From Concept to Launch: How to Make Your Own Music App

Connectivity and personalized experiences are a driving force in today’s digital era. Musicians, bands, and singers have a unique opportunity to capitalize on this by creating a music app that deepens their relationship with fans. 

Imagine an app that does much more than just stream music—it becomes a vibrant community hub where fans can connect, discover exclusive content, purchase merchandise, buy concert tickets, and enjoy enhanced event experiences. 

All of this can be accessed at their fingertips 24/7/365.

This vision isn’t just a dream or possibility—it’s within reach for any musician. 

Whether you’re just starting out in the music industry or you have an established following, this in-depth guide will explain how to create a music app that elevates the fan experience and opens new avenues for revenue. 

If you’re looking to innovate and connect with your audience on a deeper level, creating your own music streaming app could be the game-changer that sets you apart in the music industry. 

Market Analysis and Conceptualization

There’s big money to be made with music apps—and music lovers are willing to pay top dollar to access their favorite tracks. 

Research shows that the global music streaming market is expected to reach $125.7 billion by 2032, and it currently sits around $41.5 billion. 

With music streaming services still growing at a 15.1% CAGR, there are fistfuls of money to be made—even if you can capture just a fraction of a percentage of this market share. 

To be clear, we’re not trying to compete with the popular music streaming apps that are dominating this space. If you try to make a music app like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, or Pandora, you’ll likely have a hard time contending with those giants. 

However, these platforms leave a gap for personalized, artist-centric experiences. This is where your app enters the picture as a niche service that offers something they cannot—an elevated, intimate connection between artists and their fans.

To carve out your piece of the music streaming industry, start by analyzing the needs and preferences of your target audience. 

Fans of music, especially those following specific bands or artists, are often looking for more than just streaming. They crave behind-the-scenes content, direct interactions with their favorite musicians, exclusive merchandise, early ticket sales, and improved event experiences. 

Your app can cater to these desires by offering unique features such as fan forums, VIP access to special content, in-app merchandise stores, ticketing services, and immersive event features.

Create a unique selling proposition (USP) that focuses on the specific benefits your app offers to fans and artists alike, such as fostering a community, enhancing fan engagement, and providing new revenue streams for artists.

Conceptualizing your app involves identifying these key differentiators. Ask yourself:

  • What can my app offer that existing services do not?
  • How can it enhance the fan experience in a way that builds loyalty and engagement?
  • What unique revenue opportunities can it create for artists?

By focusing on these questions, you can begin to outline the features and services that will make your music app stand out.

Creating a music app that streams content, sells merchandise, and offers tickets to events involves navigating a complex landscape of legal requirements and licensing agreements. This step is crucial not only to ensure the legality of your app but also to respect the rights of any other artists and creators whose content you wish to feature. 

Here’s a breakdown of the process and tips on how you can navigate these waters effectively.

Music Licensing

The first step in legally streaming music through your app involves obtaining the necessary licenses from music rights holders. 

There are generally two types of rights you need to be aware of—sound recording rights, controlled by record labels through organizations like the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and publishing rights, which involve the composition and lyrics, controlled by publishers or songwriter collectives such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC in the United States.

To legally stream music, you’ll need to secure two main licenses:

  • Mechanical Licenses: For the reproduction and distribution of musical compositions.
  • Public Performance Licenses: For playing songs and music tracks publicly, which includes streaming over the internet.

Merchandise and Ticket Sales

Selling merchandise and tickets directly through your app introduces another layer of legal considerations. For merchandise, if you plan to use the artists’ names, likenesses, or other copyrighted material, you’ll need to negotiate rights and licensing agreements with the artists or their representatives. This ensures that artists are fairly compensated for the use of their brand.

Ticket sales through your app will require partnerships with event organizers or ticketing platforms. It’s essential to establish clear terms regarding the distribution of tickets, handling of customer data, and revenue sharing.

Legal Tips

  • Consult with Legal Experts: Given the complexity of music rights and copyright law, consulting with legal professionals who specialize in entertainment law is invaluable. They can guide you through the licensing process, help negotiate agreements, and ensure compliance with all legal requirements.
  • Transparent Agreements: Ensure all licensing and partnership agreements are clear and transparent, detailing rights, responsibilities, and revenue sharing. This helps avoid disputes and ensures a fair relationship between all parties involved.
  • Stay Updated on Laws and Regulations: Copyright and music licensing laws are subject to change. Staying informed about current laws and industry standards is crucial to maintaining the legality of your app.

This step, while challenging, is a critical investment in the sustainability of a successful music app. 

Technical Development

The technical development of your music app is where your conceptual ideas transform into a tangible product. This phase involves choosing the right technologies, developing the app’s architecture, and implementing features that will distinguish your app in the market. 

Here are some key features to consider and the benefits they offer to users:

  • High-Quality Audio Streaming: Essential for any music app, offering users the best listening experience with minimal buffering.
  • Offline Playback: Allows users to download songs to their music library and listen to them without an internet connection, enhancing accessibility.
  • Personalized Playlists and Recommendations: Uses algorithms to suggest songs, artists, and playlists based on users’ listening habits, offering a tailored experience.
  • Artist Profiles: Where artists can share their music, upcoming events, and exclusive content, helping fans stay connected.
  • Social Sharing and Interaction: Features that enable users to share songs, playlists, and concert experiences on social media and within the app, fostering a sense of community.
  • Live Streaming: Allows artists to stream live performances or behind-the-scenes content directly to fans, creating intimate, real-time engagement.
  • In-App Store: A platform for artists to sell merchandise and for fans to purchase it easily, supporting artists financially while offering fans a way to show their support.
  • Integrated Ticket Sales: Simplifies the process of buying tickets for concerts and events, with options for notifications about upcoming events and exclusive pre-sales for app users.
  • Customizable User Interface: Lets users personalize their app experience, from theme colors to layout preferences within the music streaming service.
  • Interactive Features: Such as lyric displays, music videos, and artist interviews, enriching the listening experience.
  • Feedback and Support Systems: To gather user feedback and provide assistance, ensuring continuous improvement and user satisfaction.

Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many features and try to build everything at once.

Instead, start with the features you need for your app to work—ideally aligned with the USP that you’ve identified earlier. Start there, and you can always add more down the road. 

UX/UI Design

By investing in a thoughtful UX/UI design process, you can create an app that not only looks appealing but also provides a user-friendly platform that encourages longer engagement and fosters loyalty among its users

Create a design that prioritizes simplicity and intuitiveness to help users easily find their way around the app, with a minimalist approach to reduce cognitive load and enhance satisfaction.

Personalization also plays a key role in the design process, allowing users to customize the app’s appearance and functionality to their liking, which fosters a sense of ownership and engagement. The design should adapt gracefully across different devices, ensuring a consistent experience whether on a phone, tablet, or desktop.

Some app designers may consider using interactive elements to enhance the design. Things like album covers or music visualizers add an additional layer to the listening experience.

Adding lyrics or artist bios can also help enrich the content. 

Accessibility is another important consideration, with features designed to accommodate all users, including those with disabilities, ensuring that the app is inclusive and available to a wide audience. Implementing multilingual support broadens the app’s appeal across different regions and cultures.

Visual branding should be consistent with the use of colors, fonts, and imagery that reflect the app’s identity, contributing to its recognizability and the user’s connection to the brand. 

High-quality imagery and icons are essential for a professional and polished appearance.

Simply stated, you can’t rush through the design process. This will ultimately determine the look and feel of your app, which is crucial to retaining your users. 

App Development and Testing

This stage involves translating your design concepts into a fully functional app—requiring a blend of technical expertise, creativity, and strategic planning. 

Music streaming app development encompasses a wide array of tasks, from coding and integrating APIs to setting up servers and ensuring your app’s compatibility across various devices and operating systems. It’s a complex process that demands attention to detail to ensure that every feature works as intended, providing users with a smooth, glitch-free experience.

For those looking to simplify the app development process, platforms like BuildFire offer a powerful solution. BuildFire is designed to streamline the creation of mobile apps, providing a user-friendly interface that allows for the customization of features without needing deep technical knowledge. 

With a wide range of plugins and templates, BuildFire can help bring your music app from concept to reality, facilitating the integration of streaming services, social media, merchandise sales, and more. 

Our intuitive platform also includes tools for analytics, marketing, and user engagement, making it an ideal choice for musicians, bands, and entrepreneurs eager to connect with their audience through a personalized app. Leveraging BuildFire can significantly reduce development time and costs, allowing you to focus on refining your app’s content and user experience.

Testing is an integral part of this phase, involving rigorous checks to identify and rectify any bugs or usability issues. This ensures that the app not only meets the technical specifications but also delivers on the user experience envisioned during the design phase. 

Monetization Strategy

After developing and meticulously testing your music app, the next critical step is devising a robust monetization strategy. This strategy is key to ensuring your app is not only a creative success but also a financial one. 

Here are some monetization strategies to consider when you build a music streaming app:

  • Freemium Model: Offer basic features for free while charging for premium features. This can include higher quality audio, ad-free streaming, or exclusive content.
  • Advertisements: Integrate ads into the app experience. Options include banner ads, interstitials, or sponsored content.
  • Subscription Model: Encourage users to subscribe for a monthly or yearly fee to access exclusive features, such as ad-free listening, offline playback, and premium content.
  • In-App Purchases: Sell digital goods or services within your app. This could be exclusive songs, albums, or virtual goods.
  • Partnerships and Sponsorships: Collaborate with brands or artists for sponsored content or exclusive releases, creating a new revenue stream.
  • Merchandising: Sell artist merchandise directly through the app, from t-shirts to vinyl, making it easy for fans to support their favorite artists.
  • Data Monetization: Leverage user data (with their consent) to gain insights for targeted advertising or to sell to third parties interested in music industry trends.
  • Crowdfunding or Tip Jar: Allow fans to support artists directly through donations or crowdfunding campaigns for upcoming projects.
  • Live Streaming and Virtual Concerts: Offer paid access to live performances or virtual concerts, providing fans with unique experiences.
  • Licensing and Content Creation: Generate revenue by licensing user-generated content or creating original content that can be licensed to others.
  • Community Features: Enhance user engagement with paid community features, like exclusive forums or fan clubs.
  • International Expansion: Localize your app for different markets to tap into global audiences, adapting your monetization strategies accordingly.

Choosing the right mix of monetization strategies depends on your target audience, the unique features of your app, and the overall goals of your project. By carefully selecting and implementing these strategies, you can create a sustainable revenue model that supports the ongoing success and growth of your music app.

Launch and Marketing

Following the development and implementation of a monetization strategy, the next pivotal phase in the lifecycle of your music app is its launch and marketing. This stage is critical for gaining visibility, attracting users, and ultimately ensuring the success of your app. 

An effective launch and marketing strategy not only introduces your app to the world but also builds anticipation, engages potential users, and sets the foundation for a strong user base.

For example, legendary American rock band 311 used BuildFire to create an app for their 30th anniversary tour that comprised 50 states in 50 days.  

The marketing efforts for the app were strategically timed to build anticipation in the weeks leading up to 3/11 Day (March 11) when the band was scheduled to perform three days of shows in Las Vegas.

By aligning the app’s launch with a significant event and leveraging targeted marketing strategies, 311 was able to maximize user engagement and downloads. The app served as a powerful tool to enhance the fan experience, offering a new way for fans to connect with the band and with each other, driving up engagement and fostering a sense of community among users.

You can read more about 311’s experience with BuildFire here and use this type of marketing strategy to inspire your own. 

Post-Launch Support and Scaling

Even after a successful launch, the journey of your music app is far from over. 

Post-launch support and scaling are critical to its long-term success and sustainability. This phase involves closely monitoring the app’s performance, gathering user feedback, and making necessary adjustments to ensure a seamless user experience. 

Continuous support not only addresses any technical issues that may arise but also demonstrates to your users that you are committed to providing a high-quality service, which can significantly enhance user retention and loyalty.

User feedback is invaluable for identifying areas of improvement and potential new features that could enhance the app’s value. Engaging with your user base through surveys, feedback forms, and social media can provide insights into their needs and preferences, guiding your development roadmap. This iterative process of improvement and adaptation helps keep the app relevant and competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

Scaling the app is another crucial aspect of post-launch support. As your user base grows, your infrastructure must be able to support increased traffic and data without compromising on performance. 

This may involve upgrading servers, optimizing code for better efficiency, or expanding your team to handle the increased workload. Preparing for scalability from the outset can help mitigate growing pains and ensure that the app can handle success without faltering.

Additionally, expanding your app’s features and exploring new markets can contribute to its growth. Based on user feedback and market analysis, introducing new functionalities, such as virtual meet-and-greets, fan-generated content, or augmented reality experiences, can keep users engaged and attract new ones. 

Considering international expansion can also open up new revenue streams and increase your app’s global reach. However, this requires careful planning to address language barriers, cultural differences, and local regulations.

Conclusion

Creating your own music app is a complex process—involving everything from initial market analysis and conceptualization to the intricacies of licensing, design, development, and beyond. 

Each step of this journey presents its own set of challenges, requiring a blend of creativity, technical expertise, and strategic planning. The goal is not just to launch an app but to create a platform that deeply engages music fans and provides artists with new ways to connect with their audience and monetize their craft.

Fortunately, platforms like BuildFire can significantly streamline the journey. BuildFire’s intuitive app development platform demystifies the technical complexities of app creation, making it accessible even to those without extensive coding knowledge. 

BuildFire has a wide array of customizable features, plugins, and templates, enabling musicians, bands, and music entrepreneurs to focus on what truly matters—their vision for a unique music experience—while it handles the heavy lifting of app development. 

With the right tools and a clear understanding of the steps involved, turning this vision into reality is more achievable than ever.

The Benefits of Converting Your Website to an App

It’s no secret that our society is becoming increasingly reliant on mobile devices. But having a mobile-optimized website alone is no longer enough to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, particularly when targeting mobile users. A mobile website is just the bare minimum.

To keep pace with consumer expectations and gain an edge over your competition, converting your website into an app is critical.

The numbers speak for themselves. 88% of mobile device time is spent using apps. 70% of all digital media consumption comes from apps, and mobile apps are expected to generate over $935 billion this year alone. 

Converting a website into an app opens up countless opportunities for businesses across every industry. From improving user engagement and customer loyalty to accessing new revenue streams and expanding market reach, these benefits are hard to overlook for anyone with a website.

Fortunately, developing an app has never been easier. With the help of an app builder or website to app converter, you can turn your website into your own app quickly—without breaking the bank.

If you’re still on the fence, the information in this guide might be enough to change your mind. We’ll dive deep into all the benefits and advantages of going from a website to a mobile app that will take your business to new heights. 

Enhancing the Mobile User Experience

A whopping 85% of consumers say they prefer mobile apps over mobile websites. So when you convert your website to an app, you’re instantly improving the user experience. 

How is this possible? Let’s take a look at some key UX-related advantages of a mobile app compared to a website.

  • User Interface and Interaction — Apps are designed with mobile users in mind, offering interfaces and interactions that are optimized for small screens and touch controls. This results in significant improvements in user interface (UI) design, including simplified menus, larger buttons, and intuitive gestures that enhance the overall user experience. Apps have a clear edge over mobile websites that often require pinching, zooming, and scrolling to view content.
  • Speed and Performance — One of the most noticeable differences users experience when switching from a website to an app is speed. Apps store data locally on the device, allowing for quicker load times and smoother transitions between features and content. This immediate access is crucial for retaining users, as loading delays can lead to frustration and abandonment. 
  • Navigation and Accessibility — Apps also offer superior navigation compared to mobile websites. With the ability to implement custom navigation solutions, such as bottom navigation bars or swipeable tabs, apps make it easier for users to find what they’re looking for. This encourages deeper exploration of what the app has to offer.
  • Engagement and Satisfaction — The tailored UX that apps provide leads to higher engagement levels and customer satisfaction. Features like push notifications can be used to keep users informed and engaged, offering timely updates and personalized content that draws them back into the app. This direct line of communication is something that websites struggle to match, making apps a powerful tool for fostering long-term relationships with users.

One great example of this in the real world is H&M. 

As the second largest fashion retailer in the world, H&M has astonishing engagement rates—with 61% of its app users returning to use it on a monthly basis. Ecommerce websites don’t see this type of traction for their audience. 

This same type of success can be replicated through your own app

Accessing Native Mobile Features

One of the most compelling reasons to convert a website into an app is the ability to access and utilize native mobile features. These features, intrinsic to mobile devices, open up a new realm of possibilities for user interaction, engagement, and functionality that simply cannot be matched by mobile websites. Examples include: 

  • GPS: Enables location-based services, providing users with tailored content, nearby store locations, or personalized offers based on their current location.
  • Camera: Allows for interactive features like scanning QR codes, uploading images directly from the device, or even augmented reality experiences, enriching user interaction.
  • Push Notifications: Offer a direct channel to keep users informed and engaged, whether it’s about new content, promotions, or updates, encouraging frequent app usage.
  • Accelerometer: Can be used in fitness apps to track physical activity, or in gaming apps for motion-based controls, adding a layer of interactivity and fun.
  • Contact List: Facilitates features like easy sharing, social interactions, or sending invites directly from the app, promoting a sense of community and connectivity.
  • Biometric Authentication: Such as fingerprint or facial recognition, offers a secure and convenient way for users to access their accounts, enhancing both security and user experience.

Integrating these features into your native app not only enhances its appeal and usability but also offers practical benefits that can significantly impact user retention and satisfaction. For instance, an e-commerce app utilizing push notifications for personalized offers can see an increase in repeat visits and sales. Similarly, a travel app leveraging GPS for real-time updates and location-based services can become an indispensable tool for travelers.

Boost Brand Recognition Amongst App Users

Brand visibility and recognition are paramount for business success. Converting your website into an app offers a unique advantage in this arena, notably through the presence of your app icon on a user’s home screen. This seemingly small feature can have profound implications for brand awareness and engagement.

An app icon acts as a constant visual reminder of your brand, residing among the most used tools and platforms on a user’s device. 

Unlike a website, which requires a user to open a browser, type in a website URL, or search for your site, an app is just a tap away. This ease of access significantly reduces the barrier to interaction, making it more likely that users will engage with your app—and, by extension, your brand—on a regular basis.

Consider the difference in steps between accessing a website and an app:

  • Website: Unlock phone → Open browser → Type URL or search → Navigate to the website.
  • App: Unlock phone → Tap app icon.

This direct and simplified access not only enhances user convenience but also increases the likelihood of frequent engagement. Each interaction with your app reinforces brand recognition and loyalty, making your brand a familiar and trusted presence in the user’s daily digital landscape.

Furthermore, the app icon itself serves as a mini-advertisement for your brand. Well-designed app icons can convey your brand’s essence, values, and aesthetic, contributing to a cohesive and recognizable brand identity. This visual consistency across platforms—be it in the app, on your website, or in marketing materials—strengthens your brand’s presence and can lead to increased consumer trust and loyalty.

In addition to the app icon, converting your website into an app allows you to maintain consistent branding elements throughout the user experience. From the color scheme and logos to the tone of voice and messaging, an app provides a controlled environment in which every aspect can be tailored to reflect your brand identity. This consistency is crucial for building a strong brand image that resonates with users and stands out in a crowded marketplace.

Improving Customer Retention

While attracting new customers is important, retaining existing ones is even more critical—and often more cost-effective. Mobile apps offer a powerful toolset for enhancing customer retention, thanks to their ability to facilitate direct engagement, personalized experiences, and loyalty incentives in ways that websites simply cannot match.

In fact, research shows that mobile app retention rate is 50% higher than web browser. This number jumps to 90% for smartphone users. 

The effectiveness of mobile apps in retaining customers lies in their capacity to maintain an ongoing dialogue with users. Through features like push notifications, apps can deliver timely and relevant content directly to a user’s device. This immediacy ensures that your brand remains visible and top-of-mind, encouraging regular interaction. Whether it’s a reminder about an unfinished purchase, a notification about a new product, or a personalized offer based on past behavior, these notifications can significantly increase engagement rates and, consequently, retention.

Personalization is another key advantage of mobile apps. By leveraging user data and behavior, apps can tailor the user experience to meet individual preferences and needs. This could mean recommending products similar to past purchases, customizing content feeds, or even adjusting the app’s navigation based on the user’s interests. Personalized experiences make users feel valued and understood, fostering a positive connection with your brand and increasing the likelihood of continued app use.

Loyalty programs seamlessly integrated into your app can further enhance customer retention. Offering rewards, points, or exclusive benefits for app activities not only incentivizes continued usage but also builds emotional loyalty towards your brand. Users are more likely to return to an app where they feel their loyalty is recognized and rewarded.

The impact of these strategies on customer retention is clear. This ongoing engagement is vital for building a stable customer base for your brand.

Mobile Apps Provide Offline Accessibility

A key benefit that sets mobile apps apart from websites is the ability to offer offline accessibility. This feature is not just a technical enhancement—it’s a fundamental shift in how users interact with your digital content. By enabling certain functionalities to be available without an internet connection, apps can significantly enhance user convenience, ensuring that your services remain accessible even in the most remote or connectivity-challenged situations.

Offline accessibility in iOS apps and Android apps addresses a critical pain point for users—the need to access information, services, or functionalities when they’re not connected to the internet. Whether it’s due to poor network coverage, data usage concerns, or the desire to save battery life, the ability to use an app offline can be a deciding factor for users when choosing between competitors.

Here are some examples of how offline features can be implemented in apps to enhance user experience:

  • Content Caching: Apps can store content locally on a device, allowing users to access previously loaded articles, videos, or documents without needing an internet connection.
  • Data Syncing: Changes made in offline mode, such as editing documents or updating settings, can be synced automatically once the device reconnects to the internet.
  • Offline Navigation: Navigation apps can offer map downloads for offline use, enabling users to find their way without relying on a live data connection.
  • Music and Video Playback: Entertainment apps can allow users to download music, podcasts, or videos to enjoy offline, providing continuous access to media content.
  • E-commerce Shopping: Shopping apps can enable browsing of products and even adding items to a cart in offline mode, with transactions completed once connectivity is restored.

Implementing offline accessibility not only improves user convenience but also signals to your customers that you value their experience and are committed to providing uninterrupted access to your services. This level of thoughtfulness provided by native app development can significantly enhance user satisfaction and loyalty, as it demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing user needs and challenges.

Creating New Revenue Opportunities

The decision to convert your website into a mobile app is not just a strategic move to enhance user engagement or improve brand visibility—it also presents a multitude of new revenue opportunities. Mobile apps offer unique monetization avenues that are not as readily available or as effective on traditional websites. By leveraging these opportunities, businesses can diversify their revenue streams and drive financial growth.

  • In-App Purchases: One of the most direct ways to generate revenue from your app is through in-app purchases. This could range from selling physical goods, as seen in retail or e-commerce apps, to offering digital services or content, such as subscriptions, premium features, or virtual goods. In-app purchases provide a seamless shopping experience, encouraging users to buy directly within iOS or Android apps.
  • Subscription Models: Apps can implement subscription models, offering access to exclusive content or features for a recurring fee. This model is particularly effective for services that provide ongoing value, such as media streaming, productivity tools, or specialized content platforms. Subscriptions ensure a steady revenue stream and can help build a loyal user base committed to your app.
  • Advertisements: Integrating advertisements into your app is another way to generate revenue. Whether through banner ads, interstitials, or native advertising, carefully placed ads can provide significant income without detracting from the user experience. Choosing the right ad network and optimizing ad placement and frequency are crucial to maximizing revenue while maintaining a positive user experience.
  • Freemium Models: Offering a basic version of your app for free while charging for premium features or enhancements is a strategy known as the freemium model. This approach encourages widespread adoption of your app while monetizing a subset of users who are willing to pay for a higher value offering.
  • Affiliate Marketing: By participating in affiliate programs, your app can earn commissions for referring users to other services or products. This monetization strategy works well for native apps that recommend products, offer reviews, or curate content that includes external links. It’s a way to leverage the content and user trust you’ve built to generate additional revenue.
  • Sponsored Content or Partnerships: Collaborating with brands or businesses to feature sponsored content within your app can also open up revenue opportunities. This approach requires a balance to ensure that sponsored content aligns with your user’s interests and the app’s overall theme, maintaining authenticity and user trust.

By diversifying the ways in which an app can generate revenue, mobile app developers not only increase their potential income but also build a more resilient business model. Each of these strategies can be tailored to fit the unique context of your app and your target audience, allowing you to maximize revenue while enhancing the user experience.

Expanding Audience Reach

Converting your website into an app significantly broadens your reach, leveraging the global platforms of the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. 

Listing your Android or iOS app in these stores opens your business to a vast audience, transcending geographical boundaries. The presence in these app marketplaces is crucial, as they are the primary channels through which users discover and download new apps.

Optimizing your app for these stores through careful keyword selection, compelling descriptions, and high-quality visuals is essential for improving your app’s visibility. 

This process, known as App Store Optimization (ASO), enhances your app’s discoverability, making it easier for potential users to find and download your app. Positive ratings and reviews further boost your app’s credibility, encouraging more installs.

If you already have a website, you’re likely familiar with how this works—as ASO and SEO are essentially the same concept (with a few key differences).

By targeting both Android and iOS users, you ensure that your app is accessible to the widest possible audience, taking full advantage of the extensive user base these platforms offer. The algorithms of the app stores play a pivotal role in recommending your app to interested users, making an app store presence a powerful tool for reaching a global audience and driving your business’s growth in the digital marketplace.

Optimizing Performance and Speed

Users today expect instant access to information and services, and even slight delays can lead to frustration and app abandonment. Apps that are finely tuned to offer quick loading times and smooth interactions set themselves apart in a competitive digital environment, where user patience is minimal.

A well-optimized app not only ensures quicker access to content but also enhances overall usability and satisfaction. This is particularly important in retaining users and converting potential customers into loyal ones. Faster apps are more likely to be used repeatedly, as they provide the immediate gratification users seek from their digital interactions.

The performance and speed of an app directly impact its conversion rates. Users are more likely to complete purchases or engage with services when the process is seamless and efficient. In contrast, apps that suffer from poor performance can see a significant drop in user engagement and revenue.

Establishing Increased Trust

Creating a mobile app for your business is a significant step towards building a deeper trust with your audience. 

Users are cautious about where they spend their time and money—making trust a critical component of user engagement and brand loyalty. An app enhances your brand’s credibility by demonstrating a commitment to providing a secure, efficient, and user-friendly platform.

A mobile app signals to users that a brand is serious about its digital presence and dedicated to improving the customer experience. This commitment is often associated with higher quality and reliability, which can enhance users’ trust in the brand. 

Features like biometric authentication, secure payment gateways, and personalized content within an app further reinforce this trust by ensuring user data is handled safely and their interactions are tailored and meaningful.

Focusing User Attention in a Controlled Environment

The digital landscape is full of distractions, which can make it difficult to keep a user’s attention. But apps offer a unique solution by creating a controlled environment that minimizes external distractions. 

Unlike web browsing, where users can easily switch between tabs or get sidetracked by notifications, an app encapsulates the user’s full attention on a single task or experience. This focused environment is crucial for businesses aiming to engage users deeply and effectively.

The design of mobile apps inherently encourages a more immersive experience. By utilizing the full screen for content display and tailoring the navigation to suit mobile interactions, apps can significantly enhance user engagement. This immersive experience is beneficial for both informational content consumption and e-commerce activities, as users are less likely to abandon their tasks due to distractions.

This focused attention ultimately leads to higher conversion rates. When users are fully engaged with an app, they are more likely to complete desired actions, whether that’s making a purchase, signing up for a service, or engaging with content.

Streamlining Business Processes

Mobile apps offer a significant advantage in streamlining business operations, leading to enhanced efficiency and productivity. By integrating various business processes into a single app, companies can automate tasks, improve communication, and manage data more effectively. 

This consolidation not only simplifies operations but also reduces the time and resources required to manage them, directly impacting the bottom line by reducing operational costs.

For example, apps can facilitate easier order processing, real-time inventory management, and instant customer support, providing a seamless experience for both the business and its customers. 

The ability to instantly update and share information across the app also ensures that all stakeholders are informed and can make data-driven decisions swiftly, enhancing the overall agility of the business.

Apps can also improve internal communication. Features such as in-app messaging, task assignments, and progress tracking enable teams to collaborate more effectively, regardless of their physical location.

Convert Website to App: Is It Worth It? (Final Thoughts)

The decision to convert your website into an app is clearly worth it. The benefits—ranging from enhanced user engagement and loyalty to new revenue opportunities and streamlined business operations—all highlight the strategic value of embracing mobile app technology.

For businesses ready to make this transformative leap, BuildFire stands out as the ideal partner. With our cutting-edge AI app builder, the transition from website to app has never been easier.

BuildFire’s technology is designed to sync with your existing website, automatically pulling in brand information, content, and logos. This integration significantly accelerates the app development process, ensuring that your mobile app aligns perfectly with your brand identity.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make a Social Media App from Scratch

Social media has undoubtedly changed modern human society. We’ve come a long way from the early days of Myspace and Friendster with the latest versions of Facebook, X (Twitter), and TikTok.

But one constant holds true across the board—there’s a massive demand for social connection through digital platforms.

You may be shocked to learn the social media world is still growing. According to Forbes, over 4.9 billion people worldwide use social media. That number is expected to reach 5.85 billion by 2027.

Revenue growth across these platforms is growing at an even higher rate. The social media app market is valued at roughly $49.09 billion, with forecasts projecting a CAGR of 26.2% between now and 2030.

This means that you don’t have to compete with Instagram or YouTube to make money with a social media app. If you can carve out just a fraction of a percentage of this market, you can still have a multi-million dollar business

99% of all people on social media use mobile devices to access their favorite platforms, with a whopping 78% doing so exclusively from their smartphones. 

Creating a social media app from scratch may sound daunting, but it’s an attainable task if you follow the right blueprint. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process to get your app idea off the ground. 

Step 1 – Define Your App’s Purpose and Target Audience

Creating a successful social media app begins with a clear understanding of its purpose and the audience it intends to serve. This step is crucial, as it lays the foundation for all subsequent decisions in the app development process.

First, you need to pinpoint the primary goal of your app.

What specific need or problem does it address? Is it meant for sharing photos, connecting professionals, discussing hobbies, or something else entirely?

This objective should resonate with potential users and offer them a compelling reason to choose your app over existing options on the market. 

When narrowing in your target audience, consider factors like age, location, interest, and online behavior. Are you targeting young adults or working professionals? Is the app designed for a local community or a global connection? 

Don’t try to become the next Facebook. Saying your social media app is for “everyone” will be a recipe for disaster—as this approach often results in the app appealing to nobody at all. 

Instead, try to corner a specific market and fill a need for those users. 

Use tools like surveys, focus groups, and social media analysis to gather insights about your target audience. What are their likes and dislikes? How do they interact with current social media platforms? What are they missing in existing apps that your app can provide? 

This research will help you tailor your app to meet the specific needs and desires of your target audience.

Step 2 – Establish a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) and Strategy

Differentiating your app in the competitive social media landscape is vital for capturing attention and building a user base. A unique selling proposition (USP) is what sets your app apart from others, making it unique and appealing to your target audience. 

Your USP could be a novel feature, a unique approach to social interaction, or a specific focus that addresses a particular need or interest.

To help you brainstorm and help you further understand this concept, here are some potential USPs to consider for your social media app:

  • A social media platform dedicated to connecting local artists and art enthusiasts.
  • A social networking app that focuses on real-time, location-based social networking for event discovery.
  • Social media with advanced privacy controls for users concerned about online security.
  • A social network app with built-in language learning tools and cultural exchange opportunities. 
  • Niche social media apps for pet owners, eco-conscious and environment awareness networks, social activism, etc.
  • An app with a focus on mental health with features promoting positive online behavior and well-being.
  • Integration of augmented reality for innovative content creation.
  • A community-driven social platform where content is solely generated and moderated by users.

Each of these USPs addresses specific needs or interests, providing a clear reason for users to choose your app over others. These are just a handful of examples, but there are literally thousands of different ways to approach this. 

One real-life example is the social media app Daylyy. Created with BuildFire, Daylyy sets itself apart from the crowd with a USP that focuses on authenticity.

It targets users who are seeking a more genuine and unfiltered social media experience. Unlike other platforms where content is often heavily curated, Daylyy encourages its users to share real-time, unfiltered content. This approach taps into a growing desire for more authentic online interactions and sets Daylyy apart from other social media apps. 

All photos must be taken through the app. The platform doesn’t have any public comments either. Instead, users can connect with each other through private conversations. 

You can learn more about Daylyy’s story and how they leveraged their strategy for success here.

For more inspiration, we have a list of low-cost and easy business ideas that make money—many of which can be applied to a social media app. 

Step 3 – Conduct Comprehensive Market Research

Comprehensive market research is essential for social media app development. This research enables you to understand the current landscape of the market, trends that are shaping the industry, and the behaviors and preferences of your potential users.

Start by keeping an eye on the latest trends in the social media space. This includes tracking technological advancements, shifts in user behavior, and changing patterns in content consumption. Staying up-to-date with these trends is crucial to ensure that your app remains relevant and appealing to your target audience.

Analyzing your competitors is another key aspect of market research. Understand what other apps in the space are doing, their strengths and weaknesses, feature sets, user interface designs, marketing strategies, and user feedback. 

Identifying areas where other social media sharing networks fall short or where users express dissatisfaction can highlight opportunities for your app to offer something different and better.

Gathering direct feedback from potential users is equally important. Conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups to understand what users are looking for in a social media app. 

Utilize online tools and social media platforms to analyze comments and discussions about existing apps. This information can guide you in designing features and functionalities that truly resonate with your target audience.

For example, a recent study found that 74% of people are tired of seeing ads on social media. 

You might see a study like this and decide to create an ad-free social media experience to give your app an edge against other social networking apps. 

Additional Reading: How to Conduct Mobile App Market Research

Step 4 – Choose Essential and Innovative Features

Choosing the right features is crucial in the development of your social media app. The features should cater to the basic needs of your users and also introduce something innovative to make your app stand out. It’s important to balance essential functionalities with unique, engaging features.

Start with the essential features that form the backbone of any social media app, such as user profiles, news feeds, messaging capabilities, and privacy settings. These core functionalities are what users typically expect from a social media platform.

Once you have the essentials covered, think about innovative features that can enhance the user experience and differentiate your app. These could be advanced functionalities or creative ways to interact with content and other users.

Here are some example features for a social media app:

  • Photo and video sharing
  • In-app messaging
  • Live streaming
  • Augmented reality filters
  • Customizable news feeds
  • Location-based communities
  • E-commerce integration
  • Gamification elements
  • Virtual events and meetups
  • Advanced privacy controls
  • Content curation tools
  • Mental health and well-being features
  • Interactive polls and quizzes
  • Collaborative content creation

By selecting a combination of essential and innovative features, your social media app can provide a familiar yet unique experience, attracting and retaining users in a competitive market.

Building a social media network with BuildFire makes it easy to add features with just a few clicks.

Our feature marketplace has over 150+ pre-built functions that can be added to your social app.

One piece of advice—start small. You don’t need to have everything built on the launch day. 

Focus first on the features that are an absolute must for your app to function on a basic level while still covering what makes your app unique compared to market alternatives. 

So many businesses get lost in the concept of creating their own social media app that they lose sight of things like user engagement. Get active users first by appealing to their needs, and expand from there. 

You can look at existing social media platforms that took the same approach. The biggest players in this space are still coming out with new features and advancements. 

Step 5 – Select a Suitable Business Model

At this point, you need to select a business model to support the success and sustainability of your social media app. Your business model should align with your app’s goals and target audience. Here are some popular revenue models to consider:

  • Advertising: Generate revenue by displaying ads within your app. This can include banner ads, sponsored content, or video ads. The key is to balance ad presence with user experience to ensure that ads are not overly intrusive.
  • Freemium: Offer the basic app for free, with premium features available for a fee. This model entices users to try your app and then pay for additional functionalities, such as advanced customization options or ad-free experiences.
  • Subscription: Charge users a recurring fee for access to your app or premium features. Subscriptions can provide a steady revenue stream and are often used for apps that offer ongoing value, like exclusive content or enhanced networking opportunities.
  • In-App Purchases: Enable users to buy virtual goods, additional features, or special content within the app. This model works well for apps that offer customizable experiences or have an engaged user base willing to pay for specific enhancements.
  • Transaction Fees: If your app facilitates transactions, such as in a marketplace or e-commerce platform, you can charge a fee for each transaction. This model is suitable for apps that connect buyers and sellers or offer a platform for financial transactions.

By carefully selecting a business model that fits your app’s purpose and audience, you can create a viable path to revenue generation and long-term success.

If you’re looking for additional tips on how to make money with your own social network app, check out the following resources:

Step 6 – Prioritize User-Friendly Design

One thing to keep in mind when you’re building a social media app is the importance of a user-friendly design. 

The design of your app is not just about aesthetics—it’s about creating an intuitive and enjoyable user experience. In the world of social media apps, where user engagement is key, the design can make or break your app’s success.

A well-designed app should be easy to navigate, with a clean and organized interface that makes it simple for users to find what they’re looking for. Pay attention to the layout of elements such as buttons, icons, and menus. They should be placed logically and consistently throughout the app to ensure a seamless user journey.

Color schemes, fonts, and imagery also play a significant role in the overall user experience. These should align with your brand identity and be visually appealing without being overwhelming or distracting. The goal is to create an environment where users feel comfortable and engaged.

Another crucial aspect of design is responsiveness and speed. Users expect social media apps to load quickly and function smoothly on various devices and screen sizes. Ensuring your social media app is responsive and performs well is essential to keep users satisfied and engaged.

It’s also important to consider the established design standards of popular social media apps. Users are often accustomed to certain layouts and functionalities, such as swiping to view the next post or tapping a heart icon to like content. While it’s important to be innovative, straying too far from these familiar design elements can be jarring and may hinder user adoption.

Step 7 – Develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

An MVP is a version of your app with just enough features to be usable by early customers, who can then provide feedback for future product development. This approach allows you to test your app concept in the real market with minimal resources before fully committing to its development.

The key to creating an effective MVP is to focus on your app’s core functionality. 

Identify the most essential features that represent the heart of your app’s value proposition. These should be the features that directly address the needs and interests of your target audience, as identified in your market research.

Developing an MVP is not just about building a simplified version of your app—it’s also about learning and adapting. 

By launching an MVP, you have the opportunity to gather real user feedback. This feedback is invaluable as it provides insights into what users like, what they don’t, and what additional features they might be looking for.

It’s important to be prepared for both positive and negative feedback and to use this information constructively. Analyze user interactions, track engagement metrics, and listen to user suggestions. This will guide you in refining your app, fixing any issues, and adding new features that align with user needs and preferences.

Remember, the MVP is a starting point. It’s a way to validate your app idea and gain a deeper understanding of your user base. From there, you can iterate and evolve your app, adding features and making improvements based on user feedback and market demand.

Step 8 – Opt for the Right Technology Stack

Your technology stack is the collection of software, tools, and technologies you use to build and run your app. It’s important to select technologies that not only support your app’s functionality but also offer scalability as your user base grows.

When it comes to creating a successful social media app, BuildFire provides everything you need to build, launch, and scale your app under one roof.

That’s because BuildFire is so much more than just an app builder and app development company. We’re a complete mobile backend as a service (MBaaS)—meaning your entire mobile app technology is handled for you. From servers to app infrastructure, databases, and supporting every possible monetization method, we have you covered. 

BuildFire’s technology is not only user-friendly but also robust and scalable. It can handle growing numbers of users and increasing data demands, ensuring that your app remains fast and reliable as your audience expands.

For those who need more advanced customization or have specific requirements, BuildFire provides access to professional app developers. These experts can help you tailor your app to your exact specifications, ensuring that your vision is realized to its fullest potential.

Ready to build a social media app from scratch? Contact BuildFire today, or start your 14-day free trial

Top No-Code AI Tools of 2024: In-Depth Guide

No-code AI has transformed the way businesses leverage artificial intelligence. With no-code AI tools, average business users can deploy AI models without a background in development, data science, or technology. 

Years ago, if you wanted to build a website or mobile app, you’d need to hire a developer. But today, no-code tools make it possible for anyone to build these without writing code.

The same concept can be applied to no-code AI—only the AI technology is far more advanced and capable of doing things we never thought possible. 

If you’re interested in integrating AI into your business, then no-code AI is the easiest and most cost-effective way to do it. You can use this guide to find the right AI tools for your specific needs, and learn how they can take your business to the next level. 

What is No-Code AI?

No-code AI is a term to describe the creation and deployment of AI applications without coding, programming skills, or technical knowledge. No-code AI tools typically operate in one of two ways—either a drag-and-drop interface where the user moves elements through a visual builder or through a wizard where users answer questions and the AI builds the application based on the responses. 

No-code platforms make artificial intelligence and machine learning models available to the masses, which historically was only something that was only available to those with technical skills and specialized training. 

Reasons to Use No-Code AI Platforms

There are dozens of reasons and potential use cases for using a no-code AI tool. But at the highest level, all three of these boil down to three main benefits:

  • Accessibility
  • Speed
  • Cost

These three benefits hold true regardless of your specific use case of an AI model. It gives businesses access to the latest cutting-edge technology, which can enable users to produce more results than ever before. 

Anyone can use a no-code AI tool without prior training or technical experience. This will allow them to perform tasks that would normally take weeks, months, or years in a matter of seconds or minutes. All of this can be accomplished using free or affordable tools. 

You won’t need to hire data scientists or spend years studying natural language processing. With a no-code AI tool, you can get started immediately with virtually no barrier to entry. 

Furthermore, people with a technical background or data science expertise can produce even more by using AI-powered workflows. So regardless of your skill level, you can benefit from using a no-code AI solution. 

15 No-Code AI Tools For Every Essential Business Use Case

The use cases of no-code AI are virtually limitless. To showcase the versatility of this technology, I’ve highlighted the best no-code AI tools on the market—each of which solves a unique problem and has a specific use case in the business world. 

From data analysis to image recognition and automated machine learning, business leaders can use this technology to train AI models, create AI applications, create accurate predictive models,  and so much more.

1. BuildFire AI — No-Code AI Mobile App Development

BuildFire AI is the fastest and easiest way for anyone to create a mobile app. By leveraging AI development, the platform lets you build an app in a fraction of the time compared to other no-code tools on the market. 

Just answer some simple questions about your business, and BuildFire AI will automatically generate content, suggest features, and start creating your app based on what you want to accomplish. It even pulls logos and color schemes from your website so the app matches your company branding. 

The secret behind this technology is that the AI functionality is built on top of BuildFire’s industry-leading app development software. BuildFire has already been used to create more than 10,000+ apps for iOS and Android. The AI app builder just takes technology that’s already powerful and supercharges it.

If you’re crunched for time or on a tight budget, BuildFire AI gets you to market quickly for a fraction of the cost. 

Plus, all of the design elements are handled for you—in seconds. This is something that would normally take weeks for traditional app development. 

Don’t love the first design you see? No problem. With a single click, BuildFire AI will generate a new one for you. It’s that easy. 

2. Akkio — Custom AI Chat Box For Clients

Akkio is one of the most unique AI solutions on this list. It’s a generative AI tool that’s built for agencies. 

By leveraging AI analytics and predictive modeling, it enables agencies to put the power of AI in the hands of their customers.  

The coolest feature is the ability to “chat” with data using AI. You can create custom chatbots for your clients that allow them to gain valuable business insights and create charts without writing code. For example, you could simply enter “create a chart on monthly sales.” Akkio will look at your historical data, and the tool will provide the visual. 

This tool can basically be used by any company with data (which is basically everyone). But the ability to repurpose it for client use is what makes Akkio unique—earning it a top spot on my list. 

3. DataRobot — Predictive AI For Technical Business Users

DataRobot uses generative AI and predictive workflows to improve business outcomes. 

It’s built on an open AI ecosystem, which gives businesses the flexibility to adapt and innovate without restrictions. 

The platform has been used across a wide range of industries—including banking, fintech, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, and aviation. 

For example, hospitals and health practices can use it to predict which patients are more likely to be admitted. So doctors can proactively take steps to improve their health. An insurance company can use it to predict which products are most likely to succeed when cross-selling to specific clients. Warehouses can predict traffic to optimize resource planning. 

You get the idea.

While DataRobot has plenty of no-code features, it’s definitely built with technical audiences in mind. 

4. Obviously AI — No-Code AI For Churn Prediction

When I first discovered Obviously AI, I was blown away by the demo. I saw them take structured data and use it to create a predictive model in less than five minutes.

It turned a dataset with thousands of rows into something practical, and the user just needed to answer some basic questions about what they wanted to build. 

It’s just a matter of selecting your data source, making a few clicks, and boom—done.

The demo I watched used customer data to create a predictive model on whether or not a customer would churn. This is just one potential use case, but it was my favorite because it’s something that all businesses worry about. Since the vast majority of businesses keep customer data, this is a practical use case that anyone can benefit from. 

5. Google Teachable Machine — Create Machine Learning Models Based on Images, Sounds, and Poses

It should come as no surprise to see a solution from Google on this list—as they’ve been pioneering technology for decades.

Google Teachable Machine does exactly what it sounds like. The platform lets you use machine learning models to teach or train a website or app to recognize certain elements. 

Using computer vision, the software can be taught to recognize images, sounds, and poses. Just segment different examples of what you want the model to train and then test whether it classifies them correctly. 

For example, this would work really well if you wanted to create a mobile app that identifies birds. You’d simply gather as much information about each bird and then teach the model to recognize them based on looks or even sounds. 

6. Lobe AI — Free Machine Learning Model Using Image Classification

Created by Microsoft, Lobe AI is actually pretty similar to Google Teachable Machine. The biggest difference is that you can export your model in more ways. 

Currently, it only works by using image classification—meaning you label images based on what it is to train the model. But object detection and data classification models are coming soon. 

Lobe AI also has project templates that automatically selects the best machine-learning architecture for your project.

Let’s say you wanted to use no-code/low-code to build an app that recognizes plants. You’d first need to train the software to recognize what a specific type of plant looks like. Then when an app user points their camera at a tree or bush, the app would tell them what type of plant it is. 

7. Amazon SageMaker — Use Tools Like Notebooks, Debuggers, Profilers, Pipelines, and MLOps in a Fully Managed ML Service

Amazon SageMaker offers the best of both worlds for enterprise organizations. 

Business analysts can benefit from no-code interfaces while still leveraging the power of machine learning. But data scientists with technical expertise can use it to become more innovative with ML through their preferred choice of IDEs.

This makes it an appealing option for businesses that have both technical and non-technical users on their teams. 

8. Nanonets — AI-Powered Document Processing

Nanonets is a no-code AI platform that’s built for extracting the most information out of your documents. 

And the term “documents” is used loosely here. It can pull insights from emails, support tickets, databases—basically any unstructured data across multiple sources. 

For example, you could use it to collect invoices from emails and then automate accounts payable tasks. Or you could use historical data from old purchase orders to optimize your supply chain. 

You can try it for free and let Nanonets analyze 500 pages for your starter models. 

9. Levity AI — AI Automation For Repetitive Tasks

Levity AI is a no-code workflow automation builder. 

Business users can simply build an AI-powered model to complete common tasks based on certain triggers. It can be used for sales quote automation, direct order entry, customer tracking, and so much more. 

Just connect it with the tools you’re already using, like CRM databases, email providers, and management systems—then define your workflow by building AI blocks. 

10. Causaly AI — Human-Centric AI For Research and Development

Causaly AI is designed for biomedical scientific research and development. It’s built to eliminate human bias while conducting research and uncovering hidden knowledge in studies. 

As someone conducting this type of deep scientific research, you can benefit from asking Causaly questions. The AI answers these questions based on what it found in reading every biomedical literature that’s ever been published. 

It could otherwise take weeks or even months for researchers to find these answers. But Causaly finds them in seconds. 

The use cases of Causaly AI are pretty astonishing. It can help identify biomarkers in drug development programs, which ultimately streamlines success rates. It can also validate and qualify biomarkers in these studies. Scientists are even using it to further understand the biology behind diseases. 

11. PredictNow.ai — AI For Hedge Fund Investments

PredictNow.ai is another ultra niche-specific no-code tool. It’s built specifically for hedge funds, asset managers, and financial institutions. 

It’s designed to help these organizations forecast the probability of profitable trades and investment decisions. 

While this type of technology isn’t necessarily new, PredictNow.ai has some tools that you won’t see from other tools on the market. 

The platform is built on a concept that they call “Corrective AI.” Rather than completely relying on the AI models, the platform is designed to combine big data with human insight. So the decisions are still in your hands, but now you have more information at your disposal.

12. Invideo — AI Powered Video Generation

As the name implies, Invideo is a no-code AI tool for creating videos. 

Some of you may have experience with AI image generation. But Invideo blows that technology out of the water by creating more engaging video content. 

You can instantly turn text commands into videos, which is fun for anyone to do but also has tons of practical use cases for businesses. Rather than having to spend days or even weeks creating marketing and promotional content, you can use Invideo to create them in minutes. 

It’s also really easy to tweak and edit the videos with just a few clicks. You can even add human-sounding voice overs to your videos. 

13. AI Squared — Machine Learning For Business Web Applications

AI Squared uses both predictive and generative AI models to support web-based applications. 

It’s all about leveraging your company’s data to gain a competitive advantage. 

The platform can fill the gaps between data science and general business teams. These models can be implemented into web apps that businesses are already using, which can ultimately unlock hidden insights that were previously unavailable or too time-consuming to uncover. 

14. E42 — AI “Co-Workers” For Enterprise Functions

E42 is a no-code technology that’s powered by artificial intelligence and NLP designed to create “cognitive process automation” for enterprise organizations.

In simple terms, the platform lets companies and business users build AI co-workers to help boost productivity and complete tasks. 

The idea behind E42 isn’t to replace humans with AI—it’s to let AI supercharge human capabilities. 

One cool use case of E42 that I found interesting was the creation of an AI assistant named Neil. Neil is an accounts payable “executive” who handles 90% of accounts payable tasks. 

There are dozens of use cases like this on the E42 website. So you can check it out for yourself to see if any apply to your business. 

15. Flagright — AI-Powered FML Compliance For Fintechs and Banks

Flagright is a niche-specific AI platform that’s designed specifically for banks and financial technology companies. It helps these organizations deal with AML compliance—helping to detect money laundering, criminal financing, and securities fraud. 

While this may sound complex, it’s completely no-code. 

Compliance and fraud teams can use it on a practical basis to make fast and reliable decisions if suspicious behavior is detected. You can use it for rules-based monitoring, risk scoring, and even sanctions screenings. 

You can even use it to build custom scenarios and anonymously collaborate with other financial organizations across the globe. 

According to the Flagright website, this AI-powered risk detection tool saves the average analyst 20 hours per week, and it cuts false positive alerts by over 50%. 

Final Thoughts Using AI and No-Code Tools

Saying that no-code AI tools are powerful would be a drastic understatement. As you can see from the tools in this guide, this technology can be used for seemingly anything.

We’ve shown how no-code AI can be used to build mobile apps, create videos, reduce risks for hedge fund managers, and even fight financial crime. 

The key to success with no-code AI is finding the right tools that can help your business. Hopefully the options in this guide gave you a good starting point on what you can accomplish, along with some quality recommendations for tools that meet your desired use case. 

How to Create Modules For Training Employees

Effective employee training builds the foundation for successful organizations. It ensures your staff learns the job-related skills required to perform their duties while further developing their careers and setting them up for success within your company.

In fact, 86% of HR leaders say that employee training is critical for retaining talent. Businesses with comprehensive employee training programs generate 218% more revenue per employee compared to those without formal training. Furthermore, 92% of employees say that workplace training has a positive impact on their engagement, and 90% say they’re less likely to leave a company that offers development opportunities. 

Training modules are one of the most effective ways to train employees. Companies can build a training module for virtually any use case or learning initiative. Staff can complete modules at their own pace, while leaders can track and measure the results. 

If you’re interested in creating modules for training employees, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll break down the different ways you can use online training modules and types of training modules before walking you through the step-by-step process of building one that delivers real results. 

What is a Training Module?

A training module is a self-contained element of instructional information that focuses on a specific topic within a broader training program. Each module is designed to provide learners with skills, knowledge, and information related to a particular subject matter.

Training modules are components of an online course or instructional guide. Typically, multiple modules must be finished to complete a course or earn a certification. 

It’s common for training modules to be delivered through an online or mobile learning management system. Within each module, there’s a range of content that’s used for training—most often starting with informational content before formal assessments and evaluations.

For example, modules may start with a slideshow or video before testing what’s been learned through a quiz or test. 

Ways to Use Module Training For Employees

Module training can be used for any type of educational setting. But within the realm of an employee training program, these are the most common ways to use a modular training course: 

  • New hire training, onboarding, and orientation
  • Leadership training
  • Sales coaching
  • Product training
  • Job-specific technical training
  • Employee safety training
  • Diversity training
  • Mandatory corporate training (sexual harassment, soft skills, etc).
  • Cybersecurity training protocols

You can create online training modules for virtually any type of learning objective within an organization. 

Types of Training Modules

Employee training modules come in all different shapes and sizes. But you can mix and match your content delivery and training assessments based on the specific goal or learning objective of the module. Here are some common types of training modules used for employee training:

Online Course

This type of online training module is a comprehensive e-learning initiative that’s designed to inform learners about a specific topic. It’s commonly presented in a slideshow format with a mix of text, images, and videos. Once a slide has been consumed, the learner continues by clicking a “Next” button to proceed. Online courses work really well for providing sequential training with information that builds on what was previously taught. 

Interactive Assessment

Interactive assessments are an engaging way to evaluate employees’ understanding of the training material. These assessments can include quizzes, drag-and-drop activities, or interactive simulations. The key is to make these assessments interactive and dynamic, allowing employees to apply what they’ve learned in a practical context. This type of module is particularly effective in measuring the retention of knowledge and skills, and it can be adapted for various topics ranging from product knowledge to compliance training.

Video Lectures and Presentations

Video lectures and presentations offer a visual and auditory learning experience that can be more engaging than text-based content. These modules can feature recorded lectures, interviews with experts, or animated explanations of complex concepts. They are particularly useful for delivering detailed information in an easily digestible format. Incorporating videos in training modules can enhance learners’ understanding and retention, especially for topics that benefit from visual demonstrations, like technical skills or product features.

Scenario-Based Learning

Scenario-based learning modules immerse employees in real-life situations relevant to their job roles. These scenarios require learners to make decisions based on the information provided—mimicking the challenges they may face in their actual work. This approach promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Scenario-based learning is highly effective for training in areas like customer service, conflict resolution, and decision-making processes.

Microlearning

Microlearning involves creating short, focused training modules that cover a specific topic or skill in a concise manner. These modules are typically 5-10 minutes long and are ideal for busy employees who have limited time for training. Microlearning is effective for reinforcing key concepts, providing just-in-time training, and supporting ongoing learning. It’s suitable for topics that can be broken down into small, standalone units, such as software updates, policy changes, or quick tips.

Live Group Training

Live group training modules involve interactive sessions conducted in real time, either in-person or through video conferencing tools. These sessions can include workshops, webinars, or group discussions led by a trainer or subject matter expert. Live group training fosters collaboration and allows for immediate feedback and interaction among participants. It’s particularly useful for topics that benefit from group dynamics and discussion, such as leadership development, team building, and brainstorming sessions.

How to Create Online Training Modules For Employees (5 Steps)

Creating online training modules is easy when you follow specific guidelines. Use the five steps below to build each module.

Step 1 – Establish the Key Training Objectives

The first thing you need to do is determine the learning objectives for each module. By definition, a “module” is a set of independent units or parts of a more complete structure. So you don’t need to cram everything into one lesson. 

For example, if you want to train employees about cybersecurity protocols, you can break this down into three separate modules—one for BYOD policies, another for password management, and a third for breach protocols. 

Each module is completely independent of the other topics within the broader scope of cybersecurity. An employee doesn’t need to understand password policies to complete the module on breach protocols. But each of these is a key objective within the big picture of cybersecurity training. 

