How to create a mobile app for a small business
In the digital age, mobile app development and maintenance
present challenges for SMBs.
SMBs have many reasons to create a mobile platform. A
regularly updated mobile app can help SMB owners attract more clientele,
address bigger markets and increase brand visibility. The challenges of
developing an app within a small organization often come down to a lack of
dedicated programmers and IT support staff, combined with a shortage of cash
upfront.
However, the rising popularity of no-code and low-code
development presents new opportunities. A 2021 Gartner report stated that
low-code development is a growing trend, with the COVID-19 pandemic further
driving a move to non-IT app developers.
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Still, coding is only the first stage of creating an
organization's mobile presence. As an SMB owner or IT administrator, you must
regularly update the app with new company and product data to keep customers
engaged.
Regular app updates can help SMBs connect with customers.
Push notifications after program updates can also help maintain your digital
presence and increase brand awareness.
Building the application for an SMB
After deciding to create a mobile app, you might use an app
builder that offers a simplified template for building. You could also hire an
outside programmer or development team to create a dedicated program.
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You should know how you want the app to look before you
select a template or app builder. Make sure to select an app builder or
template that can support features your business needs.
You should also consider what mobile platforms a template
builder supports. Some templates only support Apple's iOS or Google's Android
mobile OS, while others support both. Unless you want to create an app that
caters to iPhone or Android audiences individually, your app should accommodate
both flavors of mobile OSes.
Also, SMBs should evaluate the template builder's technical
support. You need a template provider that answers queries promptly and
effectively.
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If you need a simple mobile app, such as a digital menu for
a café that gets regular updates or a salon appointment book that smartphone
users can easily alter, a cheap or free template builder should meet your
needs.
Supporting the
application as an SMB
Unlike a mobile-responsive website, a dedicated app requires
a customer to download it from an app store, so you may want to reward users
for choosing to download your app. You could offer points toward purchases made
on the mobile app, organize events on the app or offer discounts on users'
birthdays. Simple actions can help create a dedicated customer base.
Key takeaways for SMB
owners
A decade ago, a small business owner may have dismissed the
idea of building a mobile application. The cost and time involved would have
been too great.
Source - techtarget.com
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