Hi Folks
Popularity of mobile internet: According to few random studies , on average about 40% of the people who have a mobile phone use it for going online, and half of them will go online at least once every day. This presents a huge opportunity for a business.
I do not know how many of you are using mobile internet (mobile websites,smart phone Apps etc) to either promote your business or provide services to existing clients.
I have been seriously thinking in the last few months to take up this project and would like to seek your useful feedback as
- 'How essential you consider mobile internet is for an accountant'?
- If Yes,what would you recommend a Smartphone Application or just a Mobile Website?
- I would be highly obliged,if I could also get some useful recommendations for vendors.
Regards
Replies (8)
Please login or register to join the discussion.
What studies?
You say "according to a few random studies". Do you have links to any of these studies?
Because going into this in a serious way is likely to be a major commitment, so you need to know if these studies indicate you should. Are they from reliable sources? Are they properly conducted? Are they relevant to accountancy specifically, or just industries that naturally have an online presence, such as retail?
We tend to be more a personal service industry, so I doubt an impersonal app is likely to be appropriate. Using existing apps to promote your business, such as those for accessing social media, is proving popular though.
But do you have any links?
I said links for a reason. First, to ensure we are talking about the same thing, and not two things sharing the same title. Second, so I wouldn't have to search for myself. I have had to tweak my search a couple of times to get meaningful results.Do you have links to any of these studies?
Here are two sources among hundreds others to validate:
Accountex 2013 the importance of mobile and how it affects accountants,how to make your existing website mobile friendlyTechnology and CPAs: The full survey (Visions of the future,June,2002)
Ignoring the first (which is solely about websites, not apps) I found this. Is it what you meant? If so, a few observations
CPAs, so American, not UK. Different cultures so the ideas may not be relevant here. Possibly some will, but it is dangerous to assume.Not a survey. It is a Q and A session with about 10 people. That is not even close to being a reliable survey.No indication who they are. Presumably experts, but they could be street sweepers for all I know. A noble and vital profession, but not one that I'd expect to know about accountancy. Even assuming they are experts, the tone of the Q & A makes it likely they are people who already have an interest in technology. People with an interest in technology have an interest in technological things is not information on which to base business decisions.
So, any LINKS to actual STUDIES? 40% of people may well use a mobile for going online. Unless those 40% all use that online access for working with their accountant then that is no more a reason to make new investment than 100% of people breathing air.
We have an app
We just launched our iPhone App - it is just an additional marketing tool really
Mobile website
Personally I can see the need for a mobile compatible website, and I think they are fairly common place now, but I am not really convinced yet by a specific app. Most I seem to see are pretty generic, if you can create something more unique and "quirky" then maybe, but I would imagine that would be a very expensive form of marketing.
OCCCA - have you had many downloads of your app or much feedback? I might have to rethink my views!
Don't confuse mobile platforms and smartphone apps
I think you are making the mistake of lumping together the ability to access your website from a variety of different platforms (including smartphones and tablets) with the creation of an app.
If you have a website that can't be accessed on the major mobile platforms, then your website is not operating to its full potential, so it may be worth investing a little further money to rectify this.
However, I've never understood the business case of small accountants buying an app. You need to pay at least twice (to be on the Apple and Android platforms). The few that probably download it will mostly be existing clients. Worst still it will just provide generic information (such as tax allowances, etc.) that umpteen other generic accountant apps have. Just type in "UK accountants" into the AppStore or PlayStore and you will see what I mean.
You've got to ask yourself if you spend £1k on having a generic app built for you, will it generate gross profits of at least that on the sales that you wouldn't have otherwise had from the 30 that could be bothered to download it.