Step 2 – Define Success For Each Training Module

Every module needs to have its own definition of “success” or “completion.” This can vary depending on the type of training.

For example, success for new hire onboarding may simply require an employee to watch a set of videos and consume content within a slideshow. The act of watching the video to completion and clicking the “next” button after each slide may be enough for this. Then you could collect a signature from the employee that acknowledges they’ve read all of the policies and understand what’s expected of them in the workplace.

But success for using a particular piece of software or obtaining credentials may look very different. For these types of training modules, the employee may need to take a quiz, test, or exam and get a passing grade (such as 90% or higher) to complete the module. 

Step 3 – Determine the Right Content Format

The key to creating engaging training modules is picking the right way to distribute content for consumption. Text-only slides are boring and don’t always provide sufficient training for a particular subject matter. 

Interactive lessons that require the employee to make clicks and answer questions along the way tend to be more engaging. Leverage video content, audio files, and images whenever possible. 

You don’t need to stick with a standard training module template for every lesson. In fact, I advise against it. Changing the format based on the lesson is much more effective. 

Step 4 – Create Training Modules

When creating training modules, it’s easier to treat each one as its own mini-course. That’s why it’s so important to break down the key objectives, success definition, and content format before you start building the training materials. 

Here’s a sample of what you can include in just one module:

Don’t force content that doesn’t fit within the particular lesson. 

Remember, each module is completely independent of the other. This means that some training modules could take two or three hours to complete, while others may only take 20-30 minutes. 

Step 5 – Distribute and Track Results

Once you’ve completed your modules, it’s time to get them into the hands of your employees. It’s up to you to determine exactly when and how employees will use these. But try to tie them to specific job-related events or company-wide initiatives. 

For example, when a new employee gets hired, they’ll automatically be sent the onboarding module through your company’s internal employee app. From there, they can complete modules related to various corporate policies and go through specific skills training.

If an employee switches roles or moves to a new department, they’ll automatically be sent the training materials for this new position. If you’re rolling out a new product or using new software, you can send training modules to everyone within the organization. 

Some companies offer optional training for employees who want to advance specific skills and advance themselves within the company. Others roll out mandatory training sessions every year or quarter related to different HR initiatives and compliance. 

It’s crucial to use a learning management system that accurately tracks who has completed what modules. Beyond completion rates, you need to assess how well the training translates into improved job performance. This type of data can help identify areas where employees are struggling and need additional support. 

The Importance of Effective Employee Training For Your Company Culture

Employee training is far more important than simply ensuring your staff knows how to do their jobs. It ultimately helps enrich your company culture by creating employees who are skilled, engaged, and constantly advancing. 

A recent survey found that 76% of employees were more likely to stay with an organization that offers continuous training. 

Turnover rates are one of the most important KPIs when assessing company culture. If your office is like a revolving door, it instantly tells new employees that there probably isn’t much of a future for them within the company. But low turnover rates help build strong bonds between existing staff while conveying the message to new hires that they can be happy and grow within the company for the long haul. 

39% of employees say that the potential for future growth within an organization is an important factor in job satisfaction. By offering training, you’re always giving your staff the opportunity to grow and succeed. 

A whopping 86% of job seekers say they’ll avoid companies with a bad reputation. Meanwhile, 82% of business leaders say that a strong company culture gives them a competitive advantage in the workplace. 

These results are measurable—with 46% of leaders saying that improving company culture leads to a boost in employee productivity and 38% saying it leads to increased employee engagement. 

Final Thoughts — Using Mobile Apps For Employee Training Programs

Leveraging mobile apps for employee training programs presents an innovative and efficient way to enhance learning experiences. With solutions like BuildFire, you can create and deliver training modules directly to your staff’s smartphones—making learning accessible anytime and anywhere.

This approach perfectly aligns with the modern workforce’s preference for on-the-go and flexible learning options. 

In fact, 58% of employees say that they want to learn at their own pace. Mobile apps give them this opportunity to complete modules in bite-sized sections whether they’re on the job, at home, or on the go. They can fit training into their busy schedules without distributing their workflow. 

BuildFire lets you integrate various types of training modules into a user-friendly interface. From interactive assessments to video lectures, slides, and quizzes, everything can be distributed and completed from a smartphone or tablet. 

This not only simplifies distribution and tracking but also engages employees in a more dynamic and personalized learning journey. The convenience of apps encourages higher participation rates with real-time analytics and feedback mechanisms. 

By harnessing the power of mobile technology, you’re offering much more than an employee training solution—you’re fostering a culture of continuous learning and development within your organization. 

How to Teach an Online Course (and Get Paid) Using Mobile Apps

Teaching online can be a profitable business venture. The demand for online learning is at an all-time high and continues to grow every year.

In the US alone, the online learning industry is projected to reach $687 billion by 2030—up from $100 billion in 2020. Furthermore, it’s expected that over 57 million people will take online courses by 2027.

With so many people looking to learn new skills or get trained online, there’s an inherent need for online teaching to fill that gap. 

Using mobile apps to teach online classes is one the best and most profitable ways to enter this space—and that’s exactly what you’ll learn from this guide. I’ll explain how to build online courses and teach online classes using mobile apps in a way that’s more profitable than you ever thought possible. 

Importance of Mobile Apps For Online Teaching

Traditional lecture-style online classes aren’t suitable for the masses. With modern online learning, people want to go at their own pace. Whether that’s one class a week, three classes per day, or a mixed cadence that fits their schedule. 

It’s much easier to complete online training if you have 24/7 access to a lesson. That’s where mobile apps come into the equation. 

Someone’s smartphone is usually never more than an arm’s reach away. This makes the perfect vessel to facilitate online learning—and as a result, the best way to teach online.

This doesn’t just sound good in theory—the facts support it. 64% of learners say that accessing training materials from a mobile device is “essential.” Smartphone learners complete online course material 45% faster than people using a computer. The mobile learning market is growing at a CAGR of 30% and expected to reach $156 billion by 2026. 

As the teacher, you don’t have to be physically present at a specific date or time. You simply prepare the learning materials ahead of time, break everything up into incremental sections, and publish it through the app. 

With the right angle and solid marketing, a single course could reach tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of users. You do the work once and get paid for every new purchase.

How Much Money Can You Make Online Teaching Courses?

You can make plenty of money with an online course business. In reality, there’s no cap on your earnings. It’s just a matter of how you price the course and how many people you can get signed up.

Here’s a basic overview of how many online courses are priced:

  • $45 to $150 for a mini course. 5-10 short videos around 10-15 minutes each would fall into this category. 
  • $195 to $595 for a short to medium-length course. This would typically be a mix of videos, PDF files, and quizzes that take upwards of four to six weeks to complete. 
  • $1,000 to $3,500 for long online courses. Think of a flagship course that would take three to six months to complete. 

Again, these are just baseline examples. You can really price the course any way you want. 
According to a recent study by Podia, the average first-time online course costs $137.

If you decide to price your first online course right around the average, you can expect to earn about $68,500 if 500 people sign up, $205,500 if 1,500 people sign up, and $548,000 if 4,000 people sign up.

You get the idea. There’s money to be made here.

The Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing Course is a great example. Taught by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, the course costs $197, and over 6,000 people have completed it. That’s $1,182,000

What I love about this example is that it shows how anyone can teach a profitable online course. You don’t need an education background and really don’t even need traditional teaching skills. 

Michelle simply took something she was good at and created an online course to show others how she was successful.

This is the best way to earn money teaching online courses because it involves much less research and effort. You already possess the knowledge or skills. Now it’s just a matter of putting them into an online course template and pushing those materials out into the world.

You can also get a massive ROI from teaching online courses like this. Michelle first launched her affiliate marketing course in 2016. Fast-forward to today, and people are still buying it.

How to Teach Online Courses That Make Money in 10 Steps

Consider this your course on online teaching—specifically using mobile apps to boost profitability. I’ll walk you through ten easy steps that will simplify the way you teach online courses.

Step 1 – Identify Your Niche and Target Audience

Before you prepare any course material, the first thing you need to do is figure out who you’re planning to teach. Step outside the narrow box of college courses and students taking an online class. The online teaching space is much broader, and there are literally thousands of other ways to approach this.

The secret to this step is to look for the golden triangle combination of these three elements:

  • Your area of expertise
  • Long-term market trends
  • Learning gaps that need to be filled

For example, let’s say you’re a software developer (area of expertise) and recognize the power of artificial intelligence in programming (market trend). Then you could see if mid-market business IT teams know how to use this technology to their advantage (learning gaps).

This is much more specific than just a general-purpose programming course. Instead, think about who’s interested in taking online courses, and fill the gap of those courses that don’t really exist yet. 

Step 2 – Choose the Right Mobile App Platform For Online Courses

Next, you need to figure out how you’re going to deliver your course. As previously discussed, mobile apps are the best learning management system—so this will be our primary area of focus.

It’s best to choose robust educational technology that’s specifically built for your use case. 

BuildFire’s education app builder is suitable for any type of online course. It’s plug-and-play, so you can easily add new types of training modules or educational content based on how you want to teach the course.

Some of you might want to use videos and audio files to share lessons. Others may prefer flashcards, PDF documents, and quizzes. Some may want to create a course that’s a combination of everything.

The best part about using an app from BuildFire to teach your online course is that it’s optimized for profits. As a no-code app builder, you can use it to build and launch an app for iOS and Android in a matter of weeks. 

It supports in-app payments for one-off courses and ongoing subscriptions. Plus, it’s super affordable. Plans range from just $100 to $500 per month. You know your fixed costs from the beginning, and you can easily break even by just selling a few courses. Everything else is pure profit. 

Step 3 – Design Engaging Course Content

Now it’s time to prepare your course materials. 

But do so in a way that drives engagement in the online learning environment. For example, lectures can be boring. But interactive quizzes and online discussions with other people are engaging. 

If you’re struggling with the right format, I strongly suggest signing up for a bunch of different online courses to see which ones fit your style. It’s worth the time and investment, and even if you’re on a tight budget, there are plenty of free online courses you can use as inspiration. 

Here’s an example of the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing Course that I referenced earlier:

It’s also important to consider how you’re going to structure each lesson so that it keeps the learner engaged. 

For example, let’s say you’re teaching an online course about how to become a yoga teacher. There’s a level of understanding that the people interested in this course already know the yoga basics. They’ve likely been practicing for years and just need some guidance on the steps for getting the appropriate certifications to teach.

So if your first course covers beginner yoga poses, you’re likely going to lose your audience pretty quickly. 

Lots of course creators tend to “hide” the secrets for later in the lessons. I don’t like that idea, especially if people are paying. Start to give them real value from the very beginning so they keep coming back for more. 

Step 4 – Optimize and Automate For Mobile Learning

It’s extremely important that you consider the size of your “online classroom.” People will be completing your course on a four or five-inch screen.

So if there’s a video of you standing in front of a whiteboard, pointing to different things, and writing while you’re speaking, it will be tough for people to see what you’re doing.

Instead, a full-size slide or flashcard will be easier to digest on mobile. You could always have an audio voiceover or use a video that follows this format as well. 

If you’re going to deliver PDF downloads, make sure the font size is mobile-friendly. Users shouldn’t have to pinch and zoom to see everything on the screen.

Additionally, you want to automate as much as possible. There shouldn’t have to be any manual intervention by you or the user to complete the course.

For example, let’s say you’re planning to have a quiz after each module. Rather than manually correcting each quiz, you can simply set a passing standard (like 80%) and automatically open the next module if the user gets a passing score. 

If the course is sequential (which I recommend), then you can lock each section of the course and set it to automatically unlock it after the previous section is completed. This is much easier than having to manually send out new modules every week. 

Once your mobile course has been created, you really won’t have to touch anything—the entire process gets put on autopilot. 

Step 5 – Set Up Your Monetization Strategies

These are the most common ways to monetize your online course:

  • One-time payments for complete access to a course
  • Monthly or annual subscriptions for complete access to all training resources
  • Offering a free course and then upselling another lesson or product
  • Bundling multiple courses into a single purchase
  • Selling courses as products
  • Selling ad space or getting a sponsor for your course
  • Affiliate marketing within the course (like using Bluehost to show people how to create a website and then directing them to a Bluehost affiliate link)

Don’t box yourself into just one of these methods. I recommend experimenting with different options to see which ones convert at the highest rate.

If you’re just getting started, you may need to offer some type of free course or free lesson just to help establish some credibility. 

Step 6 – Market Your Online Course

This is arguably the most important step in the entire process. You could have the best online course in the world, but if nobody knows about it, it doesn’t matter.

Treat your online course like any other type of business product. It’s all about getting the most eyes on your product and getting those eyes to convert.

Some of my favorite marketing strategies for online courses include:

  • Hosting webinars for people interested in your topic
  • Creating a website and blogging about the subject
  • Accepting invitations to be a podcast guest in your niche
  • Building an email list by giving away free materials
  • Publishing a book and pitching your course in it
  • Guest posting on other blogs and publications
  • Collaborating with other online teachers

The list goes on and on. Yes, obviously you can run ads on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google. But the point is you don’t need to spend a ton of money on marketing to be successful here. There are other ways.

My best advice, find ways to target people who are already taking online classes. It’s easier to get someone like this to buy your course as opposed to someone who has never purchased one in the past. 

Step 7 – Engage Your Mobile Learners

The best part about using mobile apps to sell your online course is that it gives a direct window straight into someone’s pocket. So you can keep them engaged before, during, and after the course material has been completed. 

Everyone has different learning styles. So you can set automation triggers to send a push notification if someone hasn’t opened the app in three days, reminding them to complete the next module.

Conversely, if someone is on a six-day streak, you could send them a push notification congratulating them on their progress and encouraging them to keep up the good work.

If another user has already completed the course, send them a notification to purchase your next one. 

In all of these examples, the student has an online teacher that’s directly reaching out to them—which keeps them coming back. 

You can also offer in-app support for your students so they can reach out to you with questions or suggestions throughout the process. Asking for feedback is another great way to keep people engaged. 

Step 8 – Track and Analyze the Performance of Your Online Course

Using sales to validate the success of your online course can be misleading. If 1,000 people signed up but only 126 completed it, there’s obviously a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

You could look at the finer details to find trends and common ground where people got stuck or didn’t come back. Maybe 70% of users completed the first three modules but stopped during the fourth.

Is this due to a technical glitch? Poor lesson planning? What’s the issue?

You could also have a near 100% completion rate but poor sales. This tells you that your course is doing well, but you need to enhance your marketing efforts.

While most of the course can be put on autopilot, there’s still going to be room for improvement. That’s what separates the average online course from the ones that make a ton of money. 

Step 9 – Scale and Expand Your Course

Once you’ve fine-tuned the details, you take your course to the next level by either enhancing it or creating a new one. 

Maybe your first course was the “Beginner’s Guide to SEO.” Your next course is “Intermediate SEO Training” or “Technical SEO 101.”

Ideally, look for something that’s the next logical step for your existing customers. Selling a new course to someone who’s already completed one is going to be much easier than finding a completely new audience. 

This could also be a good time to experiment with another format. 

For example, after the course is over you could offer a one-time payment for lifetime access to specific training materials. Or maybe you’ll offer a subscription service for online coaching. 

You should have this next step prepared from the beginning. So you can immediately hit users with another value proposition after they’ve completed the first course. This way, the topic is fresh in their mind, and they’re ready to continue their learning objectives. 

Be prepared to change your course if certain ideas or concepts become obsolete. 

Let’s say you’re teaching business users how to master technology in a particular field. But there’s an updated version of the software you used, and the steps no longer translate. 

You’re better off adjusting your existing course with the latest version or supplementing it with additional materials. 

This concept applies to basically every field or practice. 

If there’s new research, updated studies, advanced technology, or anything else that can make your course better, then add it in. Be sure to promote these updates so prospective users know that it’s new, improved, and still relevant. 

Final Thoughts on Teaching an Online Course

Online teaching is a booming industry. 

With so many people looking to expand their knowledge and learn new skills, you can easily tap into this market by teaching an online course.

Mobile access to your course helps you teach in a format that your audience prefers. So creating a mobile app for online learning is really a no-brainer for anyone looking to penetrate this space. 

Consider using BuildFire as your learning management system. This app builder has everything you need to build and teach a profitable online course through your own mobile app. From driving recurring revenue to engaging with your students, BuildFire accommodates online learning for any industry or use case. Try it free for 14 days

27 Low Cost and Easy Business Ideas That Make Money

In a world where entrepreneurship is more accessible than ever before, finding the right business idea can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Whether you’re looking to start a small side hustle or a full-scale operation, the key is to find low-investment business ideas that can quickly turn a profit without breaking the bank. 

From online business ideas to unique service offerings, this guide presents low-cost and easy business ideas that not only make money but also have the potential to grow and adapt to the ever-changing business landscape. 

You can use this resource as inspiration to start your own business without having to borrow money, raise funds from investors, or pour your life savings into it. Most of these business ideas can be started for less than $500 and follow business models that turn a profit almost instantly. 

1. Online Tutoring and Teaching

Online tutoring has recently emerged as one of the most lucrative business ideas in the digital age—mostly due to its low operational costs and expensive market research.

Unlike traditional tutoring, which involves renting a physical space or traveling to the student’s home, online tutoring services eliminate these logistical expenses and transcend geographical limitations. 

The initial startup cost is minimal, and most of you already have what you need to get started. You just need a dependable internet connection and a decent computer, along with a quality webcam and microphone. 

One of the best parts about becoming an online tutor is that it can apply to nearly any skill or knowledge base. Think beyond the traditional student and teacher arrangement here. You could teach new mothers how to care for their babies or teach people how to build a home garden in urban environments. The possibilities are truly endless. 

Furthermore, you can automate your online tutoring by moving away from one-on-one sessions and creating online courses. This approach offers limitless scalability where people can go through your course at their own pace from their computers or smartphones using your dedicated online learning app. Whether you charge a monthly subscription fee to access all of your content or charge a fixed fee per course, there are tons of ways to earn high profits with this business idea. 

2. Dropshipping Business

If you want to sell products online but don’t want to deal with the hassle of managing inventory or fulfilling orders, then dropshipping is perfect for you. 

With this online business model, all you need to do is manage your website and marketing materials. When customers purchase something through your ecommerce site or mobile commerce app, the items get shipped directly from the manufacturer to the consumers—so you never actually touch the products.

You don’t have to pay for inventory upfront either. Your supplier charges you the wholesale rate of an item once it’s been sold to the customer and you earn profits based on the markup of the sales price. 

It takes a bit of research to find the right products to sell. You’ll also need to find the right suppliers. But if you’re using a platform like Shopify to power your online store, then you can get started for just $30 or $40 per month. Shopify integrates with all of the best dropshipping companies and supplier software, and then you can easily turn your Shopify store into a mobile app to further expand your reach and make things more convenient for your customers. 

3. Mental Health and Wellness Coaching

People have really started to acknowledge the importance of good mental health, and they’re more open to taking steps to improve it. But many don’t know where to start, which is where the coaching aspect comes into play. 

This business idea offers a unique blend of personal fulfillment and financial opportunity. So if you’re passionate about helping others but still want to turn a profit, this can work well for your goals. 

The startup investment is pretty low—often just a certification in coaching or a relevant field can help enhance your credibility. But it’s not technically a requirement. The key investment here isn’t monetary at all. It’s the ability to develop a deep understanding of mental health practices and effective communication skills. 

You can structure your coaching around individual sessions, group workshops, or even online courses. Just make sure they cater to a broad audience seeking guidance and support through their wellness journeys. 

Promoting your business shouldn’t be too expensive either. You can start by growing an organic social media following before experimenting with some low-cost ads driving people to your website or mobile app.

With such a high demand for these services on the rise, there’s plenty of room to make money in this niche without having to spend a fortune. 

4. Podcasting

Following the trends is always a good business idea, and podcasting has been skyrocketing in popularity in recent years. According to Demand Sage, there will be roughly 505 million podcast listeners globally by the end of 2024—that’s up roughly 20% from just two years ago and up nearly 85% over five years.

What’s even more astonishing is that we’re just barely scratching the surface in terms of potential. Even with this high growth rate, less than 10% of internet users worldwide listen to podcasts—meaning there’s still a massive opportunity to claim your share of this growing market.

You can start a podcast from home with a minimal upfront investment. You just need a high-quality microphone, audio editing software, and some basic soundproofing. The ongoing costs are relatively low, with the biggest expenses being the hosting fees. 

Podcasts commonly earn revenue through sponsorships, ads, and affiliate programs. You can also charge your listeners for premium content that’s locked behind a paywall for members only. 

In addition to broadcasting your podcast through popular directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, you can always distribute your content through your own podcast app as a way to enhance the listener experience and take more control over your revenue streams. 

5. Virtual Cooking Classes

If you love cooking or have some type of formal culinary training, this is one of the most profitable small business ideas because the costs are so low. You can literally teach people to cook different meals online without having to do anything different than you’re already doing. 

For example, if you already cook dinner for your family five nights per week—all you need to do is set up a camera or two and coach people through the process. Your grocery bill won’t change, and you likely have all of the pots, pans, and cooking materials in your kitchen. 

The profitability of virtual cooking classes comes from the ability to reach a wide audience without geographic limitations. 

You may decide to offer some free videos to promote yourself, but turn a profit by selling cooking courses, virtual cookbooks, and premium recipes. Alternatively, you can offer all of your classes for free and earn money through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate programs in this category.

6. Virtual Home Staging For Real Estate Sales

Virtual home staging in the real estate sector stands out as a lucrative business idea due to its low overhead costs and the booming real estate market. This service involves creating digital interior designs for properties that are unfurnished—helping potential buyers visualize the space. 

It’s one of the more profitable small business ideas if you can develop relationships with real estate agents and agencies. Here’s why.

According to Realtor.com, it can cost about $2,000 to $2,400 per month to stage a 2,000-square-foot home. Most staging companies require a three-month minimum contract. So even if a house sells instantly, realtors are paying upwards of $6,000 to $7,000+ at a minimum for staging. 

But if you set up your business structure to partner with real estate agencies, you can offer virtual staging for a fraction of the price—helping them save money while improving profits for the sellers. It’s a win-win-win for all parties involved. 

7. Freelance Graphic Design

Freelance graphic design stands as a sought-after business idea due to the increasing demand for digital content and branding. The primary investment involves software tools like Adobe Creative Suite and a powerful computer setup. 

The low-cost nature stems from the ability for graphic designers to work remotely and manage multiple clients simultaneously.

Profitability in freelance graphic design is driven by the ability to specialize in niches like logo design, web design, or social media content—allowing for higher rates. Building a strong portfolio and leveraging social media for marketing can attract a diverse range of clients. Networking and maintaining good client relationships are key to consistent work and referrals. As brands increasingly seek unique visual identities, the demand for skilled graphic designers is likely to remain high.

8. Digital Marketing Agency

Starting a digital marketing agency involves understanding the nuances of social media, search engine optimization (SEO), and online advertising. The initial costs are relatively low, primarily revolving around establishing a strong online presence and perhaps some initial spending on online ads to gain visibility.

The profitability of a digital marketing agency lies in its ability to adapt to the rapidly changing digital landscape and deliver results for clients. Services can range from managing social media accounts to developing full-fledged digital marketing strategies. The potential for scalability is significant, as businesses of all sizes are constantly looking for effective ways to increase their online presence. Establishing a reputation for delivering measurable results will be crucial in attracting and retaining clients.

If you’re starting from scratch, consider picking a niche-specific role—like becoming an outsourced social media manager for small businesses in a particular industry. Get really good at one thing, and then scale from there with additional services. 

But beyond a computer, stable internet connection, and maybe some SEO software, the costs of starting a digital marketing company are next to nothing. 

9. White Label App Development Services

White labeling mobile apps is one of the most profitable business ideas of this year and the foreseeable future. There are so many different ways to approach this, and all of them follow the same format—low upfront costs and limitless revenue potential.

First, the demand for app development is still at an all-time high. But the barrier to entry isn’t as difficult as it was in years past. This means that smaller businesses that previously couldn’t afford an app now have the budget for it. 

As a white labeler, you can white label an existing app builder and resell it as your own or use white label app builders to create mobile apps for your clients. You can also use a combination of these models. 

Due to the structure of white label software, you can break even after selling just one or two apps—and everything on top of that is pure profit. 

One of the best ways to make money in this space is cornering a niche. For example, let’s say you build an app for a law firm or dentist. Beyond some business-specific information like locations, logos, and contact phone numbers, the vast majority of the app features for every other lawyer or dentist will be the same. 

So if you secure more of these types of clients, you can simply duplicate the apps you’ve already built and just make small changes. 90% of the work is already done for you. 

If you’re interested in this business idea, then book a demo to learn more about BuildFire’s white label reseller program

10. Career Coaching and Resume Writing

With such a high demand for professional guidance in an increasingly competitive job market, many job seekers are willing to pay big bucks for expert advice.

Embarking on a journey as a career coach and resume writer can be a highly rewarding and profitable business idea for those with a knack for helping others achieve their professional goals. This business idea requires a minimal financial investment but demands a strong understanding of various industries, resume writing expertise, and coaching skills to guide clients in their career paths.

You can offer services like one-on-one coaching sessions, group workshops, or online webinars. Additionally, creating downloadable resume templates or guides can provide passive income streams.

Building a robust online presence is key to success in this field. Start with a professional website showcasing testimonials and successful case studies. Stay active on platforms like LinkedIn to engage with potential prospects. 

As you establish your reputation, referrals and repeat clients can significantly contribute to your business’s growth.

11. Online Dating Consultant

Starting an online dating consultancy is a unique and modern online business idea that taps into the ever-growing world of digital dating. It’s perfect for those who have an in-depth understanding of relationships and can offer advice on creating compelling dating profiles, communication strategies, and dating etiquette.

Like with any consulting business, the initial investment is pretty low. It’s just about establishing a digital footprint for your online business and maybe spending some targeted advertising dollars to attract clients. 

You could offer personalized consultations, dating profile makeover services, or even group coaching sessions. 

12. Car Detailing Business

Car detailing stands out as one of the best small business ideas for those willing to put in some hard work in the early stages. While the monetary investment is low, you must be willing and able to clean cars when you’re first starting out—at least until you’re ready to hire some employees.

This is one of the few ideas on this list that require your physical presence to get paid. So you’ll need to be located in an area where car detailing is in demand. For example, a small rural farm community in Iowa probably won’t have the same demand for car detailing as Beverly Hills. 

But for the most part, you can purchase all of the equipment you need to detail cars for less than $200. And you’ll likely make that back after just one detail.

13. Print on Demand Services

Print on demand services represent a lucrative business model in the e-commerce world. This business idea involves partnering with a supplier to custom-print designs on various products like t-shirts, books, or mugs, only when an order is placed, eliminating the need for inventory.

The low-cost nature of this business comes from its on-demand model, which significantly reduces the risks associated with unsold stock. The initial investment is minimal, often just needing a website and designs to get started.

Additionally, this business model allows for significant scalability without a corresponding increase in costs. As your brand grows, you can expand your product range and explore new markets, all while maintaining low overhead costs.

14. Event Planning Business

Launching an event planning business is a dynamic and rewarding venture, especially for those with a flair for organization, creativity, and people skills. Event planning encompasses a wide range of categories, from corporate events to conferences and weddings—offering diversity in clientele and projects.

This business idea requires a modest upfront investment, mainly in marketing and building a network of reliable vendors and suppliers. Success as an event planner hinges on attention to detail, the ability to work under pressure, and exceptional organizational skills.

Profits in this model typically come from the markup on services provided and the ability to handle multiple clients and events. Building a strong portfolio and client testimonials can significantly help in attracting new business. Networking with other industry professionals is also key to finding new opportunities and partnerships.

Event planning also offers the flexibility to start small, perhaps focusing on smaller local events and gradually expanding your services as you build your brand. With creativity and a robust network, an event planning business can thrive and grow into a highly profitable venture.

For larger events and corporate, you can even create dedicated event apps to help you manage everything. Best of all, your clients will end up footing the bill—and you can earn a markup on this as well. 

This is another great value-added service that can help differentiate your event planning business from other event planners on the market. 

15. Dog Walking Business

The best business ideas fill a specific need—which is exactly what this does. Pet owners have business schedules and aren’t able to provide their dogs with the necessary exercise. 

Plus, they don’t want their dogs to feel lonely and left at home all day. These dogs might even go 8-10+ hours without going to the bathroom unless someone lets them outside. 

If you’re an animal lover who’s looking for a flexible and enjoyable way to earn some extra cash, this might be for you. 

Your potential clients are right in your neighborhood, making this a community-based business idea. To attract clients, consider creating eye-catching flyers, setting up a simple website, or leveraging social media platforms to showcase your services.

Networking with local pet stores, veterinary clinics, and pet groomers can also help in getting referrals. Offering additional services like pet sitting can increase your earning potential. As your client base grows, consider expanding your business by hiring additional walkers.

16. Virtual Assistant Services

Virtual assistant services are increasingly sought after by most business owners who need help managing their day-to-day tasks. This business idea requires virtually no upfront investment other than a computer and a stable internet connection. The services offered can range from email management and scheduling to social media management and data entry.

The demand for virtual assistants (VAs) has risen as businesses look to outsource administrative tasks to focus on core operations.

Offering specialized services, such as graphic design or content writing, can further enhance your attractiveness to potential clients.

17. Photography Business

Launching a photography business today goes beyond just having a good camera–-it’s about offering your photography services online to reach a wider audience. This business idea requires investment in quality photography equipment and a professional website to showcase your portfolio.

  • Weddings
  • Corporate events
  • Stock photography
  • Real estate photography
  • Food photography for restaurants
  • Product photography for ecommerce stores

The list of opportunities here is seemingly never-ending. 

Try to specialize in a particular style or niche to set yourself apart in a competitive market.

18. Upcycling and Furniture Restoration

Upcycling and furniture restoration represent a creative and eco-friendly small business idea. It involves refurbishing old or discarded furniture into appealing and functional pieces. The startup costs can be minimal, especially if you start with smaller projects and use upcycled materials.

It’s one of the better small business ideas for creative individuals who have the means or skills to work with their hands. If you can turn someone’s trash into someone else’s treasure, there’s plenty of money to be made in this space. 

19. Personal Training Business

The personal training business has evolved beyond the traditional gym setting, especially through technology advancements. 

Starting a virtual personal training business using a mobile app can significantly broaden your client base beyond your local area. This business idea eliminates the need for a physical space, reducing overhead costs.

Through a mobile app, you can offer personalized workout plans, live training sessions, and fitness challenges to clients worldwide. The app can also track progress, provide nutritional guidance, and facilitate direct communication with clients.

Offering a mix of subscription-based models, one-off sessions, or package deals can cater to varying client preferences and increase revenue potential.

20. Mobile Public Notary Service

You can become a public notary for as little as $20. The application process and exact fees vary by state, but it’s one of the cheapest ways to start a small business.

As a notary, you simply authenticate the signing of important legal documents. You’re an impartial witness to the parties who sign, and you verify the identities of the signers. 

It’s worth noting that some states have a cap on how much you can charge for these services. For example, in California, there’s a maximum $15 fee per signature. 

But there are so many opportunities and scenarios which require documents to be notarized. You can stand out from the crowd by offering your services on the go and adding a travel fee to your bill. 

21. Blogging

Blogging has transcended being a hobby. It’s now a viable pathway to establishing a successful business. 

The beauty of blogging lies in its versatility and potential for monetization. You can start with a specific niche, offering insights, reviews, tutorials, or personal experiences. The initial costs are limited to website hosting and design.

There are plenty of ways to make money from blogging. From affiliate marketing and sponsored content to selling digital products and services, you can experiment with different monetization methods until you find what works for you. 

The key to making money in blogging is to create compelling, valuable content that attracts a loyal readership. Growing a profitable blog requires patience and consistency. SEO strategies, guest posting on other blogs, and collaborating with influencers in your niche can increase your visibility. As your blog grows, you could explore additional revenue streams like offering courses, webinars, or consulting services in your area of expertise.

22. Mobile Hairdresser or Barber

The appeal of a mobile hairdresser or barber lies in the convenience you offer clients–-the luxury of a professional haircut in the comfort of their own home. This service is especially attractive to busy professionals, elderly clients, or those with mobility issues.

This small business venture eliminates the need for a physical salon, reducing overhead costs significantly. The only investment will be in quality hairstyling tools and a reliable vehicle.

To diversify your revenue, consider offering additional services such as hair treatments, styling for special events, or even group sessions for families. Building a strong client base through word-of-mouth, local advertising, and a solid online presence can help your business thrive. Personalizing your service, being punctual, and maintaining high hygiene standards can lead to repeat customers and referrals.

23. Professional Voice-Over Services

The demand for professional voice-over services makes it a great business idea for those with a good voice and articulation skills. This field involves lending your voice for commercials, audiobooks, video games, and other multimedia. 

You’ll need to get some quality recording equipment and soundproof a space in your home. But it’s a great business idea if you want to work from home and take control over your own schedule. 

Expanding your reach can involve offering your services on freelance platforms and creating a professional website with your portfolio. Continuously honing your skills and adapting to different voice-over styles and requirements can open doors to more lucrative and diverse projects.

24. Local Travel Guide

For those with extensive knowledge of their locality, becoming a local travel guide can be a rewarding small business idea. You can organize and lead tours, while sharing insights about local history, culture, and attractions. 

Depending on your location, you may need to obtain a specific type of tourism license for this small business idea. 

But this is a great opportunity for people who enjoy interacting with others and want to have some fun while making money. Focus on the uniqueness of your tours, your storytelling ability, and the experiences you offer, which can set your service apart. 

Customizing tours for different interests–-culinary, historical, architectural-–can cater to a diverse clientele. Collaborating with local businesses for mutual promotion can also enhance your offerings.

25. Affiliate Marketing Business

Affiliate marketing is a good business idea for those looking to earn by promoting products or services online. The concept involves earning a commission for marketing another company’s products through your website, blog, or social media channels. The initial investment is primarily in setting up a digital platform and possibly in some online advertising to drive traffic.

The key to success in affiliate marketing is to choose products that align with your audience’s interests and to create engaging content that drives sales. Transparency with your audience about your affiliate relationships is crucial for trust.

Strategies for growing an affiliate marketing business include SEO optimization, email marketing campaigns, and collaborating with influencers in your niche. Continuously analyzing your performance and adjusting your strategies can optimize your earnings.

26. Landscaping Business

Starting a landscaping business can be a rewarding endeavor for those with a green thumb and a passion for outdoor aesthetics. Successful small business owners in this space typically spend an initial investment on landscaping equipment, such as lawnmowers, trimmers, and perhaps a vehicle for transporting tools. However, the costs can be scaled depending on the services offered and the size of the projects undertaken.

Landscaping services have a steady demand among both residential and commercial property owners. From routine lawn maintenance to elaborate garden design and installation, the scope of services can be diverse. The key to profitability lies in delivering high-quality work, building a reputation for reliability, and being able to work efficiently to manage multiple projects.

27. Online Music Lessons

The rise of digital platforms has revolutionized the way music is taught, making online music lessons a viable and successful small business idea. 

Online music lessons eliminate geographical barriers, allowing you to teach students from anywhere in the world. This business can be lucrative, especially if you have expertise in a popular instrument or genre. You can structure your lessons as one-on-one sessions, group classes, or even create pre-recorded lessons for students to access at their convenience through your website or mobile app. 

Offering a range of lesson packages, from beginner to advanced levels, can cater to a broad spectrum of learners.

Final Thoughts

Successful small business ideas don’t always require a ton of capital. As demonstrated through these 27 business ideas, many opportunities exist to start a profitable business with minimal upfront costs. 

The majority of these ideas capitalize on digital platforms, reflecting how the business landscape has evolved in the internet age. Whether it’s offering services online, like tutoring or personal training, or selling products through a dropshipping model, the digital world opens up a realm of possibilities. Furthermore, the integration of a mobile app can significantly enhance these business ideas, offering convenience, broader reach, and innovative ways to interact with customers.

With creativity, dedication, and a strategic approach, it’s possible to launch a successful business without a substantial initial investment. 

These ideas not only provide avenues for financial gain but also offer the flexibility and satisfaction of being your own boss. As the digital world continues to evolve, so do the opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their visions into reality.

11 Best Mobile App Development Companies in the United States

There’s certainly no shortage of mobile app development services worldwide, giving businesses endless options for building mobile apps. But relying on mobile app development companies in the US is often the best choice compared to outsourcing overseas—especially if you’re creating an app for your business.

Working with a US-based app development company may initially seem more expensive when you compare the costs to app developers in India or Eastern Europe. However, the long-term benefits typically outweigh the marginal cost difference and may ultimately save your business money over time.

App development companies in the US help you get to market faster and deliver a higher ROI compared to overseas development. Plus, you won’t have to worry about language barriers, time zone discrepancies, or other challenges associated with cross-border agreements. 

So if you’re looking for mobile app developers in the United States, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to find the best app development company for your business.

Top 11 Mobile App Development Companies in United States

I’ve put together a list of the top app development companies in the USA and highlighted areas where they shine above the rest. You can use this guide to find the right app development company for your unique needs and app development project. 

1. BuildFire

BuildFire is the best mobile app development company in the United States. Trusted by more than 10,000+ mobile apps across every industry, it’s the perfect combination of quality, performance, and support—all at an affordable price for any budget. 

What truly separates BuildFire from other app development companies on the market is its industry-leading technology. As an app maker, BuildFire already has the backend infrastructure and core app components in place. 

So if you hire BuildFire to create your app, their developers can leverage these existing components and features to build your app in a fraction of the time. They can also handle iOS and Android app development under one roof with a single build. This gets your app to market faster while reaching the widest potential audience. 

BuildFire is versatile enough to handle the needs of businesses across a wide range of industries, including:

  • Ecommerce apps
  • Education apps
  • Gym, fitness, and wellness apps
  • Business workflow apps
  • Employee communication apps
  • Apps for events
  • Apps for religious organizations
  • Apps for content creators

The list goes on and on. 

For small businesses to enterprise organizations and Fortune 500s alike, it’s BuildFire’s mission to turn your app idea into a reality. 

Overall, BuildFire’s service is unmatched. These developers take the time to get to understand your needs to ensure your app aligns with your business goals. You can scale without limits, and BuildFire will be there to support you every step of the way. 

2. ScienceSoft

Founded in 1989, ScienceSoft is the oldest software development company on our list. They offer a wide range of development services, ranging from IT consulting to data analytics, cybersecurity, web app development, and custom software development for mobile applications. 

While the company itself is more than 30 years old, they didn’t start building mobile apps until 2005. In that time, they only delivered about 350 mobile projects. 

While mobile app development isn’t ScienceSoft’s most popular service offering, the brand’s experience and longevity still earn it a spot on our list. It’s especially good for complex builds related to custom CMS systems or supply chain management.

Working with Sciencesoft won’t be cheap. Here’s a ballpark estimate of their app development services, taken directly from their website:

  • Simple apps (such as booking apps) — $30,000 to $70,000
  • Complex apps (such as mobile commerce apps — $120,000 to $180,000
  • Banking apps or mobile telehealth apps — $150,000+

For those of you with deep pockets and the need for an ultra-complex business solution, like using embedded AR for warehouse item picking, then ScienceSoft may be right for you. 

3. Naked Development

In addition to having an eye-catching name, Naked Development is another mobile app services company that should be on your radar. Their app developers do wear clothes (as far as I know). But you can swing by one of their offices in Irvine or Austin to find out.

They’ve launched 327 mobile apps, which puts them on the smaller side of boutique firms. 

But one unique standout of Naked Development compared to other app development services is its incubator-type environment for app ideas. Beyond development, they also specialize in app fundraising. 

According to their website, Naked Development has raised over $96.5 million in app funds. 

So if you’re a startup that needs to secure funding and get support that goes outside the scope of development, you can strip down to your birthday suit with these guys. 

4. Trango Tech

Trango Tech has offices throughout the US—including locations like Chicago, San Jose, Dallas, and New York. 

They also have an office in Pakistan. So while the company is definitely based in the US, it’s unclear whether or not you’ll be working with a mobile app developer that’s Stateside or overseas. But that’s something you inquire about if you decide to consult with Trango. 

Aside from building mobile apps, one unique standout of Trango is that they offer BPO (business process outsourcing) services. 

So if you need additional resources for things like telephone answering services, outsourced call centers, or back-office support, you can rely on Trango for these initiatives. 

5. Zco Corporation

Zco Corporation is an app development company based in New Hampshire. They also have satellite offices in Boston and New York, in case you want to meet with an app developer in those locations. 

This firm specializes in virtual reality apps and mobile game apps, relying on full-stack developers experienced in a range of different code and programming languages, including:

  • Swift
  • Kotlin
  • React Native
  • Flutter
  • Maui
  • Xamarin
  • Java
  • Objective-C

One cool project they’ve built is a golf app that has 3D images of 35,000 courses around the world. According to their website, the average cost to build an app with them is $30,000 and takes up to nine months to build. 

6. Lounge Lizard

Lounge Lizard is best known as a web development company. With offices in Miami, Nashville, Washington DC, Richmond, Charleston, and Long Island, Lounge Lizard is a professional and results-driven agency.

While mobile apps aren’t the company’s primary service, it’s still an option to consider if you want to get your website redesigned or you want to build web apps under the same roof as mobile apps. 

Lounge Lizard also offers services for:

  • SEO
  • Email marketing
  • Conversion rate optimization
  • Social media management
  • PPC management
  • Website redesign

So if you like the idea of working with a digital marketing company that happens to also build apps, consider working with Lounge Lizard. 

7. Chop Dawg

Chop Dawg has launched over 400+ apps in the past 14 years. Averaging roughly 30 builds per year, it’s a smaller firm that could be a good option if you don’t like the idea of working with a bigger company.

One cool part about Chop Dawg is they’ll build you a non-functioning prototype so you can get a feel for your app project without having to put up significant funds.

You can use this app prototype as a way to pitch your idea to stakeholders or potential investors, before diving into development. 

Chop Dawg also promises to lock in the rate they’ve quoted you, so you won’t have to worry about any unexpected overages.

8. Swensen He

Swensen He has an office in Beverly Hills and another in Dallas. Founded by two MIT grads, this app development agency offers strategy, design, evolution, and support for mobile apps.

What makes them unique?

Swensen He performs a “technical feasibility study” to see if you actually have a viable concept. This means that you could come to them with an idea, and they might say, “Hey, that actually won’t work.”

It’s refreshing to have this level of honesty, as other app developers on the market may just build the app to take your money and not care if it works or not. That’s what earned Swensen He a spot on our list. 

9. Jafton

Jafton is a US-based app development company with offices throughout seven states—California, Texas, New York, Illinois, Florida, Washington, and Georgia.

Some of the unique standouts and services offered by Jafton include:

  • Blockchain development services
  • Smart contract development
  • Crypto consulting
  • Telemedicine app development
  • Web 3.0 development
  • Fintech development

These niche-specific development services help Jafton differentiate themselves from other app development companies in the US. 

10. The NineHertz

The NineHertz is a global mobile app development agency. In addition to having a physical presence in the United States, they also have offices in Australia, India, Canada, Israel, the UK, and UAE.

This is another instance where it’s unclear if you’re getting a US-based developer or if they’re outsourcing to another branch. But that’s always something you can inquire about if you’re interested in working with them.

They deal with cross-platform app development, hybrid app development, wearable app development, flutter app development, and React Native development. 

The NineHertz offers dozens of different development solutions ranging from mobile games to blockchain, Joomla, DevOps, and beyond. Mobile is just one of the many things they do.

It’s worth noting that there’s a weird disclaimer on their website—saying something along the lines that they don’t provide any individuals with monetary compensation, freelance opportunities, or part-time jobs. While there’s nothing wrong with stating that somewhere—I found it strange that there was a pop-up banner about this on its development page.

While this isn’t a dealbreaker by any stretch, it was still something that caught me off guard. 

11. Glorium Technologies

Glorium Technologies builds apps for VC-backed startups. So if you’re funded and looking to bring your idea to reality without using a team of in-house developers, Glorium could be an alternative option to consider. 

They’re definitely a bit more selective than other companies on our list—meaning they won’t work with just anyone.

With over 12 years on the market, they’ve only delivered about 100 products. This is the lowest we’ve seen compared to the other development agencies reviewed here. 

It’s also worth noting that Glorium Technologies has expertise in the medical field building solutions for medical imaging compliance, pharmacy supply chain management, HL7, and FHIR.

How to Find the Best Mobile App Development Company in the USA

In addition to the app development companies listed above, you can use the following criteria to help narrow down your options even further. Here’s what you need to look for when you’re evaluating mobile app development solutions.

Experience

The best app development companies have experienced app developers with years of industry expertise. This means they’ve seen it all, and they’re prepared to handle anything that comes up before, during, or after the development process. 

For example, BuildFire has been trusted to build over 10,000+ mobile apps over the past decade. Other service providers on our list have been around for the same amount of time, but only built less than 350 mobile apps. 

Ideally, you should also look for a mobile application development company that has experience in your particular industry. 

App Type

Certain app development companies specialize in specific types of apps. For example, you’ll likely need to rely on highly specialized app developers if you’re creating a virtual reality gaming app or a fully custom CMS app. 

Other app developers are better for things like education apps, fitness apps, or ecommerce apps. 

You also need to determine if you’re building for iOS, Android, or both. Typically, iOS and Android development require two completely separate builds—doubling your costs and extending your timeline to launch. 

BuildFire’s technology supports simultaneous development for iOS and Android. This helps keep your cost low and gets your app to market faster than other development companies. 

Business Alignment

Look for an app development company that takes the time to understand your business, industry, and target market. Without this type of understanding and alignment, there’s often a disconnect between what you’re looking for and the final product.

Think about the app development process for a moment. If you simply tell the company what you need and then wait six months for them to deliver your software, there will likely be major gaps in the end result. 

But when the app developers understand the purpose of your app, they can build it in a way that aligns with your business goals. 

Ongoing Support

What happens after your app goes live?

There’s still a ton of work that needs to be done behind the scenes. From managing the servers and infrastructure that powers your app to design changes and ensuring compatibility with the latest app store updates and requirements, there’s a serious need for ongoing maintenance support. 

Try to find an app development company that offers these ongoing services. This will allow you to focus on your core business and customers while the app development company handles all of the technical aspects on the backend. 

Cost

You’ll need to have a reasonable budget in mind as you’re comparing different app development companies in the US. This is a quick way to disqualify potential options. 

Some companies will quote you upwards of $250,000 or even $400,000 to create an app. Others will fall in the $25,000 or $50,000 range. 

Remember, paying more doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting a better quality app. Some development companies help you keep costs low by building your app on their existing infrastructure. This is a more affordable way to create an app without sacrificing quality or performance. 

Use our app cost calculator to find out how much you can save with BuildFire. 

Location

When comparing the best app developers in the United States, location doesn’t really matter. 

Let’s say your business is located in Chicago. That doesn’t mean you need to use a Chicago-based development company. All communications will be handled digitally, and it’s not like you’ll be stopping by the office to check in and oversee what’s happening. So you can be in New York and use a service provider in Los Angeles without hesitation—even though you’re on opposite ends of the country.

Furthermore, foreign companies can also rely on using an app development company in the USA. A business in Europe or Australia isn’t limited to using developers in their region and can always use a US-based development company for their project.

Final Thoughts

Navigating the app development industry can feel a bit daunting, especially if it’s your first time going through this process. But I hope that by narrowing down 11 different USA app developers can help provide you with a clearer picture of how to get started. 

All of the top app developers reviewed made our list for a different reason, and they each offer something unique that makes them stand out from the crowd. 

If you still need some assistance, request a free consultation with the app development experts here at BuildFire. We’ll walk you through our development process so you can see what it takes to bring your app idea to life. 

50 Best App Ideas For 2024

Thinking of a unique mobile app idea can be challenging. Sometimes you just need a little inspiration to get your brain working.

That’s why we created this guide.

Based on current business trends and technology movements, we’ve identified the best new app ideas of the year. These money-making app ideas are poised for growth and success in 2024 and beyond. 

Innovative Mobile App Ideas For 2024

Coming up with the right idea is the first step of any mobile app development project. These ideas are great starting points for any entrepreneur or investor that wants to get involved in app development.

Parking Space Finder App

Parking is a big commodity in major cities and tourist destinations. Creating an app that allows users to find a parking space using their mobile devices can be a huge winner.

There are lots of different ways you can make this work.

One creative idea is a parking space marketplace, where people who own parking spaces can rent them out by the hour, day, week, or month. Alternatively, you can direct app users to both free and paid parking lots in the area.

You can make money by taking a commission on each transaction or charging a fee to list a parking space on the platform.

Food Donation App

According to Feeding America, more than 49 million Americans rely on food assistance programs for help, and 1 in 5 children in the US are food insecure.

Such a high demand for food donations requires modern technology to facilitate the process.

Your mobile app development project can focus on this trend and look for ways to improve the way donated foods are collected and distributed. You can partner with existing non-profits and food banks to get started or create one of your own. 

Employee Communication App

Internal communication is the key to success in any organization. 

Employee apps help businesses with human resources initiatives, safety and compliance, employee training, benefits administration, and more. You can even use an employee self-service app for your staff to check pay stubs on their phones. 

Push notifications make it easy for organizations to notify employees about upcoming events and urgent scheduling changes. These such apps even work for crisis and emergency communication.

Check out our guide on the top benefits of an employee communication app to learn more. Then you can use BuildFire’s workforce app builder to get started. 

Grocery Delivery App

More than 60 million people have a food delivery app installed on their smartphone. 

They’re already used to the idea of having food delivered to their doors. Coming up with new mobile app ideas in a space that’s already trending upward will help you succeed. 

Rather than partnering with restaurants, you can use that same concept of food delivery apps for groceries. People can use your app to order produce, baked goods, household items, eggs, cheese, frozen foods, and anything else offered at local grocery stores. 

If you’re interested in this idea, you can follow our step-by-step guide on how to make a food delivery app.

Voice Translation App

There are about 430 languages spoken in the United States alone. This has created a significant demand for voice translators.

You can create an app that records someone speaking, then automatically transcribes that recording in the user’s desired language. 

This type of app can help break down language barriers in the workplace, for tourism and international travel, and even teach people how to speak a new language.

A voice translation app can help users travel abroad and feel comfortable enough to communicate with others in a language that they’ve never spoken before. There are countless ways to market this idea.

Content and Media App

Content creators that already have a presence on YouTube, social media, and other platforms can scale to create a standalone mobile app for their brands. 

This is an excellent way to produce and distribute exclusive blogs, videos, and podcasts.

You can either repurpose your existing content from all channels into a single app for your fans. Or you can use your app to promote premium content that isn’t available anywhere else. A combination of these two methods is also a viable business model.

This is a great way to turn your content into revenue by charging a subscription fee for your app users to access exclusive content. 

Click here to learn more about BuildFire’s solutions for content, media, and entertainment apps.

Supermarket Checkout App

Here’s another innovative app idea that users will love. A grocery store checkout app that lets you avoid the line.

As users are shopping, they can use a barcode scanner feature on the app to scan items and add them to their cart. When they’re done, they can simply checkout through the app and get charged to a credit card stored on file. 

They never need to take out their wallets or wait in line at the store again. 

Travel Planner App

If you love to travel, this app is a must-have. It allows users to plan every aspect of their trip from start to finish, including booking flights, finding accommodation, and creating a personalized itinerary.

Users can also access reviews from other travelers, as well as recommendations for local restaurants, attractions, and activities.

Virtual Personal Assistant App

This app concept is perfect for busy individuals who need help managing their daily tasks. Users can input their schedule and to-do list, and the app will suggest reminders and alerts to help them stay on track.

The app can also handle things like managing appointments and automating mundane workflows.

Criminal Alert App

We’re living in a crazy world these days. Having an app that lets citizens monitor police activity or suspicious behavior in their neighborhood will help people feel safer.

Users can be notified whenever a new incident takes place within their geofenced location.

You can also set up a feature for users to report suspicious behavior in their area and create a community space within the app—like a virtual neighborhood watch program. 

Wedding Planner Mobile App Idea

Planning a wedding is a full-time job. This great mobile app idea can be marketed toward wedding planners and engaged couples alike. 

Wedding planners can create an app to manage events and simplify everything from a single source of truth. They can use it to create schedules, connect with vendors, share information with their clients, and handle all communication. You can even use this app to manage, sign, and distribute contracts. 

Someone getting married can take advantage of wedding planning mobile apps to manage guest lists, discover local vendors, and create a checklist of tasks to complete. 

Church and Religious App

Even churches and religious organizations are going mobile. 

You can create a church app to deliver daily inspiration to your community, collect donations, manage upcoming events, and share your schedule. These apps are great for anyone that wants to upload videos of previous sermons so people can virtually attend church from anywhere. 

Check out our guide on how to build a church app and click here to learn more about BuildFire’s church app builder

Video Editing App

Good app ideas look at existing trends, habits, and consumer behavior.

People are using their smartphones for everything, and they’re constantly taking videos seemingly everywhere they go. What are they doing with these videos? Most people are sharing them on social media.

But the problem with social media is that it’s tough to stand out from the crowd. Everyone is using the same built-in video editing tools, filters, and features—so everyone’s content looks the same.

You can come up with your own unique video editing toolkit and offer it in the form of a standalone mobile app. From there, users can connect with their favorite social channels and upload the edits directly from your platform. 

Random Chat App

A random chat app connects strangers. 

Every time someone opens the app, they’ll be connected with a new person. Think of this like a virtual pen pal. 

You can use it to connect people from around the world or use it for people to make new friends in their local area. 

Mental Health Therapy App

Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet many people struggle to access therapy due to scheduling or location constraints. This app allows users to connect with licensed therapists for virtual sessions, eliminating the need to travel to an office.

Users can also use the app to track their mood and progress, and to access self-care resources and exercises.

Weather Alert App

This app goes beyond just providing weather forecasts. It can be used to alert users of potential weather hazards in their area. This can include things like thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes, as well as air quality alerts for people with respiratory issues.

App users can even set up personalized alerts for specific weather conditions and access emergency resources and evacuation plans.

Gym and Fitness App

This is one of the best mobile app ideas of the year. 

Personal trainers, gym owners, dietitians, nutritionists, yoga instructors—the opportunities are endless. 

It’s a great way for anyone in the health and fitness industry to scale their business. Mobile apps can be used to share custom workout videos or meal plans. They’re also great for managing class schedules and letting people manage their memberships. 

Personal trainers can earn recurring revenue on a subscription basis through virtual training. You can infinitely scale your client base by offering in-app training lessons without ever meeting them in person. 

Learn more about BuildFire’s solutions for fitness and wellness apps here

Home Security App

Innovative app ideas are always in high demand. 

Smart home technology paired with mobile apps is definitely something that users will be interested in. 

You can create an app that lets people lock their doors, put their lights on timers, and monitor security cameras from anywhere. Apps can even notify homeowners and renters about motion sensors that were tripped on the property.

These apps can connect with local police, fire, and medical services for fast responses to an incident. 

Virtual Fashion Assistant

This app allows users to have a personal stylist at their fingertips. Users can input their style preferences and budget, and the app suggests clothing and accessory options for them to purchase.

The app also offers features like personalized recommendations on what to wear based on the user’s current wardrobe. 

Home Maintenance App

This is a must-have app for homeowners and landlords looking to keep track of home maintenance tasks. Users can input the details of their home, including the age and type of appliances, and the app will suggest a personalized maintenance schedule.

Users can also access home maintenance resources and tips, and track their progress as they complete tasks.

Augmented Reality App

Augmented reality apps have been trending upward for quite some time. In fact, augmented reality made our list of the top app development trends of the year

That’s because the use cases are so versatile.

We’ve seen augmented reality used in gaming apps like Pokemon Go. They’ve also been used in home furniture apps, letting users see how a couch, desk, or table looks or fits in a space before it’s ordered and delivered. 

You can apply these same concepts to nearly any type of business and create an app that leverages AR technology.

Music Streaming App

If you have a band or make music, you can make your own app to showcase your portfolio. This app allows users to stream their favorite music from a library of songs. Users can create personalized playlists, discover new artists, and listen to curated radio stations.

