Ian Naylor
October 13, 2017

Grow Your Business with Progressive Web Apps [Infographic]

Progressive Web Apps

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Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) may seem like a brand new concept, but they have been around for a while – and made a huge impression from the start. Let’s see how they can benefit your business and help to boost your bottom line.

Progressive Web Apps are essentially a way to bridge the gap between traditional apps and websites. They offer users the opportunity to experience an app-like interface, but with the ability to run in ‘real time’ while they browse the web. They are highly functional, and work both on- and offline. In short, businesses have a lot to benefit by implementing these PWAs.

What Are Progressive Web Apps?

So, what exactly is a PWA? It’s a web app that uses modern web capabilities to deliver an app-like experience to users. This means that you don’t have to download these apps to use them, as they will already load into your browser when you visit a website or browse the internet.

Some of the most popular brands in the world have adopted PWAs with great success; Google, FlipKart and even AliExpress, to name a few, have all shown between 50 – 100% increase in conversion rates. These apps provide an improved user experience and this can lead to better engagement, and of course higher conversion rates.

Essentially, if you have a mobile version of your website, it will be transformed to give your users an app-like experience. This is a great way to ensure that your visitors have a great experience, stay connected to your brand and interact with your brand effortlessly.

The benefits of PWAs

There are plenty of benefits for businesses that use PWAs as part of their web and mobile offerings to their users. Here are just a few:

  • They offer a better mobile experience;
  • They offer faster loading times;
  • A PWA looks like an app but feels like a website;
  • PWA’s allow for push notifications;
  • They ensure a safe browsing experience;
  • They allow for increased visibility;
  • No need for an app store.

A way to remain visible

PWAs are a fantastic way to help your brand to remain visible – unlike a traditional mobile website, they provide faster loading times and an enhanced user experience, especially when paired with amp. Plus, you can even enjoy the SEO benefits that come with it.

A Progressive Web App is designed to load extremely fast, eliminating the normal steps necessary to obtain information from a website. These apps also have built-in intelligence that works to record user preferences and behaviours so that they can deliver a personalized experience every time. These apps can be accessed from the browser and do not require any installation from an app store, and they can also send push notifications.

PWAs can be good for your website’s SEO, providing that you keep a few things in mind.

Firstly, use the feature detection and progressive enhancement technique and don’t redirect to an unsupported browser page. Also, be sure to use rel=canonical when serving content so that you don’t make yourself guilty to duplicate content errors. Implement a URL structure that uses traditional SEO rules, as many PWAs use a hash symbol in their structure which means Google will not index those URLs. Finally, use an accurate sitemap.

Push notifications allow users to get a quick snapshot or update on a specific product or topic, without the need to receive an email, or having to log in to check something. This increases user engagement and makes it easier for businesses to connect with their customers.

And deliver an incredible experience

Progressive Web Apps have the great ability to deliver an app-like experience without the need for an app download, and this gets delivered at lightning speeds. With users enjoying an enhanced experience, the possibility for them to engage with your business or brand more often is a great benefit to have. It’s one of the main reasons why users return.

The fact is that apps are a pain to install.

This is why around 60% of apps never get downloaded in an app store. There are usually also far too many taps or clicks to install an app, which is why PWAs are even more popular.

PWAs have the look and feel of an app, but with the performance of a website. This means full-screen use, and the ability to use the app offline. It also enables device API usage and even give you home screen access. It’s the perfect combination and businesses can benefit from it.

Which results in conversions

It’s no secret that when users are presented with a solution that is fast, usable and comes with a great user experience, they will always choose to use it. This is why more businesses are starting to realise the benefits of PWAs and implementing them on their websites.

And this is what drives conversions.

The result? Your user interactions increase, customer satisfaction rates improve, and best of all, your bottom line will see the difference too. Add to this an interface that loads super-fast and you have a winning combination.

Many well-known brands have implemented PWAs with great success. Flipkart has increased conversion rates significantly, OLX has boosted engagement with 250%, and mynet increases user engagement with 43%.

Isn’t it time you start benefitting from Progressive Web Apps? Still not convinced? Check out AppInstitute’s infographic, below:

Progressive Web Apps (PWA) Infographic

What Do You Think?

Do you use or are you considering using Progressive Web Apps? What has been your experiences with them. Or conversely, what are your resons for not going ahead with a PWA if you’ve actively considered it? I’m sure your fellow readers will be interested in your thoughts.

 

Featured image: Copyright: ‘https://www.123rf.com/profile_venimo‘ / 123RF Stock Photo

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Ian Naylor is the founder and CEO of AppInstitute, one of the world’s leading DIY App Builders (over 70,000 apps built). Naylor has founded, grown and sold 4 successful internet and technology companies during the past 18 years around the world. He gives seminars as an expert authority on startup mobile app trends, development, and online marketing and has spoken at numerous industry events including The Great British Business Show, Venturefest, the National Achievers Congress and numerous industry exhibitions around the UK. AppInstitute regularly provides leading publications with app analytics, business data, case studies, white papers and statistics for established publishers across the world. They were named in the top 50 creative companies in England by Creative England.