If you own a small business that’s doing well, it’s time to think about adding a mobile app to the list of ways you communicate with customers. 77 percent of Americans own a smartphone, according to numbers from the Pew Research Center. Having a website is essential, but it’s not the only type of digital presence you need anymore. An app can sound daunting, but it’s not so bad if you know what you’re getting into and work with a reputable mobile app design company. Here are three questions you should get answers to early in the process.
What other apps have you designed?
Ideally, you want to work with a top mobile app development agency with a good track record of launching successful apps for their clients. You should ask them to tell you about their other apps in as much detail as possible. If they can grab a phone and show what some of the apps look like and how they work, that’s even better. Be cautious of companies that promise they have a lot of experience but won’t give you specifics.
Transparency is important. Some companies even have a portfolio of past clients listed on their website. That means they’re proud of the work they’ve done and want to show it off. When you’re looking at their roster of past clients, you’ll need to think about where your company fits into the equation. If you run a fast-casual restaurant and they’ve developed apps for such businesses, then that’s good. But if you run a fast-casual restaurant and the company you’re talking to has mostly developed apps for used car lots, proceed with a little caution. It might still be a good match, but you need to go in with your eyes wide open in any case.
Who is the app’s target audience?
You know that an app will help you engage with customers, but you also need to know what kind of customers are most likely to use an app. If you haven’t already done some research into your market and customer base, now is the time. Actually, it’s past time, but late is always better than never.
Members of the millennial generation are more likely to use certain apps than members of other generations. Not surprisingly, 81 percent of Venmo users are millennials. They seem to like paying for things with their phone more than older people. They grew up in a period where the Internet started to become inescapable, so it makes sense that they’re more comfortable with using phones for financial transactions.
Once you know what kind of customers you’ve got, you can figure out how to market to them and appeal to them with an app that will also help you reel in a new base. If you don’t know who you’re targeting, you’re much more likely to just randomly fire off an app and hope it hits the mark, even if you aren’t sure where exactly the mark is.
How long is the app development process?
You do not want to be one of those business owners who assume that developers can whip up an app in a couple of hours time, as that’s not a realistic expectation. To avoid any misunderstandings, lay out what kind of features interest you, then ask the developers how long it would take to complete such a project. If you’d like to have ready in two weeks or a month, ask if that’s an expectation that can be met.
Asking rather than telling shows that you intend to be reasonable about the process. It’s fine to ask for a tentative launch date, but remember that it’s tentative rather than set in stone. That will make life easier for both you and the hardworking team of developers who are helping your business grow its digital brand.