The app can also offer features like offline listening and the ability to create and share playlists with friends.

Dating App

A modern dating app can help users find potential romantic matches in their area. Users create a profile, input their preferences, and the app suggests compatible matches. 

To stand out from other popular dating apps on the market, consider going after a smaller niche market.

The app also offers messaging and video chat features to allow users to get to know each other before meeting in person.

Digital Receipt App

Here’s an innovative app idea that can benefit business users and general consumers alike.

Help your target audience get better control over their finances with digital receipts. They can simply take a picture of a physical receipt or download copies of digital receipts and store everything within the app. 

It’s a great way for people to track spending, separate personal spending from business purchases, create an expense report, and stay organized if they’re audited. 

Tourist Helper App

This is one of my favorite app ideas for startups. 

You can create a completely new business from scratch by targeting tourism in different areas. The app can serve as a digital itinerary for travelers both domestically and overseas. 

People can use it for something simple like finding a restaurant or museum on a weekend getaway. Or they can use it to map out a backpacking trip across Europe. 

Pet Sitting App

This app allows users to find and book trusted pet sitters in their area. Users can add their pet’s details, including breed, age, and any special needs, and the app will suggest compatible sitters.

You can even include features like messaging, scheduling, and payment through the app, as well as the ability to rate and review sitters.

Virtual Party Planning App

You can create a mobile app for planning and hosting virtual parties, including birthdays, baby showers, and holiday gatherings. Users can invite guests, set a theme, and access a range of party resources, including games, activities, and recipes.

Access and add features like virtual backgrounds and the ability to record and share the event.

Education App

There are dozens of use cases for educational apps.

You can create an app for schools and universities, language learning app, or use apps to teach users new skills. 

E-learning is trending upward. Apps can be used to facilitate tests, share video instructions, access documents and learning materials, and create a digital community for learners. 

Disaster Management App

Disasters often happen unexpectedly. 

You can create a mobile app that helps people prepare for disasters, so they’re not scrambling when an unexpected event occurs. 

This is definitely one of the more brilliant app ideas for commercial use. We’ve seen these types of apps built first-hand here at BuildFire. You can read our Disaster Hawk case study to get inspiration and see how one app was used to help small businesses prepare for emergencies in the workplace. 

eBook Reader App

This app allows users to access a library of ebooks and audiobooks from their smartphone or tablet. Users can purchase books or rent them for a limited time and can customize the font, size, and theme of the app to their preferences.

The app also offers features like bookmarking, highlighting, and note-taking to help users engage with the material.

Job Search App

This intuitive mobile app makes it easy for people to find job opportunities in their field or location. Users can input their skills, experience, and desired salary, and the app suggests relevant job openings.

It should also include mobile resources like resume templates, interview tips, and salary negotiation guidance to help users land their dream job.

Social Networking App

You don’t need to be the next Facebook or Instagram to create a social media app.

Instead, you can focus on a niche community or group to target a more specific audience. For example, maybe you want to create a social networking app that’s specifically for bird watchers. Or maybe you have an awesome app idea for gardening that you can turn into a social network. 

Check out this story of Daylyy—a new type of social media concept that was created with BuildFire. 

Motivation App

Everyone needs a little motivation from time to time.

You can use an app to deliver daily words of inspiration or inspiration on-demand for your user base. 

This is another example of an app that we’ve seen succeed in the past. 

See how a solo entrepreneur used BuildFire to create PepTalks—a mobile app that reaches thousands of people around the world and earns recurring revenue by providing motivation. 

Interior Design App

This app is perfect for those looking to redecorate or redesign their home. It offers a range of interior design templates and tools, including a 3D design feature to visualize changes.

Users can also access a library of design ideas and inspiration, and connect with professional designers for personalized advice.

It’s also worth noting that this made our list of the best business ideas for women entrepreneurs.

Virtual Tour App

You can create an app that offers virtual tours of museums, landmarks, and other tourist attractions from the comfort of home. Users can access high-quality 360-degree imagery and detailed information about the sites they are visiting.

The app also offers features like guided tours and the ability to save and share favorite tours.

Virtual Shopping App

Mobile shopping has become the new normal.

If you currently have a retail store or ecommerce site, you need to create a mobile app to improve the user experience. This will help you increase sales and reduce cart abandonment rates. 

Check out our in-depth guide on the top reasons why you need an ecommerce app. You can also click here to learn more about the BuildFire ecommerce app builder

Anti Smartphone Addiction App

The average smartphone user checks their phone 150 times per day. 75% of people even admit to using their phones while driving. A whopping 47% of parents say their kids are addicted to their smartphones. 

You can create an app that monitors smartphone activity, helping people track how much time they’re spending on their devices and preventing people from overusing them.

The app can be used to set time restrictions and send users alerts when they’ve used their phone too frequently or have the screen on for an extended period of time. 

Mood Monitoring App

Mental health is a priority for millions of people worldwide. 

You can create a simple mood monitoring app for people to check in on themselves. They can record their feelings, take notes, and see how their mood progresses over the course of days, weeks, months, and even years.

This type of app can also offer tips, best practices, and methods for improving your mood. With a no code development platform, you can build and launch a mood monitoring app in weeks.

Provide mobile access to a range of virtual art exhibits and exhibitions from around the world. Users can browse artwork by artist, style, or location, and can save and share their favorites.

The app also offers features like guided tours and the ability to purchase artwork directly through the app.

Eco-Friendly Lifestyle App

This app helps users make more eco-friendly choices in their daily lives. It offers tips and resources on how to reduce waste, conserve energy, and live sustainably.

Users can also track their progress and set goals to help them stay on track.

Gift Delivery App

There are countless occasions where giving gifts is appropriate.

From birthdays to holidays, Mother’s Day, engagements, weddings, graduations, special achievements—the list goes on and on. People even like to give “get well” gifts and send gifts randomly to family and friends. 

But if you don’t live within a reasonable driving distance of the person you’re gifting, this can be a challenge. You have to rely on regular online shopping, which just isn’t quite the same as having a gift delivered in person.

A gift delivery app would operate similarly to a food delivery app. App users can simply select gifts from local stores and get them sent to the recipient in person. Regardless of each party’s location, a courier will hand a gift to the recipient. 

Charity Donation App

Collecting donations for a charity is easier if people can pay using their smartphones. 

Most people aren’t carrying much cash with them anymore. Even fewer people are carrying checkbooks. 

So charity collections outside of local grocery stores and events aren’t keeping up with modern technology trends. 

But a charity donation app solves this problem. You can collect donations by letting people scan a QR code in person to give money. Apps can also facilitate recurring donations from your users—automatically. 

Goal Tracking App

People are 42% more likely to achieve their goals if they’re written down. 

But what’s better than writing goals down? Using a mobile app to track and manage everything.

You can create an app that lets people track both short-term and long-term goals. They can add a goal in the app and monitor progress along the way. Each goal can even contain a checklist or milestone achievements that users can check off in real-time as they’re accomplished.

This can be used for personal goals, professional goals, education goals, fitness goals, and more. The possibilities here are endless. 

Meditation and Mindfulness App

Offer guided meditation and mindfulness exercises to help users reduce stress and improve their mental health. Users can choose from a variety of themes and durations, and can track their progress over time.

You can add features like daily reminders and a journaling function to help users incorporate mindfulness into their daily routines.

Gardening App

This app is perfect for green thumbs or those looking to get into gardening. It offers tips and advice on how to care for a variety of plants, including information on watering, fertilizing, and pruning.

Users can also create a virtual garden and track the progress of their real-life plants, as well as access a library of plant-specific care guides.

Meal Prep and Cooking App

Calling all chefs! This is your chance to share your recipes with the world.

You can create videos and upload instructions for all of your recipes. Categorize your recipes into folders like breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, vegan, gluten-free, pescatarian, keto, and more.

Use this as an opportunity to sell meal plans or create a digital recipe book. You can sell recipes for a one-time fee or offer collections of recipes on-demand for a monthly subscription. 

Real Estate App

You can create a mobile app to manage your real estate business.

Use your real estate agent app to schedule appointments, upload new listings, and add photos and videos of properties. The app can also serve as a contact management solution—a place where all communication is handled.

For property managers, the app can serve as a place to collect rent, manage applications, gather feedback, and handle all maintenance requests. 

If you’re in this industry and on the fence about building an app, you can refer to our guide on the top reasons why you need a real estate app for more information.

Pet Care Mobile Apps

This is a must-have mobile app for pet owners. It offers tips on how to care for a variety of pets, including information on feeding, grooming, and training.

You can provide quick access to a library of pet-specific care guides and let users create a profile for their own pets, including information on their breed, age, and medical history.

Virtual Event App

With the rise of remote work, virtual events have become more popular than ever. This app allows users to host and attend virtual events, including conferences, workshops, and networking events.

The app can display a calendar of upcoming events, event registration, and the ability to participate in live sessions and breakout rooms.

Tip Calculator App

Create an app that lets users calculate tips automatically. People can scan a receipt, and the tip calculator can take care of the rest.

This is also great for situations when you’re dining with a large group of people, since everyone has their mobile phones with them when they’re out to eat.

The app can calculate what everyone owes based on what they ordered and automatically include the tip amount for each person or group at the table. 

Final Thoughts

Great mobile app ideas may seem hard to come by. But there are tons of trending app ideas that you can use to make money.

Use this guide as inspiration and motivation for the next great mobile app idea.

Once you’ve narrowed down an idea, you still need to validate it. Check out our guide on how to validate your app idea and turn it into a reality

From there, you can follow our step-by-step tutorial on how to create an app

Sign up for a 14-day free trial to get started with BuildFire—the world’s most powerful app builder for iOS and Android.

Ultimate Mobile App Stores List (2024)

At one time, social media consisted of just a handful of sites. Over time, however, numerous niche and specialty social media sites have proliferated, giving consumers more choices. The same is true of mobile app stores.

App creators and consumers no longer find themselves limited to the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Many other options and alternative app stores exist, and since such app stores are smaller than the Big Two, apps prove far more discoverable via these platforms.

Mobile app stores designed for specific niches and industries or for particular markets deserve your attention if you want more app downloads and better visibility. No matter the nature of your app, you want people to use it and interact with your brand.

Unfortunately, many mobile app stores have shut down over the last few years, creating confusion among both brands and consumers. That’s why we need an updated mobile app stores list so you know where to reach consumers in 2024. Continue reading “Ultimate Mobile App Stores List (2024)”

How to Distribute an iOS App Without Using App Stores

Publishing an iOS app on the Apple App Store is not mandatory. As an app developer, you actually have multiple distribution methods to consider.

The App Store is definitely the best option for mass distribution. But if you’re creating an internal mobile app for your business or custom apps for B2B purposes, you may want to keep the app private and only available for certain users.

Think about it—you wouldn’t want a random person to access an app built for your employees, right? In this scenario, you need more control over each mobile device that the app gets installed on. The public App Store isn’t an option.

This simple guide will show you exactly how to distribute your iOS app without using the Apple App Store. Let’s dive in.

Distribute iOS App Without App Store

Most iOS apps are made for the Apple App Store. But the App Store is public and gives anyone with an iOS device the opportunity to download. 

According to Statista, more than 43 billion apps will be downloaded from the App Store in 2025.

As you can see from the graph, the Google Play Store is projected to have more than four times the number of app downloads that same year. This is largely due to Android dominating the global market share. 

But it’s also worth noting that Apple has a much stricter approval process for developers that want to publish an app to the App Store.

This same concept holds true for private app distribution. Compared to Android, distributing apps outside of the App Store is much more complicated for iOS apps. Apple does offer a few options for specific use cases. But the direct download and installation of any iOS binary files is strictly prohibited by Apple. 

Apple’s Solutions for Alternative App Distribution

There are three ways to distribute an iOS app without the App Store:

  • Apple Developer Program — The Apple Developer program makes it possible to distribute apps for testing purposes only.
  • Apple Developer Enterprise Program — The Apple Enterprise Program is intended for organizations that want to distribute apps internally and privately to employees.
  • Volume Purchase Program for Enterprises — The VPP app deployment method allows organizations to create a private app store to manage apps in bulk, typically used for custom B2B apps and MDM (mobile device management).

We’ll discuss each of these distribution methods in greater detail below, so you can find the best alternative to Apple App Store distribution.

Beta App Distribution Using the Apple Apple Developer Program

This iOS app distribution method is designed specifically for testing. Developers can distribute a prerelease version of an app to a specific group of people for beta testing purposes. 

You must have an Apple Developer Program account to do this. The Apple Developer Program membership costs $99 per year. Nonprofits, government entities, and educational institutions might be eligible for a fee waiver.

This is the only scenario where an app intended for a mass audience can be distributed privately. But the distribution is only allowed during the testing stage and limited to a certain number of devices. Beta distributions are limited to 100 iPhones, 100 iPads, and 100 iPod touch installations. 

Releasing your app to beta testers won’t be the same as distributing a fully complete, fully functioning, ready-for-release app. 

It’s important to know that your app is protected from being copied or redistributed during the beta testing distribution. 

Ad-Hoc Deployment Using the Apple Developer Program

For private beta testing or temporary distribution, Apple allows developers to use the Ad-hoc app deployment method. In this scenario, the developer will deliver the app binary to each unique user via a download URL or email. 

To ensure the app binary works on the intended device, developers are required to register each device to the Apple Member Center and include the UDID for the device. App binaries will not run on an iOS device until the registration has been completed. This process protects your app from being duplicated or redistributed without your approval. 

You’ll see this option in Xcode when generating the IPA, open the Organizer, and navigate to Archives.

Pros of Ad-Hoc Deployment

  • No need for iOS approval process
  • App is private and cannot be installed by the public
  • Apple Developer Account profile is valid for one year

Cons of Ad-Hoc Deployment

  • Limited to 100 devices
  • Manually UDID registration is required for each device with a provisioning profile

Upgrading to the Apple Developer Enterprise Program

The Apple Developer Enterprise Program is designed for large organizations that want to distribute internal apps to employees. The Enterprise Program allows for internal distribution through secured internal systems or through MDM (mobile device management) solutions.

Unlike a regular App Store Connect account, not everyone is eligible for an enterprise account. It’s only for internal use of proprietary apps in scenarios that can’t be addressed through the public Apple App Store, Apple Business Manager, beta testing, or Ad Hoc distribution. The app must be developed by the organization and specifically for use on Apple platforms.

Other eligibility requirements include:

  • Minimum of 100+ employees.
  • Must be a legal entity (no DBAs, trade names, fictitious names, etc.)
  • Program must be used for internal in-house apps for employees.
  • Must have measures to ensure the app is only available for employees and all membership credentials are protected.
  • Must pass Apple’s verification process and continuous evaluations. 

Pricing for a Developer Enterprise Program account costs $299 per year for a distribution certificate. If you’re already enrolled in the Apple Developer Program for distributing apps through the public Apple App Store, you’ll need a separate Apple ID for the Enterprise Program.

In-House Deployment With the Apple Developer Enterprise Program

The in-house deployment option is great for larger organizations that want to distribute custom internal apps for employees. This can be a useful initiative for your citizen developer program. It also helps corporations get more control over app security and device security through MDM—mobile device management. 

Pros

  • No App Store approval process
  • You have full control over who can access and use the app
  • Ideal for internal distribution to employees

Cons

  • Only for larger businesses
  • Strict eligibility requirements

Apple’s Volume Purchase Program (VPP) for B2B App Distribution

The Volume Purchase Program, VPP, makes it possible for organizations and educational institutions to buy corporate apps in bulk and deploy them to iPhones, iPads, and Macs within the organization. 

For example, a school that provides students with Macbooks can use the VPP to pre-install different applications on those devices prior to distribution. 

The Volume Purchase Program also supports custom B2B apps that can be distributed through a private app store instead of the public Mac App Store.

Larger organizations could use this program to share apps with other businesses, vendors, and partners that work closely with the company. 

This is another scenario where you can create custom apps and distribute them privately without going through the App Store. Let’s say you create a custom business workflow app that involves vendors working with your company. You could grant them access to the app through a private app store using the VPP. It’s also common for organizations to use this distribution method for MDM. 

Note: The Volume Purchase Program is no longer available as of January 14, 2021

You can upgrade to Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager to access similar benefits offered through the VPP. See more information from Apple here.

Android App Distribution Without Google Play

While we’re on the subject of distributing apps without app stores, I wanted to quickly touch base on how the Android app development and Google Play process is different from alternative distribution methods. 

As previously mentioned, the iOS process is a bit difficult. It’s much more straightforward to distribute Android apps without going through the Google Play Store. 

You can do this through a direct webpage link or direct email for download. Android apps are also easier to distribute through a third-party app marketplace. 

Refer to this Android developers resource on alternative distribution options for more information. 

iOS App Distribution Methods in Summary

Most developers will want to use the Apple App Store for iOS app distribution. This is the best way to get your app in the hands of the widest possible audience.

But there are some scenarios that require an app to be kept private. Distributing internal employee apps or private business apps is the most common reason to avoid the App Store. 

Some apps just aren’t made for public use. If you fall into this category, you can use the Apple Developer Program or Apple Developer Enterprise Program as a solution. The former is best for beta testing, and the latter is intended for the internal distribution of an enterprise app.

Interested in creating an internal workforce app for your business?

We can help. BuildFire’s custom app development solutions are perfect for larger organizations and enterprises. We’ve built workforce apps for compliance, employee communication, business workflows, field sales, field service workers, employee safety, HR, employee onboarding, scheduling, and more. Reach out for a free consultation and book a strategy session to learn more.

How to Publish an App to the App Store

Creating a new app is exciting. But getting that app into the hands of real users isn’t always easy.

First, you need to publish your app to the App Store so it’s available for download.

The two major app stores are the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store—one for iOS and one for Android. But each platform has its own unique guidelines, rules, and submission requirements. 

This guide is going to focus specifically on publishing an iOS app to the Apple App Store. Once the app is published here, it can be downloaded on an iPhone or iPad.

It’s worth noting that Apple is very particular with its submission guidelines. You’ll need an Apple Developer account, and the App Store listing must match the app’s functionality. There are lots of other small details that Apple takes into consideration before they’ll approve apps.

That’s because Apple wants to protect its users. Apple wants its user base to feel comfortable knowing that any app downloaded from the Apple App Store is safe and won’t break their devices.

Read on to learn how to publish an app on the App Store with ease.

Where to Start: Submitting an iOS App to the App Store

Submitting your iOS app to the App Store is the final stage of development. By now, the app should already be built, tested thoroughly, and you should have an app name that you’re confident in using. 

If your app is still in development, there’s nothing wrong with looking ahead toward the App Store submission. Just know that it’s too early to take any of these steps. Apple won’t approve any unfinished apps to the store, even if you have all of the other app information required for the listing. 

You should also consider the legal prerequisites of launching a mobile app. For example, if you’re launching an app in EU markets, the app must comply with GDPR guidelines. If you’re going to offer app purchases and collect payments through the app, you’ll need to think about things like PCI compliance as well. 

How you’re collecting, handling, and sharing user data is really important here. You should refer to the official Agreements and Guidelines for Apple Developers to ensure you’re following all of the appropriate requirements regarding user data. 

App submissions must only have content that was either created by you or that you have the proper authority to use. If you’re using content from another source without the proper legal licenses or permissions, it can be grounds for either rejecting your app from the App Store or getting it removed from the App Store.

You’ll need to have an Apple Developer account and Apple ID as well. Submitting your app from a computer running on macOS is not a requirement, but it’s definitely common considering the software and tools you’ll be using.

For example, if you’re using Xcode to create iOS apps for iPhone and iPad, you can take steps to prepare your app for publishing directly in the IDE.

App Store Submission Requirements

Before we get into the steps required for publishing, you need to understand the App Store guidelines for app submission.

You can review all of the App Store review guidelines here. These are some important points to keep in mind:

  • Developers are responsible for making sure everything in the app complies with Apple’s guidelines, including analytics services, third-party SDKs, ad networks, and more.
  • Attempting to cheat the review system or manipulate ratings is grounds to remove your app and kick you out of the developer program.
  • You must comply with Apple’s guidelines regarding apps for kids.
  • Apps may not include objectionable content (discrimination, explicit materials, etc.).
  • The app’s privacy policy must comply with all Apple guidelines. 
  • Apps must be complete and fully functional before you submit them for review.
  • Apple has certain technical requirements and software standards that must be followed.
  • You may not just copy another app and make subtle changes to pass it off as your own.
  • Apps must have minimum functionality that goes beyond a mobile website.

In total, the App Store Review Guidelines are quite lengthy. There are five major categories—safety, performance, business, design, and legal. Each section is broken down into different subsections, like this:

So give yourself ample time to review this document in detail before you go through the steps for submission.

6 Steps to Submit and Publish an iOS App

The App Store publishing process can be summarized in just six steps. 

  1. Sign up for the Apple developer program
  2. Prepare the app for submission
  3. Create a listing via App Store Connect
  4. Capture App Store screenshots
  5. Upload the app using Xcode
  6. Submit the app to be reviewed by Apple

We’ll cover each step in greater detail below:

Step 1 — Join the Apple Developer Program

You must be a member of the Apple Developer Program to submit an app to the App Store. So if you haven’t done so already, sign up for an Apple developer account

If you’re enrolling as an individual or sole proprietor, you can sign in using your Apple ID and enable two-factor authentication. Apple will ask you for some personal information, like your legal name and address.

To enroll in the developer program as an organization, you’ll also need an Apple ID with two-factor authentication enabled. In addition to the Apple ID, enrollment requires:

  • D-U-N-S Number
  • Legal Entity Status
  • Legal Binding Authority
  • Website

Just click “Start Your Enrollment” on this page to get started.

The membership pricing starts at $99 per year, and it gives you access to other exclusive Apple developer tools and services. 

You can use the account to manage your apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The membership also comes with beta software, app analytics, testing tools, and everything you need to manage your App Store listing. 

Apple developers also have access to TestFlight—a way to collect feedback from up to 10,000+ testers before submitting the app to the App Store. You can invite them with an email address or public link.

Step 2 — Prepare the App for Submission

Identifying bugs and problems with your app before submitting it to the app store is just one aspect of app development. There are other things you must do to get it ready for review.

First, you need to set the bundle ID in Xcode. This is used to uniquely identify your app in the system. Xcode will give you a default identifier when you create a project from a template, but it’s important to create one that’s unique. Just be aware that you cannot change the bundle ID after it’s been uploaded to App Store Connect. 

You can adjust these settings in the “General” menu of your project editor in Xcode.

Next, you need to configure your app version number and build string. The version number will appear in the App Store, and it’s expected to be in a format of [Major].[Minor].[Patch], such as 9.12.1.

Apple requires you to set an app category with your submission. This is designed to help users discover your app in the App Store. Options include:

  • Books
  • Business
  • Developer Tools
  • Music
  • Medical
  • Navigation
  • Education
  • News
  • Finance
  • Photo & Video
  • Productivity
  • Food & Drink
  • Reference
  • Games
  • Graphics & Design
  • Shopping
  • Social Networking
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Kids
  • Travel
  • Magazines & Newspapers
  • Utilities
  • Weather

Primary categories must match the primary purpose and function of your app. Choosing a category that doesn’t fit your app’s functionality is against Apple’s guidelines and grounds for removal. 

You need to prepare an app icon and provide a launch screen as well. The launch screen is the UI that appears when your app launches and quickly disappears when the first screen loads. The purpose of a launch screen is to enhance the UX by offering some visuals while the app is loading. 

Review all of Apple’s official guidelines to prepare your app for distribution. 

Step 3 — Create a Listing via App Store Connect

The App Store Connect is where members of the Apple Developer Program can upload apps, submit apps, and manage apps post-launch. It comes with everything from sales reports to analytics, test resources, and more. 

Here’s a quick overview of how to create a listing for App Store Connect:

  • Log into your account
  • Select the “+” button from the “My Apps” menu
  • Add the platform (iOS), primary language, bundle ID, and SKU
  • Add the app name and category
  • Provide a URL to your app’s privacy policy
  • Choose your app’s pricing

You’ll also have the option to decide how your app is released after the review information is approved. 

You can manually sign back into App Store Connect and release it when you’re ready, or set it to be published on a certain date (assuming it passes certification). Apple gives you the option to select the app to be released immediately following its approval as well. 

Note: These same steps work whether you have an App Store Connect Organization account or Individual account.

Step 4 — Capture App Store Screenshots

Now it’s time to prepare your screenshots for the App Store. There are two basic approaches here that you can follow. You can either use raw screenshots from your app or use a mockup template to showcase your app.

These screenshots are the perfect way to help showcase to the world what your app does and how it works when they find you in the App Store. 

Here’s an example of how Delta Airlines uses app screenshots to showcase its top features:

Apple does have a lot of different screenshot specifications for app previews that you must take into consideration. That’s because they have so many different devices on the market.

iPhones range from 4.7-inch screens to 6.5 inches. iPads range all the way up to 12.9 inches.

You can view all of Apple’s screenshot specifications here. I also recommend reviewing this API collection resource for app screenshots for more technical requirements.

Step 5 — Upload the App Using Xcode

Now it’s time to actually upload your app from Xcode. Do not proceed with this step until you’re confident that the app is free of bugs and it runs as intended. If the app doesn’t function, it won’t get approved for the App Store. 

For new apps, the version should be set to 1.0.0. 

Xcode 11 makes the publishing process really easy. In the past, lots of extra steps were required. But not most of the work now gets handled in a couple of clicks. 

Start by creating a full app archive. Go to your list of simulators in Xcode and select “Generic iOS Device” from the menu. 

Then select “Product” and “Archive.” This will prompt Xcode to bundle your app. Depending on the size, this could take quite a bit of time. 

Once this process is complete, just go to the “Archives” tab, and click “Distribute App” on the right side of your screen. Then select “iOS App Store” when it asks for your method of distribution.

Xcode will go through a few steps to ensure you’re not trying to upload a broken app. If something is missing or there’s a problem, Xcode will likely stop the upload and ask you to add missing assets. 

You should see some type of confirmation on the screen when the upload is successful. 

Step 6 — Submit the App for Review

By now, the archive from Xcode has been sent to App Store Connect. But you still might have to wait until App Store Connect actually processes the upload. So don’t freak out if it’s not showing up in your account right away. 

You should get an email when the archive is officially processed and ready for you. This can save you some time so you don’t have to keep manually checking.

Once it’s available, just select the archive and click the “Submit for Review” button at the top right of the page.

According to Apple, 50% of mobile apps get reviewed within 24 hours and 90% are reviewed in 48 hours. So assuming your submission is complete, there’s a good chance you’ll have an answer within two days.

The app’s status will get updated upon review, and you’ll receive a notification with the status change. 

Conclusion

Publishing an iOS app and going through the Apple review process might seem a bit intimidating, especially if you’ve never done this before. But if you create an app with BuildFire, we’ll handle the publishing process on your behalf.  This is the easiest way to publish apps.

You’ll still need to create your own Google and Apple Developer accounts, but our team will handle the majority of the heavy lifting. So you won’t have to worry about most of the steps in this guide.

If you’re still in the planning stages of your app project, request a consultation to see if BuildFire is the right partner to achieve your goals. 

Mobile App Download Statistics & Usage Statistics (2024)

With over 6.3 billion smartphone users across the world, it’s no surprise that the mobile app industry is thriving. App usage and smartphone penetration are still growing at a steady rate, without any signs of slowing down in the foreseeable future.

Now factor in the 1.14 billion tablet users worldwide, which a number that’s grown about 36% over the past six years.

If you take a second to look up from your phone during the day, I’m sure you’ll notice that everyone else has their eyes glued to a mobile device as well.

In fact, studies show that the average American checks their phone 262 times per day! That’s once every 5.5 minutes.

We use our phones at work, at home, on the street, while we’re eating, in bed, and even in our cars. You might be reading this from a mobile device right now.

What’s everyone doing on their phones? Well, 88% of mobile time is spent on apps.

This is encouraging news for app developers, app publishers, and anyone who plans on developing an app. But in order to be successful in this space, two things need to happen.

  1. Users need to download your app.
  2. Users need to use your app.

These two seemingly simple actions are what inspired me to write this guide. Sure, we know that people are using apps more than ever before. But that’s just barely scratching the surface in terms of the available data on this usage. You can’t develop an app based on this information alone.

That’s like saying, “People like to eat, so I’m going to open a restaurant.”

If you want to compete and claim your share of this multi-billion dollar industry, you need to have a better understanding of exactly how people are downloading and using mobile apps.

Use the research that I’ve identified in this guide to help you develop or improve your mobile app.

Continue reading “Mobile App Download Statistics & Usage Statistics (2024)”

Testing Mobile Apps – Pro Tips & Best Practices For Success (2024)

Testing mobile apps is crucial for success in today’s digital landscape. With the ever-growing number of mobile devices and platforms, ensuring that your app functions seamlessly across all of them is essential. 

As users increasingly turn to mobile apps for everything from banking to socializing, the need for thorough testing is more important than ever before. 

This in-depth guide will cover the key considerations, tips, and best practices for successful mobile app testing to help you deliver an app that meets the needs and expectations of your users. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, this post will provide valuable insights to help you achieve success in testing mobile apps.

Mobile App Testing: Key Considerations

When it comes to testing mobile apps, there are a number of key considerations that developers and testers need to keep in mind. From understanding the importance of mobile app testing to choosing the right testing tools and frameworks, it’s essential to take a comprehensive approach to mobile app testing.

Understanding the Importance of Testing Mobile Apps

Mobile app testing is critical for ensuring that your app functions as intended on a range of devices and operating systems. Testing can help to identify bugs, performance issues, and other potential problems before they impact the app’s usability.

In addition to ensuring that your app is free from bugs and glitches, testing can also help to improve the overall user experience. By conducting usability testing and gathering feedback from real users, you can identify areas for improvement and make changes to your app accordingly.

The Role of Mobile Testing Tools and Frameworks

There are a number of mobile testing tools and frameworks available that can help to streamline the testing process and ensure that your app functions correctly across a range of devices and operating systems. Some popular mobile testing tools include Testflight, Appium, Selenium, and TestComplete.

Mobile testing frameworks, such as the XCTest framework for iOS app testing and the Espresso framework for Android, can also be helpful in automating the testing process and identifying issues more quickly. However, it’s important to choose the right tools and frameworks for your specific needs, as not all tools are created equal.

For example, let’s say you specifically want to run beta testing for your iOS app. In this scenario, testing your app with Testflight would be a good option to consider. 

However, if you wanted to run regression testing or check for bugs on an Android app, you’d need to use a completely different tool. 

Common Challenges Associated with Testing Mobile Apps

Testing mobile apps can be challenging—particularly given the wide range of devices and platforms that apps need to be compatible with. Some of the most common challenges associated with mobile app testing include:

  • Device Fragmentation: With so many different devices and operating systems on the market, it can be difficult to ensure that your app functions correctly on all of them.
  • Testing Environment setup: Setting up a testing environment that accurately reflects real-world usage scenarios can be challenging.
  • Network Conditions: Mobile apps need to be able to function well even in areas with poor network connectivity, which can be difficult to test for.

Recognizing these challenges helps developers understand that even a passing test doesn’t always mean that the app is perfect. There will always be some gaps in the testing process that need to be accounted for.

Types of App Testing: Manual vs. Automated Testing

There are two main types of mobile app testing—manual and automated testing. 

Manual testing involves testing the app manually, typically using a physical device or emulator, to identify bugs and other issues. Conversely, automated testing for mobile apps uses software and tools to run tests and identify issues automatically.

Both manual and automated testing have benefits and drawbacks. Manual testing can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it allows testers to identify issues that may be difficult to catch with automated testing. While automated testing can be faster and more efficient, it may not catch every issue.

Tips for Effective Mobile App Testing

Effective mobile app testing requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account the various factors that can impact the user experience. In this section, we’ll discuss some tips for testing your mobile app to ensure that it functions correctly and meets the needs of your users.

Test Your App on Real Devices

One of the most important tips for effective mobile app testing is to test your app on real devices. While emulators and simulators can be useful tools, they don’t always accurately reflect real-world usage scenarios. By testing your app on a range of real devices, you can identify issues that may not be apparent when testing on emulators or simulators.

Here’s a good comparison that highlights the differences between testing on a real device compared to virtual devices.

When you’re going through this process, it’s important to account for factors like screen size, network connectivity, and operating system version. For example, if your app is designed for both iOS and Android, you’ll need to test it on both types of devices to ensure that it functions correctly on both platforms.

Ensure Your App is Compatible with Multiple Operating Systems and Devices

Ensuring that your app is compatible with multiple operating systems and devices is crucial for reaching the widest possible audience. However, this can be a challenging task when you consider the wide range of devices and operating systems on the market.

To ensure compatibility, it’s important to conduct thorough testing across a range of devices and operating systems. This can help to identify issues and ensure that your app functions correctly on all technology that could be in the hands of your end-users.

Conduct Usability Testing

Usability testing helps gather feedback from real users to identify areas for improvement in your app’s user interface and user experience.

Usability testing can come in many forms—from in-person testing with real users to remote testing with online tools. It’s important to conduct usability testing throughout the development process to ensure that your app meets the needs and expectations of your users.

Some tips for conducting effective usability testing include:

  • Choose a diverse group of test participants that accurately reflects your target audience
  • Provide clear instructions and tasks for test participants to complete
  • Observe test participants closely to identify areas of confusion or frustration

These tips help ensure you get actionable data from your tests, instead of information that you don’t know what to do with. 

Prioritize Security Tests

With the increasing prevalence of cyber attacks and data breaches, security testing is more important than ever before. Prioritizing security testing can help to identify vulnerabilities in your app and ensure that sensitive user data is protected.

Penetration testing is one of the best ways to identify potential vulnerabilities in your app.

You should also take steps in your testing process to ensure your app is compliant with all relevant data privacy regulations. This is really important if your app is available in multiple countries and regions where data privacy laws vary. 

Someone on your team should also stay up-to-date with the latest security threats and vulnerabilities. Your app might pass security tests today, but if a new form of malicious software is released in a few months, you may need to continue hardening the app to prevent all new threats. 

Conduct Regression Testing

Regression testing involves testing your app after making changes or updates to ensure that existing functionality has not been affected. This can be particularly important when making changes to critical functionality, such as payment processing or user authentication.

Beyond these steps, it’s also helpful to:

  • Create comprehensive test cases that cover all critical functionality
  • Automate regression testing where possible to save time and improve accuracy
  • Conduct regression testing regularly to ensure that new changes have not introduced unexpected issues

When it comes to regression tests, these tips can help you succeed.

Measure Performance and Stability

Measuring the performance and stability of your app is critical for ensuring that it functions correctly and meets the needs of your users. By monitoring key metrics such as load times and crash rates, you can identify performance issues and make improvements to your app accordingly.

Start by setting clear performance benchmarks and goals for your app. From there, you can use analytics tools to monitor KPIs and identify performance issues against your benchmarks.You should also conduct load testing to determine how your app performs under heavy usage. 

We have a complete guide on mobile app KPIs and metrics that you can use as a reference to help with your tests. 

Best Practices for Successful Mobile App Testing

Mobile app testing requires a strategic approach and a range of tools and techniques. Follow the best practices below to ensure your mobile app tests achieve your goals and deliver a high-quality app to your users.

Collaboration between Developers and Testers

Collaboration between developers and testers is crucial for successful mobile app testing. By working together closely, developers and testers can ensure that the app functions correctly and meets the needs of the end user.

One effective approach is to involve testers early in the development process. This can help to identify potential issues before they become more difficult and costly to fix. It’s also important to establish clear communication channels between developers and testers to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Early Testing in the Development Cycle

Piggybacking off the last point, testing early and often helps eliminate issues before they biome a bigger problem. The longer you wait, the more difficult and costly it becomes to solve problems.  

For example, if you wait to test your app a week before it launches, only to discover problems that will take a month to fix, you’re now forced to push back your launch date. But if you begin running regular tests on a bi-weekly or monthly basis, most bugs can be fixed within a day or two.

Test-Driven Development

Test-driven development (TDD) is an approach to software development that involves writing tests for each piece of functionality before writing the code. This approach can help to ensure that the code is fully tested and that any issues are caught early in the development process.

TDD can be particularly effective for mobile app testing, as it helps to ensure that each piece of functionality is fully tested before it is integrated into the app. This can help to reduce the risk of issues and ensure that the app functions correctly across a range of devices and platforms.

Continuous Integration and Delivery

Continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) in software development automates the testing and deployment process. This can help to ensure that changes are tested thoroughly and delivered to users quickly and efficiently.

CI/CD works really well for testing mobile apps—as it allows for continuous testing and integration throughout the development process. Not only does it find problems early, but it helps get your app in the hands of users as quickly as possible. 

Building an Effective Mobile App Testing Team

It’s important to assemble a team of testers who possess the right skills and experience to ensure that your app functions correctly and meets the needs of your users.

To do this correctly, the first thing you need to do is identify the specific skills and experience that users need for your app. For example, let’s say you’re creating a project management app. You’d want your testers to be familiar with project management concepts and, ideally, have some experience as a project manager. 

Once you’ve identified the skills required, it’s time to recruit testers who have that experience. You can also provide ongoing training and support to your testers so they’re always up to date with the latest tools and techniques related to your app’s goal and primary purpose. 

Common Pitfalls to Avoid During Mobile Testing

While effective mobile app testing is essential for success, there are a number of common pitfalls that developers and testers need to avoid. From neglecting usability and accessibility testing to relying too much on automated testing, these pitfalls can impact the user experience and lead to issues down the line.

  • Ignoring Testing Altogether — Some developers may believe that their app is functioning correctly without testing, but this approach can lead to serious issues down the line. Without proper testing, it’s difficult to identify bugs, performance issues, and other potential problems that can impact the user experience.
  • Relying Too Much on Automated Testing — While automated testing can be a powerful tool for mobile app testing, it’s important to balance it with manual testing. Relying too much on automated testing can lead to missed issues and potential problems, particularly in areas such as usability and accessibility testing.
  • Failing to Test on a Range of Devices and Platforms — With so many different devices and operating systems on the market, it’s essential to test your app on a range of devices to ensure that it functions correctly across all of them.
  • Neglecting Usability and Accessibility Testing — Usability and accessibility testing are critical components of effective mobile app testing. Neglecting these areas can lead to issues with user satisfaction and even legal problems. It’s important to ensure that your app is usable and accessible for all users, regardless of their abilities.

For example, consider the case of an ecommerce app that neglects usability testing. If the app is difficult to use or navigate, users may become frustrated and switch to a competitor’s app instead. 

Ultimately, the key to avoiding these common pitfalls is to take a comprehensive approach to mobile app testing. By balancing manual and automated testing, testing on a range of devices and platforms, and prioritizing usability and accessibility testing, you can ensure that your app functions correctly and meets the needs of your users.

Final Thoughts on Testing Mobile Apps

At the end of the day, mobile app testing is an ongoing process that requires continuous attention and effort. By staying up-to-date with the latest tools and techniques, prioritizing user feedback and testing, and working collaboratively with your team, you can deliver a mobile app that provides a great user experience and delivers real value to your users.

Take a comprehensive approach that includes manual and automated testing. Always test your app on a range of devices and platforms. Prioritize usability and accessibility testing as well, and you can increase your chances of delivering a high-quality app that stands out from the competition.

How to Use Beta Testers in Mobile App Development

Beta testers are an essential component of mobile app development. These individuals play a key role in identifying bugs and providing valuable feedback before an app is released to the public. 

The use of beta testers can help developers refine apps, create a better user experience, and ultimately increase the app’s chances of success.

This guide will help you better understand the process of using beta testers in mobile app development. You’ll learn how to plan for beta testing, recruit beta testers, conduct beta testing, manage beta testers, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned app developer or just starting, this information will provide you with the knowledge and tools to leverage the power of beta testers for your app.

Planning for Beta Testing

Planning for beta testing is critical in the mobile app development process. This stage sets the foundation for the testing phase and ensures that the app is ready for the feedback and scrutiny of beta testers. 

Read on to learn more about identifying your objectives, choosing the right beta testing strategies, and preparing your mobile app for beta testing.

Identifying Objectives for Beta Testers

Identifying objectives is a crucial first step when you’re planning for beta testing. Objectives are the goals that you want to achieve during the testing phase, and they can vary depending on the app’s purpose, target audience, and features.

When identifying objectives, it’s important to think about what you want to achieve your beta tests. Some common objectives of beta testing include identifying and fixing bugs, improving app usability, testing app performance under different conditions, gathering user feedback, and ensuring compatibility with different devices and operating systems.

By setting clear objectives, you can focus your testing efforts and ensure that you’re getting the feedback you need to improve the app. It’s also essential to establish specific and measurable objectives, which will help you track progress and evaluate the success of the beta testing phase.

Choosing Beta Testing Strategy

There are several beta testing strategies that you can consider, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are the three most common approaches to beta testing:

Closed Beta Testing — With closed testing, you’ll select a limited number of testers to provide feedback. This approach is ideal when you want to keep the testing phase confidential or if you’re testing a specific feature or function that requires a highly targeted group of testers.

Open Beta Testing — This approach releases the app to a larger group of testers. It allows for a more comprehensive testing process and can generate a significant amount of feedback. However, it may also result in a larger volume of feedback that can be challenging to manage.

Staged Rollout Beta Testing — This strategy sends the app to a smaller group of testers initially and gradually increases the number of testers over time. Staged rollout beta testing offers a more controlled testing environment and helps ensure that feedback is manageable and relevant.

When choosing the right beta-testing strategy, it’s essential to consider your app’s goals, target audience, and development timeline. You may want to experiment with different beta testing strategies to find the one that works best for your app.

Preparing the App for Beta Testing

Before inviting beta testers to test your app, you should conduct extensive testing yourself to ensure that your app is stable and free of significant bugs. This step is critical as beta testers will be more likely to provide valuable feedback if your app is relatively stable.

Next, you’ll want to create a dedicated beta-testing version of your app. Your beta version should be separate from the production version of your app and should include features like crash reporting, feedback collection, and analytics tracking.

For example, let’s say you’re testing an app with Xcode. You can manage multiple builds of your app and keep the testing versions separate from the published version. 

Take the time to establish clear guidelines and expectations for beta testers. You may want to provide testers with a detailed list of tasks to complete, or maybe you want to ask for specific types of feedback. You can even outline the expected testing duration and provide as much information as possible to ensure your testers are equipped to do what you need.

Proper preparation also requires a common communication channel with your beta testers. This can include a dedicated email address or forum where testers can provide feedback, ask questions, and report bugs.

You’ll also need to figure out how and where you’re going to track and analyze feedback from your beta testers continually. This will help you identify patterns and trends in feedback and prioritize which issues to address first.

All of these steps will help ensure that your app is ready for beta testing and that you’re set up for a successful testing phase.

Recruiting Beta Testers

Once you’ve established your objectives, chosen your beta testing strategy, and prepared your app for testing, the next step is to recruit beta testers. This is a crucial step in the beta testing process, as the quality of feedback you receive will depend on the quality of your testers. 

Recruiting beta testers can be challenging. But with the right approach, you can build a group of testers who will provide valuable feedback and help you improve your app. By finding the right testers, creating an efficient application process, and building a community of testers, you can set yourself up for a successful beta testing phase.

Finding the Right Beta Testers

When it comes to recruiting beta testers, it’s essential to find testers who match your app’s target audience. This can include existing users, social media followers, or members of specific groups or communities that are relevant to your app’s purpose. Consider using social media or email marketing to reach out to potential testers and gauge their interest.

Testflight is a great option for recruiting beta testers for your iOS apps. 

You have the option to use up to 100 internal testers on your team or invite up to 10,000 beta testers through a public link or their email addresses. 

It’s also essential to ensure that your beta testers have the necessary technical knowledge and experience to provide valuable feedback. Consider conducting a brief survey or questionnaire to screen potential testers and ensure that they meet your requirements.

Creating a Beta Testing Application Process

Once you’ve identified potential beta testers, you should create a straightforward and efficient beta testing application process. This process should be clear and easy to understand. It should provide everything you need to select the best testers for your app.

Your beta testing application should include a brief overview of the testing process. Include what you expect from your testers and what they can expect from you. 

Ask your testers if they have experience using or testing similar apps. Inquire about their device and operating system. You should ask about their availability for testing during the application process. 

Building a Beta Tester Community

Building a community of beta testers can help you generate more comprehensive feedback and build a loyal user base for your app. Consider creating a dedicated forum or group where beta testers can communicate with each other and share their experiences. 

Encourage testers to share feedback and ask questions, and be sure to respond promptly to their inquiries.

You may also want to provide incentives for beta testers, such as early access to new app features or exclusive discounts. This can help motivate testers to provide more detailed feedback and can help build a sense of community around your app.

Conducting Beta Testing

Beta testing is an opportunity to get feedback from real users and make necessary improvements before launching your app to the public. So make sure that you take this seriously, and don’t rush through the process.

Establishing Clear Expectations for Beta Testers

To ensure a successful beta testing phase, it’s essential to establish clear expectations for your beta testers. Here are some things to consider:

  • Clearly outline the goals and objectives of the testing phase
  • Provide detailed instructions on how to test the app and what feedback to provide
  • Set a timeline for the testing phase and establish deadlines for feedback submission
  • Offer support and resources to help testers navigate the app
  • Communicate regularly with beta testers to ensure they understand what’s expected of them

Establishing clear expectations is critical for a successful beta testing phase. By communicating your goals, instructions, and timeline to your beta testers, you can ensure that they are providing the feedback you need to improve your app. Regular communication can help keep testers motivated and engaged throughout the testing phase.

Tracking and Analyzing Data From Beta Testers

Tracking and analyzing data during the beta testing phase is critical to improving your app’s performance and user experience. 

  • Use analytics tools to track app usage, crashes, and other data points
  • Collect feedback from beta testers through surveys, forums, or other communication channels
  • Keep track of bugs and issues reported by beta testers and prioritize them based on severity and impact
  • Use data to identify trends and patterns in feedback and prioritize improvements accordingly
  • Share data and progress updates with beta testers to keep them engaged and informed

By using analytics tools, collecting feedback, and keeping track of bugs and issues, you can identify areas for improvement and prioritize them based on their impact. Sharing data and progress updates with beta testers can really help keep your testers engaged and invested throughout the entire process.

Addressing Feedback and Bugs From Beta Testers

Beyond the testing itself, knowing what to do with the information you get from your testers is what matters the most. Otherwise, you won’t be able to make the appropriate changes to improve your app.

Here’s what you need to keep in mind as you create a simple and repeatable process for feedback and bug tracking:

  • Develop a system for prioritizing and addressing feedback and bugs
  • Assign responsibility for addressing specific issues to members of your development team
  • Communicate regularly with beta testers to keep them informed of progress on reported issues
  • Test fixes and updates thoroughly before releasing them to beta testers
  • Provide timely updates and fixes to beta testers to keep them engaged and invested in the testing process

Addressing feedback and bugs promptly is crucial. You can always make tweaks to this process to make it more effective. This will help you prioritize which feedback requires attention first and how you’ll deal with additional changes moving forward. 

Testing fixes and updates thoroughly before releasing them to beta testers is critical to ensuring that your app is stable and ready for release.

Managing Beta Testers

Managing beta testers is a critical aspect of the beta testing phase during the pre-development and post-development stages. Your beta testers are your partners in improving your app, and their role will directly impact the success and performance of your app once it’s released. 

Maintaining Communication With Beta Testers

Maintaining clear and consistent communication with your beta testers is essential to a successful beta testing phase. By communicating regularly, you can keep your testers engaged and motivated throughout the testing process.

Consider setting up a dedicated communication channel, such as a forum or email group, where testers can communicate with each other and ask questions. Encourage testers to share their experiences and feedback with each other and provide regular updates on your progress. 

It’s also essential to be responsive to questions and feedback from your testers. Responding promptly to feedback and addressing issues can help keep testers engaged and invested in the testing process.

For example, if a beta tester reports a significant issue, respond to their message as soon as possible. You can also provide regular updates on your progress in addressing the issue. This can help build trust and create a positive experience for your beta testers.

Showing Appreciation to Beta Testers

Your beta testers are volunteering their time and expertise to help you improve your app, and it’s important to recognize their contributions.

Some developers offer incentives or rewards for beta testers. This can include early access to new app features or exclusive discounts. You can also publicly acknowledge the contributions of your beta testers on your app’s website or social media channels.

BetaTesting.com is another good tool to help you conduct and manage your tests. They even help you offer incentives to your testers, either through your own method or through their own payment system.

Another way to show appreciation is to provide personalized feedback to your beta testers. Consider sending a personalized thank-you message to each tester or providing detailed feedback on their contributions to the testing process. This can help create a positive experience for your beta testers and build a loyal user base for your app.

Creating a Positive Experience for Beta Testers

Your beta testers are critical to a successful app launch, and it’s essential to create a positive experience for them.

Consider providing clear and concise instructions on how to test your app and what feedback to provide. Make sure that your testers have the resources and support they need to navigate the app and provide feedback effectively.

Be open and transparent with your beta testers. Share your progress, successes, and challenges with them regularly. This can help create a sense of trust and collaboration among your testers and build a positive experience for everyone involved.

Final Thoughts on Using Beta Testers in App Development

Leveraging the power of beta testing can significantly improve the quality of your mobile app and increase its chances of success. Beta testers can help you identify and fix bugs, improve app usability, gather user feedback, and ensure compatibility with different devices and operating systems. 

Additionally, managing beta testers effectively helps create positive experiences for your testers, which can lead to a loyal user base and improve the chances of success for your app.

It’s important to remember that beta testing is an ongoing process and should be viewed as such. Continuous feedback, iteration, and improvement are essential to ensure that your app remains relevant and useful to your target audience. 

By incorporating the tips and strategies outlined in this guide, you can use beta testers to create a high-quality mobile app that meets the needs of your users and maximizes its chances of success.

What is Application Integration and How Does it Work?

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, businesses rely on a multitude of applications to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and drive growth. As organizations continue to adopt a diverse range of applications, it becomes essential to ensure seamless communication and interaction between them. That’s where application integration comes into play.

Application integration enables different software applications, systems, and services to work together efficiently—providing businesses with a holistic and unified view of their data and processes. This helps eliminate data silos, streamline workflows, and improve decision-making.

This article provides an in-depth explanation of application integration, its importance, its components, as well as its various techniques and patterns. While we’ll cover application integration as a whole, we’ll also give special attention to mobile applications—as they have become indispensable for modern businesses. Continue on to explore the world of application integration and its impact on mobile apps.

What is Application Integration?

Application integration is the process of enabling separate and diverse software applications, systems, or services to communicate and interact with each other—resulting in a unified and coordinated system. It facilitates the seamless exchange of data and functionality between different applications, allowing businesses to streamline processes, eliminate data silos, and improve overall efficiency. 

By connecting disparate systems and ensuring consistent data flow, application integration helps organizations achieve a comprehensive view of their operations, leading to better decision-making and enhanced productivity.

In today’s business landscape, organizations employ a variety of applications to manage various aspects of their operations, such as customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), human resource management (HRM), and more. As these applications often come from different vendors and have distinct data structures, they can’t “talk” to each other by default. Application integration bridges this gap, ensuring that these systems can work in harmony and share information without manual intervention.

As businesses continue to adopt new applications and technologies, the need for robust application integration strategies becomes increasingly important. With the growing significance of mobile applications in modern business, integration solutions must also cater to the unique requirements of mobile apps, such as providing real-time data access, supporting multiple platforms, and ensuring scalability.

Objectives and Benefits of Application Integration

The primary objectives of application integration are to streamline business processes, enhance data sharing and collaboration, improve decision-making, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. Let’s take a closer look at each of these objectives and the benefits they offer.

Streamlining Business Processes

Integrating various applications allows businesses to eliminate redundant and manual tasks by automating workflows. This leads to significant time savings and reduces the risk of errors. It also frees up employees to focus on more business-critical tasks. 

Application integration can also help optimize processes, such as automating data entry, scheduling, and reporting—resulting in improved efficiency and productivity.

Furthermore, integrating apps can help organizations respond quickly to changes in the market. Examples include launching new products, entering new markets, and adapting to changing customer needs. By having a flexible and agile integration strategy, businesses can quickly connect new applications and services to their existing infrastructure to ensure they’re competitive and up-to-date.

Enhancing Data Sharing and Collaboration

Another critical objective of application integration is enhancing data sharing and collaboration. In today’s data-driven world, businesses must rely on accurate and timely information to make informed decisions. Integration helps ensure data consistency across all systems and eliminates data silos. This ultimately makes it easier for employees to access and share information.

Application integration can help businesses collaborate more effectively by providing a unified view of data and processes. This leads to improved cross-functional communication, increased transparency, and enhanced collaboration between departments. 

Organizations will be more informed and equipped to handle anything in fast-changing environments. 

Improving Decision-making

Application integration plays a vital role in improving decision-making by providing a more comprehensive and unified view of data and processes. By integrating different applications and systems, businesses can gain insights into their operations and make data-driven decisions.

Integrations help organizations consolidate data from multiple sources into a single dashboard. For example, a company can integrate application data from CRMs, ERP software, and HRM systems to provide a holistic view of the organization’s performance. This makes it much easier to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to detect. 

These types of integrations make it easier for businesses to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to gain deeper insights into their data, leading to more informed decisions.

Reducing Costs and Increasing Efficiency

Application integration also helps businesses reduce costs and increase efficiency. By automating workflows and eliminating manual tasks, businesses can save time and money—allowing them to focus on more critical tasks. 

This approach helps reduce data duplication and inconsistencies, resulting in improved data accuracy and reduced operational costs.

Moreover, integration can help businesses scale their operations more efficiently by providing a flexible and scalable infrastructure. This can help reduce IT costs and ensure that the organization can adapt quickly to changing business needs.

Types of Application Integration

As businesses continue to adopt multiple applications to manage various aspects of their operations, the need for seamless integration between them becomes increasingly important. There are many types of application integration, but they can generally be consolidated into three main categories—data integration, process integration, and presentation integration.

Each type of integration serves a unique purpose and offers distinct benefits to businesses. By choosing the appropriate integration strategy, businesses can streamline processes, enhance collaboration, and improve decision-making.

Let’s explore each of these types of application integration in greater detail below.

Data Integration

Data integration is the process of combining data from multiple sources into a unified view—ultimately making it easier for businesses to access and analyze data. This type of integration is critical for businesses that use different applications to manage data, such as CRM, ERP, and HRM systems.

Data integration can be achieved through various techniques such as extract, transform, and load (ETL), data replication, and data virtualization. ETL involves extracting data from different sources, transforming it into a unified format, and loading it into a target system. 

Data replication copies data from one system to another, while data virtualization creates a virtual layer that enables users to access data from multiple sources as if it were a single database.

By having a unified view of data, businesses can gain critical insights into their operations, identify trends, and make informed decisions.

Process Integration

Process integration connects different applications to automate business processes. This type of integration is critical for businesses that use multiple applications to manage different parts of their operations.

Process integration can be achieved through various techniques, including application programming interfaces (APIs), service-oriented architecture (SOA), and business process management (BPM). 

APIs enable applications to communicate with each other, while SOA provides a framework for creating services that can be used across different applications. BPM involves modeling, automating, and optimizing business processes.

With process automation, organizations can benefit from improved productivity, reduced errors, and greater scalability. By automating business processes, organizations can reduce manual tasks, improve efficiency, and respond quickly to changes in the market.

Presentation Integration

Presentation integration combines different user interfaces into a unified user experience. This type of integration helps businesses that use multiple applications that each have a different user interface.

This type of integration can be achieved through various techniques, including web portals, single sign-on (SSO), and web services. Web portals provide a unified interface for accessing multiple applications, while SSO enables users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials. 

Web services allow different applications to share data and functionality through a standard interface.

By providing a unified interface, businesses can reduce the complexity of using multiple applications and enable users to focus on their tasks. Presentation integration helps improve the user experience, reduce training costs, and increase productivity. 

Components of Application Integration

Various components are used to achieve desired integration goals. Let’s explore the most common components of application integration in greater detail below. 

