Online marketing encompasses the use of online tools such as web apps to establish your brand’s presence within the online world. If you think your potential customers would want to drive miles just to reach your establishment or ask one question, think again. Your competitors may be leaving you behind.
Bear in mind that most individuals would save themselves the time, effort, and gas just to ask a question or get information that they can otherwise get in an easy manner. With the emergence of advanced online technology—the Internet, for instance—most people would just use their Internet-capable devices to do a quick search of your brand, product, or service online. They would most likely prefer getting the info they need straight from your website.
This is why having a website gives you an advantage. It enables your potential customers to find you easily and conveniently over the Internet. It also enables you to reach out to a wider target market.
Creating a website with a good custom web design is not enough when it comes to online marketing. You need to amp up your online marketing efforts and find the best techniques, strategies, and methodologies that will give you the best outcomes.
Progressive Web Apps
One of these strategies is the use of PWA or Progressive Web Apps. But what are progressive web apps? What do they do? How can they help you and your brand? Listed below are 9 of the things that you should know about PWA:
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Definition of Progressive Web Apps
Progressive Web Apps or PWA are websites that users can add to their mobile home screens. As a result, the websites will look like standard apps or the feel of one. In simpler terms, progressive web apps are native apps and websites combined.
Users can directly launch the websites from the home screen. This gives the users a full-screen experience of the websites, just like what apps do. At the same time, the users also get the feel of apps in these websites due to their functionality. The custom web design of the website may change accordingly to accommodate these functions.
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The Features of PWA
Progressive Web Apps have a lot of features. These features include the following:
Improved website performance
Lower bounce rates
Higher conversion rates
Availability of offline mode
Fast installation on users’ devices
Submission to app stores is not requiredPWAs are known to enable faster page load times of websites, no matter what the content of such websites may be. Due to faster page load times, the performance of the website improves. When there is a significant improvement in the website’s performance, the user experience will also most likely improve. Most users who will visit your website will end up staying on your page, getting interested in what you are offering and, most likely, will purchase your product or take advantage of your service.
Another great feature is the availability of offline mode. There are many websites that cannot be fully displayed without an Internet connection. With such websites, the custom web design is not in full view, thereby affecting the experience of the users when they navigate through them. With an offline mode available, users can browse the PWA without the need for an Internet connection. As a result, user engagement increases.
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The Pros of PWA in Users
There are a number of benefits that users may get out of using Progressive Web Apps. First, users can expect fast load times for the pages of the website. Fast page load times are essential in custom web design as they can cause the users to either leave or stay on the page. Take note that most users do not want to wait a long while just for a website to load. Closing the page and visiting a competitor’s website are the most logical steps that they will do next.
Second, you do not need to install updates. Regular websites often install updates automatically, requiring no effort from the users. On the other hand, regular apps will need the users to go to the settings, check for the latest updates, if there are any, download them, and install them. Without these updates, the websites might not be viewed properly.
The use of PWA eliminates the need for the installation of updates. Everything will be automatic or will happen even as users are navigating through the PWA.
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The Pros of PWA in Businesses
Users are not the only ones who can benefit from the use of PWA. Progressive Web Apps are also beneficial to businesses in certain ways.
Cost implication is the top benefit. Since a PWA is a website and an app combined, the website will work across different devices without additional costs. PWA does not require to be featured in app stores such as App Store from Apple and Play Store from Google. Since this is the case, making use of PWA is a cheaper option.
Furthermore, app stores typically require app owners to follow certain restrictions to add their apps to the database. The apps will have to be reviewed and pushed through for a certain period of time. Such a process may be different from one app store to another, especially when you are considering to have your app featured in multiple app stores. If you will be using PWA, you get to save yourself from the restrictions and review process.
Another benefit of using PWA in businesses is the effect of using push notifications. Using push notifications actually has more retention than websites that do not utilize push notifications. Push notifications can be sent by PWAs to the users even if such users are not using the PWAs.
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The Cons of Using PWA
Just like any other thing in the world, the use of PWAs also presents a number of cons. One such drawback is the fact that PWAs are not featured in app stores. Some may consider this as a con because of lack of brand exposure. Since the PWAs are not in app stores, not many people may know what they are. However, this is definitely not the case. Just like SEO rankings, apps will also need to have higher rankings in the app stores before they can be prominently featured in their top list.
Another potential disadvantage of the use of PWA is that unlike regular apps, Progressive Web Apps are not capable of supporting some features. Some of these features include geo-fencing, Bluetooth, badging, and Touch ID. But, Google is currently working on changing these features to ensure inclusiveness.
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How to Use PWA
It is quite easy to use Progressive Web Apps. The users can first view the websites and add the PWAs from the websites straight to the homepage of their mobile phones. In most cases, a pop-up will appear, giving the users the option to add the PWA. However, this pop-up only appears whenever the users meet certain criteria which may include frequent visits to the site or the duration of each visit to the website.
Different settings may offer different ways to add PWAs. In general, the option is available to Android devices using Chrome and iPhone devices using Safari. All you have to do is check on the settings of the browsers and find the option to add a PWA.
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PWA and Big Companies
Starting back in 2017, the use of PWAs has already become more and more popular to various establishments, most notably big companies. These include companies such as Twitter Lite and Starbucks. Due to the use of PWAs, the number of users that visit their websites on a daily basis has since increased. Of course, with the potential of Progressive Web Apps being recognized and realized by these big companies, one can expect that PWAs will only gain more steam from now on.
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The Future of PWA
In relation to #7, the future of Progressive Web Apps will rely hugely on exposure. You have to remember that PWAs are not part of any database such as the apps featured in app stores. Since this is the case, the users will need to have a way to determine which websites are using PWAs or which ones are not making use of them. Various settings and identification techniques may have to be implemented, such as a small icon on the website itself. This may help the users know that the app can be saved to their mobile phones’ home screens.
PWA is quickly progressing. Even though most businesses may not be able to see the significance and immediate benefits of using it, it puts them in a position to have an edge over their competitors in the future. Developing PWAs today will give you a clear advantage once they become popular and more common in the future.
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Do You Need PWA?
Now, with all the information presented in the article, one might ask, “Do I need a Progressive Web App?” This question may be asked by many businesses. Whether you need it or not, it all boils down to your goals and what you hope to achieve for your business. For instance, if you wish to keep the costs of online marketing low, especially in terms of websites, you can most certainly see the reason why you may need a PWA. If you want to send push notifications to increase user engagement, then, a perfect solution to go for is using PWAs.
Make sure that you have understood what PWAs are, their benefits, as well as their drawbacks to make an informed decision on this matter.
The Function of Proweaver
At Proweaver, we definitely understand the importance of having a website with a good custom web design in attracting potential customers and converting them to sales and gaining profits. At the same time, we also understand the different aspects, strategies, and methodologies involved in ensuring that your website fulfills its function.
The Proweaver team is composed of professional designers and developers who are knowledgeable in creating customized website designs, as well as everything that is associated with them—even the use of PWAs. Through our knowledge on this discipline, we are capable of helping you determine which approach or option to go for which will be most beneficial to you, your company, and your brand.
We also have experience in this industry. We make use of our experience to provide sound advice on areas in custom web design or web development that our clients may have trouble understanding. Our experience also allows us to become familiar with the different procedures involved in the creation, development, and launching of your website. As a result, we can give you the results you desire within the deadline—just within a reasonable period of time. We work with quality in mind while also making sure that we meet the deadline of the project, as we know that your time is valuable.
Proweaver is ready to work and communicate with you in making your website project a reality. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with any of our representatives via our contact details to know more about our services and how we can help you further your online marketing goals. call the Proweaver team today.