What kind of App do you need?
That’s a bit like asking ‘how long is a piece of string?’ An App can deliver a wide range of features and range from simple information apps to more complex gaming apps. Some corporate apps even use gaming features to engage their audience.
When you’re considering have an app developed for your business there are lots of things to take into account. The biggest question is WHY do you want an app? If the answer is ‘because everyone else has one’ then you might want to do a bit more thinking.
People download apps for all kinds of reasons, but if you want your app to boost your visibility, it needs to deliver something valuable for your users. An app that doesn’t do that, rapidly gets uninstalled as it’s taking up memory space.
This means that, before you invest money in having an app developed, you need to think carefully about what your target audience want and need – and then make sure your app ticks those boxes.
What’s the difference between a mobile app and a web app?
Mobile apps are apps that are installed on your smartphone, so they’re downloaded from an App store, like GooglePlay, iTunes or similar.
Web apps are, effectively, a mini website that uses your phone’s internet connection to access a facility located on the worldwide web.
A web app would not be available in an app store, so potential users would need to know how to find them, they can’t just search. You would probably expect to pay less for a web app than a mobile app, but that would also depend on the complexity of what you want the app to do.
Both types of app have their place and advantages and disadvantages. If you’re not sure which one is right for you, your app developer will be able to guide you, providing you can explain what you want your app to achieve.
The app checklist
- What features will your app have? What will each feature do to engage your users?
- What information will you need to include? How often will it need to be updated?
- What level of functionality do you want your app to have? Will the speed of its performance satisfy the users (or frustrate them)?
- Do you want a mobile app or a web app? If it’s a mobile app it will need separate programming to work on both iPhone and Android.
- Mobile apps will need approval before they can be offered through an app store. Has your app developer built the approval (and potential revision) profess into the overall cost?
- Do you want to be able to update your apps information frequently? Your developer will need to know what level of access to edit the app you’ll need.
- Do you want to be able to use your app to send messages to users? These are called push notifications – and are a powerful marketing tool. If you want to use these, you will need a mobile app, not a web app.
These are just a few questions to get you thinking. The best place to start is to talk to an expert in developing apps. They should be able to guide you through the options and give you an idea of costs and time frames.
If you’re wondering if an app is right for your organisation, let’s talk! Call me on 01376 402 007.