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)

APIs are a set of protocols, routines, and tools for building software applications. They enable different applications to communicate and interact with each other—allowing businesses to integrate multiple applications and systems. 

APIs provide a standard interface for accessing data and functionality from different applications, making it easier to share data and automate workflows.

Businesses can use APIs to connect multiple applications, such as CRM, ERP, and HRM systems, and create a unified view of their operations. Overall, APIs are essential for application integration, as they provide a secure and scalable method for connecting different systems. 

Connectors and Adaptors

Connectors and adaptors are software components that enable different applications to connect and communicate with each other. Connectors provide a framework for integrating different applications, while adaptors enable different applications to connect to different data sources.

With connectors and adaptors, businesses have access to standardized methods for connecting different systems. 

Connectors provide a framework for integrating different applications, making it easier to share data and automate workflows. Adaptors enable apps to connect to different data sources—ensuring that the data can be accessed and shared across each system.

Data Transformation Tools

Data transformation tools are software components that enable businesses to transform data from one format to another. They are used to ensure that data can be shared between different applications, even if they use different data formats.

Organizations rely on data transformation tools to standardize data formats and ensure consistency across different systems. By transforming data from one format to another, businesses can share data seamlessly and automate workflows, reducing manual tasks and improving efficiency.

Integration Middleware

Integration middleware software provides a platform for integrating different applications, systems, and services. It adds a layer between different applications, enabling them to communicate and interact with each other.

Integration middleware provides a framework for connecting different applications, ensuring that data can be shared and processes can be automated. It’s a centralized platform to manage various integration components, including APIs, connectors, adaptors, and data transformation tools. 

By using integration middleware, businesses can create a unified and coordinated system, leading to improved decision-making, enhanced productivity, and reduced costs.

Application Integration Techniques and Patterns

There are various techniques and patterns used for application integration—each with its unique approach to connecting different applications and systems. 

Some of the most commonly used techniques and patterns are point-to-point integration, hub-and-spoke integration, federated integration, service-oriented architecture (SOA), and event-driven architecture.

  • Point-to-Point Integration: This technique directly connects two applications. It involves the development of custom interfaces between applications, allowing them to communicate and share data. While this approach can be effective for integrating two applications, it can become complex and difficult to maintain as the number of applications grows.
  • Hub-and-Spoke Integration: The hub-and-spoke technique involves connecting multiple applications to a central hub or middleware. This approach uses connectors and adaptors to connect applications to the hub, enabling them to communicate and share data. It’s scalable and highly flexible, allowing businesses to add or remove applications as needed.
  • Federated Integration: Federated integration is another technique that involves connecting multiple applications without a central hub or middleware. This method uses APIs to connect different applications, enabling them to share data and functionality. Federated integration is commonly used by businesses that have a large number of applications that need to be connected and managed.
  • Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA): SOA is an architectural pattern that creates reusable services that can be used across different applications. This approach involves breaking down applications into modular services, enabling businesses to reuse functionality across different applications. 
  • Event-Driven Architecture: Event-driven architecture is an architectural pattern that sends and receives events between different applications. This approach uses message brokers to facilitate communication between applications, enabling them to share information in real time. It’s best for businesses that require real-time data access and processing.

Application integration techniques and patterns play a crucial role in enabling businesses to connect different applications and systems. By using the appropriate integration technique or pattern, organizations can better create a unified and coordinated system.

Final Thoughts on Application Integration

Application integration plays a critical role in today’s interconnected world—enabling businesses to streamline processes, enhance collaboration, improve decision-making, and reduce costs. By adopting a robust integration strategy, businesses can leverage the benefits of integration to remain competitive and thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape.

To achieve this, organizations can rely on several techniques and patterns, including point-to-point integration, hub-and-spoke integration, federated integration, SOA, and event-driven architecture. These techniques and patterns enable businesses to connect different applications and systems in a scalable and flexible way, leading to a more efficient and productive business environment.

At BuildFire, we understand the importance of application integration, especially for mobile apps. That’s why we’ve developed a platform that simplifies the integration process, enabling businesses to seamlessly integrate their mobile apps with various systems and services. With our platform, businesses can automate workflows, streamline processes, and enhance collaboration, leading to improved productivity and increased revenue.

How to Improve User Onboarding For Your Mobile App

In today’s highly competitive mobile app market, creating a user-friendly app that stands out is crucial for success. One of the most important aspects of any app’s success is its user onboarding process. 

User onboarding helps new users understand the app, along with its features and how the app can benefit them. Onboarding sets the foundation for a lasting relationship between the user and the app—which is essential for achieving long-term success. 

In this blog post, we’ll discuss the importance of user onboarding for mobile apps, best practices for creating an effective onboarding experience, collecting and analyzing user feedback, measuring success, common onboarding mistakes to avoid, and more. 

Whether you currently have a mobile app or you’re in the process of creating one, this comprehensive guide will provide you with valuable insights and actionable tips to improve your app’s user onboarding process. This will ultimately help enhance user satisfaction and boost retention rates.

Understanding User Onboarding

Before we delve into the best practices for creating a smooth onboarding experience, it’s essential to understand what user onboarding is and why it’s vital for your mobile app’s success. In this section, we’ll explore the definition of user onboarding, its goals, and its importance in the world of mobile apps.

What is User Onboarding?

User onboarding is the process of guiding new users through your app while helping them understand its value, features, and functionality. This process typically begins the moment a user downloads and installs your app, and it continues until they’ve become comfortable navigating the app and utilizing its core features. 

The onboarding experience varies depending on the app’s complexity and the user’s familiarity with similar apps. However, the primary aim remains the same—to provide a seamless introduction and pave the way for users to achieve their desired outcomes with minimal friction.

Goals of User Onboarding

The main goal of user onboarding is to help new users feel confident in using your app, so they continue coming back to it over and over again in the future. But there are several other objectives to keep in mind when designing the onboarding experience. 

A successful onboarding process should:

  • Educate users about the app’s core features and benefits
  • Demonstrate the value your app provides
  • Foster user engagement from the beginning
  • Reduce the learning curve for new users
  • Encourage user retention and long-term loyalty
  • Motivate users to sign up and create an account or profile

Certain apps may have use-case-specific goals based on the app type or business model. Some of you may want users to complete a desired action during the onboarding process. 

For example, an ecommerce mobile app may want new users to activate a promo code or complete a checkout process from where they started shopping elsewhere. 

Importance of User Onboarding For Mobile App Success

User onboarding is a critical component in the success of any mobile app. A well-executed onboarding process can lead to higher user engagement, increased satisfaction, and improved retention rates. Conversely, a poor onboarding experience can result in users abandoning the app and opting for a competitor’s solution.

Onboarding is the first impression users have of your app, and it sets the tone for their entire experience. By investing time and resources in crafting an effective onboarding process, you’ll ensure that users can quickly understand and appreciate your app’s value. This helps increase the likelihood that they’ll become loyal, long-term users. 

Furthermore, a positive onboarding experience can lead to user referrals, further expanding your app’s user base and overall success.

Best Practices for User Onboarding

Now that we understand the importance of user onboarding for mobile app success, let’s dive into some best practices to ensure your app provides an exceptional onboarding experience for your users. By following these guidelines, you’ll create a smooth, user-friendly process that encourages engagement, satisfaction, and long-term loyalty.

Simplify the sign-up process

An intuitive sign-up process is crucial for user onboarding. You can streamline the process by incorporating these elements:

  • Social media login options — Enable users to sign up using their social media accounts, such as Facebook, Google, or Twitter. This reduces friction and makes it quicker for users to get started.
  • Minimal required information — Request only the most essential information during sign-up. Too many fields can overwhelm users and lead to abandonment.
  • Quick and easy verification process — Keep the verification process simple and quick, such as sending a confirmation email or text message with a one-time code.

Personalize the user experience

A tailored experience can significantly enhance user engagement and satisfaction. Here are some quick ways you can personalize the experience for app users:

  • User preferences — Allow users to set their preferences during the onboarding process. This can include language, notification settings, or content preferences.
  • Tailored content — Display content relevant to individual users based on their preferences, location, or previous interactions with the app.
  • In-app messaging and notifications — Send personalized messages and notifications to users that are relevant to their interests or app usage patterns.

Utilize progressive onboarding

Progressive onboarding is an approach that introduces features and functionality to users as they become relevant during app usage. You can achieve this by:

  • Introducing features in context — Instead of overwhelming users with all features at once, introduce them when they’re relevant to the user’s actions or when the user encounters the feature for the first time.
  • Breaking down complex tasks — Divide complicated tasks into smaller, manageable steps. This approach makes it easier for users to understand and complete the task at hand.
  • Encouraging exploration —  Allow users to discover additional features and functionality as they navigate your app. This can create a sense of accomplishment and deepen their engagement with your app.

Provide a clear and concise app tour

An effective app tour can quickly familiarize users with your app’s features and functionality. Keep these points in mind when designing your tour:

  • Highlight key features — Focus on showcasing the most important and useful features of your app. Avoid overloading users with too much information.
  • Use visual aids — Utilize images, animations, or short videos to demonstrate how your app works. Visual aids can make it easier for users to understand and remember key features.
  • Offer an option to skip the tour — Some users may prefer to explore your app independently. Provide an option to skip the tour for those who want to dive right in.

How to Measure the Success of Mobile App User Onboarding

After implementing the best practices for user onboarding, it’s essential to evaluate the effectiveness of your approach. In this section, we’ll discuss how to measure the success of your mobile app’s onboarding process and make data-driven improvements for an even better user experience.

Collect user feedback

Gathering user feedback is essential for identifying areas of improvement in your onboarding process. You can collect feedback through various channels, including:

  • In-app surveys — Integrate short surveys or questionnaires within your app to gather feedback on specific features or the overall onboarding experience.
  • App store reviews — Monitor user reviews on app stores, as they often provide valuable insights into user experiences and pain points.
  • Social media and forums — Keep an eye on social media platforms and online forums to identify user concerns, feedback, and suggestions for improvement.

Review user feedback

Once you’ve collected user feedback, it’s crucial to analyze the information and use it to enhance your onboarding process:

  • Identify patterns and trends — Look for recurring themes or common issues mentioned by users to pinpoint areas that need improvement.
  • Prioritize improvements — Rank potential improvements based on their impact on the overall user experience and allocate resources accordingly.
  • Implement changes — Make necessary changes to your onboarding process based on the insights gained from user feedback, and monitor the results.

Establish KPIs to track

To measure the effectiveness of your onboarding process, establish key performance indicators (KPIs) that reflect your goals. Some important KPIs for user onboarding success include:

  • Activation rate — Percentage of users who complete the onboarding process and engage with your app’s core features.
  • Time to first key action — Time it takes for users to perform their first meaningful action within your app, such as making a purchase or completing a task.
  • Retention rate —  Percentage of users who continue using your app after a specific period, typically 7, 30, or 90 days.

Analyze KPIs

Monitoring and analyzing your KPIs is crucial for evaluating the success of your onboarding process and identifying areas for improvement:

  • Establish benchmarks — Set targets or industry benchmarks for your KPIs to help gauge the effectiveness of your onboarding process.
  • Monitor progress — Regularly track your KPIs to identify trends, areas of success, and opportunities for improvement.
  • Compare to industry standards — Compare your KPIs to industry standards or competitor data to understand how your onboarding process performs relative to others in your market.

Common User Onboarding Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Creating an effective onboarding process is not without its challenges. There are some common pitfalls that app developers may encounter when designing their onboarding experience. 

We’ll discuss some of these mistakes and how to avoid them in greater detail below. This will help you ensure a seamless and engaging user onboarding journey.

Overloading users with information

One common mistake is inundating users with too much information during the onboarding process. While it’s crucial to educate users about your app’s features and benefits, overwhelming them can lead to confusion and frustration. To avoid this, focus on introducing the most important features first and gradually introduce additional functionality as the user becomes more comfortable with the app.

Utilize progressive onboarding to help users learn about your app at their own pace. By breaking down complex tasks into smaller steps and introducing features when they’re relevant, you can reduce the cognitive load on users and provide a more enjoyable onboarding experience.

You should also make use of visual aids such as images, animations, or videos to demonstrate how your app works. Visuals can make complex concepts easier to understand and remember—ultimately reducing the amount of text users need to read.

Ignoring user feedback

User feedback is invaluable for identifying areas of improvement, as it provides insights into the real-world experiences and pain points of your users. Ignoring feedback can lead to missed opportunities for enhancing your onboarding process and overall user experience.

Implement various channels to collect user feedback. Try a mix of in-app surveys, app store reviews, and social media monitoring tactics. You should regularly analyze the feedback you receive to identify trends, patterns, and areas where users are encountering difficulties.

Prioritize improvements based on the impact they’ll have on the user experience and allocate resources accordingly. By continually refining your onboarding process based on user feedback, you’ll ensure that your app evolves with the needs and expectations of its users.

Neglecting personalization

Failing to personalize the onboarding experience is another mistake that can hinder user engagement and satisfaction. A one-size-fits-all approach may not resonate with all users—as their preferences, needs, and familiarity with your app can vary significantly. Personalization can help users feel more connected to your app and increase the likelihood that they’ll continue to engage with it over time.

To combat this problem, try to incorporate personalization into your onboarding process. Allow users to set preferences, so you can tailor content based on their interests or previous interactions. You can also send personalized in-app messages and notifications to new users. 

Remember that personalization doesn’t need to be overly complex. Even simple adjustments, like addressing users by their first name or offering customized content suggestions, can make a significant difference in how users perceive and interact with your app. This will help you create a more engaging and enjoyable onboarding experience that caters to the unique needs and preferences of your users.

Final Thoughts

Creating an effective user onboarding experience is vital for the success of your mobile app. By focusing on simplifying the sign-up process, providing a concise app tour, personalizing the user experience, and utilizing progressive onboarding, you can significantly enhance user engagement and satisfaction. 

Pay close attention to user feedback and monitor your KPIs. This will allow you to make data-driven improvements to your onboarding process, ensuring that it remains relevant and effective as your app and user base evolve.

Remember that a great user onboarding experience is not just about educating users about your app’s features. It should also make them feel welcomed, valued, and connected to your brand. By prioritizing the needs and preferences of your users, you can create an onboarding journey that encourages long-term loyalty and contributes to the overall success of your mobile app.

How to Make a Digital Punch Card For Customer Loyalty

In today’s competitive market, customer loyalty is more important than ever before. Building a base of loyal customers can not only drive repeat business but also helps attract new customers through positive branding. 

One effective way to incentivize customer loyalty is through the use of digital punch cards. By offering rewards for repeat purchases, businesses can create a deeper connection with their customers and encourage them to return.

In this ultimate guide, we’ll explore the benefits and use cases of digital punch cards for customer loyalty. We’ll also delve into the actionable steps and best practices for building a successful digital punch card program. You’ll learn more about using mobile apps to create digital punch cards, as they offer the best user experience and can be easily customized to meet the needs of any business.

By the end of this post, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of how to create a digital punch card program that will keep your customers coming back for more.

The Evolution of Punch Cards (A Brief History)

The concept of punch cards has been around for decades—with physical punch cards often used to track customer purchases and incentivize repeat business. But in recent years, digital punch cards have become increasingly popular due to their convenience and ease of use.

Digital punch cards operate in much the same way as their physical counterparts. Customers receive a digital punch card that tracks their purchases, with rewards offered after a certain number of purchases are made. The difference is that digital punch cards are typically stored on a mobile device, making them easily accessible and eliminating the need for physical cards.

The benefits of digital punch cards are numerous. First and foremost, they are a cost-effective way to incentivize customer loyalty. By offering rewards after a certain number of purchases, businesses can create a sense of goodwill with their customers and encourage them to return. Additionally, digital punch cards can provide valuable data on customer behavior, allowing businesses to track purchase patterns and tailor their marketing efforts accordingly.

Transitioning from physical punch cards to digital punch cards is a logical step for businesses in today’s mobile-first world. By offering a digital punch card program, businesses can increase customer engagement and retention while also gaining valuable insights into customer behavior. 

Building a Digital Punch Card

When it comes to creating a digital punch card program, mobile apps are the best solution. Mobile apps offer a user-friendly interface for customers to track their progress and redeem rewards, as well as a customizable platform for businesses to design and manage their loyalty programs.

There are a variety of mobile app platforms available that can help businesses create a digital punch card program. BuildFire is a top-rated option that offers a range of tools and features to help businesses design and launch a successful mobile loyalty program.

Here’s a high-level overview of the steps required to create a digital punch card:

  1. Choose a mobile app platform – Begin by selecting a mobile app platform that offers the features and functionality required for your digital punch card program. BuildFire offers a range of customizable templates and design options, making it a great option for businesses of all sizes.
  1. Design the punch card – Use the platform’s drag-and-drop design tools to create a custom punch card that aligns with your brand and offers a clear path to rewards. Include details such as the number of “punches” required to earn rewards, what the rewards are, and any limitations or restrictions.
  1. Determine rewards and incentives – Decide on rewards that will motivate customers to participate in the program. These can be anything from discounts and free products to exclusive access to events or early access to new products.
  1. Set up the program in the app – Use the platform’s tools to set up the program in the app, including a customer sign-up process and setting up tracking for purchases.
  1. Test the program – Before launching the program, test it thoroughly to ensure that it functions as intended and provides a smooth user experience for customers.

By following these steps and using a platform like BuildFire, businesses can create a digital punch card program that is tailored to their needs and meets the expectations of their customers.

Best Practices for Implementing a Digital Punch Card

Implementing a successful digital punch card program requires a well-thought-out strategy that meets the needs of both the business and its customers. Here are some best practices that businesses can use to ensure the success of their digital punch card program:

  • Simplify the program: Keep the program easy to understand and participate in. Don’t make customers jump through hoops to earn rewards or redeem them. Keep the process straightforward and transparent.
  • Choose rewards that matter: Consider what your customers truly value and offer rewards that are desirable and achievable. For example, if your business is a coffee shop, free coffee or discounts on pastries could be attractive rewards.
  • Promote the program: Use all available channels to promote your digital punch card program. In addition to traditional advertising methods, consider using social media, email newsletters, and in-store signage to raise awareness about the program.
  • Incentivize customers to participate: Offer customers a bonus reward for signing up for the program and consider additional incentives for making purchases during specific time periods. These incentives can be a powerful motivator for customers to engage with the program.
  • Customize the experience: Use the data you collect through your digital punch card program to create personalized experiences for your customers. Send tailored offers and promotions that are relevant to their behavior and preferences, which can increase engagement and loyalty.
  • Set realistic goals: Determine the number of punches or purchases required to earn rewards that are both meaningful to customers and profitable for the business. Set realistic goals that are achievable for customers while still providing a positive return on investment for the business.
  • Monitor and adjust the program: Regularly review the data collected through the program to identify areas for improvement or adjustment. This can help optimize the program and increase customer engagement over time.
  • Provide exceptional customer service: When customers have questions or concerns about the program, respond quickly and provide exceptional customer service. This can help build trust and loyalty, leading to increased participation and higher satisfaction rates.

These pro tips can help your business create a digital punch card program that meets the needs of your customers while driving engagement and revenue. Remember to constantly evaluate and adjust the program to ensure it remains relevant and effective over time.

Benefits of a Digital Punch Card

A digital punch card program can offer a range of advantages for businesses and their customers. We’ll dive into greater detail of these benefits below:

Increased Customer Engagement

A digital punch card program provides customers with an incentive to return to your business and make additional purchases—increasing customer engagement and loyalty.

88% of consumers say it takes at least three purchases to build brand loyalty. Digital punch card programs help them get to that number faster.

Boost in Revenue

By incentivizing customers to return to your business, a digital punch card program can boost revenue over time, resulting in increased profits for the business.

Research shows that companies with loyalty rewards programs increase revenue 2.5x faster than competitors and generate 100% to 400% higher returns. 

Valuable Customer Insights

The data collected through a digital punch card program can provide businesses with valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences. This information can be used to create more effective marketing strategies and targeted promotions.

Organizations that effectively leverage customer insights outperform competitors by 85% in sales growth. 

Improved Customer Satisfaction

Digital punch card programs can help customers feel valued and appreciated, leading to increased satisfaction and loyalty.

A whopping 87% of consumers say they want to buy from brands that have loyalty programs. So by offering a simple digital punch card, you’re giving customers exactly what they’re looking for.

Greater Brand Recognition

A digital punch card program can help raise awareness of your brand and differentiate your business from competitors. This can result in increased visibility and a stronger brand identity over time.

Convenient and Eco-Friendly

Digital punch cards are more convenient and eco-friendly than traditional punch cards, as they eliminate the need for physical cards and can be accessed on a mobile device.

Roughly 80% of consumers in the US consider a brand’s sustainability efforts when making some purchasing decisions. 

Flexibility and Customization 

A digital punch card program can be easily customized to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes and industries. This flexibility allows businesses to tailor the program to their specific goals and objectives.

Mobile apps and digital punch cards also make it easy to change your program in real time. You can’t do this if you have physical punch cards that are already out and distributed in the hands of customers. 

Increased Customer retention

By providing rewards and incentives for repeat purchases, a digital punch card program can help businesses retain customers over time. This can result in increased customer lifetime value and higher profits for the business.

46% of buyers said they increased the amount of business they do with an organization because of the loyalty rewards that are offered. 

Why Mobile Apps Are The Best Way to Make Digital Punch Cards

In today’s mobile-first world, customers expect businesses to offer convenient and easy-to-use mobile experiences. A digital punch card program that is accessible through a mobile app can meet these expectations and provide a seamless user experience for customers.

Mobile apps are the best way to create digital punch cards because they offer a range of benefits that cannot be replicated through other channels. First and foremost, mobile apps are highly accessible, with customers able to easily download and use the app on their mobile device. This convenience can lead to increased engagement and loyalty among customers.

Mobile apps also offer a high degree of customization and flexibility, allowing businesses to tailor their digital punch card program to their specific needs and goals. For example, businesses can choose the number of punches required to earn a reward, the type of reward offered, and any limitations or restrictions.

BuildFire is an excellent mobile app platform that businesses can use to create a digital punch card program. BuildFire offers a range of industry-specific templates and design options, making it easy for businesses of all sizes to create a digital punch card program that aligns with their brand and goals. The platform’s drag-and-drop design tools also allow businesses to create a custom punch card that is visually appealing and easy to use.

You can easily add a digital punch card to your mobile app by installing BuildFire’s loyalty feature from our plugin marketplace. This can be accomplished in just a few clicks.

This will help you extend your customer loyalty program above and beyond basic punch card functionality. 

In addition to its design capabilities, BuildFire also offers a range of tools to help businesses manage and track their digital punch card program. The platform’s analytics tools provide valuable data on customer behavior and can be used to optimize the program over time.

Overall, mobile apps offer the best way to create a digital punch card program that meets the needs of both businesses and their customers. With a platform like BuildFire, businesses can create a customized and effective digital punch card program that drives engagement, loyalty, and revenue.

Final Thoughts

In short, a digital punch card program can be an effective way to increase customer engagement and loyalty—driving repeat business and increasing revenue over time. When implemented effectively, a digital punch card program can provide a range of benefits for businesses and their customers. This includes increased customer satisfaction, valuable insights into customer behavior, and greater brand recognition.

Mobile apps are the best way to create a digital punch card program, offering a range of customization options and a seamless user experience for customers. BuildFire is an excellent mobile app platform that businesses can use to create a custom digital punch card program that meets their specific needs and goals.

By following the best practices outlined in this guide, businesses can create a successful digital punch card program that drives engagement and loyalty among their customer base. Remember to keep the program simple and appealing, choose rewards that are desirable and achievable, and effectively market the program to raise awareness and encourage participation.

With a well-designed and thought-out digital punch card program, businesses can build lasting relationships with their customers, increase revenue, and differentiate themselves from competitors in today’s crowded market.

35 Top Business Ideas For Women in 2024

The rise of women entrepreneurs has been a significant trend in recent years. More and more women are choosing to take charge of their financial futures by starting their own businesses. 

In fact, women started 49% of all new businesses in the United States last year. This is up from 28% the previous year. 

If you’re a woman looking to start your own business in 2024, then you’re in the right place. In this blog, we’ve compiled a list of 35 great business ideas for women. Continue below to get inspired and find the best new venture that aligns with your skills and goals.

1. Handmade or Customized Jewelry Ecommerce Store

Handmade or customized jewelry has always been popular among women. There’s a growing trend of consumers seeking out unique, artisanal pieces rather than mass-produced products. Starting an e-commerce store that sells handmade or customized jewelry can be a lucrative business idea for women in 2024.

Not only can it showcase your creativity and style, but it also has the potential to reach a global audience through an online platform.

Creating a mobile app for your ecommerce store can provide a seamless and user-friendly experience for customers. The app can offer features like personalized recommendations, easy browsing and filtering, and a user-friendly checkout process. 

2. Virtual Interior Designer

As the world moves towards remote work and hybrid work models, virtual interior design services can be a promising business idea for women. With a keen eye for design and a passion for creating beautiful spaces, women can offer their virtual interior design services through a mobile app. 

You provide prospective clients with options to upload photos and measurements of their space. Then you can provide customized interior design recommendations and even help them get set up with specific products. 

With the ability to work from anywhere, virtual interior design services have the potential for scalability and growth.

3. Personal Shopping and Stylist

Personal shopping and styling services have been in high demand among women. It’s one of the best business ideas that can continue to thrive in 2024. 

With women having a keen sense of fashion and style, you can create a business that offers unique recommendations for clients based on their style preferences.

Start by giving your clients a way to upload their clothing and accessories, providing an easy way for the personal shopper to assess their existing wardrobe. Then you can provide them with feedback based on what’s trending, what you like most about their style, and what can be improved. 

You can also have your clients submit forms related to their day-to-day lives and how their wardrobe impacts what they do. For example, the attire for looking trendy at the gym will vary drastically from networking events at work.

Lots of this can be handled virtually, and you can let your clients schedule appointments with you if they want to chat face-to-face.

4. Online Tutoring

As the education industry shifts towards online learning, online tutoring services are becoming more popular than ever before. Women who have expertise in a particular subject or a background in education can capitalize on this trend by starting an online tutoring business.

With the ability to work from home, online tutoring offers a flexible schedule that can accommodate other responsibilities. You can reach a wider audience by using social media and online forums to promote your services.

By providing personalized lesson plans and progress tracking, you can offer a valuable service to students of all levels to help them achieve academic success.

5. Catering and Food Delivery

Catering and food delivery services are great business ideas for women who have a passion for cooking and an eye for presentation. People have busy lives. It’s tough to work and still eat healthy—especially if you’re trying to feed a family.  

You can provide a variety of services in this space. Examples range from preparing meals for special events to delivering pre-made meals to customer homes. This is also an excellent opportunity to get recurring revenue from a food delivery subscription service.

If you can offer sustainable and healthy food options, you’ll be able to differentiate your business from competitors and appeal to customers who prioritize their health.

6. Health and Wellness Coaching

For women who are passionate about health and wellness, starting a coaching business can be a great idea. With the use of mobile apps, coaches can reach a wider audience and train clients from anywhere.

The app can provide personalized workout routines, healthy meal plans, and progress tracking. Clients can go at their own pace and access coaching services from the comfort of their own homes.

This is a great opportunity for those of you who want to help clients achieve their fitness goals, live healthier lifestyles, and inspire them to make positive changes in their lives. It’s also perfect for current personal trainers who are looking for a way to expand their reach and train more clients. 

7. Home Cleaning and Organizing Services

By setting up customized cleaning plans and organization solutions, you can help your clients achieve a clean and organized home that meets their unique needs. With attention to detail and a passion for cleanliness, you can help your clients save time and achieve a more comfortable living space.

This type of business can range from basic house cleaning to daily, weekly, or monthly visits. But it can also encompass things like closet organizing and furniture rearranging to help people maximize the spaces in their homes. 

8. Social Media Management

Starting a social media management service can be a lucrative business idea for women in 2024. With so many businesses putting more focus on social media for their marketing strategies, the demand for social media managers is on the rise.

You can help clients with content creation, posting, and analytics. Leverage your social media skills to help businesses reach a wider audience and engage with their customers.

If you can land quality clients, then this business idea will help you earn recurring revenue for the long run, as businesses will constantly need assistance with social media for the foreseeable future. 

9. Wedding Planning and Coordination Services

If you have a knack for planning and organization, starting a wedding planning and coordination service can be a profitable business idea. 

There’s lots of stress and complexities involved in planning a wedding. Some of you might be able to relate to this. That’s why so many couples opt to hire a wedding planner to handle the details.

In addition to helping couples plan the wedding of their dreams, there’s also a ton of money to be made in the wedding space. 

You can offer customized wedding planning packages that cater to each couple’s unique vision and budget. You can handle everything from vendor coordination to wedding day logistics.

By providing a stress-free and enjoyable wedding planning experience, you can help couples create the wedding of their dreams. The average starting rate for wedding planning services starts at $3,000, with some planners averaging $4,500 to $12,000 per event. Even if you can position your services somewhere in the middle at around $7,500, you can earn $195,000 per year doing just one wedding every other week.

10. Pet Grooming and Boarding Services

For women who love animals, starting a pet grooming and boarding service can be a fulfilling business idea. 

Grooming services and boarding options are in high demand for working professionals. Not only can you provide a valuable service to pet owners, but you can charge a high rate for your services. 

If you can make your customers feel like you’re offering a safe and caring environment for their pets, people will be willing to pay exorbitant amounts to ensure their animals are getting the best care possible.

11. Mobile Beauty Services

Mobile beauty services are a convenient and flexible business idea for women who are interested in this space. By offering on-site services, you can provide comfort and convenience to clients who are pressed for time.

To build a loyal customer base, you can offer personalized beauty packages that cater to each client’s unique needs. People are willing to pay good money for services that help them look and feel their best. 

You can even establish yourself as a trusted and reliable beauty professional for specific types of events, like weddings, proms, or makeover services. 

12. Yoga Instructor

As a yoga instructor, you can offer customized yoga routines that cater to different levels of fitness and flexibility.

Creating a mobile app for your yoga business can help you reach a wider audience and offer classes from anywhere. The app can provide personalized yoga routines, guided meditations, and progress tracking, as well as features that promote community building and engagement.

This is a significant advantage over teaching just one or two classes per day. Mobile apps help you reach hundreds or potentially thousands of clients who can follow your yoga routines at their own pace from the comfort of their own homes. 

13. Graphic Designer

Digital marketing is on the rise, and businesses in every industry need high-quality designs to capture their brand identity and communicate their message effectively.

The great part about being a graphic designer is that you can do it from anywhere and hand-pick clients that you’d like to work with. This is a great opportunity for you to expand your network and either work within a single niche or broaden your reach across a wide range of business types. 

All you need to start a graphic design business is your computer and proper design software. 

14. Business Coaching and Consulting

If you’ve already achieved something in your professional career, you can leverage your expertise by starting a business coaching service. This is a great way to share your path with business professionals in space and help them pave a path of their own. 

Lots of people wish they had a mentor to help them through various career situations. From asking for a raise to switching positions or changing companies, there are so many different clients that you could target with these services. 

You could also create a mobile app to walk business professionals through guided courses. This is a way to earn some revenue from people who may not be ready for one-to-one coaching just yet. But they’re willing to pay a nominal fee just for some resources that can be accessed from anywhere on their smartphones. 

15. Personal Assistant

Starting a personal assistant business can be a lucrative idea. That’s because the people who are looking for personal assistants often have high-paying jobs, and they’re willing to pay good money for help. 

Best of all, most modern personal assistant businesses can be started remotely. You can even have some contractors working below you to assist you while you’re assisting clients. 

16. Professional Photography

Do you have a passion for photography? This business idea can be a way to get paid for your passion.

There are so many different ways to earn money as a photographer. Maybe you just want to take your own photos and sell them online. This can easily be done through a website or mobile app. 

Alternatively, you can be hired for events. Examples include weddings, birthday parties, corporate events—the list goes on and on. 

All you need is a good camera and some quality editing equipment. The startup costs associated with this business idea are much lower compared to others. 

17. Travel Planner

For women with a passion for travel, starting a travel planning business can be an exciting opportunity to help others experience the world. You can offer customized travel itineraries and take care of all the details, from flights and accommodations to tours and activities.

Since everyone has access to travel sites, hotels, Airbnb, and airlines, you need to find unique ways to differentiate your business from alternative options on the market.

For example, maybe you specialize in helping people travel internationally and set them up with local excursions along the way. Or maybe you want to help provide travel itineraries to students who are studying abroad. You could even help curate unique experiences for busy professionals who want a remote, digital detox in the mountains or desert. 

18. Subscription Box Service for a Specific Niche

Subscription boxes are an excellent way for consumers to discover new products in a specific niche. You can create a subscription box service for a niche you’re passionate about, such as gourmet food or eco-friendly beauty products.

By curating products that align with your niche and offering a personalized experience, you can create a loyal subscriber base. You can also consider collaborating with other businesses in your niche to expand your product offerings.

19. Freelance Writing and Editing

If you possess good writing and editing skills, this is a great way to make money and be your own boss. You can offer a variety of writing services, including copywriting, blog post writing, and content creation.

With a strong portfolio and a professional website, you can showcase your skills and attract clients who need high-quality content. You can also network with other writers and businesses to expand your reach and find new opportunities.

20. Content Marketing Strategist

As businesses focus more on digital marketing, the demand for content marketing strategists is on the rise. You can offer services that help businesses create and distribute high-quality content that engages and converts their target audience.

With expertise in content marketing, SEO, and social media, you can provide valuable services that help businesses achieve their marketing goals. 

One of the best parts about content marketing is that businesses will typically commit to a particular strategist for a long time, especially if you can deliver results. This means that you could potentially handle content marketing needs for clients for years to come.

There’s also plenty of room to grow in this space. For example, you could start as a strategist but then scale by hiring internal social media managers, SEOs, writers, designers, and editors. Then you can essentially become a one-stop-shop for your clients. 

21. Bookkeeping and Accounting Services

If you have a background in finance, starting a bookkeeping and accounting business can be a lucrative idea. You can offer services such as bookkeeping, tax preparation, and financial consulting to small businesses and individuals.

This is a great opportunity for women who want to work from home and be their own boss. You can provide bookkeeping and accounting services to multiple businesses simultaneously without leaving your living room. 

22. Language Translation Services

For women who are bilingual or multilingual, offering language translation services can be a profitable business idea. You can offer translation services for documents, websites, and other materials in multiple languages.

With specialized knowledge of specific industries or niches, you can target businesses and organizations that need accurate and professional translations. 

23. Personalized Gift Basket Business

Personalized gift baskets are a popular and thoughtful way to celebrate special occasions or show appreciation. You can create a gift basket business that offers customized and curated gift baskets for a variety of occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, and corporate events.

The best way to shine in this space is by making your gift baskets unique compared to other options on the market. 

For example, maybe all of your baskets come with a handwritten note. Or maybe you allow customers to mix food with stationery products, all within the same basket. 

24. Boutique Clothing and Accessories Store

If you have a passion for fashion, starting a boutique clothing and accessories store can be a fun and profitable business idea. You can curate a collection of unique and stylish clothing and accessories that appeal to your target audience.

The great part about a boutique clothing store is that it doesn’t require too much retail space. You can work with local designers and just focus on carrying a limited number of items—selling them at high price points.

To expand your reach and audience beyond your local area, you can create an ecommerce site and mobile app to sell your clothes and accessories online. 

25. Handmade Soap and Skincare Products

Handmade soap and skincare products are a popular and sustainable alternative to mass-produced products. You can create a business that offers a variety of handmade soaps and skincare products that cater to different skin types and preferences.

With a focus on natural and organic ingredients, you can differentiate your products from competitors and provide a unique value proposition. 

This is a great way to sell products to people with acne, allergies, or sensitive skin. You might offer some products to help ease the pain associated with sunburn and others to help reduce wrinkles. 

Rather than selling these products in a store, you can sell them online through an ecommerce shop. It’s easy to set this up using Shopify. From there, you can create a mobile app and sync your Shopify store so customers have an improved shopping experience when they’re browsing and buying from mobile devices. 

26. Event Planning and Decoration Services

If you have a knack for planning and coordinating events, then event planning and decoration services can be a lucrative business idea. You can offer customized event planning services for corporate events, weddings, and other special occasions.

With the right network and connections, you can attract a wide range of clients and build a reputation as a reliable and creative event planner. All you need is creativity, organizational skills, and an eye for detail.

27. Florist

Floristry is a business idea that offers the opportunity to work with beautiful and fragrant flowers. You can offer floral arrangements for weddings, corporate events, or even everyday occasions.

Becoming a florist requires creativity and knowledge of flowers. But it doesn’t require a significant investment to get started. All you need is a space to store and arrange flowers and a good relationship with flower suppliers.

28. White Label Mobile Apps

As a business owner, you might be looking to build a mobile app for your customers. But, hiring a developer and creating an app from scratch can be time-consuming and expensive.

This is where white label mobile apps come in. By using a white label solution, you can create a mobile app for your business quickly and easily. BuildFire’s white label mobile app solution is a great option for businesses of all sizes.

It’s also perfect if you want to target businesses within a particular niche. For example, let’s say you wanted to create apps for local gyms. 

You could use BuildFire’s white label solution to essentially create just one app. Then all you need to do is rebrand it for all of your clients using their names, color schemes, and information. But the bulk of the app’s features and UI will be the same for all apps in this space. 

29. Podcast Host

Podcasting has become an increasingly popular medium for content creators to share their thoughts and ideas with the world. You can create a podcast on any topic that interests you and monetize it through sponsorships or advertising.

All you need is a good microphone, recording software, and a topic that you’re passionate about. With hard work and consistency, you can build a dedicated following and make money as a podcast host.

30. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a business model where you promote other people’s products and earn a commission for each sale that you generate. You can do this through your website, social media channels, or email marketing.

This venture requires little to no investment, and it can be a great source of passive income. All you need is a good understanding of digital marketing and the ability to promote products effectively.

31. Music Production and Editing Services

Music production and editing services can be a great business idea for music enthusiasts. You can offer services like audio mixing, mastering, and editing for musicians, podcasters, and other audio content creators.

This business idea requires a good ear for music and audio, as well as experience with music production software. You’ll also need some basic equipment like a computer, headphones, and audio editing software.

32. Children’s Toys and Clothing Store

If you have a love for children and a creative flair, then starting a children’s toy and clothing store can be a great business idea. You can offer a range of unique and stylish toys and clothes for children of all ages.

This business idea requires creativity and a good eye for design. Your target audience won’t actually be children—since kids don’t have any buying power. Instead, you’ll be targeting their parents. So if you’re a mother, you’ll have an advantage here in connecting with your target audience.

33. Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is a growing industry that involves businesses partnering with social media influencers to promote their products or services. You can become an influencer yourself or start an agency that connects influencers with businesses.

This business idea requires a good understanding of social media marketing and the ability to create engaging content. You’ll also need to have a strong network of influencers or the ability to build one.

34. Gift Card and Voucher Exchange Service

Gift cards and vouchers are a popular way for people to give gifts. However, sometimes people receive gift cards or vouchers that they don’t want or need. This is where a gift card and voucher exchange service comes in.

You can create a platform that allows people to exchange unwanted gift cards or vouchers for ones that they want. Or they can exchange the gift card for cash.

For example, let’s say someone has a $100 gift card to a store they never shop at. You could offer them $75 cash for that gift card and then resell the gift card on your marketplace for $90.

35. Mobile Car Wash and Detailing Services

Mobile car wash and detailing services are a convenient and cost-effective way to help car owners keep their vehicles looking their best. With a mobile setup, you can provide car washing, waxing, and detailing services to customers in their own driveways or parking lots.

All you need to start this business is a van or truck equipped with the necessary cleaning supplies and equipment, like pressure washers, vacuums, and cleaning solutions. You can advertise your services through social media, flyers, or by partnering with local car dealerships and businesses.

Final Thoughts

Starting a business has never been easier. There are endless possibilities, regardless of your skills and interests. Many of these businesses can be started with little investment from the comfort of your own home.

In today’s digital age, mobile apps have the power to transform your business by allowing you to sell products, offer services, and connect with customers from anywhere in the world. Whether you’re interested in offering personalized coaching, providing virtual services, or starting an ecommerce store, there’s a business idea out there for everyone.

If you’re ready to turn your business idea into a reality, BuildFire can help you create a mobile app that complements your business and allows you to connect with your customers in new and exciting ways. With the right tools and resources, there’s no limit to what you can achieve as a successful woman entrepreneur.

Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Programming: What’s the Difference?

The demand for software development has increased in recent years. Users expect apps to be fast, responsive, and able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. This has led to the rise of two key programming approaches—synchronous and asynchronous programming. While these terms may sound technical and intimidating, they’re actually essential concepts for anyone working in mobile app development to understand.

Synchronous programming refers to a traditional programming approach where tasks are executed sequentially (one after the other). In contrast, asynchronous programming allows for multiple tasks to be executed concurrently without blocking the main thread or UI.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences between synchronous and asynchronous programming and discuss how these approaches impact mobile apps and software development. We’ll cover the basics of each approach, real-world examples of how they’re used in mobile apps, and best practices for using each programming method. 

Whether you’re a seasoned mobile app developer or just starting out, understanding synchronous and asynchronous programming is crucial for building efficient and high-performing apps that deliver a great user experience.

Synchronous Programming

Synchronous programming, also known as blocking programming, is a traditional programming approach that executes tasks sequentially. In other words, it executes one task at a time and waits for it to complete before moving on to the next task. This means that the program’s execution is blocked until the current task is finished, which can be inefficient for certain types of operations.

Here’s how it works.

When a synchronous function is called, the program waits for it to complete before moving on to the next line of code. This means that the program execution is blocked until the current task is finished.

An example of synchronous programming in mobile app development is a function that downloads a file from a server and then displays it to the user. The function would block the program’s execution until the file is downloaded and ready to display, which could lead to a poor user experience if the file is large or the network connection is slow.

Here’s a visual representation of what synchronous programming looks like:

Pros of Synchronous Programming:

  • Easier to understand and debug
  • Simpler control flow and fewer race conditions
  • Easier to maintain

Cons of Synchronous Programming:

  • Slower overall performance due to blocking
  • Can be inefficient for certain types of operations, such as network requests or I/O operations

Overall, synchronous programming is useful for simple, straightforward tasks that don’t require a lot of processing power. But for more complex tasks or tasks that require input and output operations, asynchronous programming may be a better approach.

Asynchronous Programming

Asynchronous programming allows multiple tasks to be executed concurrently without blocking the main thread or user interface. This approach to programming is especially useful for tasks that take a long time to complete. It’s ideal for input/output operations, network requests, file I/O, and database queries.

When an asynchronous function is called, the program does not wait for it to complete before moving on to the next line of code. Instead, it moves on to the next task while the previous task is running in the background. Once the previous task is complete, it triggers a callback function to notify the program that it has finished.

Here’s an example of asynchronous programming. Let’s say you want to program a function that retrieves data from a database and displays it to the user. By using asynchronous programming, the program can keep the UI responsive while the data is being retrieved from the database in the background. This provides a more seamless experience for the end user.

Pros of Asynchronous Programming:

  • Can significantly improve performance by allowing for parallel execution of tasks
  • Can improve user experience by keeping the UI responsive and avoiding blocking
  • Can be more efficient for tasks that involve I/O operations or network requests

Cons of Asynchronous Programming:

  • More complex to understand and debug
  • Control flow can be more challenging to manage due to the use of callbacks or promises
  • Can lead to race conditions and other synchronization issues if not managed properly

Asynchronous programming is a powerful approach that can significantly improve the performance and user experience of the software. Just be aware that it does require careful management and attention to detail to avoid synchronization issues.

Comparison of Synchronous and Asynchronous Programming

Now that we’ve explored synchronous and asynchronous programming separately, let’s compare them and discuss when to use each approach.

One of the primary differences between synchronous and asynchronous programming is tied to the impact on performance and efficiency. 

Synchronous programming can be less efficient because it blocks the main thread or UI. This approach can make the program slow and unresponsive. Conversely, asynchronous programming allows for the parallel execution of tasks, which can significantly improve performance and efficiency.

To illustrate this difference, let’s consider a common scenario—you’re developing a mobile app that needs to retrieve data from a remote server. With synchronous programming, the app can block the UI until the data is retrieved. But this approach could make the app unresponsive during the retrieval process and frustrate the end-user. Asynchronous programming would allow the app to continue running while the data is being retrieved in the background, improving the user experience and making the app feel faster and more responsive.

In short, synchronous programming can negatively impact user experience because the software may feel slow and unresponsive. But asynchronous programming can improve user experience by keeping the app responsive and avoiding blocking.

It’s also worth noting that asynchronous programming can also enable features that would not be possible with synchronous programming, such as background tasks or push notifications. 

For example, a mobile app that uses asynchronous programming could download and update data in the background while the user is not actively using the app. This keeps the data up-to-date without sacrificing the user experience. 

Best Practices for Using Synchronous and Asynchronous Programming

Now that we have discussed the differences between synchronous and asynchronous programming, let’s explore some pro tips and best practices for using each approach.

Best Practices for Synchronous Programming:

  • Avoid using long-running operations that could block the main thread or UI.
  • Use synchronous programming only for simple and straightforward tasks that don’t require a lot of processing power.
  • Limit the number of synchronous calls in your code to avoid performance issues.
  • Handle errors and exceptions properly to avoid program crashes.
  • Implement caching to reduce the number of synchronous calls and improve performance.
  • Use threading to execute long-running operations on a separate thread without blocking the main thread or UI.

Best Practices for Asynchronous Programming:

  • Use asynchronous programming for tasks that could take a long time to complete or involve I/O operations or network requests.
  • Choose the right concurrency model, such as threads or event loops, to avoid synchronization issues and race conditions.
  • Use callbacks or promises to handle the results of asynchronous calls.
  • Avoid using global variables or shared resources that could lead to synchronization issues.
  • Handle errors and exceptions properly to avoid program crashes.
  • Use proper resource management techniques to prevent memory leaks and optimize performance.

Following these guidelines can help ensure that your synchronous and asynchronous programming code is efficient, reliable, and easy to maintain. Remember that choosing between synchronous and asynchronous programming depends on the specific requirements of your mobile app and the tasks you need to perform.

When to Use Synchronous Programming

While asynchronous programming is generally more efficient and can improve the user experience, there are still some scenarios where synchronous programming is the better choice. Here are some situations where synchronous programming may be the best option to consider:

  • Simple and Straightforward Tasks: If you have a simple task that doesn’t require a lot of processing power, synchronous programming may be the better choice. This could include tasks like simple calculations or string manipulation.
  • Real-Time Applications: In some cases, real-time applications like games or interactive simulations may require synchronous programming to ensure that the application is responsive and accurate.
  • Tight Control Flow: If your program requires tight control flow, synchronous programming may be the better option because it has fewer race conditions.
  • Debugging: For debugging code, synchronous programming can be easier to understand and debug than asynchronous programming.
  • Single-Threaded Environments: If you are working in a single-threaded environment, synchronous programming may be the only option.

When to Use Asynchronous Programming

Asynchronous programming is typically the superior choice for mobile app development. Here are some examples of when it makes sense to use asynchronous programming over synchronous programming. 

Long-Running Operations: If you have a task that could take a long time to complete, asynchronous programming is usually the better choice. This may include tasks like network requests, file I/O, or database queries.

User Experience: To improve the user experience of your mobile app, asynchronous programming is the better option. Asynchronous programming allows you to keep the app responsive and avoid blocking the main thread or UI.

Resource Management: If you need to manage resources like memory or CPU usage, asynchronous programming can be more efficient and reduce the risk of memory leaks or performance issues.

Scalability: If you need to scale your application to handle a large number of users or requests, asynchronous programming can be more efficient and scalable than synchronous programming.

Background Tasks: If you need to perform tasks in the background while the user is not actively using the app, asynchronous programming is the better choice. This could include tasks like downloading and updating data or sending push notifications.

By understanding the scenarios where synchronous or asynchronous programming may be the best option, you can make the right choice for your mobile app development project.

Which is Better: Synchronous or Asynchronous Programming?

When it comes to choosing between synchronous and asynchronous programming, there’s no right or wrong answer. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice depends on the specific requirements of your project and the tasks you need to perform.

In many cases, asynchronous programming is the better choice for mobile app development. It can significantly improve performance and efficiency while keeping the app responsive and avoiding blocking. It also helps enable features like background tasks or push notifications. Asynchronous programming is particularly useful for tasks that involve I/O operations or network requests, which can take a long time to complete.

But there are still plenty of situations where synchronous programming may be the better choice. For simple and straightforward tasks that don’t require a lot of processing power, synchronous programming can be more efficient and easier to understand and debug. Synchronous programming may also be necessary for single-threaded environments or in real-time applications like games or interactive simulations.

Ultimately, the best approach is to evaluate the specific requirements of your unique situation and choose the method that best meets the requirements of the tasks you need to run. By understanding the differences between synchronous and asynchronous programming and following best practices for each approach, you can build high-performance software that runs smoothly.

Final Thoughts on Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Programming

Synchronous and asynchronous programming are two fundamental programming approaches that every developer should be familiar with. 

Synchronous programming is a traditional approach that executes tasks sequentially. Asynchronous programming allows multiple tasks to be executed concurrently without blocking the main thread or UI.

Generally speaking, asynchronous programming is the better choice for mobile app development. That’s because it can significantly improve performance, keep the app responsive, and enable background tasks and push notifications. However, there are still scenarios where synchronous programming may be more efficient, such as for simple and straightforward tasks that don’t require too much processing power.

The choice between synchronous and asynchronous programming depends on the specific requirements of your project and the tasks you need to perform. 

Whether you’re building a simple mobile app or a complex application, understanding the basics of synchronous and asynchronous programming is essential. Mastering these programming approaches will help you build apps that are efficient, scalable, and responsive—providing a seamless user experience for your customers.

10 Best App Building Sites

With the ever-increasing demand for mobile apps, creating your own app has become easier than ever before. But with so many app building websites out there, it can be difficult to know which one to choose—and that’s why we’ve created this guide.

Based on our knowledge of the app development industry, our team scoured the internet and gathered reviews from experts and real users alike to bring you our top picks for the best app building sites. 

Whether you’re an individual looking to create a simple app, or a business in need of a full-scale mobile solution, we’ve got you covered. So let’s dive in and find the perfect app building site for you.

1. BuildFire

BuildFire is the best app building site on the market today—and for good reason. It comes with a wide range of features and functions to help users create mobile apps for their businesses without any coding experience or technical knowledge.

What sets BuildFire apart from other app building sites is its ease of use and flexibility. You’ll never outgrow the platform, and the possibilities for what you can build are virtually limitless. 

More than 10,000+ mobile apps for iOS and Android have been created with BuildFire.

Getting started is a breeze. Just select a professionally-designed template in your app category, and start customizing it from there. You can add features to your app with a single click. There are over 150+ plugins to choose from in the BuildFire Marketplace, and those options are constantly expanding.  

You can easily integrate third-party services like social media, e-commerce, and messaging. You’ll also have access to user management features, app analytics, and push notifications. Plus, with its scalable cloud infrastructure, BuildFire can handle apps of any size or complexity—ensuring that your app will perform well even as your business grows.

Beyond its core app building tool, BuildFire offers something you won’t find from other app building sites on the market. You’ll also have access to app developers, designers, and professional expertise. 

So if you want help getting the app off the ground, BuildFire’s setup and design team can handle that for you. Once the app is built and live, they’ll hand you the keys to the kingdom so you can make any minor tweaks or adjustments on your own. 

BuildFire is unlike any other app building website out there. If you’re building an app for your business, it’s a no-brainer choice. Start your 14-day free trial today.

2. Zoho Creator

Zoho Creator is a popular app building site that’s best known for its low-code development capabilities. 

One of the key benefits of Zoho Creator is its ability to integrate with other Zoho applications, such as Zoho CRM and Zoho Books. This allows businesses to create seamless workflows between tools they’re already using—streamlining their processes and increasing their efficiency. 

It’s worth noting that as a low-code platform, Zoho Creator requires some level of technical experience to use effectively. While the interface makes app building accessible to a wider audience, some level of coding and technical knowledge is still necessary to create apps with this tool. This means that businesses without a dedicated technical team may struggle to fully leverage the platform’s capabilities.

If you’re already using lots of Zoho products, this can help extend the functionality of those tools. Just make sure you carefully evaluate your in-house technical capabilities before committing to the platform, as it may not be the right fit for everyone.

3. AppMaster

AppMaster is a versatile app building site that is well-suited for creating both mobile and web applications. While the platform offers the ability to create mobile apps, its web app building capabilities are where it really shines. 

With its drag-and-drop interface and comprehensive toolset, AppMaster provides users with everything they need to create fully-functional web apps quickly and easily.

One of the standout features of AppMaster is its responsive design capabilities. It ensures that web apps are optimized for any device, regardless of screen size. This can be a huge advantage for businesses looking to create a seamless user experience across multiple platforms.

AppMaster also has a wide range of pre-built templates and design elements to help users get started quickly. From customizable forms and templates to advanced integrations with third-party services, the platform makes it easy to create a professional-looking web app that meets your specific needs.

It’s worth noting that AppMaster.io may not be the best fit for businesses with complex app development needs. While the platform offers a range of features and tools, its capabilities are not as extensive as other app building sites on the market. 

4. AppsGeyser

AppsGeyser is an app building site that focuses exclusively on the creation of Android apps. While this can be a good option for individuals looking to create a simple app for personal use, the platform is not well-suited for businesses,

The platform is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, which is great for beginners. But it also means that the platform can be quite limited in terms of what it can do. 

While the platform may be suitable for hobbyists looking to create simple apps, it is not well-suited for businesses looking to create a large-scale application with complex features and integrations. This may limit the platform’s potential for businesses that are looking to expand their app offerings in the future.

Despite these limitations, AppsGeyser can still be a good option for individuals looking to create a simple Android app for personal use. With its easy-to-use interface and a range of pre-built templates, the platform provides a straightforward way to create basic apps without the need for extensive technical knowledge. 

It’s worth noting that AppsGeyser does offer some options for monetization. One way to monetize your app is through ads, which can be integrated into your app using AppsGeyser’s ad network. However, it’s important to keep in mind that AppsGeyser takes a 50% cut of any ad revenue generated through their network, which is significantly higher than you’ll find almost anywhere else.

5. SellMyApp

SellMyApp is unique compared to other app building sites on the market. 

You can use it to access app templates and gaming templates to create your own app. But as the name implies, it also acts as a marketplace for selling your apps and source code.

Beginners can use it to access game templates. But developers can also use this site to earn some cash. Just be aware that you can earn up to 70% commissions for selling through this marketplace—meaning SellMyApp is going to take a hefty fee for its role in the transaction. 

SellMyApp is primarily geared towards creating gaming apps, and may not be the best choice for businesses or individuals looking to create apps for other purposes. It’s also worth noting that while the templates can be easily customized, they may not provide the flexibility required to create truly unique and innovative apps.

6. Appsmakerstore

AppsMakerStore is a UK-based app building site that allows users to create apps without needing extensive technical knowledge or experience. With its user-friendly platform, the site is a great option for businesses and individuals looking to create CMS apps quickly and easily.

One of the standout features of AppsMakerStore is its user interface, which is intuitive and easy to use. The platform offers a drag-and-drop builder, allowing users to easily create and edit app content without needing any coding experience. 

The app building site also offers a wide range of customization options, including the ability to add multimedia content, such as images, videos, and audio files.

7. Alpha Software

Alpha Software is a company that offers a range of low-code development solutions, including the popular Alpha Anywhere product. With Alpha Anywhere, developers can create web and mobile applications using low-code technology.

It combines low-code skills with no-code features to streamline the development process. 

While Alpha Anywhere is a powerful tool, it may not be the best choice for those with no technical experience. 

The platform is designed for developers and may require some level of coding knowledge to fully utilize its capabilities. It essentially offers developers a way to create web apps faster than they would if they were coding from scratch. 

8. AppQuantum

AppQuantum is an app building site that empowers developers interested in building gaming apps. 

