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How to Create, Host and Manage Mobile Apps for Your Business

Did you know that by 2023, mobile apps are expected to have combined revenue of nearly $1 trillion?

Clearly, apps are extremely popular among mobile users and there’s a lot of money to be made in the business. However, creating an app is easier said than done. It can be an intimidating and overwhelming experience to make business apps. But you don’t actually need to be a tech whiz to make a great app.

Luckily for you, we’re here to help make it easier to create, host, and manage your own mobile apps for business. So keep on reading, and we’ll take you through everything you need to know!

Mobile App


Write It Down

Before you build anything, you first need to have a clear understanding of what your app will be and what it’s meant to do. You can start this by writing down the goals for your application.

You should know who your target audience is and how you’ll be able to keep users engaged. Check out your competitors and see what does and doesn’t work with their services. If you’re going to monetize your app, figure out how you’re going to do that.

Plan the App Design

Your app needs to be responsive and engaging. If the design is ugly or frustrating to navigate, the user is going to quickly bounce and move on to something else. Opt for a familiar look that your users will be comfortable with. If you try anything too unique, then the user might be confused and not sure how to use the product.

UI and UX are both important parts of app design. You’ll need to plan out the graphic elements as well as the response and wait times and how things like swipes, clicks and drags will work. A good rule of thumb is to go by the three-click rule. This rule states that it shouldn’t take more than three clicks for the user to reach whatever content they’re after in your app. If you make your app too complex, it likely won’t succeed.

Choose Between a PWA or a Native App

Mobile App


When you develop a mobile app, there are a few different routes you can go. You’ll usually want to choose between a PWA and a native app. A native app is an application that’s meant to run on a specific device and operating system. It was built to run a specific platform and can utilize the device’s software and hardware. Because of this, you tend to open up your options and improve performance with a native app.

Native apps offer reliable services that are hard to match. When you build an application with native coding, you’ll be making independent outputs for each different OS. Most apps are designed this way.

A PWA, or progressive web app, is an application that uses web features. It’s designed to give an experience similar to a native app but is a mix of mobile app and regular web pages. While a PWA might feel and like a native app, you won’t need to get it through an app store.

Use an App Builder

Mobile App


One of the most efficient and easiest ways to build an app is to use an app builder. You can even find app builders that let you create cross-platform apps that will work on both Android and iOS devices.

Design

In this step, you’ll want to think about the color scheme of the app, the navigation mode, and what your icon will look like. When you’re choosing a design template, look for something that already lines up with your existing brand. This can include fonts, icons, and colors.

Your most visited page is going to be the home page. It’s your first impression, and you want to spend a lot of time making sure that it’s just right. From looking at the home page, it should be intuitive to the user what to do next.

Content

Now is the time when you actually fill the app with whatever you want the app to be about. In some instances, you’ll just input the content right into the backend of the app manually. Other times, you might already have the content available and just have to integrate it.

API Access

An API is an application program interface. It’s a software intermediary that lets you move data from one software to another. If you activate an API Access Add-On for an e-commerce app, you’ll be able to use features that let you personalize your app even more.

Test the App

The next step is to actually test out the app. Does it function the way you intended? Does it work just as well on an iPhone as an Android device? Make sure that you get beta testers to give you an outside perspective of the application.

Host the App

Now that we know how to create an app, it’s time to go over how to host an app. We can compare hosting an app to running software on someone else’s infrastructure. If you host an app on a remote machine, you’ll only have to pay for the services that you use. You won’t need to worry about spending money on the maintenance and creation of the software and hardware.

Two common hosting methods are shared hosting and dedicated server hosting. Shared hosting is popular among people who don’t build the apps themselves. This method means you could be sharing a server with many other users. You won’t have root access to the server, but it will also be easy to use and fairly affordable.

You’ll get to choose how many email accounts and how much speed, backups, and storage space you have. If you used advanced methods to create your app, you might want to go with a dedicated server. This will allow you to utilize faster speeds and more memory. You’ll also have root access to the server. While you get a lot more power from having a dedicated server, it will also cost you a lot more money.

Submit and Publish the App

Congratulations! Now it’s finally time to share all of your hard work with the world. To publish your app, you’ll need to register as a developer. You’ll have to pay to be a developer on the App Store and also for Google Play.

For Apple’s App Store, you’ll have to jump through a few hoops. Apple will need to review the app before they approve it for release. Before you submit your app, you’ll have to provide information about the app and metadata. A few days after your submission, Apple will let you know if you’ve been approved.

For the Google Play Store, you’ll also have to provide various details about the app. Once it’s approved and ready to be published, you’ll need to upload an APK file. This is the Android Package Kit that contains all of the elements of your application.

Manage the App

Keep an eye on your KPIs (key performance indicators) by using the analytic tools from the App Store and Google Play. Your app builder might also provide you with analytics. You should also regularly release new features and content. This is the best way to keep your users engaged and stop them from deleting your app. Use push notifications and other marketing techniques to let you know about new features and updates.

You’ll be able to update your mobile app as many times as you want. However, you might have to submit a new version of the app to the stores if you make a major change. With that said, a PWA can be updated over and over without needing to resubmit anything. Either way, you shouldn’t wait to improve your app if you have the chance. It’s usually a good idea to update your app three to four times a year. During these updates, you can update the mobile app software, fix bugs, and add new features.

Don’t forget to check user reviews too. User feedback is critical and a few negative reviews could severely damage your business. By knowing how to manage mobile apps, you’ll keep your app running smoothly and will be able to retain your users.

Start Building Your Business Apps Today!

In today’s mobile landscape, it’s crucial for all companies to offer their own dedicated business apps. This is the best way to serve your customers and keep them engaged. By building an app that’s valuable and interesting, you’ll be able to grow your business and increase your conversion rate.

And what’s even better is you don’t have to do it alone. Are you interested in building a powerful app for your company? Contact us today and see how we can help you!