Does Your Business Need an App?
To App or Not to App, That is the Question
We love technology at White Knight and are always amazed at the beautiful, powerful things that are possible through innovation in our industry. But we have a stubborn practical streak too, and that practical streak makes us question whether building an app for your business is necessary.
What is an app? Google says its a self-contained program or piece of software designed to fulfill a particular purpose; an application, especially as downloaded by a user to a mobile device.
When it comes to building an app for your business the cost (in time and money) are often not worth it. There are three key things that you need to strongly consider when it comes to your app decision-making process.
1. People are lazy – you could build the most amazing app that no one ever bothers to download to their phone. And if by chance they do, it should be so easy to use it practically does its thing by itself. There is a whole segment of the technology industry that focuses completely on user experience. They are smart, knowledgeable and usually charge more than $100/hour.
2. Apple & Android App stores have a set of procedures you have to follow to get that app into the marketplace – They are the ultimate store front for your app and they want the final say on quality control, as they should. And every time you update your app you have to jump through these hoops to reach your audience. Think more developer time, and more money.
3. Everyone Just Googles It Anyway – It is pretty common knowledge that if a client can remember your business name they are going to Google it, go to your website and then get what they need from there. Then you only have to have a great website, not a great website and an a great app. Less development time = less money.
But what about your website, it looks terrible on mobile, so hard to read and you get lots of people leaving your website. This is so easy to fix and you only need to invest in a great, mobile responsive website to kill two birds with one stone.
What the heck is mobile responsive? In normal terms the website will adjust the way it displays based on the size of the screen being used so that it gives best most readable display.
If your website looks the same no matter where you look at it then it might be time for a new website. Mobile responsive design should be a key part of what you get in this new website so make sure to ask about it.
So, to app or not to app? We think in most cases, not. There are amazing apps out there being built and enhanced by companies with corporate sized marketing budgets and we are better for their hard work. So we think its ok to say thank you to the big guys and no thank you to building our own.