October 13, 2023
Unlocking the Power of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
Are you aware that more than 5.4 billion people worldwide now use smartphones, constituting a whopping 68% of the global population? In this age of the “mobile internet,” consumers are constantly on the lookout for ways to enhance their online experiences and personalize their brand journeys to the fullest.
In response to this demand, more than half of small businesses have embraced native mobile apps to improve consumer engagement both online and offline. However, native apps are often limited to specific devices. What if we told you there’s a way to create an app-like experience within a web browser that seamlessly transitions from one device to another? Enter Progressive Web Apps, affectionately known as PWAs.
Progressive Web Apps, or PWAs, blend the best of both worlds – the functionality of an app with the accessibility of a web browser. They work both online and offline and can even run in the background while you’re browsing other web pages. In essence, PWAs are revolutionizing how we interact with online brands, offering a seamless, barrier-free user experience that combines the benefits of app-based and web-based engagement.
As Andrew Gazdecki, the founder and CEO of Bizness Apps, points out, “Mobile websites are convenient but often fall short in terms of user experience. Native apps deliver a superb user experience but come with limitations in terms of device compatibility and adoption barriers. PWAs bridge the gap between these options, offering the best of both worlds.”
Still not convinced? Let’s take a look at some major players who’ve achieved success with PWAs. Twitter saw a remarkable 65% increase in pages per session after transforming its site into a Progressive Web App. Streaming giant Hulu reported a 27% boost in return visits after replacing their platform-specific desktop app with a PWA.
PWAs have the advantage of leveraging a vast web ecosystem of plugins, AI-powered templates, and high-speed hosting connections, making the development process easier than ever before.
Before we dive into creating your own PWA from scratch, let’s explore the myriad benefits these apps can offer to digital-first small businesses.
The Benefits of PWAs for Small Businesses
In today’s digital landscape, finding innovative ways to boost consumer engagement and prioritize user experience is crucial. Here are some of the key advantages of incorporating PWAs into your site strategy:
1. Easily Installable
Research has shown that consumers are twice as likely to engage with installed apps compared to visiting browser-based sites. PWAs offer the perfect solution by providing the look, feel, and experience of a native app while remaining accessible from any device. They are easy to install, attract loyal consumers, and can be accessed via a URL, offering a flexible and reliable brand experience.
2. The Modern Native App
PWAs aim to replicate the experience of traditional native apps. They work seamlessly online and offline, automatically save user data, and adapt to create customizable experiences for each consumer. Yet, PWAs also offer website-like performance, with fast speed and accessibility on any device. In essence, PWAs are hailed as the modern-day native app.
3. Enhanced Performance
Did you know that more than half of users will abandon a website if it takes more than three seconds to load? PWAs are designed to address this issue by offering high-speed performance on any web host. They not only enhance page load speed but can also improve user retention rates, ultimately driving more customers to your checkout page.
Forbes and Pinterest are excellent examples of high-profile websites that have harnessed the power of PWAs to enhance loading speed and user engagement.
4. Constant Connectivity
One of the most compelling features of PWAs is their ability to maintain functionality even in the absence of a stable internet connection. This ensures a seamless user experience, particularly in e-commerce, where customers can shop from anywhere at any time, with or without a reliable connection.
Now that we’ve explored the benefits of PWAs, let’s delve into the process of building your very own Progressive Web App.
Building Your PWA: Step by Step
Step 1: Define Your Goals
Begin by clarifying your objectives. What do you want your PWA to achieve, and what features do you want to include? Take time to review your existing website and app statistics, identify areas of high engagement, and pinpoint where users tend to drop off. Combine this with audience profiling and competitor data to create a winning PWA strategy.
Step 2: Craft Your User Interface
Design a user-friendly interface that is responsive and compatible with various devices and platforms. Your PWA should perform flawlessly on every device to provide users with a consistent experience.
Step 3: Front-End Development
Leverage coding languages like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript to create your PWA from scratch. Adopt a mobile-first approach, as the majority of users access websites via smartphones. Prioritize a mobile-friendly user interface during the front-end development phase.
Step 4: Service Workers and Push Notifications
Don’t forget to focus on service workers, the JavaScript files that enable offline functionality. Additionally, make use of service workers and the Push API to implement push notifications, enabling your PWA to send real-time updates to users on the go.
Step 5: Testing
Before launching your PWA to consumers, thoroughly test it on various browsers and devices to ensure it meets your goals. Conduct A/B testing and review every aspect of the user experience design.
Are You Ready to Create Your PWA? In a world where high-speed demands and personalized user experiences are paramount, Progressive Web Apps are gaining popularity among small business owners. As experts at Search Engine Journal rightly put it, today’s users expect a fast and frictionless mobile experience without the need to download an app.
By investing in PWAs, you’re embracing a mobile-first approach that offers the best of both the mobile web and mobile app worlds. So, when will you start building your very own Progressive Web App to transform your business and delight your customers? The time is now!
