Mobile apps are an integral part of every company, regardless of its size or scale. According to a study published by App Annie, the initial quarter of the year saw the highest number of downloads for mobile apps. Both platform, iOS, and Android saw a growth of around 15% over the past year. Therefore, apps designed for small-scale business owners are more of a requirement instead of an option.
While there are numerous benefits of developing mobile apps for entrepreneurs, developing an app for mobile devices may seem to be a daunting task. There are certainly demands on time and money for developing apps for small businesses but if you plan it properly the advantages will far outweigh the expense by a large margin. According to another study 57% of the total digital media consumption is derived from mobile apps. Imagine what it could affect your business if it was possible to reach this massive audience quickly and efficiently.
As smartphone transformation from mobile phones the entire process of communicating with customers has changed. With Geolocation and push notification technology interacting with customers is never so simple.
How to Create a Mobile App for your business
Let’s get straight to the essence. If you’re a start-up or a small-sized business you must be aware of the basic principles of developing mobile apps.
From the initial concept of having an app, to the layout, and then from putting it out to analyzing the customer’s feedback, every aspect has its importance. It’s all about the ability of small-sized business owners to tie all of these elements together to produce the result.
The following are the steps for application development which business owners should adhere to:
1. Set goals
Making an app just like everyone else is it won’t bring good results to your venture. Instead, think about the objectives you intend to accomplish with your app. Before you consider these questions to yourself:
- Why would you require an application?
- Who is your ideal customer?
- What must be the main features included?
- How will you advertise the app for mobile use?
A clear outline of the objectives of a small-scale business application can help you monitor the progress of your project and finish your work quickly. Be realistic in your objectives and don’t overload yourself with too much work. Begin with three to four goals such as telling customers about your offerings by making it simple for customers, making an inventory of your goods and services, creating the possibility of a two-way channel for communication with your customers, etc.
2. Plan your app
Once you’ve identified a goal for your business application for small businesses, it’s the time to begin to implement the strategy. Start by forming an appropriate team that includes people from marketing as well as IT, a person with an experience of the procedure. When you’re all set together with the team members, you can begin thinking about the key elements of the app such as:
The platform that you utilize for the app Will you be using Android, iOS, both or a cross-platform app? Find out the advantages and disadvantages of each, and then choose the one that will aid you in your long run to learn. Be sure to align your goals with the vision of the app, and consider it as an asset is being built to last for a long time. For more details about this, read our posts like “Advantages of Hybrid Mobile App Development” and “The Ideal Guide for Cross-Platform Mobile App Development.”
The time of the launch date: Align your timing to coincide with the timing of a significant event, like the launch of a new product or milestone or anniversary. Create your app launch into an event that is marketable and leverage it to promote the word about your brand. This is an important step in how to launch an app successfully.
The process of developing and maintaining the app: There are many ways to build apps using platforms, however most developers are hired by top companies for app development to complete the task. Choose a company based the budget you have set. A hiring agency can give you the complete freedom to create your own outcomes, however it may cost more than hiring an independent contractor to develop the app but the rest will be yours do it yourself.
A budget to develop the application is: Budget for the development of apps for business owner’s ranges between $2000 and millions of dollars. It’s up to you which features you’d like to begin and what you’d like to accomplish first. Consider features of your application for small businesses such as:
- Push Notification
- Integration of Maps and Geolocation
- Paying for purchases and transactions through the app
- Integrating loyalty programs to customers
- Social integration
- Virtual real
- Updates and smart sync
There are numerous others. These features are used for a variety of reasons and have different effects on the cost of development and maintenance of mobile apps for small businesses. Find out what interests you and then start with the ones you like best.
3. Form an exclusive App Development Team
Research has revealed that over 46% of small companies employ their own staff when creating an app. The ability to find talent within your existing resources is feasible for small-sized businesses. The in-house team has a better knowledge of the company and need minimal transfer of expertise while making the cost of ad creation considerably lower.
Another method of developing an app is hiring an app development team for mobile devices which can design and build the app for mobile devices according to specified specifications. App development for small-sized businesses can be accomplished by a variety of ways. Based on the features for small businesses, they can select from three options:
- Mobile app creation firm offers the best knowledge, support, and timely delivery, but at a high cost.
- The freelancer offers lower hourly fees, but provide limited knowledge and support.
- DIY app builder software Do-it-yourself apps builder software assists small businesses that need basic apps to develop one without having to break the bank. A few advantages of DIY software include
- There is no need to code
- Templates that are readily available
- Drag-and-drop functions
- A lot less expensive
- Eg: AppMachine, AppYourself, ComoDIY, etc.
The exact price of developing mobile apps will differ greatly based on the selection of a development team. Here are the estimated costs of hiring large corporations to freelancers.
4. Get the App Approval
When the mobile application for small-scale businesses is in place it is time to review the submission guidelines of different apps is in order. Every app, no matter if it’s one for a small or large business application, has to undergo the submission process and, most important the two platforms iOS or Android have specific guidelines that are in place. It is therefore better for small businesses to be aware about the guidelines prior to making the application. If you don’t adhere to the guidelines could result in further delays during the approval process. As small businesses it is not a good idea to go through the process. Therefore, it is essential to have a clear knowledge of the steps to submit your app for approval on the Apple app store or how to launch your first app on Google play before setting your step further.
5. Focus on App Store Optimization
ASO, also known as app store optimization (ASO) ASO is like content optimization which allows the app to be more prominent and eventually increase the amount of downloads for mobile apps. A small-sized business obviously requires access and visibility. If the app is well-designed it will allow the small business expand beyond the traditional limits. Naturally, natural marketing as well as ASO are crucial to the development of apps for small businesses since they aren’t backed by huge budget requirements as paid promotions do.
For an effective optimizing the performance of your app store, you must obtain an in-depth study of the intended audience. This will assist small businesses to identify the exact words that users use to look for. Find the most effective apps store optimization tools and learn all about secrets of app store optimization to maximize organic traffic to your application’s landing page.
6. Make sure to promote your app
We all know that without sufficient app downloads any app cannot survive for long. Once everything is completed and the business is ready, it’s time to make sure that the app is promoted to the intended audience, as this can help in gaining more downloads and attract with more users. Promotion is an essential aspect of mobile app development process for small-sized businesses, and without it nobody can discover your app, or to utilize it.
In order to get the user involved in an app is the most difficult task that must be completed to be accomplished. In order to do this, the small company will need to teach the fundamental aspect of all. That involves that of CPI which is the cost for each installation to increase the number of users. This means that small businesses will place digital advertisements on multiple platforms in order to boost the
The Upshot
Making apps for small-sized businesses requires time and money which can be a drag before you can return your investment. If you take your steps with care using the latest technology, and identify experts who can give you incredible value, you can build a result-driven application in a way that’s within your budget. Make sure you do extensive research and planning. You should also set a budget prior to making an application. Research all possibilities, interview freelancers, read through templates, and ensure you invest in promotion as well.
With the suggestions that we have provided, you will be able to develop a fantastic application for your company without spending a lot. However, be aware that the wrong app can harm your business more than it will benefit. Therefore, use this guide for app development to help you start researching each procedure described here. Be clear about your user’s expectations and design your app to the very greatest of your ability. If you have the right approach an app can be able to achieve specific objectives. You too, best of luck!