If you already have a game, they can help you scale and provide feedback. If you have a studio, AppQuantum helps you create a new game from scratch using its co-development model. 

The co-development brings you through game design documentation, prototype testing, and MVPs before a soft launch. 

This site is designed to help game developers beyond the app development process through creative production, ASO, performance marketing, ad monetization, and more. 

It’s a really use-case-specific solution. So if you’re not a developer building games, you’ll need to look at other app building sites on the market. 

9. URL Genius

URL Genius is not a full-scale app development solution. Instead, it’s an app building site that’s focused on helping marketers with sales and installations.

The site specializes in app linking and deep linking. You can use it to create unique web URLs for links that can open either directly in an app installed or without an app installed. 

You can set these links to open apps like Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, and more. 

Think of this like an advanced UTM tracking feature, but within apps. They also help create QR codes for marketing purposes. 

10. Linx

Linx enables developers to build and host APIs. It’s a low-code development solution that helps you create apps without the need for frameworks and infrastructure. 

You can use it to build backend web apps, backend processors, Webhooks endpoints, microservices, and more. 

Linx ranks tenth on our list due to its complexity. It’s more of a low-code IDE instead of a traditional app building site. 

While you’re not necessarily coding everything from scratch, you still need development skills. Furthermore, the use cases for what you’re building on Linx are definitely geared toward developers. You’ll be using it to extend the functionality of another software or solve problems for other web apps. 

How to Find the Best App Building Site For You

As you can see from the options reviewed above, app building sites come in all different shapes and sizes. So as you’re shopping around and comparing different options, make sure to keep the following considerations in mind:

Mobile vs. Web

Right off the bat, the first thing you should do is decide whether you’re building a mobile app or a web app. The best app building sites focus on one or the other.

While it’s possible to find solutions that offer both, it’s better to go with a site that specializes in what you’re building. 

If you’re creating a mobile app, make sure you find a site that lets you build for iOS and Android. Some of the tools on our list are only compatible with Android apps, which will limit what you can do post-launch. 

No-Code vs. Low-Code Development

While they might sound similar, no code and low code are not interchangeable. Your technical expertise will determine whether a no-code builder or low-code builder is right for you.

As the name implies, no-code app sites don’t require any coding. This means that you don’t need any technical knowledge to create your app.

Conversely, low-code solutions require development skills. You won’t be coding from scratch. But you still need to have basic programming skills to get the most out of those tools. 

Additional Reading: Low-Code/No-Code App Development: What’s the Difference?

Business vs. Personal

Some app building sites are great for people who just want to build apps for fun. If you’re building an app for yourself or as a hobby, those will be fine.

But the hobbyist app builders won’t work for business users. 

Most of those tools won’t offer the features you need to succeed with your customers. The features will be limited, and the final product likely won’t be as user-friendly. App performance is also something you need to evaluate here. So if you’re a business user, make sure the site you choose can truly accommodate what you need. 

App Development Services

Most app building sites are DIY tools. They enable you to create an app on your own, exactly as described.

But the best app building sites also offer professional services. BuildFire is the best example for this consideration.

With BuildFire, you have full control if you want to create an app on your own. But if you want a head start, you can reach out to BuildFire’s setup and design team to simplify your development process. They’ll build your app’s core features, and then you can make minor content tweaks as needed post-launch. 

This is perfect for business users who don’t have the time to sit and tinker with an app builder on their own. It’s also ideal if you want to get to market quickly and for a fraction of the cost compared to traditional development. 

Additional Reading: The Value of App Development Services vs. App Builders

Scalability

Look beyond what you need an app for today. Think about when your app scales from 1,000 to 10,000 or 100,000 users. Can the app building site keep up?

You should also consider any features that your app might need down the road. Does the site have those capabilities?

Too many people overlook this when they’re evaluating app building sites. Just because a site has what you need right now, it doesn’t mean it’ll be able to accommodate your needs in a year or two. 

Choosing a platform with limitless scalability and functionality options is crucial for business users. 

Final Thoughts on the Top App Building Sites

BuildFire is the best app building site for the vast majority of users. The platform makes it easy for anyone to create iOS and Android apps without writing a single line of code.

The platform is built to scale, and you’ll never outgrow it.

What really makes BuildFire stand out from the crowd is its app building services paired with the platform. Other solutions on the market offer app development services or DIY builders—but BuildFire offers both. 

Easy enough for beginners but powerful enough for technical users and businesses, BuildFire is truly one of a kind in this space. Start your 14-day free trial today to bring your app idea to life. 

How a Mobile App Can Help Your Business Thrive During a Recession

With recession fears looming, businesses across every industry are looking for ways to stay alive. 

Historically, tough economic times have disproportionately impacted small to mid-sized businesses compared to larger enterprises. In fact, roughly 1.8 million small businesses went out of business within the first two years of the 2008 market crash. 

Yet 44% of small to midsize companies still haven’t taken steps to prepare for upcoming recessions. 

If you’ve landed on this page, then you’re doing something right. Acknowledging the need to prepare is the first step in the right direction. 

Launching a mobile app can help your business not only survive a recession but also thrive during the recession and after it ends. Continue below to find out how.

Why Invest in Mobile During a Recession?

At first glance, the idea of spending money during a rescission may seem counter-productive. Many business owners and decision-makers look to cut costs, reduce spending, and increase cash reserves to prepare for downturns. 

While trimming the fat and being a bit more cautious with your capital is definitely important, it doesn’t mean you should stop spending altogether. 

Investing in a mobile app is a nominal cost when you compare it to the short-term and long-term savings you’ll benefit from. Not to mention the potential for revenue.

When you actually look at the cost of a mobile app, you’ll quickly discover that you can afford it within your budget and still keep plenty of cash in the bank. Depending on the use case, investing $500 or $5,000 per month in a mobile app can generate a positive ROI within the first month of its launch.

These are the top reasons why it’s important to go mobile during a recession:

  • Reduce employment costs
  • Lower training and development expenses
  • Boost employee retention rates
  • Increase productivity and maximize efficiencies
  • Boost customer retention
  • Increase sales and revenue
  • Future-proof your business

We’ll take a closer look at each of these benefits in greater detail below, using real numbers and examples to highlight the importance of going mobile. This might be the most important resource you read all year, as these principles can transform your business for the foreseeable future. 

Mobile Apps Reduce Employment Costs

The costs associated with employee salaries and benefits are rising. In December 2022, wages and salaries were up 5.1% year-over-year, and employee benefit costs were up 4.9%. In simple terms, your employees are getting more expensive. 

Labor is often the most expensive cost for businesses—accounting for as much as 70% of total spending. That’s why layoffs are commonly the first move for a business when recessions strike. 

However, simply cutting payroll costs alone is not an effective strategy and can have disastrous long-term implications for your company. You still need a way to replace an employee’s impact on the business, and that’s where a mobile app comes into the equation. 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average cost of an employee’s total compensation is $41.86 per hour or $87,068.80 per year. 

Let’s say you were to invest in a mobile app for $5,000 per month, plus a $7,500 one-time setup fee—for a total of $67,500 in the first 12 months. If that app’s functionality can replace just one employee, you’ve already saved over $19,500+ in the first year.

That’s over $73,000 in savings in 36 months, and that’s just if the app replaces one employee. 

The savings continue to mount if you’re able to replace more than one employee with a single app. Using this same example, you’d save over $106,500+ in the first 12 months and over $334,000+ in 36 months if your mobile app replaced two employees.

Some apps may only require a $500 monthly investment. That’s just $13,500 in the first year when you include the $7,500 one-time setup fee. If you can replace a single employee at this rate, your ROI is $73,500 in 12 months and $235,500 in 36 months. That’s nearly half a million dollars in savings over 36 months if the app replaced two salaries.

Think about the impact an extra $300,000 or $450,000+ of savings could have on your business, especially during a recession. 

Mobile Apps Help Lower Training and Development Expenses

The importance of having well-trained employees is magnified when you’re curing costs and scaling back on labor. It’s also worth noting that training isn’t just for new hires—as 58% of employees need to develop new skills to effectively perform their jobs. 

Failing to properly train your staff can cause serious problems for your business. So this isn’t an area where you can cut corners, especially when it comes to safety and compliance. For example, OSHA penalties can cost you $15,625 or even $156,259 per violation. 

But traditional employee safety and training practices are expensive and outdated. 

Using a mobile app to provide training materials to your staff is not only more affordable, but it’s often more effective. 

First, an app puts all of the training resources into a single source of truth and provides clearly defined learning recommendations. 78% of employees find this to be extremely helpful. 

Mobile learning is super accessible. It’s easy for your staff to find the training materials and put them into practice from anywhere. Your organization can also set up everything directly from the app at a self-guided pace. You can keep track of everyone’s progress on the backend as well. 

  • Training videos
  • Employee safety manuals
  • Quizzes
  • Surveys
  • Employee feedback
  • Slide shows

All of these and more can easily be added to your app. This is helpful for hiring new employees as well as ongoing training for existing employees. 

The average cost of employee training is $1,071 per employee per year. However, larger organizations bring this number down significantly. For example, companies with 10,000+ employees spend an average of $722 per employee, compared to companies with 100-999 employees spending $1,433 per employee. 

SMBs could be spending $1,600 or more annually per employee on training alone. That’s roughly $80,000 per year for businesses with 50 employees.

Starting at roughly $500 per month, you can easily build an app like this. That’s just $6,000 annually compared to $80,000 per year for a 50-employee operation using traditional training methods.

It’s easy to implement these types of features with a BuildFire workforce app

Additional Reading: Find out how BuildFire saved Praxair $480,000 on training costs just in eight months.

Mobile Apps Boost Employee Retention Rates

Keeping employee turnover low during recession periods is crucial. Research suggests that the average cost to replace an employee is 100% to 150% of that person’s salary. For executive-level positions, that number jumps to 213%.

Here’s something else to consider. 57% of employees say they would actively look for a new job if we enter a recession, and 70% of employees believe we’ll be entering a recession within six months. So there’s a good chance that half of your staff is already looking for a new job.

Let’s run through an example using conservative estimates. 

We’ll say you have a small business with 25 employees with an average salary of $80,000. The cost to replace just five members of your staff could range from $400,000 to $600,000 based on the research mentioned above. 

Now compare that to the cost of about $6,000 per month on an employee mobile app. For just over $70,000 per year, you can save around $325,000 to $525,000 or more by avoiding employee churn. 

One of the best ways to improve employee retention is by connecting employees with each other, and a mobile app is the perfect way to facilitate this initiative. According to a recent study from the Harvard Business Review, employees are 12 times as likely to feel connected to colleagues and five times more likely to be on high-performing teams when organizations help them build connections internally. 

With a mobile app, your staff can:

  • Stay connected on company-wide news
  • Get important updates delivered straight to their phones
  • Connect with each other through employee message boards
  • Quickly access employee health and wellness resources
  • Discover new opportunities for growth within your company
  • Access payroll and benefits information
  • Enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives

Providing your staff with a mobile app with a variety of these types of benefits shows that your company is tech-forward and innovative. Investing in your staff during all economic times shows that you care about them, and they’ll be less likely to leave. 

Mobile Apps Increase Productivity and Maximize Efficiencies

Throughout history, recessions have been synonymous with poor productivity and output in the workplace. Check out this graph from Deloitte that shows ten different recessions over a 65-year period:

As you can see, there’s a significant dip in hourly output during each recession, which is highlighted in gray on the chart. 

Fortunately, the graph also suggests that productivity bounces back when recessions end. But if you truly want your business to thrive during poor economic times, you must look for ways to keep productivity high at all times. 

Task automation is one of the best ways to increase both output and productivity. This is something that can easily be accomplished through a workflow app or self-service app. 

For example, try to identify a single mundane or repetitive task in your business that could be replaced with automation. Maybe it’s something like time-off requests, scheduling, approvals, or benefits administration in the HR office. 

These types of inefficiencies build on each other. If an employee is forced to pick up the phone, send an email, or otherwise visit someone in the HR department for one of these requests, it’s time spent away from their actual job—therefore, reducing output. But it’s also taking time away from another employee as they’re forced to field these calls and messages, and then handle all the subsequent correspondence. 

HR mobile apps can eliminate these types of scenarios altogether. Your staff can find what they’re looking for within a few clicks from their mobile device. This allows them to spend more time on their job, and boosts their productivity. 

It also lets your HR team focus on other tasks and may even help you eliminate one or more positions in that department. 

For around $500 to $5,000 per month invested in a mobile app, you can simultaneously increase output and potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars on labor. 

Mobile Apps Boost Customer Retention

Lots of what we’ve discussed so far has been focused internally. But beyond your internal operations and employees, mobile apps are perfect for retaining your customers during a recession. 

It’s no secret that consumers tend to scale back on spending during recessions. That’s why it’s so important to shift your focus to retention during these times. 

First of all, customer retention initiatives are significantly cheaper than acquisition methods. 

You also have a 60% to 70% chance of selling to a current customer, compared to just a 5% to 20% chance of selling to new customers. 

With a mobile app, you can:

  • Create and promote a customer loyalty program
  • Send push notifications to customers to drive engagement
  • Let your customers save billing and shipping information on their accounts
  • Optimize the shopping and checkout experience
  • Facilitate recurring payments for monthly or annual subscriptions
  • Improve your customer service with in-app support
  • Collect feedback with customer surveys
  • Create a community message board for your most loyal customers

Take a look at your upcoming marketing budget. Rather than pouring that money into Facebook Ads or expensive CPC campaigns, you can invest it into a mobile app for your customers. 

The investment will quickly start to pay for itself as your retention rates will stay high—even during a recession. 

Mobile Apps Increase Sales and Revenue

Smartphones have officially become the most popular device for buying things online. Roughly 76% of all US adults use their smartphones for this purpose.

If you don’t have a mobile app, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity in this space. Here’s why.

On average, mobile apps convert at a 157% higher rate than mobile websites

Regardless of the industry, it’s just a significantly better shopping experience when you compare a mobile app to a mobile website. Customers can save their information on file, get a personalized experience, and convert with just a few clicks. Mobile sites give shoppers too many opportunities to abandon the purchase because there are so many extra steps in the flow.

The cost to develop an ecommerce app will easily pay for itself if your conversion rates increase by 150% or higher. 

In addition to direct commerce, you can also utilize your app for other revenue streams, including advertising revenue, subscriptions, and more. This additional cash flow can be really helpful during economic downturns, and it can even supplement the revenue you’re missing from reduced consumer spending. 

Mobile Apps Are Future-Proof For Recessions and Beyond

The most successful organizations look beyond the short term when they’re making important decisions. 

Simply scaling back your spending, pausing hiring, or laying off employees are all short-term recession solutions. They might help your business keep the lights on over the next couple of years, but they won’t help you grow in the long run. In some cases, these types of strategies may even restrict your growth.

But going mobile is a future-proof strategy. Not only will it benefit your business in the short term for all of the reasons described in this guide, but it will continue working for you as the economy recovers. 

The use of mobile technology in our day-to-day lives isn’t going anywhere. This holds true for both internal employee use cases as well as consumer habits. 

So while your competitors are playing catch-up as we come out of a recession, you’ll already be poised for growth and success. All of the benefits of a mobile app during a recession will be multiplied exponentially during the economic recovery stage. 

Final Thoughts

Investing in a mobile app today could save your business during a recession. 

BuildFire can provide you with an out-of-the-box mobile app starting at $500 per month plus a $7,500 one-time setup fee. This is marginal when you weigh this cost against the benefits described in this guide. 

The ROI of your mobile app will pay for itself, potentially within the first month of its launch. 

At BuildFire, we’re more than just a mobile app development solution—we’re a dedicated partner in your success. More than 10,000+ businesses have relied on us for app development, so we know what it takes to have success in this space. 

Don’t let a recession stop your business from thriving. Request a free consultation if you’re ready to get started.

No Code Development Platform – Tips & Best Practices For Success

The demand for no-code development platforms has skyrocketed in recent years. 

These tools enable non-technical users to build mobile apps, websites, and web apps without hiring a developer. This lowers the barrier to entry of app development for business owners and entrepreneurs, and it also allows companies to build apps without relying on internal technical resources.

Not only are no-code development platforms easy to use, but they’re also really affordable. You can use no-code platforms to create an app for a fraction of the cost compared to traditional development—making it a no-brainer approach to development for nearly any use case.

With that said, using a no-code development platform doesn’t automatically guarantee success. You still need to have a plan and know how to get the most out of your tool, which is why we created this guide.

Regardless of your use case or need for a no-code app development platform, you can use the proven tips and best practices below to improve your chances of success and a positive experience for your end users. 

Find the Right No Code Development Platform

The first step to successful no-code mobile app development is finding the right platform. 

There are tons of no-code development platforms on the market, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. To find the right platform for your needs, it’s important to understand the type of app you’re trying to build. Some platforms specialize in mobile app development, while others focus on web app development or website development. 

Beyond the type of app you want to build, make sure you consider factors like the platform’s ease of use, feature availability, integrations, and the level of customization you can achieve. You should also assess the costs associated with using each platform and the level of support offered.

One of the key benefits of no-code app development is the ability to create and launch an app quickly and cost-effectively. 

However, this can only be achieved if you choose the right platform. A platform that is too complex or too limited in terms of features and customization may slow down the development process and prevent you from achieving your desired results. On the other hand, a platform that is well-suited to your needs will make the development process much smoother and more efficient.

Success with no code development starts here. So don’t rush through this process. Take the time to research and compare different platforms to find the one that best fits your needs and objectives. Check out our guide on the best app building software to help you identify the right tool for you and your specific needs. 

Utilize Templates For Design

The best no-code platforms offer pre-built templates and design elements that can be customized to meet your specific needs. By using these templates, you can save time and effort on the design process, allowing you to focus on the core functionality of your app.

When using templates, it’s important to choose one that fits the overall look and feel of your app. 

Make sure that the template you choose is mobile-friendly and visually appealing, as this will help improve the user experience and increase user engagement. Consider the available customization options and make sure that you can modify the template to meet your specific design requirements.

It’s also important to remember that templates are not set in stone. You can modify and tweak the templates as much as you need to achieve the desired results. For example, you can change the color scheme, add custom images, and rearrange elements to create a unique and personalized design.

In short, you don’t need to be a design expert or hire a designer to succeed here. Just choose a no-code platform with a wide range of templates for your specific type of app. This will save you a ton of time and money as you’re going through this process, and you can still create a visually-appealing app that’s user-friendly and stands out from the crowd.  

Leverage Pre-Built Functionality

Pre-built functionality is powerful in the no-code app development world. That’s how no-code app builders work

With the right platform, you’ll have access to a range of features that can help streamline the development process and bring your app to life. Whether you need user authentication, data storage, push notifications, or any other functionality, it’s likely that a pre-built solution exists that can be leveraged.

First, consider the available options. Different platforms offer different sets of pre-built features. So make sure to choose the one that offers the functionality you need.

You should also think about relevance, as not all pre-built features are created equal. Focus on the ones that are most relevant to your app and will be the most valuable to your users.

Just because a feature is pre-built doesn’t mean it’s set in stone. Most no-code platforms allow for customization and extension of their pre-built features, so don’t be afraid to make changes as needed to better fit your app’s needs.

Here at BuildFire, our app development platform has over 150+ pre-built functions that can be added to your app with a single click. 

Let’s say you wanted to add videos to your mobile app. You could simply add the YouTube or Vimeo plugin. Or maybe you want to extend your ecommerce shop to get more mobile conversions. In this case, you can just install our Shopify plugin to add ecommerce functionality.

Pre-built functionality can be a game changer for your no-code app development process. So take the time to understand what’s available, and choose the right features for your app to succeed.

Define Your App’s Core Features and Objectives

By focusing on the core features and objectives, you can prioritize development and get to market quickly. This is important because it allows you to validate your app idea, test your assumptions, and make data-driven decisions about future development.

Consider the following when defining core objectives:

  • Identify Your Unique Value Proposition: What sets your app apart from others in the market? What problem does it solve or what need does it fulfill?
  • Define Your Target Audience: Who will use your app? What are their pain points and needs? What motivates them to use your app?
  • Prioritize Development: Focus on the core features and objectives that will deliver the most value to your users. These are the features that will define your app and make it successful.

Once you’ve defined your app’s core features and objectives, you can then focus on development and bring your app to market quickly. 

You can always expand the functionality and add additional features as needed down the road.

Always Keep The End User In Mind

As you move through the no-code mobile app development process, you must always keep the end user in mind. From choosing features to designing the interface, everything you do should be focused on providing value to your customers and end-users.

  • Create a user-centered design to ensure the app experience is intuitive and easy to use.
  • Ask users for feedback and make changes based on their suggestions.
  • Conduct user testing to validate your decision decisions and identify any areas for improvement.
  • Make sure the user experience is seamless and consistent throughout your app.
  • Focus on ways to keep your users engaged and coming back to your app. 

You can check out our guides on app testing and how to create user stories. Both of these will be extremely useful as you’re creating an app with no-code development. 

This is critical to the success of your app and the satisfaction of your customers.

Define Your Monetization Strategy

Most people create an app to make money, either directly through sales or indirectly by improving the customer experience. Regardless of your reason, the no-code platform you choose must be able to accommodate your revenue-generation method. 

Some popular app monetization methods include:

  • Paid App: Charge users for downloading and using your app.
  • In-App Purchases: Offer additional features or content for a fee within the app.
  • Advertising: Include advertisements within your app and earn revenue based on impressions or clicks.
  • Subscriptions: Charge users a recurring fee for access to premium features or content.
  • Freemium Model: Offer a free version of your app with limited functionality and charge for premium features.
  • Mobile Commerce: Sell physical or digital products through your app. 

When choosing your monetization strategy, consider your target audience, the value you are providing to your users, and the competition in your app’s marketplace.

It’s important to note that some no-code platforms may not support all monetization strategies. Make sure to choose a platform that can accommodate your chosen method of generating revenue.

Take Advantage of Self-Help Resources

Many platforms offer self-help resources to help you get started with no-code app development and troubleshoot any issues.

Here at BuildFire, we have an extensive knowledge base with tutorials using our no-code app builder. From setting up your app to customizing its design and functionality, our tutorials can help you get the most out of our platform.

Other no-code platforms offer forums where you can connect with other app builders and receive support from the community. That’s fine for some people, but it’s not quite a replacement for dedicated resources directly from the platform provider. It’s also not the most effective way to get support. 

Speaking of support, you shouldn’t be afraid to reach out to our team for assistance. A good no-code platform should have a dedicated support team that is ready to help you with any questions or issues you may have.

We definitely offer that here at BuildFire, but not every app development platform has the same level of support.

Focus on Your Launch Strategy

You should be thinking about your launch and go-to market-strategy from day one.

With two main mobile app stores—Apple App Store and Google Play Store—it’s important to make sure your platform supports both and makes it easy for you to publish. Your app should be available to as many users as possible, and having it available on both major app stores is a crucial part of that strategy.

At BuildFire, we understand the importance of a smooth and hassle-free launch process. That’s why we offer a one-click publishing process that makes it easy for you to publish your app to both app stores.

Our platform ensures that your app is compliant with the guidelines imposed by each store so that it meets the technical requirements for successful submissions.

Know Your Limitations

While no-code platforms offer a tremendous amount of power and flexibility, there may be times when you run into scenarios where you need help—and the no-code development tool alone just isn’t cutting it.

That’s why it’s so important to use a solution that has both a no-code development platform and services.

With BuildFire, if you need help with a feature or function beyond what you’ve built, you can rely on our in-house developers to handle it for you.

By having access to both a no-code platform and a team of experienced developers, you can be confident that you’ll be able to overcome any limitations and get the app of your dreams.

Knowing your limitations is an important aspect of using a no-code mobile app development platform. So rather than pulling your hair out over something that’s beyond your capabilities, you should consider a platform that offers development services to help you succeed.

Final Thoughts

The key to success in no-code app development starts with choosing the right platform. All the tips and best practices in this guide will be irrelevant if the platform you’re using doesn’t meet your needs.

BuildFire is the best solution for anyone looking to create a high-quality, feature-rich app without having to write a single line of code. With our easy-to-use platform, extensive self-help resources, and in-house development team, you have everything you need to succeed.

That’s why BuildFire has been used to build over 10,000+ mobile apps across every business size and industry. 

So if you’re ready to take your app development to the next level, sign up for your 14-day free trial today to start building the app of your dreams. With BuildFire, the possibilities are endless—and success is yours for the taking.

What Are White Label Apps and How to Resell Them

Want to start your own app business or offer app services to your clients? If so, you may want to consider reselling white label apps. 

White label apps are a fast and cost-effective way for businesses and entrepreneurs to launch apps, and when done correctly, reselling them can be a lucrative venture. 

In this blog post, we’ll take an in-depth look at white label apps and guide you through the process of reselling them. From understanding the market to finding the right white label partner and overcoming challenges, we’ll provide you with valuable insights to help you succeed. 

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or a newcomer to the app industry, this guide will help you make the most of this exciting opportunity. So keep reading if you’re ready to explore the world of white label apps and what it takes to resell them.

White Label Apps Explained

White label apps, also known as private-label apps, are mobile apps that are developed by one company and then rebranded and sold by another. In other words, the second company takes the app, adds its own branding and customization, and sells it to its own customers as if it were its own app. The original developer of the app remains in the background, providing technical support and maintenance. 

This business model allows companies to offer their own mobile app to customers without the time, cost, and effort of developing a mobile app from scratch.

White label apps also provide a high level of customization and branding options—allowing companies to tailor the app to their own brand and specific needs. This can include custom graphics, logos, colors, and features. 

Additionally, white label apps often come with a robust set of features and functionalities that can be used to meet the specific needs of the company’s customers.

Since white label apps are developed and maintained by experienced app developers, they have a high level of quality and reliability. So you can offer a high-quality app experience to your customers without having to worry about the technical aspects of app development and maintenance. 

The best white label app providers offer ongoing technical support and maintenance, taking the burden off of your company and allowing you to focus on growing your business. 

Advantages of White Label Apps

Here’s a closer look at the most notable benefits of using white label apps:

  • Faster time to market: White label apps provide a quicker solution to launching an app compared to custom app development. This allows companies to quickly offer their own mobile app to their customers without the time and effort of developing it from scratch.
  • More cost-effective: White label apps are typically more budget-friendly than custom app development. This makes them a great option for companies with limited resources or budget constraints.
  • High level of customization: White label apps can be tailored to custom branding requirements. This can include custom graphics, logos, colors, and features.
  • Robust set of features and functionalities: White label apps often come with a wide range of features and functionalities to meet the specific needs of a company’s customers. This ensures that the app provides a great user experience for the end user.
  • Developed and maintained by experienced app developers: Resellers don’t actually have to do anything technical. Everything is handled for them by the development partner. So you don’t need any technical experience, and you can just focus on selling the apps to your customers.
  • Ongoing technical support and maintenance: This ensures that the app remains up-to-date and functional at all times. You won’t have to worry about handling this on your own, as the support will come from the app development platform or the original developer. 

In addition to these benefits, white label apps also offer a level of scalability and flexibility that is not typically available with custom app development. Companies can easily add new features, integrations, and functionalities to the app as their business grows and evolves. This allows them to keep up with the changing needs of their customers and stay ahead of the competition.

Overall, white label apps provide companies with a fast, cost-effective, and customizable solution for launching their own mobile app. Whether you’re a small startup looking to make a splash in the app market or a large enterprise looking to offer a mobile app to your customers, white label apps are a great option to consider.

How White Label Apps Differ From Custom Apps

White label apps and custom apps are two different approaches to developing a mobile app. While both can be effective solutions, they differ in several key ways.

Custom apps are developed from scratch, tailored to the specific needs and requirements of a company. This allows for a high degree of customization and control over the final product. But custom development can often be time-consuming and costly. It typically requires a team of developers and designers to manage the project.

Conversely, white label apps are pre-built, ready-to-use mobile apps that are customized to meet the needs of the company. This can include branding, custom features, and functionalities. 

The main advantage of white label apps is that they provide a faster and more cost-effective solution to launching a mobile app. This allows companies to get to market quickly and focus on growing their business without worrying about the technical aspects of app development.

Most white label apps come with ongoing technical support, which isn’t always included with custom app development. Some custom developers just pass the app off when it’s complete. But with white label apps, infrastructure is maintained on the backend. As a reseller, this means you can continue to bill your clients for ongoing support even after you’ve sold them the app. 

Overall, both white label apps and custom apps have their own unique advantages. The best approach will depend on the specific needs and requirements of the company. Companies should carefully consider their goals, budget, and timeline when deciding between white label apps and custom app development.

How to Resell White Label Apps

Reselling white label apps doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, the entire process can be broken down into just five simple steps:

  1. Find the right white label platform
  2. Understand the market for white label apps
  3. Build a network of customers
  4. Market your white label app
  5. Monetize your white label app

We’ll explain each of these steps in greater detail below. 

1. Find the right white label platform

Finding the right white label platform is crucial to your success as a white label app reseller. 

Everything you do moving forward is contingent on what your white label partner offers you. So even if you’re the best salesperson in the world or you have clients in need of apps, your model will suffer if the product you’re delivering is subpar. 

We have an in-depth guide on finding the right reseller platform that you can reference for help with this step. 

BuildFire is a leading provider of white label app solutions—offering a comprehensive platform and a reseller service that makes it easy for anyone to get started. The platform is user-friendly and offers a range of tools and resources to help you succeed. So even if you’re new to the world of app development, you can start reselling white label apps with confidence.

In addition to its robust platform, BuildFire also offers a range of support and resources to help you succeed as a white label app reseller. 

Whether you’re looking for marketing resources, technical support, or simply want to connect with other resellers, BuildFire has you covered. We’re completely dedicated to helping our reseller partners succeed. BuildFire provides all of the resources and support you need to build a successful white label app business.

2. Understand the market for white label apps

Before you start reselling white label apps, it’s important to have a good understanding of the market. This includes understanding your target customers, what their needs and requirements are, and what sets your white label app offerings apart from the competition. 

By taking the time to research the market and understand your target customers, you can develop a marketing strategy that will help you reach your target audience and build a successful white label app business.

There are a few key things to keep in mind as you’re conducting market research. 

  • What are the needs and requirements of your target customers? 
  • What are they looking for in a mobile app? 
  • What kind of features and functionalities are they looking for?
  • What makes your white label app solutions unique? 
  • How do they differ from the other white label app options on the market? 

You must be able to confidently answer these questions before you can succeed as a white label reseller. 

3. Build a network of customers

Once you’ve found the right white label platform and have a good understanding of the market for white label apps, it’s time to start building a network of customers. 

There are a number of ways to do this, including reaching out to potential customers through email, social media, and other online channels. You can also attend industry events and conferences, network with other app developers and entrepreneurs, and reach out to potential customers through targeted advertising campaigns.

One of the key advantages of white label app reselling is that you can reach a wider audience than you would with a custom app development business. This is because white label apps are pre-built and ready to use, which means that you can focus on marketing and selling your offerings rather than spending time and resources on app development.

If you already have an agency, you have a huge advantage here. You can start reaching out to your existing clients who are in need of an app. In some cases, you might have clients already lined up who have inquired about app development in the past. 

4. Market your white label app

Like most businesses, marketing is crucial to success as a white labeler. 

There are a number of effective marketing strategies for white label app reselling, including email marketing, social media marketing, search engine optimization, and paid advertising. The key is to find what works best for your business and your target audience and to consistently execute your marketing plan.

When marketing your white label apps, it’s important to be clear about what sets your offerings apart from the competition. Focus on creating a unique brand image for yourself and your business. Build a strong online presence, and utilize various marketing channels to reach your target audience.

One of the key benefits of using a white label platform like BuildFire is that they offer marketing resources and support to help you succeed. This may include branding guidelines, pre-designed marketing materials, and more. By leveraging these resources, you can effectively promote your white label app and generate leads for your business.

5. Monetize Your White Label App

The final step in reselling white label apps is monetizing your product. Now it’s time to close the deal. 

To increase your chances of success, you may want to consider multiple app services for your clients. As a white labeler, you can monetize your apps by charging a one-time fee, offering in-app purchases, or using a subscription-based model.

When choosing the best monetization model for your white label app, it’s important to consider your target audience and the type of app you’re offering. For example, if you’re targeting businesses, a one-time fee or subscription-based model may be more appropriate. However, if you’re targeting consumers, in-app purchases may be a more effective monetization strategy.

It’s also important to partner with a white label platform that offers robust payment processing and billing solutions. This will make it easier for you to manage and receive payments from your customers, and ensure that your business runs smoothly and efficiently. 

BuildFire’s white label reseller program provides a comprehensive billing and payment processing solution, making it easier for you to monetize your white label app and grow your business.

Best Practices for Reselling White Label Apps

Refer to our best-practice checklist to succeed in selling white label apps:

  • Choose the right white label partner: Partnering with the right white label platform is key to success. Consider BuildFire’s white label reseller program, which offers a robust platform, extensive support, and a proven track record of delivering high-quality products.
  • Find your niche: Identifying your niche is important as it allows you to focus your efforts on a specific target audience and solutions to their unique needs. You can essentially create an app once, then just re-brand and customize it for all of your customers within your niche category.
  • Reach your existing clients: Utilizing your existing network of clients can be an effective way to quickly establish a customer base. Consider leveraging your current relationships to promote your white label app offerings.
  • Offer app development as another service: By offering white label app development as an additional service, you can expand your offerings and attract new clients. This will also help you stand out in a competitive market.
  • Understand your target audience: It’s crucial to understand the needs and preferences of your target audience. This will help you create apps that meet their specific needs, increasing the chances of success.
  • Focus on quality: The quality of your apps is crucial to success. Make sure the apps you offer are reliable, user-friendly, and meet industry standards.
  • Develop a strong brand: A strong brand is important for attracting new customers and retaining existing ones. Consider investing in your brand by creating a distinctive logo, website, and marketing materials.
  • Foster relationships: Building and maintaining strong relationships with your clients is crucial for long-term success. Consider offering exceptional customer service and providing ongoing support. Then you can continue generating recurring revenue indefinitely, even after you’ve sold your white label apps. 
  • Stay up-to-date with industry trends: Stay informed about the latest industry trends and developments. This will help you stay ahead of the competition and offer cutting-edge app solutions to your clients.
  • Continuously improve: Consider conducting customer surveys, testing new features, and seeking feedback to ensure your app offerings are meeting the needs of your clients.
  • Offer value-added services: Value-added services such as app training, app support, and app customization can help you squeeze more out of each sale. This not only sets you apart from other resellers, but it also provides additional revenue streams for your business.

Challenges and Opportunities in Reselling White Label Apps

When it comes to reselling white label apps, there are a few common challenges that many resellers face. One challenge is finding the right white label partner. You want to choose a partner who has a solid reputation and a track record of delivering high-quality white label apps. Another challenge is navigating the competitive landscape and standing out from other resellers.

Despite the challenges, there are many opportunities in the market for white label apps. One opportunity is the growing demand for custom, high-quality mobile apps. With more and more businesses looking to establish a mobile presence, there is a growing demand for affordable yet high-quality, white label apps. Another opportunity is the ability to monetize your business through app development and app support services.

To overcome the challenges and maximize the opportunities in the market for white label apps, it’s important to have a strategic approach. This includes choosing the right white label partner, finding your niche, and reaching out to your existing clients. Additionally, consider offering app development as another service and offering value-added services such as app training, app support, and app customization. 

With BuildFire’s white label reseller program, you have the opportunity to leverage these strategies and more, positioning yourself as a leader in the market for white label apps.

Final Thoughts on White Label Apps and How to Resell Them

White label apps are a cost-effective and scalable solution for businesses and individuals looking to enter the mobile app market. The key to success in reselling white label apps starts with choosing the right partner. 

From there, you must be able to understand your target market and find ways to offer value-added services. Building a network of customers, marketing your app, and monetizing your venture are also crucial steps in the process. There are challenges in the market, but with the right strategies, the opportunities are limitless.

BuildFire is a white label platform that is perfect for businesses and individuals looking to start their own app-reselling venture. With BuildFire, you can offer your customers the benefits of white label apps without having to worry about the development process.

Our platform provides all the necessary tools and resources to get started. If you’re interested in learning more, book a free reseller demo today

Related Reading and Resources:

Software Development Outsourcing: The Ultimate Guide

Software development outsourcing is a common practice for organizations looking to build custom software—including mobile apps. Outsourcing mobile app development can bring a lot of benefits, such as access to specialized expertise and cost savings.

This ultimate guide covers everything from understanding what outsourcing is, to finding the right outsourcing partner and managing an outsourced mobile app development project. 

By the end of this post, you’ll have a solid understanding of what outsourcing mobile app development entails and be equipped with the knowledge to make informed decisions about whether outsourcing is right for your business.

What is Software Development Outsourcing?

Software development outsourcing refers to the practice of hiring an external company, agency, or contractor to handle the software development process. This arrangement is typically used when a business lacks the internal resources or expertise to develop a custom software solution, such as a mobile app. 

By outsourcing the development process, businesses can access the specialized skills and knowledge they need to bring their software vision to life. This can include everything from conceptualization and design to coding, testing, and deployment. 

Outsourcing mobile app development can bring a variety of benefits, such as access to specialized expertise, cost savings, and increased speed to market. 

It’s worth noting that outsourcing is just one of several options for businesses looking to develop a mobile app. Other options include developing the app in-house or using a no-code/low-code development platform. The best option for your business will depend on your specific needs, goals, and budget.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Outsourcing

The top benefits of outsourcing mobile app development include:

  • Access to specialized skills and expertise
  • More affordable than in-house development
  • Faster development times
  • Ability to focus on core business activities
  • Flexibility with resource allocation

It’s worth noting that certain outsourcing solutions come with some drawbacks, such as:

  • Reduced control over the development process
  • Potential language or cultural barriers
  • Concerns around data security and intellectual property
  • Challenges in communication and collaboration
  • Risk of project failure

When outsourcing mobile app development, it’s important to carefully weigh the pros and cons to determine whether outsourcing is the right choice for your business. 

To minimize the risks associated with outsourcing, it’s crucial to choose a reputable and experienced outsourcing partner and to establish clear lines of communication and collaboration from day one. This will alleviate any concerns you have with the potential drawbacks listed above. 

When to Consider Outsourcing Software Development

There are several scenarios where outsourcing mobile app development might be a good choice for businesses. For example:

  • Outsourcing can provide access to the necessary skills and knowledge if your business lacks in-house expertise in mobile app development,
  • If your business has a tight deadline and needs to get to market quickly, outsourcing can help speed up the process.
  • Software development outsourcing can offer cost savings compared to developing a mobile app in-house—helping you keep costs low and stay under budget. 
  • If your business is looking to focus on other core business activities, outsourcing the mobile app development process can free up internal resources and allow you to focus on what you do best. 

Outsourcing is not always the best choice for every business. Some businesses may prefer to develop their mobile app in-house in order to retain greater control over the development process or to ensure that the app is developed to their specific requirements. 

When deciding whether to outsource mobile app development, it’s crucial to carefully consider your business goals and resources. By weighing the pros and cons of outsourcing, businesses can make an informed decision about whether outsourcing is the right choice for their needs.

Types of Outsourcing Arrangements

Businesses have multiple options for outsourcing mobile app development, including the following common arrangements:

  • Full-service outsourcing: An external company is responsible for handling all aspects of the mobile app development process, from design to coding, testing, and deployment.
  • Partial outsourcing: A third party just handles specific aspects of the mobile app development process, such as coding or testing.
  • Time-and-materials outsourcing: In this arrangement, an agency is paid based on the number of hours worked or the materials used during the mobile app development process.
  • Fixed-price outsourcing: As the name implies, the outsourced company is paid a fixed fee for delivering a specific set of deliverables or for completing the entire mobile app development process.

When considering outsourcing arrangements, it’s important to choose one that aligns with your business goals, budget, and timeline.

Full-service outsourcing can be a good choice for businesses that lack in-house expertise or resources, while partial outsourcing can be a good choice for businesses that need help with specific aspects of the mobile app development process. Time-and-materials outsourcing can be a good choice for businesses that need flexibility, while fixed-price outsourcing can be a good choice for businesses that need certainty and stability in their budgeting and planning.

By carefully considering their options and choosing a reputable and experienced outsourcing partner, businesses can ensure a successful outcome and achieve their mobile app development goals.

Choosing the Right Outsourcing Partner

Choosing the right outsourcing partner is crucial for ensuring a successful outcome when outsourcing mobile app development. There are several key considerations to take into account when choosing an outsourcing partner, including:

  • Experience and expertise: It’s important to choose an outsourcing partner with a proven track record of developing high-quality mobile apps that meet the specific needs of their clients. Consider the outsourcing partner’s portfolio, case studies, and testimonials to get a sense of their expertise and experience.
  • Communication and collaboration: Good communication and collaboration are key to a successful outsourcing relationship. Choose an outsourcing partner that is responsive, transparent, and easy to work with.
  • Process and methodology: Consider the outsourcing partner’s development process and methodology to ensure that they are a good fit for your specific needs. 
  • Location and culture: Choose an outsourcing partner that is located in a time zone that is convenient for your business and that has a culture that aligns with your business values and goals.

BuildFire’s Approach to Mobile App Development

BuildFire’s approach to mobile app development is focused on delivering value to the client at each step of the way. This approach is characterized by the following elements:

  • Discovery and planning: BuildFire starts by working with the client to understand their specific needs and goals to develop a detailed plan for the mobile app development process.
  • Design and development: BuildFire then uses its expertise and experience to design and develop a high-quality mobile app that meets the client’s needs. This includes the design and deployment of the app.
  • Ongoing support and maintenance: After the mobile app is launched, BuildFire provides ongoing support and maintenance to ensure that the app continues to perform optimally and to meet the changing needs of the client.

By following this approach, BuildFire is able to deliver high-quality mobile apps that meet the specific needs of its clients. The ongoing support and maintenance to ensure that the app continues to perform optimally over time.

BuildFire takes the time to understand your business goals to ensure the app is aligned with the success of your company.

Importance of Conducting Due Diligence to Find the Right Outsourcing Partner

It is critical to conduct thorough due diligence when choosing an outsourcing partner for mobile app development. 

This involves taking the time to research and evaluate potential partners to ensure that they are a good fit for your business and your specific needs. Some key elements of conducting due diligence include:

  • Reviewing the outsourcing partner’s portfolio, case studies, and testimonials to get a sense of their expertise and experience.
  • Speaking with references or past clients to get a first-hand account of their experience working with the outsourcing partner.
  • Asking the outsourcing partner to provide detailed information about their development process and methodology, including how they approach project management, testing, and quality assurance.
  • Requesting a detailed proposal or quote from the outsourcing partner, including the scope of work, timeline, and budget.
  • Negotiating terms and conditions, including payment terms, Intellectual Property (IP) ownership, and ongoing support and maintenance.

With the right due diligence, businesses can increase the chances of a successful outcome when outsourcing mobile app development and can ensure that they choose an outsourcing partner that is a good fit for their specific needs and goals.

Preparing for Outsourced Software Development

A successful outsourcing project starts with effective preparation. There are several key steps businesses can take to prepare for outsourced mobile app development, including:

Define the Project Requirements

Before outsourcing mobile app development, it is important to have a clear understanding of what you want the end product to look like, as well as the specific features and functionality that are required. This includes defining the target audience, identifying key user personas, and outlining the user journey.

Create a Project Plan

A comprehensive project plan is an essential component of any successful outsourcing project. This includes defining the project scope, timeline, budget, and key milestones. Having a project plan in place helps to keep the project on track and enables businesses to identify and address any potential issues or risks before they arise.

Build a Strong Communication Plan

Effective communication is key to a successful outsourcing project. Establish a clear understanding of expectations, including regular check-ins and status updates, to ensure that everyone involved in the project is on the same page.

Setting Expectations With The Outsourcing Partner

Setting clear and realistic expectations with the outsourcing partner is crucial for the success of the project. Some key considerations include:

  • Defining the project scope and timeline, including the specific features and functionality required and any deadlines or milestones.
  • Establishing communication protocols and processes, including regular check-ins, status updates, and reporting mechanisms.
  • Discussing and agreeing on the payment terms, including the budget, payment schedule, and any penalties for delays or changes to the scope of work.
  • Establishing the Intellectual Property (IP) ownership, including who will own the code and any other outputs of the project and how this will be managed.
  • Agreeing on the ongoing support and maintenance requirements, including any warranties, bug fixes, and other post-deployment services.

By setting clear expectations with the outsourcing partner, businesses can reduce the risk of misunderstandings, delays, or other issues, and increase the chances of a successful outcome. 

When you’re ready to start your mobile app development project, consider partnering with BuildFire. As a leader in outsourced app development, we’ll bring your vision to life.

Importance of Good Project Management

Good project management is a critical factor in ensuring the success of any outsourced mobile app development project. Here’s why:

  • Improved Visibility and Control — Good project management provides businesses with improved visibility into the progress of the project, including the status of key tasks, deadlines, and milestones. This allows businesses to make informed decisions and take corrective action if necessary to keep the project on track.
  • Increased Efficiency and Productivity — By using effective project management processes and tools, businesses can streamline workflows and reduce the risk of duplication or waste. This helps to increase efficiency and productivity and reduces the project’s overall time and cost.
  • Better Communication and Collaboration — Good project management helps to facilitate better communication and collaboration between all stakeholders, including the outsourcing partner, internal teams, and any external stakeholders. This helps to ensure that everyone is aligned on the project goals and objectives. It also helps resolve any issues or conflicts in a timely and effective manner.

By taking a proactive approach to project management, businesses can increase their chances of a successful outcome in a timely and cost-effective manner. 

Best Practices for Managing an Outsourced Software Development Project

Use the following guidelines as a checklist as you’re preparing and going through your next outsourced development project:

  • Clearly define project scope and timeline, including specific features, deadlines, and milestones, to ensure that everyone is aligned on what needs to be achieved.
  • Establish regular check-ins, status updates, and reporting mechanisms to ensure that everyone is informed of the project’s progress.
  • Clearly define roles and responsibilities to ensure everyone involved in the project knows their role and what they are responsible for.
  • Use project management tools to streamline workflows and improve visibility into the project’s progress.
  • Set realistic expectations for the project scope, timeline, and budget, to reduce the risk of misunderstandings or disappointment.
  • Foster a culture of transparency where everyone involved in the project feels comfortable sharing information, ideas, and concerns.
  • Continuously evaluate and adjust the project plan as needed to ensure that the project stays on track and delivers the desired outcomes.
  • Celebrate successes along the way, and use failures as an opportunity to learn and improve for the future.

These best practices can help businesses increase their chances of success when outsourcing their mobile app development project—achieving desired outcomes in a timely and cost-effective manner. 

Final Thoughts

Software development outsourcing is an affordable way to bring your mobile app vision to life. But it’s important to be well-informed and prepared. 

Understanding the different outsourcing models and conducting thorough due diligence on potential partners are crucial steps in the process. Good project management and communication practices can also help ensure a successful outcome.

If it sounds like software development outsourcing is right for you, consider partnering with BuildFire. With years of experience in the industry and a team of experts, BuildFire is well-equipped to bring your vision to life. 

Contact us today to see how an app from BuildFire will align with your business goals. 

Free App Builder – Pros and Cons (2024)

When it comes to building an app, one of the biggest decisions entrepreneurs and small business owners face is whether to use a paid app development service or a free app builder. 

With the rise of free app builders in recent years, more and more people are opting for the latter option. But what are the pros and cons of using a free app builder? Is a free app builder right for you?

Here’s the short answer—free app builders can be a great option for personal projects or hobby apps. But for business use, a paid app builder might be a better choice.

In this post, we’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of using a free app builder and provide tips on how to choose the right one for your needs. The purpose of this post is to help you make an informed decision about whether a free app builder is the right choice for your app development project.

The Pros of Using a Free App Builder

These are the four main advantages of using a free app builder over paid alternatives: 

  • Cost Effectiveness
  • Ease of Use
  • Customization Options
  • No Commitment

Cost Effectiveness

One of the biggest advantages of using a free app builder is its cost-effectiveness. With a free app builder, there is no need to pay for app development. 

This can be especially beneficial for small businesses, startups, and individual entrepreneurs who may not have the budget for a paid app development service. With a free app builder, you can create a functional app without incurring any upfront costs.

However, it’s important to note that while using a free app builder may save you money on upfront development costs, it may not be completely free. Many free app builders offer a limited set of features for free but charge for additional functionality or for the removal of ads. 

You must understand the pricing structure of the app builder you choose and budget for any additional costs that may be incurred.

It’s also important to consider the long-term costs associated with using a free app builder. 

While it may be cost-effective in the short term, you may end up spending more in the long run if the app builder doesn’t have the scalability options you need or if you need to hire a developer to add features that the free app builder doesn’t offer. Always

Weigh the short-term savings against the long-term costs when considering a free app builder.

Ease of Use

Many free app builders are designed to be user-friendly and do not require coding knowledge—making them accessible to a wide range of users. This can be especially helpful for those who have limited technical skills but still want to create an app. 

Free app builders allow you to create an app by simply dragging and dropping elements or by using pre-designed templates without the need for any programming knowledge. 

This can save a lot of time and effort for those who are not familiar with coding and allow them to focus on the design and functionality of the app.

Additionally, free app builders often come with a wide range of tutorials and resources that can help users navigate the platform and create the app they want. Many of the popular free app builders have a large community and forum where you can find answers to your questions and learn tips and tricks from more experienced users. This can make it even easier to create an app, even if you’re not an expert.

While it’s true that some free app builders may have limited support and resources, it’s important to note that many offer a range of support options, such as FAQs, user guides, and video tutorials, that can help users troubleshoot any issues they may encounter. 

One example of a free app builder that boasts ease of use is BuildFire. BuildFire’s platform is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, making it accessible to users of all skill levels. 

In addition to its simplicity, the platform also has a support team that’s available to assist users with any questions or issues they may have. BuildFire’s ease of use, along with its range of features and customization options, makes it a great option for those looking to create a functional and professional-looking app.

Customization Options

Most free app builders allow users to create an app that is unique and tailored to their specific needs. This includes options such as different color schemes, layouts, and design elements, as well as the ability to add custom functionality and features. 

With these customization options, users can create an app that is truly unique and stands out from the competition.

For example, BuildFire lets users choose from a variety of pre-designed templates or create their own layout using the platform’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Additionally, BuildFire allows users to add custom functionality and features to their app with a single click. 

Just choose from one of the 150+ pre-built functions from the BuildFire marketplace.

It’s important to note that while many free app builders offer customization options, the degree of customization may vary from one platform to another. 

Some free app builders may have more limited options than others, so it’s important to do your research and find the app builder that best suits your needs. However, as long as you’re willing to put in some time and effort, it’s possible to create a professional-looking and fully-featured app with a free app builder.

No Commitment

Another significant advantage of using a free app builder is that it allows you to create an app without any long-term commitment. With a free app builder, you can create an app and test it out before deciding whether or not to invest in it further. This can be especially beneficial for businesses that are just starting out or are not sure if an app is the right move for them.

You can experiment with different designs, features, and functionalities without incurring any costs. This can be a great way to get a sense of what works and what doesn’t before committing to a more expensive app development process. This flexibility allows you to make informed decisions about the direction of your app and whether or not it’s worth investing more resources into.

A free app builder can be a great way to prototype your app idea or get started with a minimum viable product. You can create a basic version of your app and test it out with a small group of users to see how it performs and gather feedback. This can help you identify any issues or areas for improvement.

Overall, the no-commitment aspect of free app builders is a great opportunity for businesses and individuals to test the waters and see if an app is the right fit for them before making any big decisions. 

The Cons of Using a Free App Builder

While there are plenty of perks to using a free app builder, there are also some drawbacks to consider:

  • Limited Features and Functionality
  • Limited Scalability
  • Limited Customer Support
  • Limited Design Options

Limited Features and Functionality

It’s common for free app builders to have a more limited range of features and functionalities compared to paid app builders. This can ultimately limit the overall capabilities of your app.

For example, free app builders may not offer advanced features such as e-commerce functionality, social media integration, or the ability to send push notifications. 

These features can be essential for businesses looking to create a fully-featured and functional app. Additionally, free app builders may not offer the same level of support and resources as paid app builders, which can make it more difficult to troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Another issue with free app builders is that they often come with limitations on the number of users or downloads that can be supported. This can be problematic for businesses looking to create an app that will be used by a large number of users. You may also encounter limitations on the amount of data that can be stored or the number of pages that can be created.

So while free app builders can be a great option for small-scale projects or personal use, they may not be the best choice for businesses looking to create a fully-featured and functional app. The limited features and functionality of free app builders can be a significant drawback, and it’s important to consider this before deciding to use a free app builder for your app development needs.

Limited Scalability

While free app builders may be suitable for small-scale projects or personal use, they may not be able to handle the demands of a growing business or a large user base.

It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to generate tens of thousands or millions of downloads using a free app builder. This can be a problem for businesses looking to expand their user base or for apps that require a significant amount of data storage. 

You’ll likely need to upgrade to a higher tier for more data.

Free app builders may not be able to handle the increased traffic and usage that comes with a growing user base, which can lead to poor app performance and user dissatisfaction.

As a business grows, it may require new features and functionalities that are not available on a free app builder. This can make it difficult to keep up with the demands and may require the business to invest in a more expensive app development process.

Limited Customer Support

Some free app builders do offer a certain level of customer support. But it’s often more limited compared to paid app builders. 

With that said, the level of customer support offered by different free app builders can vary greatly, so it’s important to research the support options available before deciding to use a specific app builder.

For example, some free app builders may only offer basic customer support, such as a FAQ page or a community forum. While these resources can be helpful, they may not be able to provide the same level of support as a dedicated customer service team.

For example, if you upgrade your service with BuildFire, you can connect with a dedicated account manager for app strategy sessions. This type of service won’t be available with a free app builder.

You may not find the same level of support for customizations and integrations. For businesses looking to create a fully-featured and functional app, it is essential to have access to support for customizations and integrations. Without this, it can be more difficult to make the necessary changes to the app to keep up with the demands of a growing business.

This can be a significant drawback, especially for businesses looking to create an app for real users.

Limited Design Options

When it comes to creating an app, the design is just as important as the functionality. However, with a free app builder, the design options available can be quite limited. 

The templates and customization options offered by free app builders tend to be more basic compared to paid app builders. As a result, it can be more challenging to create an app that stands out and looks professional.

Additionally, the design elements offered by free app builders may not be as flexible as those offered by paid app builders. For example, some free app builders may only offer a limited number of color schemes or font options. This can make it difficult to create an app that aligns with a specific brand or style.

A lot of free app builders don’t offer advanced design features such as animations, interactive elements, and other design elements that can make your app more engaging and enjoyable to use. This can be a significant drawback, especially for businesses looking to create an app that stands out in the crowded mobile market.

Choosing the Right Free App Builder

Choosing the right free app builder is crucial for creating a successful app. There are many free app builders available on the market, each with its own unique set of features and limitations. It can be overwhelming to choose the right one, especially for those who are new to app building.

One free app builder that stands out from the rest is BuildFire. BuildFire is a powerful and user-friendly app builder that offers a wide range of features and customization options. 

With BuildFire, you can create an app that looks professional and functions seamlessly. The best part is that you can try BuildFire for free for 14 days, allowing you to test its features and see if it’s the right fit for your app.

One of the major advantages of BuildFire is its cost-effectiveness—you can create an app without breaking the bank. 

BuildFire has affordable plans that are suitable for businesses of all budgets. Even though you can use the app builder for free, to have a live app with real users, you will have to pay. But the plans are still affordable.

Another advantage of BuildFire is its ease of use. The app builder is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for anyone to create an app, regardless of their technical skills. BuildFire also offers excellent customer support, which is another plus.

Final Thoughts

Using a free app builder can be a great option for many app creators, but it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. 

The cost-effectiveness of using a free app builder can be a major advantage, as it allows app creators to create an app without breaking the bank. Additionally, most free app builders are user-friendly, making it easy for anyone to create an app, regardless of their technical skills.

But there are also limitations to using a free app builder. Limited functionality, limited scalability, and limited design options are some of the cons that app creators should consider. 

