6 Reasons Why Publishers Need a Mobile App to Expand Reach

In today’s increasingly digital world, people are more inclined to consume content through mobile apps than the printed format. In the publishing business, even as we contemplate the outcome of the elusive tug of war between digital content and printed content, the world is reading, buying and communicating through mobile apps more than ever before.

As consumers spend more time on their smartphones, mobile apps have become the most convenient way to deliver, consume and share content. 

The Upsurge in Mobile Content Consumption

According to an eMarketer study report, smartphone users spend around 90% of their screen time using apps. This number is a testimony to the fact that people are more aligned with content consumption through mobile applications.

Mobile devices account for half of the web traffic worldwide. The second quarter of 2020 witnessed around 52% of global website traffic generated from mobile devices. This number has been hovering around the 50% mark since 2017. 

This is a dedicated blog on how mobile apps can unlock the business potential for publishers in a digital-first world.

1) Participate in the Booming App Economy

The rise of mobile apps has been fueled by the low cost of smartphones and easy availability of internet connection. According to a Statista report, consumers downloaded 204 billion mobile apps in 2019, rising from 140.7 billion app downloads in 2016. This number is expected to hit 260 billion by the end of 2021. 

Mobile is no more a nice-to-have; it’s a business imperative for publishers. According to the latest Pew Research report, 8-in-10 U.S. adults like to receive news on their mobile devices. This is a working evidence of the fast digital shift in reading habits from traditional print to mobile apps. 

Publishing apps are the next big accelerator for the publishing business. Pegged at $101 billion by 2020 according to the popular App Annie report, the future of customer engagement is on mobile apps. Don’t be a bystander to the platform shift. Leverage mobile apps in your business strategy and take your brand into the hands of billions of digital customers browsing and buying through mobile apps.

2) Use Mobile App As Your New Digital Address

Mobile apps have become the primary access vehicle to the Internet, representing half of the total digital time spent. According to the Com-score report, there is a 111% increase in the time devoted to apps in the US. A mobile app for publishers thus provides a digital address to host content, publish, and distribute it online in a global eMarketplace.

Upgrade the eBook experience from hardcovers in brick & mortar bookstores, to stunning pixel-perfect eBooks on mobile screens. Meet the next walk-in customer on your white labeled mobile app designed to give your readers a personalized experience.

3) One App for B2B and B2C Distribution

Many publishers have been selling on third party websites since the arrival of Amazon and similar eCommerce platforms. It seems publishers want to go solo with their brand on eCommerce platforms now. They want to sell their eBooks online through customized mobile apps where they can publish and distribute their content securely to B2B as well as B2C customers. 

Publishers can sell their content online through custom-designed mobile apps that resonate with the business goals and market trends. Billions of smartphone users across the world can become your potential customers by using a custom mobile app.

4) Get Customized eReader for Your Books

You can launch your own branded eReader with logo, colors, designs, and display that will deliver an enhanced reading experience to your consumers. Thus, publishing apps will help you become independent of the third-party eReaders.

With the online/offline reading feature on your eReader, you can enable your users to access the eBook even without internet access. They can purchase, download, and read their favorite eBooks on your eReader anytime, anywhere on any device.

5) Stack eBooks on your eBookStore

Agility has become essential in publishing as revenues shrink and margins become low. How to do more with less is the mantra. A mobile app that comes with an in-built eBookStore feature can help you stack all your eBooks, categorize them into different genres, tag authors, highlight bestsellers and guide buyers to find the book they are looking for. 

With no staff overheads, zero infrastructure costs, and massive marketing budgets, you can make your books available through mobile apps and sell across stores in any part of the world online.

6) Plug-in Payment Gateway

Are brick & mortar bookstores the only way to reach readers and generate more business? Absolutely not.

A mobile app can enable millions of eBook readers globally to explore your content with just a few clicks. By plugging in a payment gateway you can generate sales by allowing users to buy digital books through your mobile app.

A mobile app won’t just save your business but will also make it future-ready, and that is why publishing apps will help you in securing a strong market presence. The convenience factor that mobile apps offer coupled with the rapidly evolving technology will induce rapid business growth.    

If you wish to leverage a mobile app to deliver content to your audience, you might want to consider KITABOO. KITABOO is an eBook platform that works across devices and operating systems. You can use this platform to create, publish and distribute interactive digital content on mobile devices.