How to Create Apps for Your Business on a budget
Taking an existing business online can feel easier said than done. Below we’ll explain how to create an App for your business, breaking the process down into straightforward steps for you to follow.
Decide what your business App needs to do
Should people be able to buy a product from your business App? Should they be able to book an appointment? Or will your App just be a place where people can learn more about your business and what you do?
If you settle on a purpose for your App before you create it, you’re far more likely to end up with an App that actually does what you want it to. It’s a good idea to decide on a main purpose for your App, along with a list of features you’d like it to have. If you’re not sure what features your App should have, research the Apps of other businesses in the same sector as yours and use them to help inform your decision making.
Set a Preferred budget for your business App
How much are you willing to spend to get a business App? It’s a tough question to answer, especially if you’re not sure of the costs involved. The price of an App can range from just a few pounds a month for a simple App you build yourself, to thousands of pounds in upfront costs for a complex App created by an App designer. If you’re looking to get a small business online, the amount you need to spend will be much nearer the bottom end of that range than the top end.
But it pays to understand how much an App costs and set a personal budget, so you don’t end up paying more than you need to for a App that does what you want. Don’t forget, your budget should include the cost of getting someone to create content (words and images) for your App unless you plan to create it all yourself.
Research ways to Build your business App
There are a few options available to build your business App and it’s important you pick one that meets your needs. If you lack technical skills, you’ll probably want to opt for an App Maker tool like the one offered by Appily App Builder. The advantages of a DIY option like an App Creator are the ability to make changes to your App whenever you need to, and the low price compared to hiring an App designer.
If you decide to use an App designer, you’ll likely end up paying more for the finished product, but you’ll also be able to have them create a large, bespoke App with complex features. Whether you opt for a DIY option or an App designer depends on how much you’re willing to spend and what you need your App to do.
If you have a list of features that you need your App to have, you can use it to help decide which is the right option for you. Once you’ve found an option and provider that you like, you can start planning your App.
Create a layout for your business App
You should already have a list of features your App needs, but where will those features appear on your App? And how will visitors to your App find their way around it? Sketching out a basic layout for your App will help you answer these questions and make the process of building your App easier.
If you’re not sure what your App layout should look like and what pages it should have, revisit App in your niche and see how they’ve approached the issue.
You’ll almost certain want your App to have:
A homepage – a general page providing visitors with general information about your business and what it does.
An about us page – a page giving more details about your business, its history and the people behind it.
A contact us page – a way for visitors to get in touch.
If you’re planning to sell products online, you’ll also need product pages. You’ll also need to plan how visitors will navigate between the pages of your App. You can learn more about planning the design of your App in this guide.
Create Content for your business App
Once you’ve planned your App, you can start the process of creating content for it. You’ll need written content and relevant images for each App page you’ve planned, as well as other content you want to include on your App such as logos and menu text. Remember, you can always hire someone to write your App content for you if there’s a lot of it or you don’t feel comfortable writing it yourself.
You may also want to hire a professional photographer to provide high-quality images for your App. For example, a selection of good product photos can help convince App visitors to make a purchase.
test your business App
Once you’ve got all your content ready, you can test your business App in realtime on the Appily App Builder built in previewer and make sure that everything works in the way you expect.
If you’re using a DIY App builder, you’ll have to upload and everything yourself. But if you use Appily App Builder's app maker and aren’t sure how to use a certain feature or have any other question, you can contact the Appily App Builder Support or view detailed feature instructions. If you used an App designer, make sure they have everything they need to get your App up and running.
Market your business App
Once your App is launched, you need to make sure people know about it. You can do this by using techniques such as:
App Store Optimization
Social media marketing
Email marketing
Including your App details and App Store badges on physical branded items such as business cards.
