Friday 7 September 2012

Tips to Create a Mobile App for Your Business

mobile futureMobile apps are now part of every conceivable business, irrespective of their size and number of customers. Mobile is the easiest method to engage your customers, while also attracting new ones toward your business. Mobile apps offer you a single platform from where you can operate a variety of other processes, such as promoting your product; earning revenue by way of in-app advertising; offering discount and coupon codes; getting your customers to spread the word online and so on. Hence, creating a mobile app for your small business is definitely beneficial. It is especially the case if you run a small business and would like to reach more customers via the mobile channel.


Here are useful tips to help you create a mobile app for your small business:

In-House Development Team vs. Outsourcing

While some companies prefer to develop their own in-house mobile development team, it may be advisable for you to outsource a team in order to help you create your mobile app. Most of the time, a company’s in-house team would not be experienced enough to deal with all app development related issues. Hiring a professional, on the other hand, would free of all concerns relating to app development.

Hiring a freelance mobile developer is now quite affordable and would also produce the desired results within a much shorter span of time. Hiring a local developer would ensure that he or she is accessible at all times.

Discussing with Your Team

Make sure to discuss all aspects of your mobile app and plan out everything to the last detail before actually going ahead to create your mobile app. Try and weed out all extra or unnecessary functionalities – some of them can probably be added on in future updates. Ensure that the very first version of your app is clean, uncluttered and easy enough for user navigation.

Once the app has been created, the next step would be to test it thoroughly for bugs and other issues. Release the app only if you are completely satisfied with the experience yourself.

Mobile is a Must

Mobile is no longer just a luxury, which is available to an exclusive class of society. It has now emerged as a necessity for users, developers and businesses alike. Users who once browsed Websites now do so, on their mobile devices. Everything, including payment, has now become mobile.

Hence, it would be desirable for you to move with the changing times and adapt to the latest mobile technologies. It is no more enough to merely get someone create an app for your business – you also need an IT team which is “mobile-literate” and can take care of post mobile app development aspects, such as developing an effective mobile strategy, promoting the app and so on.

Creating a Mobile Website

Today, each and every company does need to create a powerful enough mobile presence. In case you are not ready to develop a mobile app for your business yet, you should think of the next best thing – that of creating a mobile Website to showcase your products and services. This Website should ideally be compatible for viewing on a number of different mobile devices.

Your in-house team would most likely be competent enough to handle the creation of a mobile version of your Website. Plan out the functionalities you want to include in your mobile Website and discuss aspects relating to graphics and user interface along with your graphic designers and lead developers. Once you have the entire plan in place, you could also go ahead and outsource a developer or team of developers to create a mobile app for you. This would also work out easier and much more cost-efficient for you.

In Conclusion

You will have to do a bit of research in order to hire the right app developer or team. You could ask your business contacts or visit forums online and post your query. Once you choose a developer, follow the above-mentioned steps to ensure that your app development process is smooth and trouble-free.


Author / Source:  , MobileAdvices.about.com

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