There’s no doubt about it, mobile devices are changing the way we live our lives. Most people presume this is due to the technology in the phones themselves. In reality, it’s the mobile apps that make these phones useful. Whether it’s for banking, travel, checking the weather or catching up on the latest sports results, these apps have become a crucial part of our lives.
The Death of the Browser
One of the areas that mobile is having the biggest impact is in how we now use the social web. There are so many mobile apps that are directly targeted at social interaction that very few of us still use our web browsers. As the apps improve, it’s likely that they will slowly make browser based social interaction a thing of the past.
The other key element of the mobile revolution is the portability of mobile devices. This, and the location based social platforms that many of us now use, have greatly enhanced the whole social web. Services, and apps, like Foursquare, Instagram and increasingly, Facebook, have seen a huge amount of attention recently. As more of us start using the mobile web, these platforms will only become more important to the social web as a whole.
What Makes a Great App?
In order to gain widespread usage, an app needs to add something that people cannot get from their web browser. The latest LinkedIn App is a great example of this. It has an easy to use interface which is completely different from the web version. It also successfully shifts the focus away from people and onto content.
One breed of apps that are enjoying huge mobile success are social media client dashboards. Services like HootSuite and Sprout Social allow users to engage, monitor and measure multiple social accounts from one easy-to-use interface. By combining the incredible power of these client platforms with a well designed app, these companies have made it easier than ever for businesses to remain constantly engaged with their customers and prospects.
What’s Your Favourite?
When it comes to mobile apps it seems that everyone has their favourite. So, what’s yours? Do you prefer using the native social media apps or do you use a dashboard?