Ultimately, it’s up to the app creator to decide whether a free app builder is the right choice for their app. By considering the pros and cons and taking the time to choose the right app builder, app creators can be sure that they’re making the best decision for their app.

How to Make Money With White Label Apps

Do you want a fast and easy way to enter the mobile app development market? 

Whether you have an existing agency and want to expand your service offerings or you’re a solopreneur starting from scratch, white labeling apps is the fastest and simplest path to revenue. 

In this post, we’ll reveal the secrets to making money with white label mobile applications and provide tips for getting started in the white label app development game. From adding custom branding to charging for app maintenance and updates, we’ll show you the numerous revenue streams available with white label apps. 

We’ll even share success stories from businesses that have found great success with white label app development. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to streamline your app development process and start generating income. Keep reading to learn more.

What Are White Label Apps?

White label apps, also known as private label apps, are pre-made mobile applications that can be customized and rebranded by businesses for their own use. 

For businesses, white label apps offer an affordable and efficient solution for creating a mobile presence. Not only can they save time and resources, but they also allow companies to enter the app market quickly and start generating revenue.

One of the main advantages of white label apps is the ability to fully customize them to fit the branding and style of your business. This means you can add your own logo, color scheme, and other design elements to make the app feel like it was created specifically for your company. This level of customization can help you stand out in a crowded app market and give you a professional image.

Another benefit of white label apps is their cost-effectiveness. Building a custom app from scratch can be a time-consuming and costly process, especially if you don’t have in-house development resources. With a white label app, you can purchase a pre-made app and simply customize it to fit your needs, which can save you a significant amount of money. This makes white label apps a great option for small businesses and startups that may not have the budget for a custom app.

In addition to saving time and money, white label apps also allow businesses to enter the app market quickly. Custom app development can take months or even years to complete, but with a white label app, you can be up and running in a matter of weeks. This means you can start generating revenue from your app much faster and take advantage of the growing mobile market.

How White Label Apps Generate Revenue

There are several ways businesses can use white label apps to generate revenue. We’ll cover the most common options in greater detail below.

Selling the Apps to Clients as a Finished Product

One of the most straightforward methods is by simply selling the app to clients as a finished product. This can be especially effective if you have a unique or high-demand app that addresses a specific need in the market.

If you have a white label app that you think has broad appeal, you can sell it directly to clients as a finished application. This could include small businesses, enterprise organizations, or even individuals who are looking for a specific type of app. To sell your app, you’ll need to set up a website or online marketplace where people can purchase it. You can also consider selling your app through app stores like Google Play or the Apple App Store.

To make your app more appealing to potential buyers, you should highlight its key features and benefits and provide detailed descriptions of how it can solve problems or improve the user’s experience. You can also consider offering demos or free trials to give potential clients a taste of what your app can do.

Adding Custom Branding and Reselling the App to Clients

Another way to generate revenue with white label apps is by adding custom branding and reselling the app to clients. This can be especially useful for digital agencies or software companies that work with multiple clients and need to create a unique app for each one.

To customize the app for each client, you’ll need to add their branding elements, such as their logo, color scheme, and any specific design elements they want included. You’ll also need to customize the app’s functionality to fit the needs of each client. Once you’ve customized the app for a particular client, you can sell it to them as a finished product.

One of the benefits of this model is that it allows you to create a unique app for each client without having to start from scratch. This can save you a significant amount of time and resources, which can help you turn a profit more quickly.

Charging a Recurring Fee For App Maintenance and Updates

Another way to generate revenue with white label apps is by charging a recurring fee for app maintenance and updates. This can be especially effective if you have a large number of clients using your app and want to ensure it stays up-to-date and bug-free.

To charge a recurring fee for app maintenance, you’ll need to set up a billing system that allows you to bill your clients on a regular basis, such as monthly or annually. You can also consider offering different pricing tiers based on the level of support and updates your clients need.

A significant advantage of this model is that it provides a steady stream of income for your business. By charging a recurring fee, you can ensure you have a predictable source of revenue for the future.

In-App Purchases and Subscriptions

You can also generate revenue with white label apps by offering in-app purchases or subscriptions. This can be especially effective if your app provides a valuable service or content that users are willing to pay for.

To offer in-app purchases or subscriptions, you’ll need to set up a billing system within your app that allows users to purchase additional features or access to content. You can also consider offering different pricing tiers or subscription plans to appeal to a wider range of users.

This model allows you to monetize the app beyond the initial sale. By offering in-app purchases or subscriptions, you can continue to generate revenue from your app over time.

Case Studies and Examples of Successful White Label App Businesses

To showcase how easy it is to make money with white label apps, we’ll quickly highlight some success stories from real agencies and entrepreneurs who chose this path to revenue. 

Example 1 — Social Connection Marketing

Social Connection Marketing provides digital marketing services like web design, SEO, and videography to local clients in their region. Historically, Social Connection Marketing stood out from the crowd by focusing strictly on digital promotion methods. 

The agency almost exclusively works with small businesses. These businesses don’t have the resources or budgets to hire developers or development agencies—even though they all recognize the need for having a mobile app. 

To address the needs of their clients, Social Connection Marketing used BuildFire’s white label service to make app development more affordable and attainable for small businesses. 

In addition to fulfilling client needs and making app development more accessible to local businesses, Social Connection Marketing has used white labeling as an additional source of agency revenue. 

You can read more about the Social Connection Marketing case story here

Example 2 — Inspire U Mobile Apps

Inspire U Mobile Apps was founded by Sabeina Harris after she recognized a significant opportunity in this space. 

Harris spent her career as a marketing consultant and branding strategist. In her time working with so many businesses across a wide range of industries, she realized that they all needed a mobile app for one purpose or another. However, these businesses couldn’t afford to spend $10,000 or $15,000 on a custom app.

She ultimately created Inspire U Mobile Apps after discovering BuildFire’s white label program.

This gave Harris the ability to bridge the affordability gap for her clients. 

Thanks to the versatility of BuildFire, she was able to offer mobile app development to existing clients and new prospects alike. She saw immediate success, and the demand for her services skyrocketed. 

Restaurants turned to Inspire U Mobile Mobile Apps for curbside pickups, deliveries, and mobile to-go orders. Retailers wanted new ways to drive mobile commerce sales. One client even gained over 1,000 subscribers on the first day of launching the app. 

Check out the full Inspire U Mobile Apps story here

Tips For Getting Started With White Label App Development

If you’re interested in starting a white label app development business, there are a few key things you’ll need to consider to ensure your success. In this section, we’ll provide some tips to help you get started.

Choose a Reliable App Builder and White Label Platform

One of the first things you’ll need to do when starting a white label app development business is choose a reliable app builder or white label platform. There are many options available, and it’s important to choose one that is easy to use, has a good track record, and offers a wide range of features and customization options.

To find a good app builder, you should do some research and compare the different options available. Look for one that has a good reputation and is well-supported by the developer community. You should also consider the specific needs of your business and choose an app builder that offers the features and customization options you need.

When choosing a white label platform, it’s important to look for one that is scalable and able to grow with your business. A platform that is too basic or limited in functionality may not be able to support your needs as your business expands. On the other hand, a platform that is too complex or expensive may be difficult for you to use or may not provide a good return on investment.

One platform that stands out as a reliable and effective option for white label app development is BuildFire. BuildFire’s white label platform offers a wide range of features and customization options, making it easy for businesses to create professional and highly functional apps. With BuildFire, you can create apps for a variety of industries and offer limitless functionality. 

In addition to its robust feature set, BuildFire also has a strong reputation in the app development industry and is well-supported by the developer community. Its team of experienced professionals is always available to help you with any questions or issues you may have, making it easy for you to get started with white label app development. 

Overall, BuildFire is a top-rated white label platform that can help your business succeed in the competitive world of app development.

Find Your Niche

Another important tip for starting a white label app development business is to find your niche. While it’s possible to create white label apps for a wide range of industries, it’s often more effective to focus on a specific niche and become an expert in it.

For example, you might specialize in creating white label apps for restaurants, or you might focus on creating apps for small businesses in a particular industry. By specializing in a specific niche, you’ll be able to better understand the needs of your clients and create apps that are tailored to their specific requirements.

Market and Promote Your White Label App Services

Once you’ve set up your white label app development business and have a few apps under your belt, you’ll need to start marketing and promoting your services to potential clients. There are many different ways you can do this, including:

  • Creating a website to showcase your apps and services
  • Using social media to promote your business
  • Attending industry events and networking with potential clients
  • Partnering with other businesses to cross-promote your services

To be effective, your marketing efforts should be focused and targeted. Consider what your ideal client looks like and tailor your marketing efforts to reach them.

Upselling and Cross-selling to Existing Clients

Another way to generate revenue with a white label app development business is by upselling and cross-selling to your current clients. Once you’ve developed an app for a client, you can offer them additional services or products that complement their app. For example, you might offer app maintenance and updates, custom branding, or additional features as an upsell.

You can also consider cross-selling to your clients by offering related products or services. For example, if you’ve developed an app for a restaurant, you might offer to create a website or social media marketing services to help them promote their business. By offering a range of related products and services, you can increase the value of your business to your clients and generate additional revenue.

Final Thoughts

White label apps offer a cost-effective and efficient way for businesses to create a mobile presence and generate revenue. With a white label app, you can save time and resources, enter the app market quickly, and customize the app to fit the branding and style of your business. 

There are several ways to make money with white label apps, including selling the app to clients as a finished product, adding custom branding and reselling the app, charging for app maintenance and updates, and offering in-app purchases and subscriptions.

If you’re interested in starting a white label app development business, there are a few key things you’ll need to consider to ensure your success. Choosing a reliable app builder and white label platform is essential to your success, and BuildFire is a top-rated option that offers a wide range of features and customization options. With BuildFire’s white label service, you can get started with white label app development quickly and easily, and start generating revenue for your business. 

Overall, white label app development is a profitable and easy way to enter the mobile market and grow your business.

How to Make Your Own App in 2024

The growth of mobile technology has made it easier than ever for anyone to make their own app. Developing your own app can be a great way to make money, build a portfolio, or simply create something you’re passionate about.

In this article, we’ll provide an overview of the process involved in creating your own app in 2024—from start to finish. We’ll discuss everything from the initial idea and planning to designs and submissions for approval. With this step-by-step guide, you can make your own app with confidence and make a real impact in the mobile space. Let’s get started!

Benefits of Making an App in 2024 

Making your own app offers a number of unique advantages. With the latest tools and technologies, building an app is easier than ever before. 

This means you can make your own apps with minimal effort and cost. Additionally, there’s a large market for mobile applications, so developing an app can be a great way to make money for your existing business or new venture.

Flexibility 

Modern app development is highly flexible. You have the ability to make the app as simple or complex as you like and add features or make tweaks to make it more functional. 

Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about coding from scratch—there are plenty of tools and services available that make building an app easy for non-technical users. If you do need help with any aspect of the development process, there are professionals available who can provide assistance when needed.

Low Investment

For those who are just starting out, the cost of making an app in 2024 is relatively low. 

You don’t need to make any large investments, as most of the tools you need are available for a reasonable price. Just make sure you steer clear of free app development tools. While these might sound appealing, they’re extremely limited and not viable for anyone who wants to make an app for real users. They’re fine if you’re just creating an app for fun or as a hobby, but for business use, you’ll need a premium solution. 

Note: Use our app cost calculator to see how much money you’ll save by building an app on your own.

Tools for App Creation 

When it comes to making your own app, there is a wide selection of tools available. 

Popular development tools such as Xcode and Android Studio make the coding experience much more enjoyable than years ago. With that said, these tools are designed specifically for developers. If you don’t know how to write code, these won’t work for you. 

Fortunately, you can use no-code platforms like BuildFire to make your own app. These types of solutions use plug-and-play functionality on a drag-and-drop interface to fully customize the look, feel, and use of your app. 

Virtually anyone can create their own app using this method without writing a single line of code.

Access to Large Markets 

Once you’ve created your app, you can make it available to real users across the globe. 

There are millions of users worldwide browsing for apps and downloading apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. For existing businesses, you can use this to expand your reach while simultaneously appeasing your existing customer base.

Reasons You Should Make Your Own App

If you’re on the fence about making your own app this year, here are some of the top reasons that you should take into consideration:

  • Increased Visibility: Creating your own app gives you a chance to boost your visibility among customers and potential clients. By having an app, people will be able to access your services or products more quickly and conveniently. 
  • Establish Your Brand: An app provides you with a platform to showcase what makes you unique and stands out from the competition. You can customize your app with features and content that reflect your brand’s mission and values. 
  • Develop a Loyal User Base: Your app gives you the opportunity to create an ongoing relationship with users and build loyalty among them. By offering exclusive deals, discounts, or other benefits through the app only available to users, you can reward customers and foster a sense of community. 
  • Reach More Customers: Developing an app can help you reach a larger number of customers than you would if you relied on traditional methods such as television commercials or print ads. It also allows you to target specific demographics to make your efforts more effective. 
  • Create Unique Experiences: Apps allow you to offer a unique experience that customers can’t get anywhere else. You can create interactive content, participate in virtual events, or even design an app-exclusive mini-game—anything to keep your customers engaged and entertained while they use your service. 
  • Monetize Your App: If you design the right kind of app or utilize mobile ads, you can monetize your app and generate income. This makes investing in an app a much more attractive proposition for businesses who want to make money as well as grow their brand.

Creating your own app can be a great way to establish your brand and build a loyal customer base. With an app, you can reach more customers than ever before and create unique experiences that keep them coming back. Additionally, apps can be monetized to generate income. Investing in an app now could be the best decision you make for your business.

The Basics of Making an App

Before you dive into the build, it’s important that you have a firm grasp of what this process will look like at a higher level.

Step 1 – Identify a Problem and Create a Solution 

The first thing you need to do is identify what problem your app will solve and how it will benefit users. You should also consider whether or not there are similar apps already available on the market that could offer a better solution.

Step 2 – Identify Your Audience

Before you start designing your app, identify who your target audience is and what features they want. Knowing this information will help you make decisions about the type of design and functionality that will be most attractive to them. 

Step 3 – Choose Your Development Platform

Deciding how you want to make your app depends largely on your existing technical skills. Rather than learning how to code, you can simply use a no-code app builder and do everything on your own. 

Make sure your development supports the operating system or systems you want to launch on. The two main options for mobile apps are iOS (Apple) and Android (Google). Depending on your target audience, you may want to focus on one or both of these. 

Step 4 – Develop Your Design and Start Building

Once you know who your target audience is and what platform they use, it’s time to start designing the look and feel of your app. Consider any additional features that might be useful for users as well. 

Don’t worry about building all of your features at once. Focus on the features that our app needs for its primary purpose. This concept will help you get to market quicker, and you can always add new features down the road. 

Step 6 – Test and Launch

Before launching your app, test it on different devices to make sure it works properly. Once you’ve ironed out any issues, you can submit your app to the App Store or Google Play Store for approval.

What Platforms to Use for Creating an App 

When it comes to creating an app, there are a few different options available. You can use coding languages like JavaScript and HTML/CSS, or you can make use of platforms such as React Native or Flutter.

With that said, the easiest way to make an app on your own is by using a no-code app builder. 

No-code app builders are excellent alternatives for those who don’t have the coding knowledge to create their own apps. This type of platform allows you to quickly and easily create an app using drag-and-drop tools, customizable templates, and other features. Additionally, many no-code app builders allow you to monetize your app and generate income.

BuildFire: The Best Way to Make Your Own App

BuildFire is an app development platform that enables businesses to quickly and easily create their own custom mobile apps. The platform provides a comprehensive set of tools, allowing users to design, develop, and deploy their very own mobile applications faster than traditional development. 

The software offers a variety of options for creating an app. This allows users to create an app that meets their specific needs and accommodates their user base.

BuildFire also provides a host of features ranging from push notifications to third-party integrations and more. These make it easier for companies to manage engagement with their customer base. You can use the platform to create an in-app shopping experience, allowing for both digital and physical goods to be purchased. This facilitates a wide range of customization opportunities, from selling products directly from within the app itself to providing membership services or loyalty programs.

In addition to the simplicity of the build, you’ll also have access to a powerful analytics suite to help track user engagement and overall usage of the app. This data can be used to inform product and feature development, as well as provide feedback on how your target audience is using the app. It also helps businesses identify areas for improvement and focus their efforts accordingly for maximum returns.

Overall, BuildFire makes it easy for companies to create their own custom mobile apps, providing a variety of features and customization options. The platform’s analytics suite helps businesses track user engagement and identify areas for improvement, enabling them to create a better overall experience for their users. With BuildFire, companies can quickly and easily create an app that meets the specific needs of their customer base.

Design Considerations to Take Into Account During Development 

Design is an integral part of any development process. Here are some important design considerations that should be taken into account when developing any mobile app or piece of software in 2024:

  • Usability: Is the app easy to use? Does it require a steep learning curve? Are the controls intuitive? Are the menus easy to navigate? 
  • User Experience: How do the app and interface affect the overall user experience? Is it a pleasant and rewarding experience, or is it cluttered and cumbersome?  
  • Design Aesthetics: Does the design of your app have an aesthetic appeal that will draw users in? Or is it messy and unattractive? 
  • Device Compatibility: Is the product compatible with all different types of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets for iOS and Android? 
  • Accessibility: Is the product easily accessible to all users, including those with disabilities or impairments? 
  • Security: How secure is the app from data breaches and other malicious attacks? 
  • Branding: Does the app reflect the brand in a positive way? Are there any elements that could be improved to better represent the company’s ideals? 

By taking the time to consider each of these design considerations, you can ensure that your mobile app is well-designed and accessible to all types of users. This will help you make an app that benefits everyone involved.

Final Thoughts on Making Your Own App

Creating an app doesn’t have to be a difficult task. With the right tools and resources, anyone can create their own app with minimal effort. Whether you choose to use code or a no-code app builder, you can create an app that will help your business reach more customers and generate income.

Making your own app in 2024 can be a great way to make money, build a portfolio of accomplishments, or simply make something you’re passionate about. With this guide, you should now have the knowledge necessary to make an impact in the mobile space. So dive into the process and make your dreams come true! Good luck!

How to Create a Real Estate Agent App

Real estate apps are an essential part of the home-buying process. In fact, research from the National Association of Realtors indicates that 76% of buyers found a property from their mobile device. 

As a real estate professional, you need to recognize this trend and adapt accordingly. The best real estate apps not only help people find homes but also help connect buyers and sellers with real estate agents. 

If you’re ready to take your real estate career to the next level, this guide is for you. You’ll learn more about the benefits of real estate apps and key features for success, in addition to the step-by-step instructions for creating a real estate app. 

Why Real Estate Agents Need Mobile Apps

Having a website alone is no longer enough to market yourself to buyers and sellers. It’s also not sufficient for showcasing homes for sale and for rent. 

73% of people prefer using apps to search for homes, as it’s the easiest and most convenient way to browse from a mobile device. 

This is an excellent opportunity for you to stand out from your competitors. 75% of home buyers go with the first real estate agent that they interview. So if you can connect with a buyer through an app, there’s a good chance you’ll secure them as a client. 

Additionally, you need to look at the trends of who’s buying houses today. According to Bankrate, 43% of homebuyers are Millennials—representing the highest share of all generations. 

Millennials and younger generations are always looking for the best apps to solve their problems and make their lives easier. They use apps for banking, food delivery, and nearly every other aspect of their life. You can’t expect them to break that trend when it comes to something as important as buying a home. 

Mobile apps are faster than mobile websites and provide a better overall experience for the user. They can also utilize device-specific features, such as push notifications for communication, that otherwise wouldn’t be possible from a website. 

6 Steps to Make a Real Estate App

Creating a real estate app might sound intimidating, especially if you’ve never done it before. Fortunately, the entire process can be simplified into just six simple steps.

Step #1: Validate the “Why” For Real Estate Business

Before you get ahead of yourself, you need to identify your app’s main purpose. Make sure you’re developing your app for the right reasons, as opposed to creating an app just for the sake of having one.

Without a clear reason for development, your app won’t have any direction or purpose. This lack of direction will be clear in your final product and won’t actually accommodate the needs of your audience. 

You can turn to some of the best real estate apps as a resource as you’re coming up with ideas. Look at the Zillow Premier Agent app if you want CRM features, or look to apps like Trulia for listings management. 

Examples might include better marketing, improved communication, or more control of your listings. Some of you might create a real estate app specifically to improve the way you manage client relationships.

While your final product might end up with lots of different features, the first version of your app should be released with your primary purpose as the focal point. Additional features can always be added down the road. 

Step #2: Identify Your Budget and Desired Launch Timeline

How much does it cost to create a real estate app? Depending on your development method and desired features, it can range anywhere from $10,000 or $20,000 to upwards of $250,000 or more. 

For those of you planning to hire developers, the location of your development team will also impact your cost. 

With that said, most of you can develop a great app without having to break the bank.

For example, using an app maker to create a real estate app is going to be the most cost-effective method for most of you. With platforms like BuildFire, you can create a real estate app on your own without any coding knowledge or technical expertise. You’ll also be backed by the team of development experts at BuildFire, who have facilitated the development of more than 10,000+ apps. 

This will also help you get your app to market faster than traditional development—ideal for those of you who want to launch your real estate apps in a few weeks or months, as opposed to six months or upwards of a year. 

If you want every feature under the sun, it’s going to add to your total cost of development. For example, if you’re looking for an augmented reality feature with virtual tours and complex integrations that need to be coded from scratch, it will be expensive. 

But if you just want to use a YouTube plugin to add video walkthroughs of properties to the app, it will be much more cost-effective. 

For real estate agents that want to create an app that’s affordable but still provides value, app builders like BuildFire can be used as a subscription for just a few hundred dollars per month.

Step #3: Choose Your Real Estate App Development Method

Now you need to determine how you’re going to create a real estate app. Your responses in step #2 can help you decide. But generally speaking, there are three options to consider:

  • Use a DIY app maker to create a real estate app on your own
  • Outsource the project to an app development company
  • Hire developers to build it for you

Technically, you could also learn how to code and create the app yourself that way. But this method isn’t really practical or necessary for real estate professionals. You’re much better off relying on DIY software, as it’s the most cost-effective option and fastest path to launch.

Choosing your app development method is something that we’ve covered extensively here at BuildFire over the years. So if you’re unsure which option is right for you, refer to these resources for more information:

Step #4: Select Your Real Estate App Features

Next, you need to determine which features to include in your app. It’s important to keep things simple in the early stages and only focus on the features you need for your app to function the way it’s supposed to.

Refer back to what we discussed in the first step. What’s your primary focus for creating a real estate app? Narrow your efforts to that reason, and ask yourself which features you need to make that happen.

You can look at some of the top real estate apps on the market for inspiration if you’re unsure what to include. But again, simplicity is key in the early stages.

It’s easy to get lost during the development process and add new features you think of. But this creates delays in your timeline and often adds to your expenses. 

You can always add more features months or years down the road. Later on, we’ll cover more features that are typically included in the best real estate apps.

Step #5: Design and Build Your Real Estate App

Now you’re ready to start building the app. With your timeline, budget, and features already accounted for, this process will be much easier than if you started development without a clear plan.

The exact steps here will look different for everyone, and the development you selected will have a big impact on what needs to happen.

But regardless of your method, it’s in your best interest to break down the project into simple and attainable steps. You can use basic project management software to keep track of what needs to happen and ensure you’re meeting deadlines that align with your timeline. 

If you’re using an app maker like BuildFire to create your app, this process will be extremely easy.

To get started, BuildFire will ask you what type of app you want to create. Just select the real estate industry option to continue.

Based on your response to this question, you’ll be presented with different template options that are specifically designed for real estate apps.

These templates are the perfect starting point, as you won’t be working from a blank slate.

From here, it’s just a matter of customizing the content to align with your brand and goals. Adding features is easy too. You can just install plugins with a single click from BuildFire’s marketplace of 150+ features.

If you want something unique that can’t be found on the feature marketplace, that’s not a problem. Just reach out to the BuildFire team for help, and we’ll create that feature for you. This is not a service that you’ll find from other app makers on the market, which is one of the many reasons why BuildFire truly stands out from the crowd in the app development space. 

Step #6: Market and Launch Your Real Estate Agent App

As a successful real estate agent, you know the importance of effective marketing. You could have one of the best apps on the planet, but it’s useless if nobody knows about it.

You can even start promoting your app prior to launch, so people will be ready for it when it’s finally released. 

Make sure to leverage all of your marketing channels to drive downloads. Share the app on social media, promote it on your blog, blast it out to your email subscribers, and add a download link to your website. 

If you’re using BuildFire to create your app, you won’t have to worry about getting your app live on the app stores. 

You can let us know your app is done with a single click, and our team will get it live for you on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. 

Key Features Every Real Estate App Needs to Have

Below we’ll take a look at some features to consider for your real estate app. These are inspired by the best apps in the real estate industry.

User Onboarding

There should always be a free version of your app that you don’t need to register or sign up for. But the best apps also have some form of user registration. 

This allows you to collect more information about your app users that can ultimately improve their experience. You can also use the onboarding details to help with customer relationship management.

Rather than forcing people to provide all of their information to sign up, you can integrate with social media apps to facilitate the onboarding process. Then users can create an account with a single click, simply by logging in with an existing social account. 

Registering an account gives users more flexibility and personalization with what they see within the app. They can also “favorite” or “like” homes that they want to view later or keep an eye on.

Real Estate Listings

Obviously, your app needs to highlight properties that are for sale and for rent. Rather than adding this information manually, you can set up an integration through multiple listing services.

This will automatically bring the details of each property into your app, simplifying the backend management for you and your team. 

Listing should include photos, videos, price history, tax information, property type—everything a buyer would need to make an informed decision on whether the property is right for them.

Agent Profiles

Potential buyers use mobile apps to network with agents. This is your opportunity to tell people about yourself and what you do. 

If you have a real estate company, then each agent should have their own dedicated profile.

Include a photo, brief bio, and details about how that agent can be contacted. 

Search and Filter Capabilities

It can be overwhelming for people who are browsing for homes, especially if there are hundreds of different properties in the area. To make things easier for your users, you must give them the ability to search and filter properties based on what they’re looking for.

You can set up filters for:

  • Price
  • Distance
  • Bedrooms
  • Bathrooms
  • Property Type
  • Max HOA
  • For Sale vs. For Rent vs. For Lease

Users should even be able to search for specific terms, such as “pool” or “backyard.”

Maps Integrations

Adding a Google Maps integration to your app is a great way to showcase properties. This gives users the ability to navigate through listings on a map view as opposed to just a list. 

Your maps integration can also support geofenced property details—only highlighting listings in a specific area.

Mortgage and Payment Calculators

Price is obviously an important factor for home buyers. But the sale price can be very different from a monthly payment. This is especially true when you’re factoring in additional details like property taxes, mortgage insurance, HOAs, and other fees beyond the mortgage itself.

While the calculators in your app should just be used for estimates, they’re still helpful in giving users a better understanding of the actual costs they’ll incur if they buy the property in question. 

Appointment Scheduling

If a prospective buyer likes a property, they shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to schedule a viewing. Yes, you can still include your phone number and email address with each listing. But people should be able to book a tour without having to leave the app.

This feature can also help you with your lead generation strategy, as the user will be asked to submit their name, email, and phone number to schedule the appointment. 

Push Notifications

Your real estate app should definitely have push notifications to communicate with users. 

For active buyers, this is an excellent option for you to notify them of new properties for sale that fit within their desired search criteria. It also gives you an advantage over other agents who might be sending them new properties via email. The push messages will be seen immediately, as they’re delivered straight to the user’s screen. 

Final Thoughts on Mobile Apps For Real Estate Agents

The real estate market is extremely competitive. As an agent, you need every advantage possible to stand out from the crowd.

A mobile app will give you an edge over other agents who are competing for the same clients.

It can be the reason why a seller chooses you to represent them, as they’ll think the app gives them a better chance to sell quickly. Apps are also highly beneficial for buyers and renters who are looking for a simple way to find properties from their smartphones. 

There are lots of different paths to launch when you’re creating a real estate agent app. But using a platform like BuildFire is definitely the easiest.

Start your 14-day free trial to get started, or request a consultation with one of our app development experts for more information. 

What is a White Label App Builder?

As the app industry grows in popularity, the demand for mobile app development and app-related services has never been higher. 

Mobile apps dominate our day-to-day lives. With the average smartphone owner using 30 different apps per month and millions of apps available for download, the use cases for apps are constantly expanding. 

With a white-label app builder, any agency or business-minded entrepreneur can offer app development services to their clients. 

If you don’t know how app reseller programs work or you’ve never used a white-label app builder, this guide is perfect for you. We’ll answer all of your questions about white-labeling apps. You’ll even learn more about the benefits of white-label app builders and discover the best white-label app builder for your specific needs. 

What is a White Label App?

A white-label mobile app is built by one app development company or developer and then rebranded and resold to others. The app reseller has the ability to brand the white-label app as their own in a way that the final client or end-user doesn’t know the app actually came from somewhere else. 

For example, most restaurant apps and food delivery apps have the same core features. It’s just a matter of updating small changes like the restaurant’s name, menu, hours, and similar details.

Rather than creating a unique app from scratch for every restaurant, a white-label app can be used as an alternative. This is just a generic mobile app that can be completely customized and rebranded for each restaurant that wants an app. 

You can think of a white-label app the same way as a blank t-shirt with a brand’s logo on it. 

Instead of manufacturing their own shirts from scratch, any clothing company can just print their logo on a generic shirt and then resell that shirt to customers. So three different shirts, each with three different brand logos, can all come from the same factory. It’s the exact same shirt. The only difference is the branding.

White labeling, in any industry, lowers the barrier to entry for sellers. You don’t actually need to have a manufacturing facility to sell shirts, nor do you need an app development company to sell apps. White labeling bridges the gap.

What is an App Builder?

An app builder gives anyone the ability to create their own app without any coding skills or technical knowledge. It’s the fastest, easiest, and most-efficient way to build mobile apps without hiring a developer or learning to code. 

App builders use intuitive editors and drag-and-drop software to customize the look and feel of an app without having to worry about the backend technology or code behind it.

All of the technical requirements are handled for you behind the scenes. You can simply use a front-end builder to customize text, add menus, add videos, change the colors, and do everything else that’s required to design and build an app.

Mobile app builders are user-friendly and can be used by anyone with basic computer skills for app development. There’s no specialized training or learning curve required to use an app builder.

Most of the best app builders don’t require any software downloads either. They’re entirely web-based, so you can create an app from scratch directly from your web browser.

What is a White Label App Builder?

A white label app builder is app maker software that’s been rebranded and resold to a third party.

A mobile app reseller can use this technology to offer application development services to clients without actually running the technology. 

For example, let’s say you’re running a marketing agency. Your marketing clients want mobile apps, and you want to provide them with a DIY solution to develop apps on their own.

Instead of creating a new app builder from scratch, you can sign up for a white-label app builder program to rebrand existing software as your own. 

So when your clients log into the app builder to create their app, they’ll only see your logos and branding information. They’ll never know that the software is actually being maintained by a third party. 

You pay a subscription fee to join the white-label program, and your clients pay you a subscription fee to use your app builder. This gives you complete control of your profit margins, making it easy to generate a fast return on your investment. 

White Label App vs. White Label App Builder

White-label apps and white-label app builders might sound like interchangeable terms. But they’re actually different. Let’s take a moment to quickly clarify these differences to ensure you have a complete understanding of how this works.

White-label apps are the final product. They’re mobile applications that can be rebranded and resold to multiple companies or users. 

A white-label app builder is an actual platform. It’s just used to create mobile apps, but it’s not actually a mobile app.

For example, let’s say you want an app for your real estate business. Rather than creating an app on your own, you can just purchase a generic real estate app and rebrand it as your own. That’s a white-label app.

Now let’s say that same real estate company wants to use DIY software to create an app. They do some research and find an online platform—EZ App Maker—that has an online DIY app builder. But EZ App Maker doesn’t actually run or maintain the platform. They get that software from a third party, then rebrand the software as EZ App Maker. The real estate company can still sign up for EZ App Maker and use it to create an app. That’s a white-label app builder

Alternatively, we’ll say the real estate company turns to an agency for app development. Rather than employing in-house developers, that agency uses an app maker to create apps for their clients. That’s a white-label app created using a white-label app builder. 

Who Are White Label App Builders For?

There are so many different use cases for white-label apps and white-label app builders. White-label app builders are trusted by agencies, entrepreneurs, high-volume business users, and more.

Below we’ll take a closer look at the top scenarios that white-label app builders are used for. If you fall into one of these scenarios, there’s a good chance that a white-label mobile app builder is right for you.

Scenario #1 — You have an agency and want to offer app development services to your clients

Any existing agency can expand its existing service offerings with a white-label app builder.

Maybe you’re currently offering marketing consulting services, social media management, or SEO services to your clients. But your existing and prospective clients also need mobile apps.

Rather than referring them elsewhere, you can become a white-label app reseller. You’ll use a third-party app builder to create apps for your clients and then deliver completed apps as a final deliverable to those businesses. 

Scenario #2 — Your agency wants to sell DIY app maker subscriptions

Similar to the first scenario, any agency can use a mobile app reseller program to give their clients an app development solution. 

But rather than creating those apps internally with a third-party tool, you’re rebranding and reselling that third-party tool for your clients to use.

Your current and prospective clients can sign up and start using the app builder directly from your website. They’ll only see your logos and pricing information. But the software is actually being maintained by a third party, and you’re acting as the mobile app reseller. 

Scenario #3 — You want to start your own mobile app business

The demand for mobile apps is at an all-time high. Starting a mobile app business is an excellent way to profit in a world where so many organizations have mobile app development needs. 

With a white-label app builder, you don’t need any development skills to launch your company. In fact, you don’t even need to hire any skilled developers. 

You can simply join a white-label reseller program and use that software to create apps for your clients. This is an excellent way for any tech-savvy entrepreneur to earn money as a side hustle or full-blown business. 

Scenario #4 — You need to create lots of mobile apps for your business

Historically, this scenario hasn’t been too common. But there’s definitely an uptick in demand for businesses in this category, especially with more and more organizations relying on citizen developers for mobile app development

If your business needs to create multiple mobile apps, a white-label app builder will likely be cheaper than using a regular app maker.

For example, let’s say your team needs to create 12 new mobile apps for different business workflows. A white-label subscription will likely be more cost-effective than 12 different app maker subscriptions. Even though you may not necessarily be rebranding or reselling the apps, you can use some white-label programs to take advantage of bulk discounts on an app maker. 

This option also makes it much easier to manage all of your apps from a single dashboard.

Benefits of Using a White Label App Builder

Let’s take a closer look at the top advantages of white labeling an app builder platform. Regardless of your unique use case or scenario, the benefits below still apply to you.

Cost

Traditional app development has a reputation for being expensive. But app builders make it possible to create an app for a fraction of the cost. 

When you white label an app builder, you’re paying a low monthly fee for the rights to use and resell the service. This makes it really easy for you to offer low development costs to your customers while still turning a substantial profit.

You can usually break even on your investment in a white-label app builder by selling just one or two subscriptions to customers. Plus, offering your white-label app builder as a subscription to your clients is an excellent way to earn recurring revenue for the lifetime of the app.

Speed

White-label app builders help you and your clients get apps to market significantly faster than coding an app from scratch. Some apps can be built in just a couple of weeks as opposed to six months or even a year with traditional development. 

If you’re planning to use a white-label app builder to create apps for your clients, the development process is even faster if you’re landing clients in the same industry.

All you need to do is create one generic app. From there, you can just copy and customize the app based on each client’s branding and specific content requests. But all of the same core features will remain the same. 

Value

App development is in high demand. 

By offering app development services and solutions to your clients, you’re providing tremendous value for real business needs. 

For example, if one of your agency clients is using you for SEO services or marketing consulting, there’s a good chance that app development is on their radar. Rather than having to do more research and get acquainted with a completely new agency, they can get everything they need from you under one roof. 

Low Barrier to Entry to Develop Mobile Apps

White-label app builders are the easiest way for entrepreneurs and agencies to create client apps. 

If you’ve always wanted to build apps for clients but never learned the technical requirements, a white-label app builder is the clear solution. 

Once you find the right app reseller program, it’s just a matter of signing up for the service. From there, all you need to do is handle the marketing side of the equation. All of the technology is handled for you. Just drive clients to your onboarding page, and they’ll be able to create apps on their own using your white-label app builder. It truly doesn’t get much easier.

Scale Revenue Streams

Selling apps does more than meet market demands. It also helps generate new revenue for your business. 

Agencies are built on retention. So the more services that you can provide, the greater chance you have of retaining your clients. 

The great part about a white-label app builder is that you can continue charging a monthly, quarterly, or annual subscription for the service even after the app launches. The app builder still maintains the app post-launch, so you can generate recurring revenue for the lifetime of your customer apps. 

Best White Label App Builder

BuildFire Reseller is the best white-label app builder on the market today. 

It gives you and your clients access to the exact same platform that’s been used to create over 10,000+ mobile apps for the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. 

Unlike cookie-cutter app builders on the market, BuildFire’s white-label app maker offers limitless functionality. 

In addition to 150+ plugins in our feature marketplace, BuildFire Reseller is also developer-friendly. So if your client has a unique request that can’t be accommodated with a plugin, the BuildFire SDK can be used to create custom features. 

As a white-label reseller, you’ll also have complete access to the BuildFire development team. We can create custom plugins and features for your clients, so you don’t have to worry about the technical side of things. We even offer turnkey app build-outs, so you can focus on sales and marketing instead of building apps. 

With BuildFire Reseller, you’re getting a white-label app builder and white-label development service under one roof. Creating custom plans and configurations for your clients is easy, and they’ll never see the BuildFire logos on anything. All they’ll see is your branding, and they’ll never know the platform is being managed by a third party. 

BuildFire also provides training for white labelers and dedicated white label support. We’ll even handle the publishing process when your client apps are complete and ready for launch. 

Ready to get started? Book a reseller demo today!

How to Market an App: 30 Creative App Promotion Strategies

A general rule of thumb is to spend about as much time promoting your product as you do creating it. If you spent two days writing a blog post, then spend the next two days distributing your blog post in as many outlets as possible.

The same concept can be applied to your mobile app. Months on developing phone apps should translate to months of promotion.

The more you promote your app, the easier and faster the process becomes. We know small businesses do not have a large budget to dedicate to marketing or promotional events. Even those that do have the money may find themselves only having a few channels to promote their content.

This in-depth guide will show your how to market an app and take your app marketing strategy to the next level.

Let’s dive in.

1. Customer Research

Mobile app marketing starts long before you ever bring it to market. Before you start telling your development team to start building out your app with a million different things, reach out to your customers and talk to them.

After all, you want to make sure that whatever you are building, is going to be just right for them.

You can start your market research by first creating a list of every single person you have ever sold to and even those who have only signed up to your newsletter. Send them an email and ask them for 5 or 10 minutes of their time.

Incentivize your customers by offering them a special discount, or some form of educational content. After you have their attention, ask them a few questions to get an idea of what they might be searching for in an app.

You want to understand the expectations your current and potential customers have with your app. In going through this process you will begin to uncover gaps you may have never seen before and you will have successfully built a bridge between yourself and your customers.

By including your customers in the app creation process not only are you subtly promoting your app, but you are making sure that the app you make fits the people you are catering to.

Retain your customers by letting them know about your idea and ask them what they would really like to see in it. How can you make the product more savvy and beneficial for them? Remember, your use base has their own audience (word of mouth) and if you’re able to convince them, you’ll be hitting all the right notes to bolster your success and staying power.

All of your marketing campaigns need to start with effective research. This ensures that you deliver a seamless user experience.

2. Influencer Marketing

Developing honest, authentic, and mutually beneficial relationships with influencers will go a long way in helping to promote your app.

The key to this strategy is finding influencers who align with your user base and target audience. Most social media platforms give influencers data on follower demographics. Installations coming from an influencer campaign are less likely to churn. In addition to social, you should also look for bloggers to partner with and promote your app before its launch.

Leveraging the power of influencers can drive mass amounts of traffic to your mobile. To do this you simply have to go to a website like buzzsumo.com to find a list of relevant influencers in your mobile app’s space.

3. Leverage Your Website

If you have an existing website that is fully functional and mobile-friendly, then your site can be one of the greatest assets to promoting your app. At one point or another, all of your customers or anyone interested in your company will find their way to your website. When they do, it is important they all know you have an app.

Including your app in your site could mean sectioning off a part of your site exclusively for the app. Such as the corner of the screen or towards the middle of the web page. You can even use web push notifications for app promotion.

In addition to including your app on your website, including it in your regularly scheduled blog post is one of the best mobile app promotion strategies you can leverage. You may do so by creating a complete blog post solely about your app or including a call to action at the end of every blog post to invite your viewers to download the app.

When writing the blog post solely about the app, write a complete story about your app and let your target audience know the purpose behind it. Tell them how this app can facilitate and make things easy for them. Include your app links, screenshots and videos to help them get a good understanding.

As mentioned previously in the influencer section of this guide, you can also get bloggers on other websites to build hype for your blog.

4. Email Marketing

Your new app needs to be engraved into every aspect of your marketing, which includes all of your emails. As a business, you will send out countless emails and not including your app in each of those is a missed opportunity.

Any email that is sent out, whether it be from your tech support, your newsletter or even the payment confirmation email should include a footer with one line advertising your app. Include details such as what can be accomplished through the app and a link redirecting towards the download page.

Emails still have their charm provided they’re used under the right circumstances. According to a study by Exact Target, “91% people check their email daily”. Capitalize by incorporating your app links into newsletters, customer service emails and also make it a habit to use it in email signatures.

Example Template:

  • Our new app, (Insert app name here), helps you (insert what the app does). Click here (include hyperlink) to check it out!

5. Create a Teaser Video

Videos are an easy way for you to showcase everything your beautiful and well-built app has to offer. For your demo video, create a simple 30 second commercial with the principles of Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle: Why, How, and What.

Once you are finishing creating your demo video, be sure to leverage your social media channels and other platforms to promote your app. Your demo video can be included in your blog post, Instagram, and Youtube channels.

We have included a link to Feicobol’s app demo video we think you would enjoy. May it inspire you to create exceptional demo videos for your customers:

 

6. Consider Alternative App Stores

Do not rely only on Google Play and the App Store; there are various other app stores on the online market where you can upload your app.

According to One Platform Foundation, if an app is submitted on other relatively less popular stores, it will increase the expected downloads 200% more compared to Google Play.

These are some very good app stores that you should consider, and they’re growing in the mobile app market.

Remember, the app market is bigger than those two popular stores. Expanding your reach can make it easier for you to drive in-app purchases as well.

7. Apply for Awards

Participating in app awards can give you tons of press, exposure, reviews and plenty of downloads. Although the chances of winning very much depend on your pitch and app idea, however, if you manage to get things right the first time, you can expect to enjoy a little stardom.

These are some of the most famous app awards sites:

8. SEO Matters Here

Yes, I’m talking about SEO not ASO… what happens is your app URL shows up in search results when users key-in related queries; for example when they look up music apps, you want your app to start popping up among the first 5 entries or so, before users hit Enter.

seo

All you need to do is identify “best-targeted” and most relevant keywords that you want to rank for. Also analyze which keywords your app is currently ranking for, build some quality links accordingly to boost rankings.

For this purpose, try these two awesome tools.

This is obviously an overly simplified explanation of SEO. You can refer to Google’s SEO Starter Guide for more depth.

9. Reach Out Like Mr. Fantastic

Don’t rely on App Stores alone. Explore Google’s search engine and believe me it can do wonders for your app.

Let’s say your app is related to music; Google the term “best music android apps” and see what results you get.

best music android apps - Google Search

Out of these 5 top results, at least 4 of them are high authority blogs that can be contacted to your app featured. If you get this shot, you can kill more than a few birds with one stone. Getting your app featured offers long-term benefits such as:

  • Exposure
  • Targeted Traffic
  • Powerful Link-building
  • Rating & Reviews

10. Choose the Right Social Media Platforms

Increase your visibility on social media groups and communities, especially Linkedin, and Facebook, to become better known among entrepreneurs and app developers.

Ask for their feedback on your app and give them free promo codes to try it out. Discuss current features, bug fixes, future updates and value their opinion.

You can build great relationships with them which might present the opportunity to cross-promote each other’s apps without spending a cent.

11. Create An Eye-Catching App Icon

With over 1.6 million apps in the Google Play Store and 1.5 million in the App Store, there’s a lot of noise in any category you choose you to have your app in. Due to that noise, many people choose to take interest in apps, only when the app icon entices them.

To make your app icon stand out, it should:

  1. Have a unique shape that stands out
  2. Have a limited pallet of colors – 2 is enough to create contrast
  3. Avoid using a photo – it blends in too much!
  4. Avoid a lot of text, it’s barely readable anyways
  5. Be creative!

Testing your app icon out on a dozen different wallpapers also doesn’t hurt.

Here are some great examples of great app icons

You’ll notice Squarewallet really stands out by using a simple design but a great use of color to almost make it look like a hologram.

great app icon examples

In this image you can see how some top apps make use of a simple pallet of colors to make their icons stand out and build a recognizable brand.

recognizable brand icons

Finally, some of the most popular mobile apps with a great take on the idea of leveraging a logo icon over text.

icon over text examples

12. Take Great Screenshots

Just taking a screenshot of your app and dropping it in the app store, while simple, does a really poor job of getting across what you’re trying to show that potential user.

Adding captions and adding more visual elements to your screenshots is the best way to turn a boring app, into a high download winner.

Take Uber for example:

Uber’s app page is able to put you in a scenario where just by looking at the screenshots, you can fully understand the features offered within that app. It makes it a simple choice to download or not to download.

13. App Store Optimization (ASO)

App store optimization (ASO) is, at its core, search engine optimization (SEO) for the Google Play and App Store. Just like search engine optimization, app store optimization focuses on keyword relevance, search relevance and the keyword density in your description.

With almost half of iPhone users in the US finding apps through search, your app description is one of the most important things you can focus on in your mobile app marketing efforts.

It’s also really easy to get started with competitor research through platforms like App Annie where you can search something like “healthy recipes for women” and see what apps show up and their ranking.

We wrote an entire article just about how app store optimization works. In it we run through why it’s important and how to get your app listing optimized.

14. Build A Great App Landing Page

A great landing page is must-have for any business, even if you don’t have a mobile app. Having a great landing page is like always having a great business card, just in case you ever need it, it’s good to have with you.

build a great app landing page

Spendee is a great example of a great mobile app landing page that has all the elements needed for user acquisition and engagement.

Breaking it down, while the page has multiple links out, the two most noticeable links are the App Store and Google Play Store buttons. They’re bigger than the social sharing buttons, great to have for helping visitors to the site share the app, and they stand out just as much as the images to the right of them.

As you scroll down, each panel has a single call to action, which leads directly back to the main call to action – to download the app.

The second last panel even has social proof from news outlets as well as actual users of the apps.

If you’re stuck on building your own app landing page, here’s a great template that has all the elements you’ll need. If you need more to choose from, here’s another 20.

Having an app landing page is great, but chances are you have traffic going to your business’s website already. Leverage those existing customers and visitors to get more of them to download your app.

nclude App Download Links On Your Website

Existing Website Banner

Make a small banner for your website that pops up somewhere non-intrusive. I find HelloBar is a great way to do this:

hellobar top banner

It’s simple, stays at the top of all your pages and you can just get the most essential information across with a link to your app landing page or directly to the App Store.

Social Media Marketing

If you’re already in the social media promotion game and have a Twitter profile, Facebook page or Linkedin page, make use of that space to promote your app.

A simple banner with the name of your app and where to find it is all you need:

Social Media app promotion
get featured on mobile review sites

Getting on an App Review Site means you are going to have to send them a pitch. Meaning you have to convince the website that your app is good enough to be reviewed by them and therefore featured on their site. Many of these app review sites are looking for things such as:

  • Beautiful graphical designs in high quality
  • Original and unique content, mechanics, themes, and art
  • Stable apps with no glitches, crashes, overwhelming loading times or poorly pieced together content

When you reach out, you will most likely have to provide support material for your app. This is usually done in the form of a document containing the following items:

  • A link to your app in the app store
  • A summary paragraph describing your app and what makes your app stand out
  • Screenshots of your app logo, title screen, and in-app content
  • Links to videos of your app from YouTube or Vimeo
  • A promo code which are key giving anyone who has the access to download the app for free. If your app is free, you do not need to worry about this.

Getting press and reviews about your app is an easy way to capitalize on another site’s traffic.

We’ve compiled a list of 113 of the BEST places for you to submit your app for review and to get press. With a cumulative total of over 11 million Twitter followers, over 6 million Facebook fans and tens of millions of unique visitors per month, features on any of these websites can mean lots and lots of downloads for your app.

Here’s the full list of 113 places to submit your app

Be sure to read the next promotion method below to get your app promotion materials in order!

17. Public Relations

Most journalists are pressured by deadlines to have new content out and because of that, they don’t have time to spend following up leads or trying to find more information on stories that are sent in.

To make sure you have the best chance of getting your story published, you’ll want to make sure you have everything a journalist will need in your PR kit.

A good mobile app PR kit consists of:

An App Summary Guide

Your app summary guide is a walkthrough of what the app is, how it’s used, target audience, the problems it solves and any other information surrounding why the app was created as well as why it matters.

Your Press Release

The press release is the main story behind why you’re reaching out for press. It should cover the problem your app solves, why it’s being released now and any other stats or facts surrounding the benefits of using the app. This is where you make the sale to the journalist to publish the story.

Screenshots (App & Lifestyle)

You’ll need both app screenshots (like you would have in your app store listing) as well as lifestyle pictures in your PR kit. Be sure to include lots of screenshots, more than you think reasonable. If you’re sending this PR kit to a few dozen news outlets, you want to ensure they’ll have the option of not choosing images other news outlets have already used.

Design Collateral (Icons, Logos, Banners, etc)

Give the news outlet all the icon sizes, logo sizes and other design collateral they’ll need so they can keep your branding in the article clean. The last thing you want is to be featured on TechCrunch with a blurry logo because you only sent them one image size.

Changes to those articles can often take weeks to get through because they’re taken as the lowest of priorities.

Videos (Walkthroughs, Intro Video, etc)

A good promo video can do wonders for helping people understand what your app is all about. By seeing it in action, they can make a very conscious decision about their choice to test out your app.

Founder Bios & Pictures

Often you’ll see quotes from the founders about their decision to build an app or about their decision on the market they’re after. These types of quotes help set a message about the company behind the app and build a strong brand for the company behind the app.

When you have your press kit and press release ready to go, here are 20 free press release distribution sites to get you started thanks to Mashable.

19. Promote Your App Through A Promo Video

Having a good promo video is a staple of any mobile app. It’s a quick and easy way for someone to understand the most common use case behind the app and how they could use it too.

Clear for iPhone – Available Now! from Realmac Software on Vimeo.

Clear’s promo video is a great example of how simple it should be to get across just enough information to entice a download. While this video may seem simple compared to other app promo videos, the video generated over 1.2 million views.

The additional benefit of a promo video is that you can take advantage of video SEO.

A great example is if you search “hello” in Google. Despite it returning over 800 million results, the first thing it displays is Adele’s song Hello.

use video to promote your app

19. Use Your Social Network

Social media, despite the heavy focus by most businesses, is still a very under utilized channel of promotion. Sending the message once is good, but sending it multiple times over a month or two is even better.

The typical Facebook page post reaches 16% of the page’s fan base. Now if you were to take the same message, re-write it 4 or 5 times and send it out once a week for 5 weeks, you’re theoretically reaching 80% of your Facebook page audience.

See how that makes a big difference.

When you launch something like a mobile app, it’s a big achievement for the company and it can mean any number of things for your customers. Make sure they’re getting the message by re-posting the same content but with a different message.

It can often take weeks if not months for all of your existing customers to know that you’ve finally launched a mobile app. But those same customers that don’t know, likely get emails from you weekly or maybe even daily.

Add your app download links or a link to your app landing page to your email signature as a really easy way to drive downloads over time simply by sending the emails you normally send.

If you have a few people in your business, make sure they do the same.

For example, if you had 4 people in your business each sending out an average of 20 emails a day (that’s a really low estimate), that’s 80 people that you’re able to inform per day about your mobile app. That’s 560 a week or over 2,400 a month!

The simplest things can be the most effective in the long run.

link to your app whenever possible

21. Promote Your App In-Store

promote your app in stores

If you run a brick and mortar business, the best way to drive ongoing app downloads is to leverage your foot traffic.

By placing a QR code, or even just a sticker for the Google Play Store and App Store in your window, you’re informing your customers that you have a mobile app. Something they may not know at the time.

QR codes on personal cards

Similarly, by having a QR code on your business cards, everyone that gets a card can have a direct link to download your app in their pocket.

22. Join LinkedIn & Facebook Groups

LinkedIn is a massive social network with 400 million business professionals and Facebook has over 1 billion users. They represent many markets, many industries and has groups for just about everything you can think of.

Find groups that are made up of people that closely resemble your existing customers or your ideal customers and share the app with them. Explain the benefit of using the app and why they should use the app.

If you find a big group, contact the admin of the group and ask them to partner with you to promote the app. It could be in exchange for money as a paid promotion or it could be a referral partnership where you pay for each download or each new customer.

23. Recruit Customers Locally

Meetups, events and conferences can be a great place to recruit new mobile app users. Simply bring along a stack of business cards with your app download link on them and give them out to everyone you speak to.

Some larger meetups can involve hundreds of people while a decent size conference can attract thousands. Have a brief initial conversation with the people at the event and then hand them the business card. Suggest that they check out the app and get in touch with you to give feedback. It’s a great way to get lots of new users on the app and also get feedback for improvement.

24. Do The Unexpected

In the world of digital, it’s highly unexpected to do anything fully offline and see results. The guys over at Dojo have had amazing success in doing the unexpected and just appealing to people on an offline and one to one medium.

They needed to get an initial base of customers for a localized app fast. They decided to take to the streets with a simple and super effective letter to appeal to the interest and curiosity of people. They handed out 19,000 of these letters and during prime commute hours, hand them out to commuters.

The result was over 3,000 downloads (a ~15% conversion rate) and amazing social media exposure.

Be unexpected and amazing results can come of it.

25. Post On Pinterest

Pinterest is a social network in which users are able to share and discover through pinning images and videos on their own boards and on others’ boards. Users are able to have their own board, search for content to place on their board, and search through the content others have on their board.

Pinterest is made to hold on to the best of what you can find on the internet into neatly categorized boards. Having your product on someone’s board means they have chosen to hold on to you and that anyone who views their board will be exposed to you.

Pinterest has released a new feature that allows people to download IOS apps directly from Pinterest known as App Pin. Meaning you can have pictures of your beautiful app and right next to the red “Pin it” button there is a blue “Install” button. More information on how to app pin can be found on Pinterest’s official blog here.

26. Run a Contest

Promoting your app does not always mean having to distribute it yourself across every channel, it can also mean lighting a small spark and letting your customers run towards the finish line. Creating a contest within your app will incentivize your users to download the app and keep it for the remainder of the contest.

Your app can have a live leaderboard so customers are always aware of where they stand in the rankings. Set up your contest so customers have various ways to climb up the ranks either by engaging with your company, sharing the app, or having their friends sign up. Customers should also know when they should tune in for updates.

These types of creative promotions can also help your business thrive during a recession.

27. Sincerely Respond To All Your Reviews

If your customers take the time to write out a review, no matter how long, you should take the time to answer back to them.

So many companies make the mistake of simply leaving an automated message to all their customers.

Not only will this turn away customers but your ranking score will also drop significantly with customers who feel their concerns are not being taken care of.  

Regardless of what your customers say, let them know you are trying to resolve the problem by listing out what steps you are taking to improve their experience. Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative.

28. Integrate Social Share Within The App

Take app promotion one step deeper by having your own app promote itself. Your customers will make endless discoveries as they explore your app and nothing is more satisfying than sharing those discoveries with the world.

By including the option within your app to share their screens and share in-app content, you broaden your app’s visibility and create a platform by which your users can express themselves.

