It’s estimated that there are 6 million apps in circulation
(source: esave.com) across all platforms including: the iPhone app store, the
Android Market, the Windows Phone market place, the Blackberry and many more.
Waseem Saddique comments: “The ‘app’ market is competitive,
as businesses jostle to attract consumer attention. Therefore, if an app would
be suitable for aiding business growth, it’s certainly worth considering the
development of an ‘app’ when implementing an online marketing strategy.”
Statistics show that quality ‘apps’ tend to go viral very
quickly and are a sure fire way to increase the prominence of an online
marketing campaign and increase the exposure of a business. ‘Apps’ have become
a particularly favoured marketing tool among SME’s as they look to raise the
profile of their businesses.
Waseem Saddique states: “Whilst there are a number of DIY
‘app’ development tools available, it is recommended that you consult a
specialist ‘app’ developer, especially if you’re technological knowledge is
basic at best. There’s no shame in calling in a professional, after all it’s
best to develop an ‘app’ that is effective and less likely to encounter
functionality issues.”
What’s the benefit of
an ‘app’?
One of the key benefits that ‘apps’ offer is versatility as
they can be embedded almost anywhere, whether it is on a Facebook page, on a
mobile or smartphone or on a website.
Other benefits include:
#1 – A cost effective approach to online
marketing.
#2 – Rapid viral exposure.
#3 – ‘Apps’ are interactive, encouraging consumers
to connect with your business, whether
consciously, or subconsciously.
#4 – They offer a revenue stream – ‘Apps’ can be
sold on a number of ‘app’ markets.
#5 – They can constantly be refined to keep up
with consumer trends.
What are my options
for developing an ‘app’?
Do-it-yourself – Whilst
consulting with a developer is recommended, if your budget is tight there are a
number of DIY ‘app’ development tools available. One particular DIY tool that
is proving popular is Google’s App Inventor. ‘App’ inventor does not require
the involvement of a developer and allows you to create Android compatible
‘apps’ that utilise smartphone features such as, GPS and SMS.
Should you wish to capture the iPhone market the ‘AppMakr’
tool is a website-based iPhone ‘app’ creator.
A number of DIY tools also exist for creating microsites,
Facebook applications, blog ‘apps’ and much more.
Waseem Saddique states: “It’s imperative, that when
developing an ‘app’ of your own, without professional assistance, that the
concept and strategy are right from the word go, otherwise the development
could become a time-consuming and costly process.”
Hire a
freelancer – Freelance websites are a great way to source ‘app’ developers,
some of the top sites include peopleperhour.com, odesk.com and freelancer.com
There is a risk element to hiring the services of
a freelancer, but it is also a cost effective method compared to hiring a
development agency.
The key element of hiring a freelancer is to do
your research and when selecting a developer to work with, make sure everything
is put in black and white by way of a contract. That way there can be no
misinterpretations of what is expected from both parties during the ‘app’
project.
Hire an
agency – For the more affluent business owner, with a more significant
budget, hiring an ‘app’ development agency is perhaps the best option. If your
‘app’ is likely to play a big part in your marketing strategy, there is no
substitute for ensuring that you ‘app’ is developed to the highest standard.
Waseem Saddique comments: “A well-developed ‘app’
can be a ‘game changer’ when jostling for consumer attention. Functionality is
of the utmost importance and research conducted by esave.com shows that 47% of
consumers will cease to use an ‘app’ if it’s slow and too complex to use.”
A highly recommended ‘app’ development agency (as
supplied by masahable.com) is TheyMakeApps.com who have the capability to
develop ‘apps’ for all platforms, particularly for online marketing campaigns.
For an
all-in-one solution, employ in-house developers
Hiring an in-house developer(s) offers a solution
that combines all three of the above. If online marketing and mobile marketing
are the essential foundation for the success of your business then, purely for
the long-term benefits, employing in-house staff is the most effective
solution.
Over a period of time, in-house staff will have a
solid grasp of your ‘app’ requirements and can constantly refine and develop
applications in order to keep up with customer trends and tastes. In terms of
longevity and establishing an ‘app’ brand having developers that know your
business inside out will ultimately prove pivotal.
Founded in 2007, Waseem Saddique Marketing
Services has consistently provided small to medium enterprises, as well as
larger corporate firms, with a range of digital marketing & online
solutions. To learn more visit www.waseemsaddique.blogspot.com
