App vs. Website: Which is Right for Business?

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Alisha John

It might seem like semantics, but it can mean the difference between success and failure for your business. If you haven’t figured out which one is best for your company yet, this article will help you figure it out. Hint: there isn’t just one answer—the right solution depends on your particular situation and goals!

What is App?

In a way, business apps are like consumer apps; they provide information and/or entertainment to users. However, there are some key differences between consumer and business apps that can influence your decision on which one to choose if you’re thinking about getting an app made for your business.

If you need the basic information from your customers or if what you’re selling lends itself well to visualization, then a consumer app might be right for you.

Advantages

  • An app can be more interactive and engaging than a simple website.
  • You can offer more comprehensive content and more interaction through an app than you can on a traditional website, which might lead to higher return users and greater loyalty.
  • Additionally, apps are easier to share with friends and family through social media or text messaging. This could help your business gain exposure and grow its reach. However, it’s important to note that some people don’t use apps at all; they prefer websites because they’re familiar with them and find them easy to navigate.
  • As such, if you want your business to appeal to as many customers as possible, it may be best to create both an app and a website—but also consider creating a mobile-friendly version of your site so that everyone can access it easily.

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What is a Website?

You’re probably at least somewhat familiar with websites, but here’s a brief overview of what they entail and why they’re useful in business: Websites are all about brand presence, interacting with your customers, and reaching out to new clients. They allow you to showcase products or services, as well as provide information on how to contact you or fill out an online form.

A website can also be a great place to host content that you want people to access regularly—whether it’s recipes or articles—or even run an e-commerce store (where people can buy products directly from your site). In short, if you want people to visit your website frequently and engage with it regularly, a website is ideal.

Advantages

  • The web has changed a lot since those early days, but it’s still an important part of any business presence.
  • Web-based platforms are cheap and flexible—you can host your website, or outsource to a provider such as WordPress or Squarespace (both of which provide attractive templates).
  • You can add content when you have time and take it down whenever you need to clean up your site.
  • And if you want to grow your audience beyond Facebook friends and Twitter followers, there’s no better way than a robust website.

Difference between Website and App

The difference between a website and an app is that the website can be accessed from anywhere while the app needs to be downloaded to your phone. This means that if you are out of range of wifi or internet, you won’t be able to access the website but you will still have access to the app.

Common features available in both apps and websites

Both mobile apps and websites provide users with information about your business, products, or services. Although both offer a wealth of features, some differences between apps and websites—so it’s important to understand what you need from your business website or app before moving forward with one or the other option.

Things to consider when choosing between an app or website

Depending on your business, an app or a website may be more beneficial to your brand. For instance, if you are trying to reach tech-savvy millennials, having an app may be ideal; however, having a website would be better suited for older people who are not as familiar with apps and smartphones. Before deciding on what platform you should use, think about how your target audience would prefer to access your content and make sure that you’re providing them with what they want.

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Conclusion

Both websites and apps have their benefits and can be used in concert with one another to boost your online presence. When choosing between a website or an app, consider what will work best for your business—and choose wisely! A site that doesn’t receive enough traffic might be better off as an app, while businesses looking to gain more traction online might opt for a website (or vice versa).