Common Business App Mistakes And How to Avoid Them
Creating a mobile app is a great move for most businesses, but, it can be a pretty intimidating process, especially for a small business owner who don’t have much – or any – mobile development experience. There’s a lot that can go wrong, and a bad app can do more harm than good. From Faviola Valencia, here’s a look at a few common mistakes and how to avoid them:
Using an App Builder
Many business owners decide to cut costs and go with an app builder. Many app builders use templates to create quick and simple apps for businesses, but the results can be pretty overwhelming. You can wind up with an app that looks like hundreds of other businesses. And you’ll be severely limited in what your app can do.
Hiring professional mobile developers gives you far more room for creativity and empowers you to make a unique, functional app for your business. You could keep someone on full-time to build and manage your app or look for a freelancer who can take the project on solo. Either way, this will be a far more in-depth process that will let you get what you really want out of your mobile app.
If your business is going to hire new employees such as an app developer, you may need an app to manage payroll. An app can come in handy here. The right payroll software will automate payments and tax deductions, send you important alerts, and be mobile-friendly.
The only exception to this is if you absolutely do not have the budget to hire a developer. In this case, app builders may be your only option. Still, you should go into the process with reasonable expectations and a firm understanding of the rules for using app builders for any given app store. Apple, for example, has strict rules dictating how app builders function and who officially submits the app for review. If you’re in this boat, weigh the pros and cons of going with an app builder vs. waiting until you have the budget to hire a pro.
Not Having a Logo
Considering the number of apps that are released every year, getting noticed requires a lot of hard work. One surefire way to get lost in the shuffle is to skip creating a smart, engaging logo that will help separate you from the competition. You want something that people immediately recognize and associate with your brand, which is a little trickier than it might sound.
If you don’t have enough room in your budget for a graphic designer, don’t worry — there are logo creator online free tools available that allow you to put together a striking logo using premade templates. Then, you can download the image and use it for branding and marketing campaigns associated with the launch of your app.
Creating a Dead-End App
Another mistake business owners make when it comes to creating an app for their business is neglecting the funnel possibilities mobile apps offer. Business apps should provide functions for customers. And in fact, a great place to start when planning yours is to make sure it’s addressing at least one of these key small business tech needs outlined by ZenBusiness. But you also need to ensure your app can drum up profits in some way or another. For example, apps that function as loyalty cards provide benefits for your customers while incentivizing additional business.
You can incentivize business with nearly any app. For example, say you own an accessories shop. You could make an outfit creation app where customers can try your products on with a digital avatar. If you give customers an in-app way to order items they like, you’ve created a whole new, slightly gamified shopping experience. Mobile apps have a lot of power to tap into impulsivity – think of ways your business can capitalize on that.
Setting and Forgetting Your App
Finally, it’s important to recognize from the start that running a mobile app is an ongoing process, not a self-contained task. Most apps need monthly updates in order to run well and stay fresh. You’ll either need to learn to make these updates yourself or maintain a strong relationship with your mobile developer.
At the same time, however, avoid over-updating. Thoroughly test every new version to catch all possible bugs and issues before you go live. Updating your app more than once a week can get extremely annoying to customers, especially if they don’t update apps automatically. Even if they get automatic updates, however, any changes to the user interface or app aesthetic are going to throw users off, so keep major changes as infrequent as possible.
Mobile apps have a lot to offer small businesses, but you have to take the right approach. We hope this article helps you to get a sense for the full scope of a mobile app project and inspires you to create an app that pushes your business forward!
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