotion. Downloading an app is a bigger step than just going to a website. But you also get more data if you have authorization.

What to choose: a mobile version of the site or a mobile application?

Many businessmen who decide to develop a mobile application(Best Android App Developers in Los Angeles, California) for clients are advised to adapt the site for mobile devices. This is both true and false. First, it is imperative to adapt the site. Secondly, a mobile application is a completely different channel for attracting customers, so here you do not need to compare these two approaches, but decide what tasks your customers will solve in the application and whether they need it. And then think about what benefits you yourself will get from creating the application.