Smartphone apps have made it possible for users to do virtually anything from the palm of their hand. Whether its snapping a photo, paying a bill, or ordering takeout from a favorite restaurant, millions of mobile apps entertain, inform, and help users carry out everyday tasks large and small.

There's no reason your city should be without its own app, either. A mobile app for community engagement makes it possible for cities to stay connected to citizens, helping residents get the most from their local governments and neighbors.

Here are just a few ways that a citizen engagement can help boost your community engagement platform:

Reach users on a modern platform

Considering that most people today own and use smartphones on a daily basis, it should come as no surprise that mobile devices have a greater market share than desktop computers. But despite the prevalence and popularity of mobile apps, many local governments continue to rely on outdated, hard-to-use websites that havent been designed for the modern age. A dedicated mobile app for community engagement makes it easy for cities to keep citizens informed through an intuitive, easy-to-use solution available in your pocket.

Reduce friction

Whether you're new in town or a lifetime resident, its not always easy to find the information you need to find out when the library has a special event or how to contact your local representative. Releasing a community engagement application for your city allows community members to be just a few short taps away from connecting with local governments, utility districts, and organizations.

Connect with community members

Nobody wants to miss out on a block party, pull up to the library an hour before it opens, or show up to the farmers market on the one weekend that its closed. Through a community engagement platform, cities make it easy for community members and organizations to share information about activities and events, post news updates from social media feeds, and distribute press releases.

Manage local requests

It shouldn't be difficult to report a broken street light, a string of fresh graffiti, or other local issues. A crowdsourcing app for community engagement can make it simple for local residents to submit local requests of all types, including photos and geotagged locations to make requests as clear and efficient as possible.