29. Roll Out New Updates Regularly

Your customers need to know you are always making the app better for them. Apps that are not being cared for will be thrown away. Users will feel betrayed if you are not doing all you can to make the experience better for them.

This is especially true of you still have not addressed many of the issues that customers rage about in the review sections. Keep your app content fresh and let your customers know that you are always planning something more for them to enjoy.

30. Industry Forums and Podcasts

Forums are a free and easy way to promote your app and startup. Similar to Facebook (and other social platforms), it’s all about engaging with the community. Just don’t join these networks with the sole intention of promoting your app.

For free mobile app promotion, use platforms like:

  • Quora
  • Reddit
  • Industry-specific forums
  • Hackermoon

You can even connect directly with your target user base on these forums.

I also recommend industry-specific podcasts as a way to elevate your content marketing strategy. This is a quick way to expose your app to thousands of listeners. Many podcast hosts are looking for new guests. So it shouldn’t be too difficult to get spots on several shows.

Finding relevant podcasts is easy. Just browse through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts in your personal life. All of these let you browse by category.

Conclusion

You don’t need to spend a ton of money to promote your mobile app. Smartphone apps that rely on mobile app promotion strategies like Apple search ads alone won’t prosper long-term. You need a way to get organic downloads without paying for ads.
 
Feel I missed any note-worthy points in this post? What is your secret app promotion weapon? Let’s discuss that at length in the comments section.

10 Reasons Why You Need a Real Estate App

It’s no secret that we’re living in a mobile-obsessed world. As a real estate agent, you need to understand these trends and go beyond your website to serve customers.

The best real estate apps on the market empower realtors, brokers, landlords, and other players in the real estate industry to make more money and stay relevant in such a tech-forward society. 

If you’re thinking about creating a real estate app but you’re not quite ready to take the plunge, this guide is for you. We’ll dive deep into the top reasons why a real estate app is necessary to succeed in our modern environment. 

1. Real Estate Apps Enhance the User Experience

When you look at popular real estate apps like Zillow or Redfin, you’ll quickly see that the user interface is far superior compared to the web versions. 

Every action is just a click, swipe, or tap away. It’s easy to filter listings based on different search criteria, and users can quickly scroll through photos and learn more information about a property that’s for sale or for rent. 

There’s obviously nothing wrong with having a real estate website, and that’s something you’ll need as well. But the website doesn’t quite serve customers as well as an app when users are navigating from smartphones and tablets. 

Mobile sites just aren’t as responsive and don’t connect with the phone’s internal components the same way as an app. 

The UX from mobile devices has a direct impact on usage. Just take a look at this research comparing app usage vs. web usage.

Users spend more than four times the amount of time using an app compared to a website when browsing from their smartphones. Session times are nearly triple the amount on apps vs. websites from tablets. 

You can learn more about UX design principles here as you’re putting together the layout of your real estate app. 

2. Real Estate Mobile Apps Drive Engagement

In addition to an improved user experience, apps are significantly better for engagement compared to any other digital touchpoint. 

Once downloaded, your real estate app is just a click away from being used. People can navigate to your app in seconds with a single click, which is much easier than opening a web browser and manually typing in a website—only to have an inferior experience. 

From the very beginning, studies show that real estate app users are highly engaged during the first week of downloading the app. 

Furthermore, real estate apps are twice as likely to retain users compared to mobile websites. So if you can get someone to download your app, there’s a great chance of keeping them close to your brand. 

Of the 70% of people who actively use real estate apps, those people use the app at least three times per week.

Even if people aren’t using your app regularly, it’s much easier to drive engagement with an app compared to other digital touchpoints. You can send targeted push notifications about new listings that will encourage inactive users to open the app.

This is much more effective than email marketing, and it’s not something that can be replicated with a website alone. 

3. Real Estate Agents Can Build Their Personal Brands

The best real estate app for you and your business can really help take your personal brand to the next level. You can have a premier agent app even if you’re operating a small brokerage or working on your own. 

These apps don’t need to compete with Zillow or the other players dominating the real estate app industry. 

Instead, you can focus these apps on your local market and give them to prospects when you’re first starting the communication process. 

Put yourself in the shoes of a prospective home buyer. You’re likely not the only agent they’re speaking with. But if you can live in their pockets through a smartphone app, it gives you a significant advantage over the competition. 

The same concept can be applied to sellers. Sellers are more inclined to give you their listing if you have a mobile app. They’ll see this as a way to sell their homes faster to qualified buyers. 

4. Real Estate Apps Are Versatile

There are so many different ways that you can use a real estate app to promote your business and get more sales. Here are some examples to showcase this versatility:

  • Promote residential property listings for sale
  • Showcase commercial properties for sale or for rent
  • Rental listings for landlords and renters
  • Home value estimates for prospective sellers
  • Commercial property listings for property managers
  • Open house information and in-person visit scheduling
  • All the tools needed to calculate mortgage payments
  • Property records and MLS listings for home buyers
  • Property tax records and sales history
  • Detailed floor plans for house hunters and prospective tenants
  • Virtual tools and professional photography
  • Local school ratings and other helpful information
  • Give users the ability to save their favorite properties

This list just barely scratches the surface of what you can do with a real estate mobile app. But it definitely shows that the potential is there if you want to do something more than just list available properties.

Downloads of real estate mobile apps are up 15% in the United States. The UK experienced a 7.6% growth in real estate app downloads.  

We’re hitting a point where you need to have a real estate mobile app to stay relevant and keep up with the latest trends. 

Buyers and sellers are already using popular real estate apps like Zillow and Redfin. This has set a precedent for how they expect a buying, selling, or renting experience to be.

If you force them to use other tools and multiple listing services beyond mobile apps, they may get frustrated. So it’s in your best interest to give them tools that they’re already comfortable using and mirror similar features compared to the ones that might already be installed on their phones.

It may sound like a stretch, but think of it like trying to run a real estate business without an email address. But 20 years ago, real estate transactions were definitely happening without any email exchanges. 

Now we’re living in the app-driven era. People are going to look back 20 years from now and say, can you believe we used to buy and sell houses without a mobile app?

6. Expand Your Reach to a Wider Audience

An app makes it much easier to target new customers.

For example, maybe the majority of your career has been spent selling houses. But with an app, you can easily expand and highlight commercial property listings. 

Or maybe you’ll use the app to connect landlords and owners with property managers. You could even have specific parts of your app that target real estate investors. 

Your app has the capability to do things that go above and beyond your website, email, or social media management platform. The capabilities and customization options are virtually limitless when you go mobile—empowering you to target anyone who you desire.

Anyone can download your app once it hits the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

So you’ll be exposed to even more people who would otherwise only be able to find you through search engines and social sites. 

7. Improve Customer Relationship Management

Your real estate mobile app can double as a CRM platform. When customers sign up for the app, they can enter personal details about themselves, including:

  • Name
  • Phone number
  • Address
  • Email email address
  • What they’re looking for
  • Location
  • Preferences

While this should be required to create an account, you can give users the option to provide as much information as possible to improve your CRM database. 

Even without their email address and phone number, you can add a direct messaging feature in the app for two-way communication. This isn’t something you’d be able to do if you simply ran into a prospect and gave them your business card. But an app gives you the ability to communicate with any user whenever you want. 

8. Simple Document Delivery

Gone are the days of in-person meetings and long fax exchanges for real estate transactions. You can send forms and collect signatures directly through the mobile app. 

This makes life easier for buyers, sellers, and brokers alike. 

It also encourages self-service for users during off hours. For example, if a buyer needs to complete a form on a Sunday night when the office is closed, they won’t have to wait until Monday morning for directions.

They can simply go through a document checklist within the app to find forms they need to complete. Then they’ll see the status of those forms in real time, and can fill out the information in the form of a mobile questionnaire directly through the app. 

9. Organize and Showcase Your Team of Realtors

Real estate apps are great for agent directories. You can easily use this to connect new clients with an agent in their area who fits within the criteria you’re looking for.

Let’s say an app user has questions about the property details of a new listing. When they reach out for help, the app can automatically connect them with an agent. 

Buyers and sellers alike can use the app to learn more about a listing agent. 

Here’s an example from Zillow that you can use as inspiration for your app:

This feature also helps add a level of personalization to the user’s experience. They feel like they can get to know your agents better, even before the communication begins. 

10. High ROI on Property Listings

Like anything else, investing in a real estate mobile app only makes sense if you’re going to get a return on your investment. 

Agents love apps because it helps them sell more and deliver a better experience to customers, ultimately providing a higher ROI.

For example, with the help of virtual tours, you can offer instant access to any prospective buyer. This will save you a ton of time and eliminate the situations when you show a property in person, only for the buyer to realize it’s not what they’re looking for. 

You can spend your time focusing on selling as opposed to dealing with minor details that can be accomplished through the app without your direct involvement. 

Final Thoughts

Real estate mobile apps have become a must-have tool for modern agents, realtors, and brokers. 

Mobile apps are so versatile that you can use them in a wide range of ways to better serve your customers and business. 

Whether you want to offer a simple mortgage calculator or provide a full-service app to manage properties, the opportunities are endless. 

So why wait? Start your 14-day free trial and create a real estate app with BuildFire today. 

What is a Citizen Developer?

There’s an increased demand for software development in the business world. But not every organization is staffed with developers who have the skills to create applications from scratch.

That’s why so many organizations are embracing citizen development to meet demands.

Citizen developers help expand software development initiatives by broadening the pool of skilled employees who are capable of assisting with these projects. 

This in-depth guide is perfect for business executives considering launching a citizen development program within their organization. It’s also helpful for employees who are interested in becoming citizen developers. Continue below to learn more about citizen development and how it can improve your business or career. 

What is a Citizen Developer?

Citizen developers are non-technical business employees who create custom software applications with minimal or no coding skills. These business users are willing and able to solve business problems using modern technology to build applications.

Citizen development programs leverage no-code or low-code software to create apps without the assistance of IT teams. 

As long as the development methods and development environments have been approved by the IT department, citizen developers have the freedom to create apps that streamline business processes, automate tasks, and improve internal efficiencies. 

Citizen developers are not full-time developers. The term “citizen developer” is not a position, role, or title. Citizen development programs empower any employee outside of the IT department to take the initiative to solve problems with application development. 

What Do Citizen Developers Do?

Citizen developers create applications that can be used by themselves or other business users within the organization. They use software that’s previously been sanctioned by IT teams to create apps that improve operations. 

For example, an employee within the HR department can create an application that automates tasks. The software could automate approvals, forms, and notifications based on pre-configured triggers that would save time, money, and reduce the human error associated with manual approvals. 

A citizen developer can create their own app with little or no coding knowledge. They simply identify problems within their day-to-day workflow and take steps to improve those processes through software development. 

The apps built by citizen developers can be used by themselves or by an entire team. 

Generally speaking, the average day in the life of a citizen developer mostly involves doing their regular jobs. But the application development can be considered a small side project, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of their job duties. 

6 Reasons Why Businesses Should Invest in Citizen Development

According to a recent study, 80% of enterprise organizations will have citizen development policies in place by 2024. It’s also estimated that there will be four times as many citizen developers as professional developers at larger enterprises within two years. 

If you’re thinking about creating a citizen development program, it’s definitely something you should consider to keep pace with modern business movements. Below we’ll take a closer look at the top reasons why your business should leverage the power of citizen developers. 

1. Reduce Costs

Active citizen development initiatives may initially seem like they distract from work-related tasks. But allowing citizen developers to work on software development projects will ultimately save your business money in the long run. 

The apps created by citizen developers are great for cost reduction on multiple levels.

First, these applications will likely improve or speed up a business task. So right away, you’ll save costs on labor. But citizen development also clears up free time for your skilled developers and IT teams. 

Keeping a large number of full-time developers off your payroll will save you money. Rather than spending more money on your IT budget, you can allow other employees to create apps.

2. Improve Workflows

Citizen developers work on projects to improve business processes. 

Workflow optimization is a common citizen development initiative that can easily be accomplished with a no-code development tool. 

Citizen development tools like BuildFire make it easy for anyone to create a business workflow app.

For example, you could create an app that streamlines purchase orders. Just add our purchase order plugin to your app, and it manages the entire process for you—including invoices. 

Or maybe you want to create an app that simplifies workplace safety initiatives. You can use the app to facilitate workplace safety surveys and give your staff access to safety documentation. The app is also an easy way to send out time-sensitive messages via push notifications. 

One of the most popular ways to improve workflows with an application is by automating approvals. With BuildFire’s approval plugin, you can set rules to manage automated submissions at scale and eliminate the time spent on manual approvals.

These types of solutions are extremely versatile. They can be used in various departments for a wide range of use cases. 

3. Create Apps Faster

Citizen development projects can speed up the development of business applications by 50% to 90% when compared to traditional development that relies on coding. 

That’s why 63% of organizations using citizen development platforms value the speed associated with the initiative. 

Citizen developers can create their own solutions using drag-and-drop app builders and no-code tools. The reason why this process is so fast is because 90% of the work is already done. All of the technical aspects are handled by the no-code development tools, and the project doesn’t need to go through the IT department. 

The citizen developer simply needs to identify a plugin or pre-built tool, add it to the application, and then configure it based on their unique needs. But this process doesn’t require any coding or development skills—meaning the time to launch is significantly faster.

4. Increase Productivity

Citizen developers improve productivity on multiple levels. 

First, the applications they’re creating typically have a direct impact on productivity once the software is launched. The applications free up their time or their team’s time, letting them focus on other business-related tasks. 

With something as simple as automating manual or tedious tasks, you can potentially save hundreds or thousands of hours per year.

Second, citizen developers free up IT departments. If every application request had to go through the IT team, then the IT backlog would be enormous. 

Instead, you can give more technically complex projects to a professional developer. Those employees can focus efforts on big projects without having to worry about the citizen development journey.

5. Bridge the Gap Between Business Users and Professional Developers

Citizen developers bridge the gap between technology demands and skilled developers. In simple terms, most organizations don’t have the internal resources to create software that’s needed in day-to-day operations.

But thanks to no-code citizen development tools, anybody within the company can become a citizen developer.

There’s no specialized training or prerequisites to get started. Once the approved software has been defined, citizen developers have the green light to work on projects—as long as they fall within the scope of the program. 

Additional Reading: How Does a No-Code App Builder Work?

6. Meet App Demands

The average team uses 40 to 60 business apps. Beyond the apps used by individual teams, the average business app portfolio contains 254 apps. 

99% of IT leaders surveyed say that day-to-day operations are dependent on these operations. 

The modern business world requires employees to rely on a large number of apps for their jobs. This trend isn’t changing anytime in the foreseeable future. Citizen development tools allow you to create apps that eliminate manual management. 

One of the easiest ways to help people do their jobs better is by using more applications—especially when those applications can simplify projects and increase visibility. 

Organizations must do something to increase the growing demand for business applications, and enabling citizen development is the easiest solution. 

Tips and Best Practices for Citizen Developers and Citizen Development Programs

If you’re just getting started with citizen development, here are some pro tips that you should keep in mind for success:

  • Find ways to empower citizen developers and give them the freedom to try new things
  • Embrace the citizen development movement so you don’t fall behind
  • Identify citizen development tools that make it easy for your team to create apps
  • Get familiar with the no-code platform to see how it works
  • Provide citizen developer training and take advantage of any tutorials
  • Create citizen development policies to outline what’s allowed and expected of your team
  • Make sure your citizen development solutions align with overall business objectives
  • Always test new changes made to applications
  • Document all of the steps and work done in the project
  • Make sure the IT department has final approval over the tools you’re using

Final Thoughts

Citizen development has already penetrated the enterprise business world. All signs point to this trend continuing upward for the foreseeable future, which makes sense when you consider all of the benefits and advantages that we covered in this guide. 

Success with citizen development programs all starts with identifying the right software for success.

BuildFire’s no-code app development platform is an excellent solution to accommodate citizen development needs. Start your 14-day free trial today, or request a demo to get started

How to Make a Food Delivery App

Food delivery apps are skyrocketing in popularity.

Recent studies suggest that 86% of Americans have used a food delivery app. An additional 53% of people say that food delivery and takeout are essential to their lifestyles. That number jumps to 64% when you look strictly at Millennials in the survey.

Research from Statista suggests that revenue generated from online food delivery will hit $96.5 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 8.9% in the next five years. 

In short, there’s plenty of money to be made in the food delivery app market. Whether you want to create a food delivery app for your restaurant, set up a food delivery app for a grocery store, or build a food delivery app like Uber Eats or Grubhub, you’ve come to the right place.

Continue reading to learn more about our methodology, including the benefits of food delivery apps, costs, and key features for success.

How to Make a Food Delivery App in 6 Simple Steps

Want to make your own food delivery app? Just follow the simple step-by-step process outlined below.

Step #1 — Validate Your Food Delivery App Idea

The first thing you need to do is conduct market research. While the numbers show that there are billions of dollars to be made in this industry, you need to understand that just a handful of players control the vast majority of the food delivery market share.

As of Q1 2022, 97% of the food delivery market is controlled by three companies—DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.

Less than 1% of deliveries go to brands that aren’t household names. 

I’m not saying this to discourage you. But you need to set some realistic expectations for yourself. If you want your food delivery app to rival big names like DoorDash and Uber Eats, you definitely have your work cut out for you.

Fortunately, there’s still plenty of money to be made on a smaller scale in this space. 

For example, it’s a great idea to set up a food delivery app for your existing restaurant, grocery store, or convenience store. Even smaller businesses, like ice cream shops, can benefit from food delivery apps. 

This is an excellent way to expand your business and meet customer expectations. 

Creating a food delivery app for your restaurant also cuts out the middleman and helps you eliminate the third-party fees associated with other food delivery apps fulfilling your orders. 

Step #2 — Choose Your Food Delivery App Development Method

Once you’ve determined that there’s a real market need for your food delivery mobile app, it’s time for you to start the development process. 

Generally speaking, these are your options:

  • Hire an app developer
  • Build it yourself using a DIY app builder
  • Use internal resources for development
  • Outsource to an app development agency

Most restaurants and grocery stores likely don’t have an internal IT team. So you can quickly rule out the third option. Hiring a developer and outsourcing your project to an agency are both expensive. So if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, neither of those will work well for you.

That leaves us with the second bullet on the list above—creating it yourself using an app maker. An app builder will be the best option for the vast majority of you reading this guide right now.

It’s a simple and affordable way to create food delivery apps without writing a single line of code. Platforms like BuildFire make it easy for anyone to make a restaurant app by installing simple plug-and-play functionality. 

For additional resources to help you find the best app development method for your food delivery app, use the following links:

Step #3 — Identify Your Food Delivery Business Model

Food delivery apps work in different ways, and there are several models that you can monetize your app idea. 

  • Delivery services — You create an app and business that handles all deliveries between restaurants and customers. These models charge restaurants fees for using the platform and take a cut of each order.
  • Third-party facilitator — Similar to the first model, the app connects restaurants and consumers. But all of the deliveries are handled by a third party. You’re just running an app as a service, but you don’t actually touch the food. 
  • Direct food delivery apps — This is when a restaurant or grocery store has its own app for food delivery. They run the software internally and handle the order fulfillment internally as well. 

The first two models typically make money by charging restaurants to be featured. They also can make money through delivery fees or charging a percentage of every order. Some even charge premium subscriptions to consumers for loyalty perks. 

The third model works simply by charging customers for the food provided in each order. In some cases, you may upcharge items for delivery or include a fixed delivery fee for each order. 

Alternatively, you can charge a monthly subscription to eliminate delivery fees. This is a great way to encourage customer loyalty and increase order frequencies.

Step #4 — Select Your Features

Every food ordering app will have similar features. Some of you may want to go create a custom food delivery app with unique features for your business model.

We’re going to cover the key features of a successful food delivery app later on in this guide. 

But it’s important for you to have a firm grasp on the features you want before you dive into the development process. Here’s why.

Your features will drive the entire app development lifecycle. It’s easy to get carried away while you’re developing an app and add features that sound cool—even if they don’t have anything to do with the primary purpose and goal of your food delivery app.

So stick to your primary purpose and business model. What features must be developed to make this goal possible?

For example, let’s say you want to create a food delivery app for your restaurant. With BuildFire, you can add the Menu Order System plugin to create different menu categories:

Then you can add specific food items to each menu.

Here’s an example of some items that might be on your breakfast delivery list:

Having a menu is definitely on the must-have list of features for food delivery services. Things like social media integration and message boards probably don’t need to be a top priority right now. 

Create your must-have feature list first, and stick to those during the development process.

Step #5 — Design and Development

This step will be the bulk of your work for a food delivery app. It will look a bit different for everyone, depending on the development model you selected back in step #2.

If you decide to go with a DIY app maker, the design process will be super easy. 

For example, if you start your project with BuildFire, you can begin with a ready-made restaurant template. 

This takes care of 90% of the design work for you. Then it’s just a matter of customizing the text and buttons to fit your branding.

You easily add plugins for things like reservations and other key features to go along with your food delivery services. 

Step #6 — Marketing and Launch

The final step is launching your food delivery app. You’ll want to get it live on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store to maximize your reach with potential users.

Then it’s just a matter of marketing your app and getting people to download it.

For local restaurants and grocery stores, you may want to provide an incentive for users to try the app early on. Offering something like a 20% discount on a first order could convince someone to try it out. Even if you’re not making a huge profit on that order, it’s a small price to pay for user acquisition. 

Push your food delivery app on your website. Print flyers and put them in your restaurant or storefront. Send out email blasts to your subscriber list. Promote the app on social media. 

Do whatever you can to drive downloads. Even before your app launches, you can start to create a buzz around the app, so people are ready to download it once it goes live.

If you’re using BuildFire to create your app, you won’t have to worry about the publishing process. Just let us know when your app is done, and we’ll get it live on the app stores for you. 

Benefits of Food Delivery Apps

Let’s take a closer look at the advantages of making a food delivery app for your business. If you’re on the fence about whether or not to proceed, these perks can help with your decision-making process.

Market Demand

We talked about the food delivery market earlier. But even looking beyond the statistics, you can see that there’s a grim outlook for restaurants and grocery stores that can’t adapt to the times.

Our society has already reached a point where consumers expect products delivered to their doorstep. Just look at what happened to retailers who couldn’t adjust to the Amazon era.

This same concept can be applied to food delivery apps and services. If you can’t offer mobile delivery to your customers, they’ll simply look elsewhere for food.

Saves Time For Your Customers

Driving to pickup takeout is time-consuming. This is especially true in metro areas where parking is tough to come by. 

It could take 30 minutes round trip to travel a mile or two in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and other major cities. For some people, this time just isn’t worth the hassle. 

A recent survey suggests that 70% of consumers are willing to pay more money to save time and effort on food delivery services. 

Easy to Use and Order Food

Using a mobile food delivery platform is easy for consumers and businesses alike.

There’s no waiting on hold, struggling to understand thick accents, or trying to hear customers over kitchen noises. 

It’s as simple as selecting food options from a digital menu or grocery list. Items are added to a cart, and payments are processed ahead of time. Businesses get paid immediately, and consumers benefit from convenience. 

With a smartphone, anyone can order food from an app. There’s virtually no learning curve, and your business can reach people of all ages. 

Increased ROI

Food delivery apps are money-making machines. So you can quickly generate a return on your initial budget for development. 

If you’re using an app maker, you’ll only have to pay a monthly subscription fee to use the service. This typically ranges anywhere from $300 to $1,000, depending on the service and features you need. 

Based on the cost of your subscription, you know what your monthly breakeven point on the food delivery app needs to be. 

Expand Your Business

Creating a food delivery app helps you generate another form of revenue for your business. 

Food delivery services aren’t going anywhere. So you can either adapt with the times or risk becoming irrelevant to your customer base. 

This is a logical expansion for any restaurant or grocery store. Other apps on the market are going to offer food and grocery delivery anyways. Why not handle this internally with your own app? 

Key Features of a Great Food Delivery App

To create a food delivery app that succeeds, you need to ensure it has the right features. While the actual features of your app will vary based on your business type and monetization model, these are some proven ideas to steer you in the right direction:

User Registration and Profile Management

Every great food delivery app has user profiles. But there are several different types of users, and you need to make sure each profile and user interface is designed appropriately.

  • Customer — The customer app is where users will browse for food items and add them to a cart. They must be able to search for nearby restaurants or food categories in a way that provides a seamless browsing experience. Customers should also be able to save their payment information and delivery address on file to speed up the checkout process.
  • Admin — Admin profiles will be used by authorized people at a restaurant or grocery store. This allows them to see orders coming in and manage how they’re being fulfilled. Admins also need access to pricing information and the ability to update menu items. 
  • Delivery Driver — If you’re providing a service that uses third-party drivers, you need to have a completely separate interface for the drivers. This allows them to accept new orders and gives them instructions for pick-ups. Drivers should also have turn-by-turn GPS instructions with a maps integration so they can get items to customers quickly and efficiently. 

If you’re creating an app for your grocery store or restaurant and handling all of the fulfillment and delivery in-house, you could potentially combine the administrative and delivery driver interfaces. But it’s generally better to keep those users separate for security reasons, as a driver shouldn’t have access to pricing changes or things of that nature. 

Search Functionality

Food delivery app users must have a way to quickly find what they’re looking for without scanning through an entire menu.

Think of how many items are available at your local grocery store. Imagine having to scroll through thousands of items to find a single product. That’s not realistic.

If customers don’t know exactly what they want, you should have items categorized in a way that makes sense so they can narrow down their options. For a restaurant, categories might include:

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Entrees
  • Pasta
  • Pizza
  • Dessert
  • Gluten-Free

For a grocery store, the options might look a little different:

  • Bakery
  • Deli
  • Produce
  • Milk and Eggs
  • Canned Foods
  • Fruits and Vegetables
  • Household Products and Cleaning Supplies

Payment Integration

An integrated payment solution is crucial for a food delivery app. 

Customers must be able to save their preferred payment methods to their profile. This allows them to checkout with a single click, and they’re not forced to manually enter card details for each purchase. 

Setting up payments through the app also ensures that you’re always getting paid for the service. Relying on cash payments upon delivery or taking payments over the phone after an order is placed just adds complexity to the process. 

This also makes it easy for customers to pay using digital wallets that are already stored on their smartphones.

Coupons and Loyalty Rewards

Customer loyalty is the key to success in any business, and it’s no different with a food delivery service. Having a food delivery app actually gives you an edge in this space compared to other business types. 

That’s because customers must use the app for service. So it’s really easy for them to track their loyalty and redeem rewards from their phones.

There are tons of different approaches to this strategy. For example, you can offer blanket deals like free delivery on orders of $25 or more. Or you can have more specific rewards to encourage customer spending. 

Maybe each $1 spent is worth five points, and points can be redeemed for free food. Every Tuesday and Wednesday is a triple points day. This can encourage people to buy on days that would normally be slower for business. 

BuildFire has customer loyalty plugins that can be added to your app in a single click. They’re really versatile, and you can set them up to create a loyalty program that fits your business model.

Push Notifications

Push notifications can remind customers about upcoming specials and promotions. Examples of messages might include:

  • Order now for FREE delivery!
  • Take 30% off your next two orders
  • Buy one pizza and get a free side
  • New restaurant in your area!
  • Craving ice cream?

All of these notifications would encourage someone to open your food delivery app. You can also use push notifications as a way to remind customers when a driver has arrived with their order.

The great part about push notifications is that you can set them up based on triggers and activity. For example, you can send promotions around dinner time, when customers are more likely to order something.

Or you can send a notification specific to something that a customer has ordered in the past. This ensures that you’re not sending notifications to vegetarians about your steak dinner specials. 

Delivery Tracking

Your food delivery application should make it easy for customers to track orders. This will prevent them from calling and wondering what’s taking so long. 

Existing apps on the market have a pretty standard flow for the status:

  • Preparing order
  • Order ready
  • Driver picking up order
  • Driver en route

In some cases, customers might be able to track the exact location of a driver on a map. Although this may not be necessary for everyone. 

How Much Does Food Delivery App Development Cost?

Food delivery apps can cost anywhere from $500 per month to $50,000+ upfront. Your features and development method will have the largest impact on this price.

A DIY app builder is going to be the most cost-effective option. Rather than paying tens of thousands of dollars upfront to an app development company, you can create the app on your own for a low monthly subscription fee.

Alternatively, if you want to create an app like UberEats that integrates with thousands of restaurants and has real-time GPS tracking, it could cost you millions of dollars. 

For a local restaurant or grocery store that wants to create a food delivery app, you can likely get away with spending $10,000 or $25,000 if you keep it simple. Simplicity doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice features and functionality. It just means you need to eliminate the bells and whistles and only develop what’s necessary for the app to work as needed. 

You can use our app cost calculator to estimate your costs on development. Make sure you keep some money in your budget for post-launch app maintenance as well. This is another reason why it makes more sense to stick with an app builder platform, as all of the maintenance and updates will be handled for you.

Develop Food Delivery App — Final Thoughts 

Food delivery apps can be extremely lucrative. They’re great for local restaurants and grocery stores that want to offer customers a modern way to order food. 

You can also create a food delivery app that connects customers with local restaurants and grocery stores in your area. So you don’t need to be an existing business owner to make an app for food delivery services. 

If you’re ready to create a food delivery app, just follow the simple steps outlined in this guide. Pay close attention to the key features for success that we covered as well. This is where your focus should be during the development process. 

App Maker Buying Guide (2024)

If you want to create mobile apps without writing code, an app maker is your best option. 

An app builder makes it easy for business owners and entrepreneurs to create apps at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional development. You can also get your app to market quickly, in days or weeks, as opposed to months or years. 

There’s just one problem—the marketplace is flooded with different app makers. Finding the best app maker for your and your unique situation can be challenging, especially if you’ve never gone through this process. 

That’s why we created this guide. You can use the criteria below to evaluate the best app builders by weeding out the bad options and narrowing down the serious contenders. 

What is an App Maker?

App maker software is designed to create mobile apps without any code. Anyone can use an app builder to create their own app for the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Historically, mobile app development required specialized skills and developers. Only those who were fluent in writing code in specific programming languages could create an application. Those who didn’t possess these skills either had to learn them or hire people to create the app. 

But app makers bridge the gap to app development for non-technical users. 

All of the technical specifications of the app are handled on the backend of the software. You just need to tell the app builder what features and functions you want included in the app using drag-and-drop technology or plugins.

Some of you reading this right now are already familiar with how this works. Lots of small business owners and entrepreneurs use website builders to power their sites. App makers use the exact same concept, except the end result is a mobile app instead of a website. 

Check out our list of the best app building software to see some examples. 

Benefits of Using an App Maker to Create Mobile Apps

Why should you use an app maker? 

There are significant advantages to using an app builder compared to traditional development. Examples include:

  • No coding or technical skills required
  • You don’t need to hire and manage a development team
  • Faster path to app launch
  • It’s much cheaper to use an app maker
  • There’s virtually no learning curve
  • You can work on your app from anywhere without downloading software
  • It’s easier to make changes and update the app
  • All of the backend infrastructure is managed for you
  • Build for iOS and Android at the same time

Overall, app makers provide a faster and stress-free development experience—saving you tens of thousands of dollars.

Just be aware that if you’re planning to build a gaming app, VR/AR app, or app that’s highly graphics intensive, an app maker might not be the best option to consider. But for any other type of mobile app, app builders get the job done great and your end-users won’t know the difference. 

What to Look For in an App Builder

There are certain factors you should be using to evaluate app makers and compare them side-by-side. Use the criteria below as a buying guide to help you determine if a prospective app builder meets the specifications for your project and needs:

Simplicity

The first thing you need to consider is the ease of use. That’s one of the main reasons you’re considering this method for your mobile app.

If it’s going to take you weeks or months just to learn how the app development platform works, then the software is likely too complicated.

Don’t get me wrong. An app maker is like any other piece of software. There’s going to be a slight learning curve the first few times you’re using it. Even Facebook or Instagram took a few sessions for you to learn where everything was on the app.

Finding an intuitive app builder with a user-friendly interface needs to be a priority. So take advantage of any free trials offered by the platform to get a feel for how it works. You’ll know within a week or two if the software can accommodate your needs or if it’s just too complex for your skill level.

Cost

There will obviously be a cost variation between the platforms you’re considering. Even within a specific platform, you’ll likely see different subscription options—each with more features and functions at different tiers.

Don’t like price alone drive your decision. Instead, look at the value you’re getting.

For example, you might find an app builder on the market for $200 per month and another one for $350. But if the $200 plan only lets you create an Android app and you want to build for iOS and Android, then that’s useless for your project. 

The best app makers let you create a mobile app for iOS, Android, tablets, and PWA (progressive web apps). They also come with app analytics, built-in security, access to premium plugins, push notifications, and more. 

You should also consider the level of service and support you’re getting if you need some help or want something customized. You’re probably not going to get that from a free app builder. So spending a little bit more today can actually help you out tremendously in the long run. 

Features and Functionality

What type of app are you building? What do you want your app to do?

You need to know the answer to these questions as you’re comparing platforms. 

Let’s say you want to create a mobile app to manage memberships for your gym. Or maybe you’re creating an app for internal employee communication. Does the no-code app builder you’re considering have the functionality you need to make this possible?

Don’t just look at what your app will be when it launches. You also need to make sure the app builder offers the functionality you need as your app grows down the road.

BuildFire has more than 150+ plugins that you can use to easily add features to your app with a single click. From appointment scheduling to videos, maps, push notifications, and more, we have you covered.

The best part about BuildFire, compared to other app makers, is its limitless functionality.

If you have a unique or custom feature idea that isn’t available in our plugin marketplace, it’s no problem—our in-house development team can create it for you. So you’ll never outgrow the platform. 

Compatible Platforms

Where do you want to launch your native mobile apps?

With traditional development, you need to code separate versions of your app for each operating system. Your iOS app and Android app are essentially two different projects, both requiring different developers to complete the job.

But app builders let you create multiple apps for each platform with a single build. So just make sure the software you’re considering has that option.

At a minimum, it should offer iOS and Android versions. But the best tools provide you with iPad versions and PWA as well. This helps get your app into the hands of the widest possible audience.

Design Tools

There are lots of makers on the market that really lack design options. Even though you’re using an app creator, it should still feel like your very own mobile app—not a cookie-cutter version that looks exactly like every other app created on the same platform. 

Starting with an industry-specific template is always a plus.

For example, the homepage of an educational app probably shouldn’t be too similar to the homepage for a religious app. An ecommerce app should have a different design from an event planning app.

You should have full control over color schemes, buttons, menus, fonts, and every other visual component of the app and user interface. 

For more information, download a free copy of our ebook—The Definitive Guide to Mobile App Design.

Support

This is a huge factor in the app creation process that’s often overlooked.

No matter how easy it might be to use different app makers, there’s a good chance you’re going to have a question at some point or another. It might not be today or next week, but it could be next month or next year.

When that happens, will the support team be there for you?

Support is more than just a chatbot sending you to a knowledge base article. It’s someone who can offer you real advice and suggestions to get an answer. 

I strongly recommend that you use an app maker from a company that also offers app development services. This will give you the best possible support compared to standalone app development tools. 

In a year or two, you might want a completely customized feature or function to accommodate market demands or a shift in your business model. When this situation arises, you want the ability to lean on your support options without being forced to move your app elsewhere. 

If you’re going to outgrow the platform in a couple of years because the support options are limited, then it’s probably not the best app maker for your project. 

App Performance

At the end of the day, the mobile apps you’re building need to perform at a high level. 

Your customers and user base don’t care what platform you used to build the app or how much you spent. They just want something that works as it’s intended to do.

Downtime, crashing, bugs—all of this spells disaster for your app. 

Instead, you want an app that’s bug-free and loads quickly. You should be able to monitor all of the app analytics from your admin panel to see if users are experiencing problems and how they can be improved. 

Look through some of the apps that were built on the platform you’re considering. Read the reviews and download them to see how well they’re performing. This will give you a good indication of how well your app will perform if you build it with the same platform. 

Why BuildFire is the Best App Maker to Create an App

BuildFire is unlike any other app maker on the market today. It’s a simple yet powerful way to create an app for iOS, Android, and PWA—without any coding experience or technical knowledge. 

You can get started in minutes and choose a stunning template from a unique selection of industry-specific categories. From there, it’s just a matter of adding functions by installing plugins from our marketplace. You have full control over the design, and it’s easy to make changes to your app from anywhere.

But where BuildFire really stands out from the crowd is its limitless customization. 

We also offer full-service app development. So our in-house team is fully capable of creating custom features and functions on top of the platform. 

With other app builders on the market, you’re limited to what your app can do based on the feature list. If a feature isn’t available, then you’re out of luck. 

If you want a custom feature and don’t want to use our developers, that’s fine too. The BuildFire SDK makes it possible for you to use your own developers to create that functionality. All of which can be built on top of our existing infrastructure. 

We also offer exceptional support through each step of the development project. So you can always reach out to our team for assistance and guidance. 

Once your app is done, we’ll even help you get it live on the app stores. All of the security, maintenance, and backend requirements are handled for you. 

BuildFire has been used to create more than 10,000+ mobile apps. So you know that it’s a reputable and reliable solution. 

Start your 14-day free trial to see if BuildFire is right for you.

Final Thoughts

Using an app maker is the best path to development for the vast majority of mobile apps. 

Make sure you use this guide as you’re shopping around and comparing options. If you use the criteria and buying considerations mentioned above, you’ll easily find the best platform for your app development needs. 

Create Educational Apps: Tips and Best Practices

Educational apps and mobile learning are trending upward. In fact, roughly 50% of smartphone users use mobile apps for learning and education.

Apps for education are penetrating a wide range of categories, as they’re versatile enough for so many different use cases.

Schools and universities are using educational apps as an extension of the classroom. Tutors and educators are using mobile apps to create their own learning environments. Even businesses are using educational apps for employee training and compliance. 

Regardless of your unique use case, this guide is perfect for anyone who wants to create an educational app

The proven tips and best practices in this guide will help you engage mobile learners, drive more app downloads, and ultimately scale your business. 

Get Inspired by the Best Educational Apps

Lots of educational apps use the same core principles and concepts for success. 

Whether you’re creating an app for employee training, teaching language learning skills, or expanding your educational organization, you can learn from the best educational apps on the market. 

At the end of the day, your mobile app will still be fully customized to your specific needs. But you can borrow ideas and apply the same concepts used by apps that are already thriving in this space. 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the best educational apps that you can use for inspiration:

Khan Academy Kids

Khan Academy Kids is a free app for younger children. 

The learning program helps keep kids engaged through educational games, animated videos, and interactive lessons that hold their attention. The app includes fun and charming characters that guide kids through the learning journey.

Khan offers educational content in core subjects like writing, math, language, and reading. The app is designed to not only teach young students but also help them build creative, emotional, and social skills. 

Google Classroom

Google Classroom is designed specifically for educational institutions. The app makes it easy for these organizations to create, distribute, and grade assignments. 

The core goal of this app is to streamline the way files are shared between teachers and students. It enhances the learning experience and simplifies the way assignments are submitted.

Teachers have the ability to create an online classroom. From here, they can manage all of the documents that their students need to access for lesson plans, homework, study materials, and more. 

Students and teachers can use the app to take photos and attach them to assignments. It also simplifies file sharing on the go, and it’s supported by offline access. This means students can access classroom materials even when they’re not connected to WiFi.

NSF Science Zone

Science Zone is a mobile app with free resources from the National Science Foundation. 

The app has hundreds of video lectures, photos, and educational content for iOS and Android devices. It’s a fun way for children and other students to access information from the NSF. 

Teachers can use the app to engage with students in the classroom. Parents can use the app to teach their kids at home. And anyone interested in science can use this to learn more about interesting subjects.

Duolingo

Duolingo is one of the most popular language learning apps in the world. 

It’s versatile enough for teachers to use in the classroom at any level. The app can help pave a child’s learning path through elementary school and beyond. It’s also used by adults who want to learn a new language.

The app uses AI to facilitate personalized lessons. It includes educational games to keep users motivated throughout the language learning process. 

Kahoot!

Kahoot is one of the most versatile learning apps on our list. It’s trusted by 97% of the Fortune 500 and more than 50% of teachers in the United States. 

There are more than 50 million public games available through the app that can be used for educational purposes.

The app stands out from other educational apps for its ability to drive engagement, regardless of the use case. It’s used at the elementary level all the way through higher education. Kahoot is also used in the workplace by employers for employee training and education.

If you’re looking for inspiration to get started with educational app development, you should definitely look at the five apps listed above. 

Create Educational Videos

Up to 75% of all global video consumption is watched on mobile devices. The average adult in the United States watches at least 30 minutes of video per day via mobile.

In short, people are already consuming videos on their smartphones and tablets.

So when you’re creating an educational app, it makes sense to have video content for your audience to consume. 

58% of people are already using videos to learn new skills.

Video content is easy to consume, and it’s what your audience prefers. In fact, 45% of students in elementary school said that watching videos is their favorite way to learn something new. 

The great part about having video content on your education app is that it appeals to users of all different ages and backgrounds. It can be applied to virtually any mobile learning use case as well. 

Videos help speed up the learning process.

It’s easier for someone to consume content via video, as opposed to simply reading through slides or digital books. 

All of the best educational apps have some form of video learning. So your app should have it as well. 

If you’re using BuildFire to create an education app, it’s easy to add video content. You can simply sync the app with your YouTube or Vimeo channel to repurpose your existing content. 

This can be done with just a few clicks. All you need to do is add the YouTube or Vimeo plugin from the BuildFire marketplace. The rest of the steps are very straightforward.

From there, you can organize your video content by category or lesson. You can even set up a video sequence for different lessons so that certain videos aren’t available until others have been watched.

This ensures that your audience is going through the right sequence of learning—with each lesson building on the other. 

Make Learning Apps For Different Age Groups

Not every mobile app is intended for the masses. That’s because everyone learns differently.

Think about it for a second. Apps for kids will have different materials than apps for high school students. 

You can keep younger kids engaged through animations and cartoons. Those tricks for young learners shouldn’t be used on your adult audiences. 

If you look back at the best education apps that we discussed earlier, you can see that some are uniquely designed for specific age groups. For example, Khan Academy’s app says it’s only for kids between the ages of two and eight.

So make sure you understand exactly who your app is for before you start building it. 

Your target age demographic will also impact how your app is submitted and managed. For example, Apple has specific rules if you’re building apps for kids.

Apps in the kids category need to comply with certain user safety instructions. 

When parents browse for apps in the kids category, they expect them to contain age-appropriate content. There are also rules you need to follow in terms of data collection and advertisements when you’re building apps for kids.

If your brand targets multiple age groups, you may ultimately decide to create more than one version of the app to simplify the distribution and compliance rules. 

For example, Khan has two different versions of an education app—Khan Academy and Khan Academy Kids. 

The children’s version has more than one million downloads, and the other version has more than ten million downloads. As you can see, both versions of your app can still be highly successful. 

You can also repurpose the same core principles and learning instructions. But the content will obviously vary based on the audience. 

Check out our Kids Learning Tube customer success story to see how this brand used BuildFire to create an educational app for children across the globe. 

Start With a Free Educational App

Charging people to download an app can hurt your installation rates. 

According to Statista, about 94% of all apps on the Apple App Store are free to download. 

That number jumps to 97% when you look at the Google Play Store.

Simply put, most apps are completely free. So charging for downloads isn’t the right approach.

Instead, you can use in-app purchases and other monetization methods to make money from your educational app.

For example, maybe the free version has ads. But you can let users upgrade to a paid plan that’s ad-free. Or maybe your free app just provides basic learning materials. But users on a paid subscription have access to premium content.

This is how lots of educational apps make money, and it’s an approach that you should consider as well. 

Create a Personalized Learning Dashboard

Everyone learns at their own pace. So if you want to have a great app in the education space, you need to recognize this concept and adapt accordingly.

A personalized learning dashboard makes each user feel special and unique.

As a result, they’ll continue coming back to the app for more information and learning materials.

The app should help track the user’s progress and give them the motivation to continue learning. You can do this by creating different tiers for lessons and subjects.

For example, let’s say you’re using an educational app for employee training.

You might have different categories related to safety, compliance, and basic HR information in the employee handbook that everyone needs to follow. But beyond that, each unique position or department could have separate training materials. 

A new project manager won’t need the same job-specific training as a new accountant. So you can create personalized lessons and learning tasks for each type of user.

Here’s another example. Let’s say you’re creating a mobile app for your college or university. 

A freshman who is just arriving on campus shouldn’t be seeing the same content on their homepage as a junior in their third year. The freshman could get alerts and notifications that would be useful to their specific needs.

Maybe you want to send out an alert that tells them how to check out books from the library. Or maybe you’ll be asking them to fill out a survey related to the freshman move-in experience. 

But someone who has already been on campus for three years probably knows how to borrow books from the school library. So that type of information wouldn’t be useful to them. 

You could also have specific information for users based on their major, class schedule, and whether they live on or off campus. The possibilities are endless.

Drive Engagement With Interactive Quizzes

Engagement is crucial for mobile learning. This holds true for all target audiences at every level.

In many cases, the average user won’t always find learning to be fun. Not every student loves going to school. Similarly, adults that want to learn new skills on their own time might struggle to stay interested, especially if it’s not a requirement.

The best educational apps understand this and find ways to keep users engaged.

In addition to educational videos, interactive quizzes and tests help drive engagement. That’s because a quiz forces app users to stay active when they’re using the app.

They’re not just sitting back and watching videos or scrolling through flash cards. They need to answer questions to progress through the learning experience.

Adding interactive quizzes to your app is simple if you’re using BuildFire. Just use the Free Text Questionnaire Feature from our marketplace to create a test or quiz.

You can use this for opinion surveys, practice tests, graded quizzes, and more. 

Check out our Free Text Questionnaire Tutorial from BuildFire University to learn more about how this plugin works and how to add it to your app. 

Educational apps are boring if they don’t have some level of interaction from the end-users. Creating quizzes is one of the easiest ways to solve this problem and drive more engagement from mobile learners. 

Final Thoughts on Educational Apps

There are a growing number of use cases for educational apps. 

Educational apps are great for elementary schools, high schools, universities and higher education institutions, tutors, and more. They’re also trusted by businesses for employee training and compliance. Entrepreneurs are even creating educational apps as a completely new business for things like teaching people how to speak a new language. 

With so many education trends shifting towards mobile learning apps, now is the perfect time to get started creating one on your own.

You can use BuildFire to create an education app for iOS and Android without writing a single line of code. Our simple yet powerful app builder for iOS and Android lets you create an app from scratch in a fraction of the time compared to traditional development. This also helps lower your costs and gets your app to market quickly.

Sign up today to start your free trial

We have plenty of education app templates that will give you a head start on your development project. Then it’s just a matter of customizing the app content for your particular use case. 

If you need some assistance getting started, we’re happy to help with that as well. 
Just request a free consultation, and an expert from our team will get back to you shortly.

How to Optimize App Store Keywords

When you submit an iOS app to the Apple App Store, you’ll see a “keywords” field in your App Store Connect account. 

App store keywords explain what your app is all about. These terms help Apple’s search algorithm display relevant search results to people on the app store.

App store keywords are private and won’t be displayed publicly anywhere on the Apple App Store. But they’re still crucial for your mobile app marketing and app store optimization (ASO) strategies. 

Understanding how to optimize your keywords properly will give you an edge over other apps, help you rank higher for related searches, and ultimately get more app downloads.

This in-depth guide will explain everything you need to know about optimizing app store keywords for the Apple App Store.

What is App Store Optimization?

App store optimization (ASO) is the process of enhancing a mobile app’s organic visibility on app stores. It involves strategies and tactics, including keyword optimization, to help your app rank higher for keywords and related searches.

Elements like your app description, app store icon, screenshots, keywords, app title, metadata, and other factors all have an impact on app store searches. 

If you’re familiar with SEO (search engine optimization), then you already understand the core concepts of ASO. But instead of applying strategies to rank organically for Google searches (like you do with SEO), you’re leveraging different tactics that are specific to app store searches.

Refer to our complete guide to app store optimization for a deeper explanation of the topic.

App Store Optimization vs. Apple Search Ads

ASO is commonly confused with Apple Search Ads. While both mobile app marketing tactics help boost your app downloads, they’re very different from each other.

App store optimization primarily focuses on organic reach. You’re setting up the app store listing to rank high for searches.

Apple Search Ads are paid promotions. They appear at the top of the search results, marked and highlighted as an ad.

Running search ads is a shortcut to the top, and it’s good for fast results. 

But ads don’t guarantee downloads. You still need to optimize your app store listing. Users who click on your listing from a search ad will still look at your description and screenshots before they download it. 

The best app download strategies focus on a mix of both organic and paid tactics. But prioritizing ASO and keyword optimization is crucial for each approach.

15 Tips to Optimize Keywords for App Stores

Below you’ll find proven strategies and best practices for app store keyword optimization. Keep these in mind as you’re submitting your app and adjusting your ASO strategies.

1. Split Terms Into Separate Keywords

You do not need to enter complete search terms when you’re submitting keywords. The algorithm will automatically create combinations for you based on your keywords.

For example, the term “buy hats” can be split into “buy” and “hats.” So you would only have to enter the keyword “buy” once instead of including it for every product you’re selling through the app. 

This is a great way to get the most out of your character count and add as many keywords as possible without being redundant. 

2. Eliminate Spaces

Remember, app store keywords are not public. So you don’t have to worry about the list being aesthetically pleasing to the human eye. 

This means you can eliminate all spaces between your keywords. As long as you’re using a comma to separate one keyword from another, Apple will automatically recognize them as different words. 

3. Avoid Plurals

It should come as no surprise to learn that Apple has a highly sophisticated algorithm. 

The system is smart enough to recognize the plural form of words without you adding extra characters to your keywords. 

It might sound like a simple fix, but pluralizing words can really eat into your character count.

Hats, shoes, sneakers, belts, socks, and shirts. You can get back six characters just by eliminating the “s” on each of these keywords. 

4. Remove Stop and Connector Keywords

Apple automatically filters out basic keywords that are too generic. These are commonly known as “stop” or “connector” words.

Examples include:

  • a
  • the
  • of
  • by
  • but
  • this
  • with
  • you
  • all
  • an
  • any
  • app
  • if
  • is
  • no
  • here
  • do
  • to
  • who
  • why
  • would
  • me
  • i

You get the idea. Do not include these in your keywords, as Apple will just ignore them. 

5. Keep it Simple

Think about how people search for apps on the Apple App Store. 

Remember, they’re searching from a smartphone or tablet. So they won’t be typing out long or complicated phrases. 

App store searches are short and simple. 

For example, most people probably won’t search for words like “purchase” or “obtain.” They’d just search for “buy.”

Take a glance at your list and look at words that jump out as being too long or complicated. Look for ways to shorten those keywords and put them into the simplest, shortest, and most casual phrasing possible.

6. Don’t Use Your Brand Name or App Name

Branded and generic keywords don’t perform well either when you’re adding app store keywords.

That’s because the algorithm will automatically look at other parts of your app, in addition to the keywords. This includes your app name, developer name, and app category.

So adding these to your keyword list is just a waste. 

7. Start With Your Best Keywords

The order of your keywords is important. 

Apple’s search algorithm puts a stronger priority on words at the beginning of your list compared to the end of it. 

Once you’ve come up with a list, make sure you organize your keyword rankings before you submit everything. Always put your most important keywords at the front of the list. 

8. Maximize All 100 Characters

Apple gives you 100 characters of keywords to use. Make sure you’re taking full advantage of every character. 

This gives you the chance to get as many related keywords into your app store listing as possible.

Simple tips like avoiding plurals and eliminating spaces are easy ways to maximize the limits.

If you’ve done this already and you’re still at 97/100 characters used, see if you can get rid of a character somewhere else and add another four-letter word to the end of your list. 

9. Avoid Duplicates

Surprisingly, we see lots of people use the same keywords multiple times. This is definitely a mistake that you want to avoid. 

It typically happens when brands are targeting two different keywords that share a term.

For example, let’s say you’re selling jewelry through your app. You’re likely targeting words like gold necklace, gold earrings, and gold bracelet. 

But don’t repeat “gold” more than once.

Instead, keep the list as gold, necklace, earrings, and bracelet.

10. Eliminate Special Characters

Do not use special characters, like # or @. 

Apple specifically says that these do not carry any weight in your search ranking. So don’t waste space on them.

11. Use Digits Instead of Writing Out Numbers

If you need to include numbers in your app store keywords, be sure to use the digit form instead of writing them out.

  • 9 vs. nine
  • 15 vs. fifteen
  • 23 vs. twenty-three

Apple will recognize your digits as numbers, even if someone spells them out in their search (which would be rare).

If you have only one or two characters left to use and don’t have anything else to include, you could always put a digit in there. It’s a good placeholder and can’t hurt. 

12. Update Your Search Terms Regularly

Your app store search terms shouldn’t be left alone and forgotten. 

As your brand changes or you release new products or services, make sure you update the keywords to appropriately reflect those changes. 

Check your keyword rankings to see which terms are driving the best performance. If some keywords aren’t performing, you can always eliminate them or replace them with synonyms. 

13. Only Use Relevant Keywords

Make sure that you’re only using keywords that are directly related to your app and brand.

Some developers think that using popular app store keywords will help them appear for a broader range of searches. But this can actually backfire on you.

For example, let’s say you have an ecommerce app or banking app. You can’t use words like “game” or “social media” as a way to get more eyeballs on your app.

This will give you unwanted traffic that could lead to uninstalls—which can hurt your rankings.

14. Target Keywords With Less Competition

You can use app store optimization tools to search for popular keywords and compare them against your competitor apps.

Contrary to popular belief, going after highly competitive terms isn’t the best option for most apps. 

Instead, go for the low-hanging fruit. It’s better to target words that are highly specific to your target audience and have a lower search volume compared to terms with 20,000 daily searches that you’ll never rank for. 

Your end goal is always to get more app downloads. So be smart with your decisions and don’t try to compete for keywords that won’t move the needle. 

15. Monitor Your Keyword Performance

Statistics don’t lie.

You might think that some keywords will increase your visibility and drive app downloads, but keyword performance will tell you the truth. 

Just make sure you’re giving your keywords enough time to work. Adding new app store keywords and expecting an influx of downloads today, tomorrow, or next week isn’t realistic. 

But if it’s been three or six months and you see that certain terms aren’t performing, it’s probably a good time to reevaluate your strategy. 

Final Thoughts

Learning how to optimize app store keywords will increase your organic app store exposure and boost app installations.

Every mobile app with a presence on the app store needs to prioritize keyword optimization and ASO. 

Whether you’re in the process of launching an app or you’re just trying to improve the performance of an existing app, the tips in this guide will steer you in the right direction. So keep this saved or bookmarked so you can quickly reference the strategies whenever you’re working on keyword optimization. 

How to Conduct Mobile App Market Research

Mobile app development is exciting. New entrepreneurs and established businesses alike are always eager to bring their app ideas to life.

But before you rush into development, there are a few things you need to do first.

Mobile app market research is arguably the most important step for any project. It helps validate your ideas and lays the foundation for every other stage of mobile app development. No matter what type of app you’re building, mobile app research cannot be overlooked.

Continue below to learn more about mobile app research, the importance of market research, and the best market research strategies for mobile app development. 

What is Mobile App Market Research?

Mobile app research is the process of understanding your target market, competitors, industry, and current market trends. Market research is the first step of every mobile app development project. 

Mobile app market research helps validate your app idea and ensures your app is addressing existing market needs. 

Conducting mobile app research requires data collection and analysis. In some cases, you can pull data from existing sources. Other times, you’ll need to conduct unique research on your own. Most of the time, market research is a combination of these two approaches. 

Mobile app research aims to answer the following questions:

  • Is there a market need for your application?
  • Who is your target market, and what are their preferences?
  • What competitors and obstacles are you faced with?
  • Does your mobile app have a unique differentiator from the competition?
  • Do you have a viable mobile app business model?
  • How can you create an optimized marketing strategy?

When you’re sourcing information from existing sources, you’ll want to stick with trustworthy and authoritative references like Statista, Pew Research Center, Gallup, Google Trends, and similar sources. 

You can also refer to our Mobile App Statistics Guide for general information about smartphone users, industry trends, and other data related to mobile technologies.

Original research is typically conducted through focus groups, interviews, customer surveys, and observation.

Why is Mobile App Market Research Important for Mobile App Development?

Every successful mobile app starts with quality market research. 

Without thorough mobile app research, you’re essentially just guessing whether or not people actually want your app. This could prove to be a very expensive guess if you go through the entire mobile app development process only to discover there’s no market need for your product.

You can save a ton of time and money by simply validating the idea first—before you start writing code or hiring a development team. 

Market research also helps you identify competitors and obstacles on your path to success. 

For example, let’s say you have an app idea for a free video sharing platform, making it easy for anyone to share and watch videos from their smartphones. Users can create their own profiles, like videos, follow content creators, and write comments on videos. 

Great idea, right? Well, this idea basically just described YouTube.

Market research would help you identify this, and you’d likely decide not to directly compete with the largest video hosting platform on the planet. 

Instead, your market research could help you pivot your original app idea to target a different market niche. Maybe you still want to create a video hosting application, but you want it to be specifically for online education. 

Market research helps you better understand your customers. You’ll find out who they are, along with their wants and needs. You might think that your target audience wants to use your mobile app. But market research will help validate or disprove your hypothesis. 

Then you can lay the foundation for your mobile app features, brand positioning, and app marketing strategies based on your findings. 

Types of Mobile App Research

It’s much easier to perform market research when you break everything down into categories. 

Market research for mobile app development can be segmented into two phases—primary research and secondary research. We’ll take a closer look at each of these stages below.

Primary Research

The first thing you need to do is conduct in-depth market research on your users. 

Define your target market and find as much information as you can about them. Start with generic information, habits, likes, dislikes, wants, and needs. Then narrow that research even more, specifically related to their behavior with mobile applications.

Your primary research should also consider the latest technology trends and how the current market landscape works with your business model. 

These initial steps are crucial, as this early market research ultimately guides you through the entire mobile app development process.

Your findings here will help you determine whether or not to target certain users. You can also frame certain components of your mobile app based on this early market research.

For example, let’s say you want to create a real estate app. The initial idea might be focused on prospective home buyers. 

But after conducting your primary research, you could discover a lack of market need for this type of product. Maybe the market is too saturated, or maybe the app’s goal didn’t meet the needs of your target audience.

If you’re an expert in the real estate industry, you still might proceed with the app creation. Only you’ll pivot to an app that addresses the needs of real estate agents instead. 

Then the app’s features will be based on meeting the needs of your new target audience.

Secondary Research

The second step is your sales and marketing strategy research. 

By now, you’ve already validated your idea and decided it’s worth moving forward. You just need to take your existing research and get more information on how you’re going to reach your target audience.

You’ll use this information to create a marketing plan, optimize social media accounts, prepare ad copy, and other things that will ultimately speak to and attract your target market. 

What does your target user base respond to? How can you market your mobile app accordingly to pull on those strings?

Your secondary research will help shape your branding and market positioning within your niche.

For example, let’s say you’re creating a B2B smartphone app designed for other businesses. Rather than simply branding yourself as a project management tool, your secondary research can help define your market positioning as an application for productivity improvement.

This type of positioning would likely be more aligned with the problems your target audience is trying to solve. 

Best Strategies for Mobile App Research

Everyone’s market research will look a little bit different. But there are some proven strategies specific to mobile app development that will help steer you in the right direction:

Mobile App Idea Validation

The first thing you need to do is validate your mobile application idea. 

If there’s not a market need for your app, then there’s no reason to proceed with the remaining steps for market research. You might need to head back to the drawing board and rethink your idea.

Discovering that there is not a market need for your app isn’t a bad thing. Lots of people are disappointed when they hear this news. But you should be happy that you didn’t pour money into a project that wouldn’t deliver a return on your investment. 

Instead, you can take what you’ve learned during the validation stages and use that to frame new ideas. 

To validate a mobile app idea, you need to get out there and start talking to people.

Run customer focus groups. Conduct interviews. Send out surveys. 

Do everything you can to get as much information as possible about your idea and how it does or doesn’t meet the needs of prospective users. 

Identify Your Target Audience

Narrowing down your app’s target market must be another primary area of focus for your market research.

All too often, we hear things like, “my app is for everyone” or “my app is great for women of all ages.” That’s not specific enough.

You need to define more specific characteristics, like:

  • Location
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Marital status
  • Occupation
  • Background
  • Income
  • Highest level of education
  • Personality traits
  • Values
  • Hobbies
  • Lifestyle choices
  • Behavior

With mobile app development, you also need to see if your target audience prefers some mobile devices over others. 

For example, if you discover that 90% of your target market uses iPhones, you may not necessarily create an Android app for the Google Play Store right now. You could focus your efforts specifically on Apple devices and make an iOS app.

When you’re doing market research on your target audience, it’s important to remember that you’re not excluding other users or other people who might be interested in your app. But your primary focus and efforts will be surrounding your target market. 

Conducting Competitor Analysis for Mobile Apps

Researching the competition is an absolute must for mobile app development.

It’s rare to see mobile apps today that are 100% unique. There’s a good chance that at least a few other apps on the market do something similar to yours.

Your job is to identify those competitors. Find out what they’re doing well, and find out where their apps fall short.

You can use this information to your advantage and create an app that fills the gap with your competitor’s shortcomings.

Even if you think those players have a head start because they already have apps available for download, you have a faster path to development by avoiding the same mistakes that they did.

Eventually, you need to figure out how you’re going to stand out from the competition. 

What’s your differentiation factor? Why should someone download your app over another app that does the same thing?

This could be related to your marketing strategy, feature differences, different target users, or all three. 

SWOT Analysis

Many of you might already be familiar with a SWOT analysis. It’s an acronym that stands for:

  • Strengths
  • Weaknesses
  • Opportunities
  • Threats

There are dozens of great use cases for running a SWOT analysis in different business situations, and market research is definitely one of them. 

Get together with your team and assess all of your findings from both the primary and secondary research. Now write out everything that comes to mind for each of these categories.

  • What is your advantage?
  • Where are you vulnerable?
  • Are there specific niches, users, or features that are open for a new market need?
  • What competitors or external market factors could hurt your app?

At the end of the day, a SWOT analysis helps prepare you for mobile app development and your mobile marketing strategies. By becoming more aware of yourself and the market as a whole, it also helps you stay ahead of the competition.

Final Thoughts

Mobile app research is key to the success of mobile apps.

If you need help with market research, schedule a free consultation with BuildFire. 

As part of our full-service app development solution, we assist with this part of the process. We’ll help you run a competitive analysis, so you have a better understanding of your market. Our team will also provide expert guidance with app strategy sessions to ensure your app is meeting your business goals.

Launch App Guide: How to Launch an App Fast

Most businesses recognize the importance of app development. But waiting a year or more for your mobile app launch isn’t realistic for everyone.

Sometimes a business needs to launch an app quickly to capitalize on an opportunity.

Maybe you need the app ready for an upcoming event. Or perhaps you’re releasing a new product or service that must coincide with the app launch. It’s possible that you’re creating an app to stay one step ahead of your competition or keep pace with other competitors launching mobile apps.

There are dozens of reasons why launching an app quickly is crucial for so many organizations. 

The average app development timeline before launch is at least six months. But this guide will teach you how to cut that timeline in half. Some of you will be able to create and launch an app in just one to three months by following the blueprint and tips for success outlined below.

Why a Successful Mobile App Launch is So Important

Your mobile app launch can make or break the short and long-term success of your application. 

If you wait too long to launch the app, you could miss out on some time-sensitive opportunities that have a direct impact on app downloads and usage. Conversely, rushing through development and putting out a sub-par product could cause people to stop using the app altogether because of a bad experience. 

A smooth launch with an app that’s bug-free and delivers a seamless user experience is the best way to ensure your app is successful for years to come. Prioritizing the user will keep them coming back to use the app, allowing you to maximize the lifetime value of each person who downloads the app. 

Launching your app in weeks instead of months is useless if the app itself doesn’t work the way it’s intended. So you need to find that balance between a fast launch and a high-quality product.

Full disclosure—some apps simply cannot be built in weeks or months. If you’re trying to create the next Facebook, Uber, or YouTube, it’s unrealistic to plan for a three-month development timeline. Gaming apps, augmented reality apps, and virtual reality apps typically have longer app launch timelines as well.

But the vast majority of business apps can be launched quickly, without sacrificing the app’s quality—assuming you’re using the right technology and following a proven blueprint for success (like the steps in this guide).

BuildFire has been used to create more than 10,000+ mobile apps. So we know what it takes to have success in this space, and we’ve seen our clients launch apps faster than the average development cycle. 

5 Steps for Fast App Launches

Fast and successful app launches are all about simplicity. The entire process can be summarized in just five easy steps:

Step 1 — Market Research

Anyone can come up with an app idea. But you need to validate this idea with market research before you start building anything.

So many mobile apps fall short of expectations because the app developer skipped this step. 

Taking the time to understand your target audience and research your target market will ultimately save you time and money when development starts. You might realize that certain features or functions that you thought were important aren’t actually necessary for the app. 

So you can launch the app quickly by omitting those features altogether. 

For example, let’s say you have a small boutique clothing shop. You want to make an app before the busy holiday season as a way to boost sales from mobile commerce. Great idea!

One feature you’re considering is a barcode scanner. This would allow customers shopping in-store to scan the barcode of an item in the app to see more information about the product, including customer reviews. Sounds like a reasonable feature to include.

But after conducting market research, you might discover that most of your customer base doesn’t want, need, or plan to use that feature. 

By eliminating this functionality from your development process, it will save you a ton of time and money—allowing you to launch the app faster and for less money.

Market research gives you the opportunity to research your current customers, prospective customers, competitors, and similar apps on the market. 

You’re forced to identify what makes your app unique, giving you an advantage over other apps available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. 

Step 2 — Get Organized

Once you’ve completed the market research stage, you need to create a solid plan. Use the following bullets as an app launch checklist and answer some important questions before you start building anything:

  • What app stores are you going to launch on? 
  • Are you going to build your own app or hire mobile app developers?
  • If hiring app developers, will you assemble your team or work with an app development company?
  • Have you considered app builders and mobile app development platforms?
  • What is your app development budget?
  • When do you need to launch the app?
  • Are there other stakeholders that need to be consulted?
  • Do you need to raise money or pitch the app idea to investors?
  • How is your app going to make money?

If you don’t have answers to these questions, you’re not ready to build and launch the app yet. 

For the purposes of this guide, I’m not going to go too deep into each of those questions. 

Instead, we want to focus our efforts here today on launching a high-quality app as quickly as possible. 

But we have tons of great resources and how-to guides that will help you get organized and prepare yourself during the app planning stage. Here are some relevant articles to the questions listed above:

You can always reach out to our team of experts here at BuildFire for more guidance and information. Take advantage of a free consultation to learn more.

Step 3 — Identify Your Mobile App’s Key Features

By now, you should have a clear understanding of how you’re going to create an app. Whether you’re going to create an app on your own or outsource the project to a development company, it’s time to focus on the app’s functionality. 

This is arguably the most important step when trying to launch an app fast.

All too often, people get carried away with mobile app features. They focus too much on the “nice-to-haves” instead of the “must-haves.”

Start by creating a list of features that your app users need to solve a problem or achieve a goal. 

Your initial list of features might have more than a dozen different ideas. But that doesn’t mean you’ll actually develop all of them. Go through the list one by one and start to eliminate the ones that don’t contribute to the app’s core purpose.

For example, let’s say you’re creating an app for your restaurant. There are dozens of potential features that you can include in the app. But what is your real reason for development?

A restaurant app for mobile ordering and delivery will look very different from a rewards app for in-person dining. 

Would it be cool to have the app connect with the user’s contact list and camera? Sure. But is that actually necessary for the app’s primary goal? Probably not. 

Step 4 — Create an MVP

An MVP (minimum viable product) is often associated with beta testing and app analytics. But you can actually use an MVP for your initial launch on the respective app stores if you’re on a tight development timeline. 

With an MVP, you’re taking the core features that were identified in the previous step and putting those into development. 

You’re not going to worry about all of the extra bells and whistles. Just focus on the core functions and give yourself a working version of the app that achieves its goals and primary purpose. 

Here’s another example.

Let’s say you’re creating an ecommerce app as an extension of your shopping website. The primary goal of the app is mobile purchasing capabilities. 

So while a mobile customer loyalty program or mobile customer referral program sounds like great features, neither would be included in the MVP. Instead, you’d just launch an app with the bare-bones functionality for ecommerce purchasing. 

You need to make sure the app integrates with your online store and has a built-in payment gateway—that’s it.

Letting users customize their profile with a birthday, favorite products, and the ability to share items with their friends can be added in later. But the MVP is just for the primary feature or features.

Step 5 — Prepare for Launch

While the MVP development is still in progress, you can start taking steps to promote your app and get it ready for launch. 

Waiting until the development is complete to act on this step is just going to add unnecessary length to your launch timeline. Preparation examples include:

  • Create a dedicated landing page for the iOS app and Android app
  • Promote your app in a blog post
  • Build hype for the app on your social media accounts
  • Create app screenshots to use for marketing materials
  • Prepare for app store search using app store optimization (ASO) guidelines
  • Understand the differences between Android apps and iOS apps when you launch

If you’re stuck on some of these preparation steps, you can always look to free mobile apps and paid apps for inspiration and borrow ideas from their promotional strategies. 

This way, you can publish your app immediately after the development is done.

App Launch Methods For Success

There are actually five different ways to launch an app. But if you’re prioritizing speed without sacrificing quality, only two of these options are worth your consideration.

Method #1 — Using an App Builder

An app builder is the easiest way for DIY users to create their own apps without writing a single line of code. 

All of the backend app requirements are handled by the platform provider. So you just need to add your features and customize the content. 

BuildFire’s app maker is the most powerful way to launch apps for iOS and Android. It’s easy to use and offers limitless scalability. 

You can start in seconds by simply choosing a template. Then you can add features with a single click from our feature marketplace. 

The cool part about BuildFire is that it also supports custom functionality. So if you need something that’s ultra-specific and can’t find it in the marketplace, we can create custom features for you.

Once the app is built, we’ll handle the app store publishing process. You just need to click a button when the app is done. 

BuildFire makes it easy to launch an app fast and for a fraction of the cost compared to traditional development. Maintaining the app post-launch and adding features later on is simple. So you can start with basic features and add more advanced functions months or even years after the initial launch. 

Method #2 — App Development Services

If you’re not a hands-on user and would rather outsource the development project, you can look for an app development service that will get your mobile app to market quickly.

BuildFire Plus is the ultimate solution.

Compared to traditional development, BuildFire Plus offers custom app development on top of BuildFire’s existing ecosystem and infrastructure. So our in-house custom development team doesn’t need to start from scratch. 

This gives you a significant head start compared to outsourcing your project to other app developers or assembling an internal product team. 

We’ll work with you through each step of the process to ensure that the app aligns with your business goals, budget, and development timeline. 

Final Thoughts on a Successful Launch for Mobile Apps

Launching an app quickly is important for many businesses and entrepreneurs. Just make sure your development timeline doesn’t sacrifice the quality of the final product.

You can also save time and prepare for a successful launch by working on your app marketing strategy and promotional materials during the development stages.

Focus on your app’s core features and functionality in the beginning. You can always add more features later on after the app launches. 

Turn Website Into App – The Ultimate Guide (2024)

Creating a mobile app is the best way to take your website to the next level. 

While websites are fine for computer browsing, 85% of people say they prefer mobile apps over mobile sites on smartphones. Mobile app users prefer the convenience, user experience, and speed of apps compared to websites. This gives you an opportunity to target a wider audience and generate more conversions.

So how do you turn a website into an app? This guide will show you how.

We’ll start by covering the main advantages of mobile apps compared to websites and web apps. Then you’ll discover the different ways to convert a website into an app and follow our step-by-step blueprint for success.

Benefits of Mobile Apps vs. Websites 

Why should you turn your website into a mobile app? Here are the top reasons:

Ease of Access

Let’s do a quick experiment. 

Take out your phone, and navigate to your website. How long did that take? You had to open your phone, navigate to a web browser, and then type in your site address (hoping not to make any spelling mistakes on a small screen).

Now open any app on your phone.

Obviously, it’s much faster to open an app than it is to visit a website. When you turn your site into an app, you’ll always be just a click away from anyone’s smartphone or tablet. 

Push Notifications

Push notifications offer a significant communication advantage over websites.

For websites to communicate with visitors, you need to rely on email opt-ins. Even if you manage to get subscribers, your next battle is getting them to open your email marketing campaigns—which is a completely different ballgame. 

But push notifications go directly to a user’s home screen, similar to a text message. So you can communicate with app users at any time, keeping your brand top-of-mind for any campaign or goal.

Loyalty

Mobile apps typically drive more loyalty compared to websites. That’s because apps live on a user’s home screen. They’re much more inclined to open a mobile application if they’re staring at your app icon dozens of times per day.

When you consider the fact that the average person picks up their phone 58 times daily, it drastically increases the chances of your app being used as well.  

Apps also make it easier for you to create customer loyalty programs, encouraging users to spend more money and convert more frequently. Then they can track their loyalty rewards progress directly from the app. 

Engagement

Apps provide a more pleasant experience for users compared to the mobile web. This translates to more engaged audiences.

If your site isn’t loading quickly or there isn’t a seamless navigation between screens, people often get frustrated and bounce. But native apps tend to perform much better, which translates to people having longer sessions and completing more in-app actions. 

You can also monitor user engagement statistics and tweak your app accordingly to ensure users open the app more frequently. They’ll continue having long, engaging sessions. 

Conversions

Mobile apps convert higher than the mobile web

This isn’t just an opinion or an observation—there are hard numbers to back this up. Just look at these app conversion rate differences between mobile apps and mobile sites:

Mobile applications perform higher in every industry. On average, apps convert at a 157% higher rate compared to mobile sites. 

Imagine getting a 150% increase in conversions simply by creating a mobile app. That alone should be a good enough reason to move forward. 

Meet User Expectations

People want to do more from their mobile devices. This includes everything from mobile banking to online shopping, scheduling appointments, watching videos, and reading blogs. 

Imagine trying to find a business online, only to discover they don’t have a website. You’d be shocked, right? 

While you wouldn’t quite have the same reaction to them not having an app, you’d still be a little surprised. Brands having mobile apps has become the new normal. We’re reaching the point where not having a mobile app is almost like not having a website. 

Improve the User Experience

Apps provide a better user interface and user experience compared to mobile sites in almost every way. That’s because mobile apps can use native device features, including cameras, Bluetooth, photo reels, contact lists, and more.

Mobile apps are made specifically for mobile devices, whereas websites are generally designed for larger screens.

Obviously, having a mobile version of your website improves the user experience. But it’s not quite to the same extent of having a fully native mobile app. 

Generate More Revenue

Apps give you the opportunity to make more money.

You can either use your app as a way to generate revenue using your existing business model or potentially open up new revenue streams. For ecommerce apps and subscription services, having an app is an absolute must. 

But even content creators can generate new revenue by offering in-app purchases to premium content or making in-app advertisements. 

You can use your app to book appointments, sell tickets, manage events, and even collect deposits as well. The opportunities are seemingly endless. 

App Store Presence

Having an app gives you an opportunity to expand your reach. Right now, you might only be reaching people who follow your brand on social media, read your blog or discover you through an organic Google search.

But you’re neglecting all of the potential users who are browsing the Google Play Store to find an Android app and the Apple App Store to discover new iOS apps. 

According to a recent study, 48% of people say they find new apps by browsing app stores. An additional 34% of users say they find new apps through app store recommendations.

These are both two of the top three app discovery methods. 

By having your app available to download on additional channels, you can attract an entirely new audience to your brand. 

Competitive Advantage

Creating an app gives you an opportunity to stand out from the crowd. There are two ways to look at this.

One, if your direct competitors don’t have an app just yet, then you can beat them to the market and gain a significant advantage. Depending on the situation, you might even be able to steal their customers. Two, if your competitors already have an app, then you definitely need an app to keep up with them and stay relevant. 

Users could look at your brand and think that you’re not modern or keeping up with the times if you don’t have a mobile app. 

Offline Support

Mobile sites and website apps have a major flaw—they need internet access to work. So if someone is on the go and can’t connect to a WiFi network, they won’t be able to access your website without using cellular data.

But mobile apps work offline, meaning they’re always available to users. 

You can also set up your app to have offline-specific features. For example, look at an app like Google Docs. People can’t save changes to documents without an internet connection. But they can make changes and have everything saved to their mobile device. Then as soon as they get an internet connection, the files will be moved and backed up to the cloud.

6 Ways to Convert Your Website Into a Mobile App

There are lots of different ways to convert your website to an app. But not all of these options are great. We’ll cover each one in greater detail below so you can discover the best solution for your situation.

Use a Website to App Conversion Platform

Lots of tools on the market make it easy to create apps from a website. However, many of these conversion platforms are extremely limited. They’re essentially taking your existing website and just repurposing it into a mobile version, and that’s not what you want.

A mobile app should have distinguishably different features from your website. Your app could actually be rejected from the Apple App Store if it’s too similar to your site.

Most of these platforms don’t support custom features, and you can’t even send push notifications or do other basic actions. 

Pros

  • Cheap
  • No coding required
  • Get app to market quickly

Cons

  • Limited features
  • No custom capabilities
  • Can’t connect to native APIs
  • Not distinguishable enough from your website
  • Limited room for scale and growth

Overall, this option is really only viable for smaller websites on an ultra-tight budget. You want an app for the sake of having one but don’t really care about making money with it or getting lots of downloads.

Code the App Yourself

If you’re tech-savvy and want to create your own app without hiring anyone or using a third-party platform, you could always code it by yourself. But for most people, this obviously involves learning a completely new skillset. 

Learning how to code is not easy. Even after you nail some of the basic concepts, your first handful of projects probably won’t be amazing. Do you really want to experiment by building a native app from your website?

For business use cases, the answer is almost always no. 

Pros

  • You have full control over every detail
  • No need to hire other developers
  • Cheap
  • Complete customization options

Cons

  • Longer development timeline
  • Must learn how to code
  • Final product is likely to have some flaws
  • Need to maintain all of the backend infrastructure on your own

If you have some basic coding knowledge and you don’t mind experimenting, this could work for you. Maybe you even did all of the coding for your website, and you want to transition those skills to a mobile app. But for the vast majority of people, learning to code probably isn’t the best path for converting a website to an app.

Hire a Freelancer

Hiring freelance mobile app developers is an appealing option to many people. That’s because freelancers are often a cheap way to create native apps. There are plenty of freelance job boards and platforms to connect you with developers from all over the world. 

Risk is the biggest downside associated with hiring a freelancer. Your success and failures fall solely into the hands of a single person.

What happens if the project gets delayed? What if they get sick? How will you handle things if they’re not responding to calls or messages?

Language barriers can also be challenging, especially when you’re working with international developers. 

Pros

  • Cheaper than an app development agency
  • You don’t have to code anything on your own
  • Thousands of developers to choose from

Cons

  • Difficult to vet developers and find the best person for your project
  • Need to get the freelancer to understand your vision and business goals
  • Lots of back and forth communication is required
  • Costs can get out of control if there are any delays

Check out our guide that compares app development companies vs. freelancers for more information. If you know you want to outsource the project but don’t have the budget for a US-based development company, a freelancer could be a good option if you’re willing to take some risks.

Hire a Development Agency

Outsourcing your website app project to a development company is almost always a better option than going with a freelance developer. The costs will usually be a bit higher, but the final product and complete development option are usually worth it.

With an agency, you’ll have a complete team of experienced developers and designers at your disposal. This means your app will get to market faster, and the final product will be superior to other options. 

Most development agencies will also walk you through other key parts of the app development process, like wireframing, design, and post-launch support. 

Pros

  • Complete customization
  • Get your app to market fast
  • Entire team working on your project
  • Some agencies specialize in niche-specific apps

Cons

  • Most expensive option
  • Some agencies have strict contract terms

App development agencies can be amazing. Just don’t expect them to be cheap.

Use an App Builder Platform

An app development platform makes it possible to create an app on your own without writing a single line of code. Many of you might be familiar with this concept if you used a website builder like Wix or Squarespace to launch your website. 

These tools are designed for DIY users that want to keep costs low and still have an excellent final product. 

There’s definitely some work to do on your own, but it’s usually not very challenging. You can start with a template and just customize everything else from there with your branding and content. 

Pros

  • Affordable
  • No need to outsource
  • Start with a template
  • Control everything on your own

Cons

  • Not every app builder offers custom solutions
  • You may need to test different tools to find the best one for your needs
  • Some app builders aren’t built to scale

Just be aware that not every app builder is the same. Some have stricter limitations on what you can build and how much you can customize. Other options are good for post-launch features like unlimited push notifications. 

Use BuildFire

BuildFire is the best way to convert your website into an app. It’s an app maker platform with custom development services under one roof—providing a solution for everyone, regardless of your goal or budget.

For DIY users, you can use BuildFire’s app builder to convert your website to an app with ease. Our drag-and-drop platform has virtually no learning curve, and you can start building today. Adding features is easy. Just find what you’re looking for in our feature marketplace, and you can add it to your app with a single click.

Compared to other app builders, BuildFire stands out with its limitless scalability and functionality. Even for DIYers, our team can provide assistance and create custom features uniquely for your app. That’s the value of app development services vs. stand-alone app builders

If you want to completely outsource the project, we also offer a fully custom app development service that includes planning, design, development, updates, and post-launch maintenance. 

Pros

  • Build iOS apps and Android apps simultaneously
  • No coding required
  • Affordable alternative to traditional development
  • Limitless scalability
  • Fully customized features and development solutions
  • App builder and development services under one roof
  • One-click publishing to Apple App Store and Google Play Store

Cons

  • Not ideal for gaming apps
  • Not ideal for VR or AR apps

BuildFire has been used to create more than 10,000+ mobile apps. Sign up for a 14-day free trial to get started, or schedule a free consultation to learn more about our custom development solutions. 

How to Convert a Website to a Mobile App in 7 Steps

Now let’s look at the exact steps required to turn your site to an app. The entire process can be summarized in seven simple steps.

Step 1 — Verify the Need for a Mobile App

The first thing you need to do is make sure there’s actually a market need for your app. In some cases, having a website alone could be fine for your situation. 

Let’s say you’re just starting off with a small personal blog right now. If you’re on a really tight budget, you might consider growing your blog organically before taking the plunge into mobile development. Creating mobile apps does involve some time and money. So if you’re not ready to commit, then it’s probably in your best interest to wait. 

You should also do some market research to make sure your app will offer something that people actually want or need. This will also help you stand out from your competitors. 

Step 2 — Brainstorm Features For Your App

Now you need to take some time and think about your app features. Instead of focusing on the features first, you can start by brainstorming functionality.

What problems will your app solve? How will your app be different from your website?

Remember, the app needs to be distinguishably different from your mobile site to be accepted by the app stores. You can’t just reformat the same content and put it into an app. 

While your initial list of features might be long, you’ll eventually want to narrow that list down to a shortlist of features that support your app’s primary purpose. Start with those features, and you can always add more down the road. 

Step 3 — Determine Your Budget

Take a look at your finances. How much money are you able to spend on an app? 

The answer to this question will be really important when you get to the next step, and it also plays a significant factor in your app’s features.

Generally speaking, complex apps with lots of features will be more expensive to build. But if you’re just creating a simple app with slight variations from your website, you can probably get away with spending significantly less. 

For example, BuildFire’s app development platform starts at just $159 per month. 

This is a cost-effective alternative to traditional development, which can cost upwards of $100,000 or more. 

Step 4 — Choose Your App Development Method

Based on your goals, budget, and technical capabilities, it’s time to select an app development method. Here’s a quick summary of the options we discussed earlier for creating mobile apps:

  • Website to app conversion tool
  • Code the app on your own
  • Hire a freelancer
  • Higher a development company
  • Use an app builder
  • BuildFire

Refer to our full guide on how to make an app for more information on different app development solutions. You can also get a free copy of our Buyer’s Guide for Mobile App Platforms ebook

Step 5 — App Design

Once you’ve chosen a development method, it’s time to start thinking about your app design. 

There are a couple of different options to consider here. First, you can simply sketch out the UX/UI design on your own before passing it off to an app designer. Alternatively, you can start with a template and customize everything on your own.

With BuildFire’s app builder, you don’t need to hire a designer or pass the project off to a design team. You do it all on your own. Check out our app design resources for inspiration, tips, and best practices. 

If you don’t want to design the app by yourself, that’s fine too. We also offer full-service design and development. 

Step 6 — Testing

Testing is something that you should do in stages throughout the development process. 

The best testing options depend on your development method. If you’re outsourcing the project to a development team, they’ll likely handle all of the testing on your behalf.

Making sure your app functions the way it’s supposed to without any bugs, glitches, or crashes is crucial—especially when you first launch. If your app doesn’t make a good impression on your audience, they likely won’t come back and use it again. But on the flip side, a great first impression helps ensure that the user will continue using your app again and again—allowing you to drive engagement and conversions. 

Step 7 — Prepare for the App Stores (Apple App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android Apps)

Start thinking about how your app is going to look and appear in the app stores. Just know that your iOS app has different guidelines from Android apps.

Each app store has unique rules and submission guidelines that you need to be aware of. 

Our complete guide to app store optimization (ASO) will help steer you in the right direction. If you use BuildFire to create your app, we’ll also help get your app published. You just need to make one click, and we’ll handle the rest on your behalf. 

Turn Website Into App — Final Thoughts

Ready to turn your website into a mobile app?

Sign up for a 14-day free trial of BuildFire. It’s the easiest and most powerful way to create an app for iOS and Android—no coding or technical skills required. Alternatively, you can let our team handle all the design and development for you with our all-inclusive app design and development services. Schedule your demo to learn more. 

Top 10 Benefits of B2B Apps

Most mobile apps available on the app stores are made for mass consumption by general audiences. But there’s a growing need for other apps that target businesses and business users—B2B apps.

Whether you have an existing company that sells to other businesses or you’re an entrepreneur that wants to set up a B2B business model, creating a B2B app is an excellent opportunity.

This in-depth guide will cover everything you need to know about B2B apps, including how they work, key features, and top benefits. You’ll also learn more about some crucial differences between B2B and B2C mobile applications.  

What is a B2B App?

Business-to-business (B2B) apps connect businesses with other businesses, partners, and stakeholders. Some B2B apps are available for public download, while others are intended only for internal use cases.

Many B2B apps simplify business workflows or fulfill industry-specific needs. In almost all cases, they streamline operations and make life easier for business users and big-picture organizational goals. 

It’s worth noting that there are many different types of B2B apps.

For example, popular apps like Asana, LinkedIn Pulse, Salesforce Mobile App, and Google Analytics are all B2B apps that solve business issues or address pain points for different users. 

But you can also create B2B ecommerce apps designed specifically for wholesale buyers. Or you can build stand-alone apps for internal business processes, like workflow automation or employee communication

As long as the mobile application is built for companies or business users instead of general consumers, it falls in the B2B app category. 

What’s the Difference Between B2B Apps and B2C Apps?

There are several key differences between B2B apps and B2C (business-to-consumer) apps. 

The biggest difference is the target user. Every mobile app development project starts with the same question—who is going to use the app?

This is a question that everyone needs to answer before they start building. Apps built for mass audiences and customers fall into the B2C category. But apps designed for other businesses are B2B apps. 

Other differences include:

  • B2B apps solve business problems, while many B2C apps are made for entertainment or brand awareness.
  • B2B apps typically have fewer users, as they’re designed for a niche audience. 
  • User interface and user experience are important for every app, but the app’s UI is more important for B2C apps, and creating a user-friendly platform must be a top priority.
  • Some B2B apps are strictly for in-house use.
  • B2B apps and B2C apps have different user acquisition methods. 
  • Many B2B apps use a subscription business model. B2C apps are typically free and are monetized through in-app purchases or advertising. 

There’s also a higher level of competition for B2C apps since you’re competing with so many other businesses targeting the same customers. But there’s less competition in the B2B app space, and the target audience has more buying power. 

10 Advantages of B2B Mobile Apps

There are dozens of advantages to creating, implementing, selling, and using B2B apps. But we’ve narrowed down the top ten benefits for most businesses.

1. Scalability

Creating a B2B app makes it easier for your organization to grow. This holds true whether you’re using the app internally or externally.

Internal B2B apps can make it easier for you to streamline, automate, and otherwise improve tedious business processes. For example, let’s say you’re planning to hire 50 new employees in the next 18 months. Having an employee app for onboarding, internal training, and HR resources will make this process so much easier. 

For B2B apps geared toward your business customers, a mobile application can help you generate more revenue. Let’s say your company sells wholesale goods to other organizations. The app can simplify the ordering process and allow your customers to buy with just a few clicks. This reduces the need for phone calls or faxing purchase orders. 

2. Loyalty

B2B apps help you build long-term relationships with your customers. 

For starters, your business is always just a click away from their pocket at any time. You don’t have this type of accessibility through other channels. 

Loyalty apps are great for encouraging your customers to spend more money to reach milestones or save money. Having a B2B app can be an excellent way for them to track orders and progress towards rewards. 

If you’re creating a SaaS product designed to solve a particular business need, a mobile app can become invaluable to those business users. They’ll rely on that app for certain processes, ensuring they’ll need to use your app for the long term.

3. Analytics

B2B apps give you fast access to real-time data. This information makes it easier for you to make more informed business decisions and improvements. 

You’ll learn more about your users, their behavior, and what they’re using the app for. Based on this information, you can adjust the app accordingly to optimize it for conversions.

It’s always interesting when you compare your app analytics to Google Analytics for your website. Sometimes you find lots of parallels between the users, but you’ll typically find some variances from mobile devices. This information is crucial for improving your overall business goals and ensuring you’re reaching the right audience with all of your strategies. 

4. Improved Efficiency

Efficiency is one of the most important aspects of any business initiative. This holds true across every industry and category. 

Custom business apps can fix inefficient processes and solve problems to make your entire operation more efficient. In some cases, you could be using an app to replace manual tasks, allowing your staff to spend more time on business processes that need a human touch.

Efficiency improvements typically come with higher profit margins. It costs you less money to do things when you make them more efficient. Even if these improvements are associated with an investment in technology, the investment often translates to a higher ROI in the long run. 

We have a complete guide on the ROI of internal communications apps, which falls in the B2B category. 

5. Enhanced Communication

Good communication is the lifeblood of any business. With a business app, you can improve communication internally amongst your staff, externally with partners and stakeholders, and even change the way you communicate with business customers. 

Apps can help connect in-office messaging, file sharing, and collaboration. Teams can easily work on projects together from anywhere—supporting remote work and multiple offices. 

Creating a business app can also give you a more direct communication channel with your business customers.

You can send targeted messages straight to their phones with push notifications. If you have more information about the user, like their role within the company, you can take that one step further and really customize those messages.

For example, it wouldn’t make sense to send the CTO of a company a notification about an upcoming delivery. But giving a warehouse manager a head’s up that an order is on the way would make that person’s life much easier. 

6. Technical Support

Mobile apps make it easy for business users to reach your support team. Rather than having to send an email or call a support line, they can submit a problem directly from the app.

This also makes it easier for your support reps to manage tickets and collect user feedback. 

Overall, tech support via mobile apps is a more affordable way for you to serve your customers.

7. Collaboration

Apps are ideal for collaboration, ensuring every team member is on the same page. 

Let’s say you’re creating a business app for project management. You can set up a feature to assign tasks automatically when certain steps of the project are completed. 

Externally, you can use apps to get aligned with vendors and partners. Maybe you set up a scheduling-sharing feature, so vendors don’t overwhelm loading docks with deliveries at the same time. Or maybe you use the app as a way to collaborate with managers at other franchise locations. The examples and use cases are seemingly endless. 

8. Streamline Business Operations

This benefit is actually the culmination of several other benefits on this list. But it’s definitely worth mentioning on its own. 

Refer back to some of the advantages we covered related to communication, analytics, support, collaboration, and efficiency. All of these help streamline your business operations. 

The idea here is to simplify or eliminate any unnecessary tasks in a particular process or initiative. Mobile apps give you a more modern approach to operations, and the sky’s the limit.

If you reach out to BuildFire for help building an app, we can customize any aspect to meet the needs of your specific operations and initiatives. Our team can build custom functionality that’s 100% unique to whatever operations you’re trying to improve. 

9. Inbound Marketing

Believe it or not, a business can actually help your marketing initiatives as well. This is a benefit that’s commonly associated with B2C apps, but some of these concepts still apply in the B2B space.

Here’s why.

Business buyers spend a lot of time and research on products and services before they spend any money. So if you offer something that they’re looking for, they’ll stack you up against your competition to see which brand shines.

Everyone wants to conduct business from a mobile device. So if you have an app and your competitors don’t, you’ll immediately stand out from the crowd. This is a significant competitive advantage in the B2B space, which can really give you an opportunity to corner the market. 

10. Support Business Goals

You can customize a business app to align with specific business goals and initiatives. Depending on the scenario, you can even create multiple business apps for different use cases.

For example, one of your big-picture business goals can be related to employee happiness and well-being. This is obviously an internal initiative, separate from your business model and customers.

To support this goal, you can create an app specifically for your workforce. 

Another goal could be related to targeting a different market segment within the B2B category. So you could create a separate app that’s customer-facing and built to help you land bigger fish. 

Key Features for B2B Mobile App Development

Now that you have a firm grasp on the benefits of B2B mobile apps, it’s time to take a look at some features to include. Here’s a look at some common features used in existing apps for business audiences:

  • Integrations with other apps (like Google Docs, Zapier, etc.)
  • Team collaboration
  • Custom dashboards
  • Data analytics
  • Content showcasing
  • Share videos
  • Create B2B lead pipelines
  • Login with social media accounts
  • Connect and network with other industry professionals
  • Offline connectivity
  • Task lists
  • Notes
  • Alerts 

This bullet list above is just a guide.

You don’t need to include all of these in your app and might even decide to create some custom functionality that addresses your goals. It all depends on the type of B2B app you’re building and why you’re doing it.

Final Thoughts

The demand for B2B apps is growing. To stay ahead of the curve, you should definitely consider building a mobile app if your organization falls in the B2B category. 

Instead of building an app on your own, reach out to BuildFire and let us help.

Our team of professional developers and designers has decades of combined experience creating apps specifically for business users. We can create whatever type of functionality you need based on your business goals and initiatives. 

We’ll also help get your app to market fast, so you can see a quicker return on your investment. Schedule a free consultation to learn more

What is an App Prototype?

Anyone can come up with an app idea. But your mobile app ideas alone probably won’t be enough to pitch investors or impress company stakeholders. 

Creating an app prototype will give you a significant advantage in these scenarios. 

When you create prototypes, it shows potential partners, investors, and stakeholders that you’re serious about the project. It also gives everyone an opportunity to see the look and feel of your software development project instead of just reading words on a page or hearing you talk.

This in-depth guide explains everything you need to know about mobile prototypes and how to make them. 

What is a Mobile App Prototype?

Mobile app prototypes are preliminary mock-ups that look and feel like real apps. App prototypes exhibit the app’s fundamental purpose and design but do not contain any functional code. 

App prototypes can come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are just basic sketches, while others are high-fidelity prototypes, interactive prototypes, or clickable prototypes. 

You can create different types of prototypes at each stage of the app design process. Your idea might start as a hand-drawn sketch on a piece of paper. These types of prototypes are crucial during the early brainstorming phases of app development, and they allow your design team to quickly iterate the ideas. 

Low-fidelity prototypes often transform into digital prototypes that showcase the app’s functionality. These prototypes display the app’s basic structure and big-picture vision.

Benefits of App Prototyping

There are lots of different advantages to prototyping in the development process. Let’s take a closer look at the top reasons why you should create a prototype:

  • Fast Iterations — Even if you already have a clear vision of your app concept, prototypes let your team cycle through multiple drafts and versions of the idea before writing any code. This helps with quick iterations during the planning stages and even helps validate ideas.
  • Improve Clarity — Prototypes help get your entire development team on the same page. They align the creative ideas with the designers, developers, project managers, and stakeholders. You can even use early prototypes to get quick feedback before proceeding with user testing or more advanced market research.
  • Enhanced Selling — For those of you taking your app idea to an investor pitch in an effort to receive funding, a prototype will help you stand out. It’s tough for prospective investors to pour money into an idea without knowing what the final product will look like. In addition to selling your ideas to investors, you can also use a prototype for selling your idea to your board of directors or even prospective customers. 
  • Low Risk — Creating a prototype gives you the opportunity to fail early with virtually no risk. During the prototyping process, you and your team may realize that the idea isn’t very practical and won’t turn out the way you initially envisioned. It’s much better to come to this realization at this stage when there’s very little investment in the project. 

How to Make a Mobile App Prototype

Now that you understand what a prototype is and why it’s so important, it’s time to create a prototype for your mobile app. Just follow these simple steps below to get started:

Define the Problem

The first step of creating an app prototype is similar to the first stage of making an app. You need to identify the problem that your app will solve. 

For some of you, this might seem fairly simple. But you’d be surprised how many people come up with an app idea just because it sounds cool—even though it’s actually not solving a problem or addressing a market need. 

If you’re going to pitch an app idea to investors, partners, or a board of directors, they’ll shoot it down immediately if it’s not meeting a market demand that solves a problem. 

Don’t try to skip or breeze through this process. Taking the time to clearly understand the goal and purpose of your app will become the foundation for every aspect of the development project.

Identify Key Functions

Now that you’ve figured out the problem, you need to come up with features that will address that problem. In short, you’re defining the app’s functionality.

You can start the brainstorming process by listing all potential features that the app could have. But then you’ll want to narrow the focus specifically to functions that serve as a core requirement for the app to work.

Don’t get carried away here. Yes, any app “could” have certain functions. But ask yourself—does it really need this function for the app to work?

If the answer is no, then you can skip it now for the prototyping phase. You can always come back to this idea later on down the line. Stick with a maximum of five key features and design your prototype around that functionality before you worry about all the screens.

Sketch Your Ideas

Now it’s time to take your ideas and put them on paper. This step is the earliest part of the design process and doesn’t require a prototyping tool just yet.

You can draw your initial sketches and UI elements with a pen and paper. 

Take the primary functions from the previous step and start to think about the user experience. How will the user interfaces look when real users want to complete a task using the app?

If you’re stuck, you can always look to existing apps for inspiration. Borrowing ideas from other successful apps on the market can really help mold and shape your sketches. 

These sketches aren’t supposed to have advanced animations or act as a working prototype. You just want to create a fluid UI for your first prototype that will eventually transform into something more tangible throughout the process. 

Use Your Sketch to Create a Wireframe

Now you can take your sketch and bring it to the next level by creating digital assets. Start with a low-fidelity wireframing tool to speed up the process.

Many people confuse wireframes with prototypes. While the two terms are related, they’re actually very different.

Wireframes will contain the basic layout and structure of the app, which is something you’ll need to create a prototype. But a prototype is much more advanced. 

The best prototypes show more attention to detail in terms of design and visuals. Some prototypes are even clickable and interactive. You can think of the wireframe as your bare-bones structure of the prototype at its most basic level. 

Turn Your Wireframe Into a Mobile App Prototype

As mentioned above, prototypes essentially turn wireframes into something more advanced. You’ll definitely want to use a prototyping tool to help you with this step, and we’ll discuss some options to consider shortly. 

While your wireframes can be sent to your team members for feedback, the target audience of a prototype is a bit different. Prototypes are better for sharing with executives, decision-makers, investors, or even potential customers. 

The idea of a prototype is to make the app feel real for anyone who might have a vested interest in the project. You can also hand a prototype off to your developers, so they have a better sense of what they’re building toward. 

I like to think of the prototype as a way to bring the wireframes to life. You’re adding legs and giving the wireframe some personality when you create a prototype. 

While a wireframe might just be used internally, a prototype is something that you can show off. You can add it to your website or even share it on social media as a way to build hype for your app and start promoting it before launch. 

Best Prototyping Tools For Mobile Apps

Creating an app prototype is easier when you’re using a prototyping tool. While there are various tools on the market that seemingly offer similar solutions, the following five options are a good place to start your search:

Figma

Figma is branded as a collaborative interface design solution. It’s a web-based graphics editor and prototyping tool that’s an industry favorite amongst the design community. 

This tool is really useful during the early stages of app development when you’re working collaboratively with a team for brainstorming. You can take advantage of its online whiteboard for workshopping ideas before bringing them to life with a prototype. 

Then you can take those ideas and have them at your fingertips as you bring the design work from ideation to execution. 

Figma even offers a free prototyping tool that you can use to design a mobile app

Moqups

Moqups is an all-in-one platform for wireframes, UI design, and prototypes. This prototyping tool has been used by more than two million people to create a prototype. 

The platform comes with out-of-the-box stencils for different use cases and design elements. This includes mobile app design for both iOS and Android. 

You can use an extensive list of fonts and styling options to bring your mockups to life and easily drag and drop images to the prototype to fit your branding. 

Plans for solo users start at just $13 per month. 

BuildFire

BuildFire is an app-building platform and app development service under one roof. It’s not actually a prototyping tool in the traditional sense, but you can still use BuildFire to create a prototype.

Here’s how. 

BuildFire Plus is our all-inclusive design and development service. Our team can take your idea and turn it into a reality through each step of the process, including pre-launch and post-launch initiatives.

During these early stages, we’ll create a wireframe and eventually turn that wireframe into a prototype before we start building anything. This service is ideal for anyone who would rather pass off the app development responsibilities to a trusted development partner. 

You’ll have the opportunity to review the wireframes and prototypes before any development begins, ensuring everyone is on the same page before the app gets built. 

Justinmind

Justinmind is a free prototyping tool and UI design platform for mobile and web apps. 

You can use it to transform your wireframes into a fully interactive prototype. 

Unlike some of the other tools on our list, Justinmind is not a web-based solution. You do need to download software to your computer to use Justinmind to make a prototype. It’s available for both macOS and Windows machines. 

The basic plan is free forever, and premium subscriptions for advanced interaction and design start at $9 per user per month. 

Proto.io

Proto.io is one of the most popular tools on the market for creating an app prototype. 

It was initially built to work on mobile devices, but the platform has since expanded to a web-based version that still supports any mobile app prototype initiative. 

What really makes this tool stand out from the crowd is its simplicity. It’s trusted by entrepreneurs, marketers, project managers, entrepreneurs, and UX designers. If you have a great idea and want to create a mobile app prototype, Proto.io makes it possible.

It’s a bit pricey compared to similar tools. There’s no free forever plan, and the entry-level package starts at $29 per month. 

You can save up to 20% by committing to an annual contract, and you can try Proto.io with a 15-day free trial. 

Final Thoughts on Mobile App Prototypes

Creating a prototype is a crucial step in the early stages of app development. 

You can make a prototype on your own by following the steps in this guide and using one of the prototyping tools on the list above.

Alternatively, you can reach out to BuildFire and let us create a prototype for you. 

BuildFire Receives Top Awards in G2’s Summer 2022 Reports

G2’s summer 2022 quarterly report is finally here! 

Similar to previous reports, BuildFire has earned 11 G2 achievements, badges, and awards for the summer of 2022.

Most notably, BuildFire was named a “Leader” for the sixth consecutive quarter in the Drag and Drop App Builder Software Grid report. We also received a “Leader” badge in the Small Business Drag and Drop App Builder Software category. Both of these awards are the highest level of recognition in the classes. 

In addition to our new leader badges, BuildFire was named a “Momentum Leader” in three categories and a “High Performer” in six additional app development reports.

Here’s a full summary of BuildFire’s honors in the report:

Grid Reports

  • Drag and Drop App Builder Software — Leader
  • Small Business Drag and Drop App Builder Software — Leader
  • Mid Market Drag and Drop App Builder Software — High Performer
  • Mobile Development Platforms — High Performer
  • Small Business Mobile Development Platforms — High Performer
  • Application Development Platforms — High Performer

Momentum Grid Reports

  • Trending Mobile Development Platforms Software — Momentum Leader
  • Trending Drag and Drop App Builder Software — Momentum Leader
  • Trending Application Development Platforms — Momentum Leader

Regional Grid Reports

  • Asia Drag and Drop App Builder Software — High Performer
  • Asia Pacific Drag and Drop App Builder Software — High Performer

For more information, check out BuildFire’s G2 profile.

Best App Building Software of 2024

Building mobile apps no longer requires coding skills and technical knowledge. With the help of app makers and app creation software, anyone can create their own mobile app without writing a single line of code. 

But not every app builder on the market is created equally. 

To help you find the best app development platform for your specific use case, we’ve reviewed and tested the best app makers and narrowed down the top ten options.

Top 10 Best App Building Software

Before you start building mobile apps, check out these reviews to see which app builder best fits your needs, app idea, and business model.

1. BuildFire

BuildFire is the most powerful app builder for iOS apps and Android apps on the market today. 

Trusted to create more than 10,000 mobile apps, it’s the easiest way for anyone, regardless of technical ability, to create an app from scratch and get it in the hands of real users. 

As a web-based solution, there are no software installation requirements or steep learning curves to get started. You can sign up for a free trial today and start building your app immediately. 

To get started, choose from a professionally-designed template in your app category. Then it’s just a matter of customizing the content to fit your vision.

Adding features and functions is simple. Just browse from the hundreds of pre-built functions on the BuildFire marketplace, and add them to your app with a single click.

What makes BuildFire stand out compared to other app builders is its limitless customization and scalability. You’ll never outgrow BuildFire, and you can always add custom features.

If you have a function in mind that you don’t see on the feature marketplace, just connect with a BuildFire rep, and the pro services team will build it for you.

BuildFire is the best way to build mobile apps quickly and for a fraction of the cost compared to traditional development. When you’re done building the app, you can get it live on the app stores with a single click. The BuildFire team understands the publishing requirements for the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and they’ll assist you with the publishing process.

BuildFire’s app development platform starts at just $159 per month, and you can try it for free with a 14-day trial. 

2. Inspire U Mobile Apps

Inspire U is a no-code app builder that advertises the ability to build your own app in four hours.

It’s a simple and intuitive platform designed for creating custom mobile apps without any technical knowledge.

The company was founded by a marketing consultant that quickly realized the opportunity and demand in the app development space. After working with so many clients that needed an app, Inspire U Mobile Apps was born.

This customer-oriented brand is built on the foundation of hard work, quality, innovation, and trust.

They also run app development workshops to help teach people how to use the software. 

To learn more about Inspire U Mobile Apps, check out the full story here

3. Zoho Creator

Zoho Creator is a no-code app maker designed for business process solutions. 

Unlike some of the other tools on our list, you do need some technical knowledge to use Zoho Creator for app development. 

The platform has been used to create more than seven million business process apps. It’s commonly used for business processes like:

  • Sales management
  • Project management
  • Customer portals
  • Data management
  • Enterprise resource planning

For the most part, Zoho Creator isn’t really made for customer-facing apps. It does have a drag-and-drop interface but still requires some technical experience to get the most out of this tool.

If you have an in-house IT team and want to provide them with ways to improve internal workflows, Zoho Creator is a top option to consider. 

4. MobiLoud

MobiLoud is a basic solution for anyone that wants to quickly turn a website into a mobile app.

If you’re not worried about any customization and just want your site transformed into a web app or native mobile app, MobiLoud gets the job done.

While this is a quick solution for web apps, it’s not really a viable option for a business app.

A website in the form of a mobile app is going to be pretty restrictive. MobiLoud doesn’t quite have the same customization options as other app development solutions on the market.

It’s also worth noting that some app stores require differences between your website and app before they publish your app. So this method could cause your app to get rejected.

That said, if you’re in a pinch and need a super basic app as quickly as possible, MobiLoud can be a good temporary solution. 

5. Unity

Unity is a niche-specific app development solution.

If you’re interested in creating a mobile gaming app, this app development platform should definitely be on your radar.

The software comes with custom tools for iOS and Android—making sure you have the power to create whatever you need for the game to work well on native platforms.

Generally speaking, games are a bit more complex compared to other types of apps. So some technical skills and general tech knowledge will definitely be helpful if you’re using this platform.

They have a wide range of tools and resources, including:

  • 2D game tools
  • Universal render pipeline (URP)
  • A game library
  • Addressable asset scripting
  • Visual scripting
  • Augmented reality foundations
  • Analytics

If you’re ready to take your game idea and bring it to life, Unity is a solid option to consider. 

6. Swing2App

Swing2App is a simple app development platform based in Korea. 

If you’re looking for a basic and low-cost solution to create an app, this is a viable option to consider.

It’s worth noting that the platform doesn’t quite accommodate custom capabilities. Swing2App is more of a cookie-cutter solution, which really only supports basic mobile apps. 

Cookie-cutters are fine for some people, but they’re not always ideal for business use or monetizing apps. 

Lots of customers rely on this solution for converting a website to a mobile app. 

7. Skuid

Skuid entered the app development space in 2013. 

For nearly a decade, the tool has been used to develop apps for business productivity and internal solutions.

Similar to some of the other app makers on our list, Skuid isn’t really designed for customer-facing mobile apps. 

One unique standout of this mobile app builder software is its recent partnership with Salesforce. It was recognized for its ability to create apps that drive customer success using this well-known sales tool.

Skuid can be used to create apps for guiding sales, partner portals, people operations, and other internal business processes. 

They also pledge to give 1% of their equity, employee time, and product licenses back to the community.

8. Linx

Linx is a unique app development solution compared to other options we’ve reviewed so far.

Based in South Africa, this low-code development platform is designed for creating and hosting backend applications. 

Like other low-code solutions, Linx does require some technical knowledge. You can host on-premise or cloud solutions that contain built-in monitoring, management, and metrics.

Some examples of what you can build with Linx include:

  • Integrated systems (like mining and supplier integrations)
  • Backend web applications
  • Automated backend processors
  • Endpoints for Webhooks
  • APIs and microservices

It’s worth noting that this low-code IDE is probably the most complex solution on our list. While you technically don’t need to write code, some basic coding knowledge and technical skills are definitely helpful. 

Linx is built for developers. 

9. Alpha Software

Alpha Software provides mobile app development tools for both low-code and no-code apps.

It offers two different Alpha app development solutions—Alpha TransForm and AlphaAnywhere. 

You can use this platform to create cross-platform apps using a low code system. If you want to create a no-code app, then you can use it for things like automating workflows and digitizing paper forms. 

The platform offers offline capabilities, simple licensing, and the ability to integrate with any system.

It’s commonly trusted by SaaS solutions and professional services that have specific use cases. 

10. Xojo

Xojo is a solid app development option for developers that want to create a native app across multiple platforms.

You can use Xojo for desktop apps, web apps, mobile apps, and Raspberry Pi. 

Unlike other web-based tools on our list, Xojo does require a software download for you to use it. The software is compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux machines.

Overall, Xojo is a beginner-friendly tool that’s designed for developers. 

It has more than 40+ built-in user interface tools that you can use to customize the look and feel of your app. The software also supports advanced features like inheritance and polymorphism.

How Do You Create Apps With an App Builder?

Using an app builder to create mobile apps is a bit different from traditional development. The best app makers don’t require any coding skills or programming knowledge to get started.

It’s worth noting that some low-code tools on our list are made for developers and do require some tech skills.

For no-code mobile apps, getting started is typically as easy as creating an account and choosing a template. You can do this directly from your web browser, without any software downloads or installations required.

Here’s a quick glance at what the initial stage looks like when you’re creating apps with BuildFire:

Once you’ve selected a template, you can dive straight into the app development process. 

Just set up your account, and you can immediately start adding features and functions from the marketplace. 

This process will look a little bit different for everyone, depending on the tools you’re using. For more information, check out our in-depth guide on how to make an app.

How to Find the Best App Builders

Now that you’ve had a chance to look at some of the best app development solutions on the market, it’s time to find the right app development software for you. Keep the following considerations in mind as you’re comparing options and narrowing down a shortlist. 

Ability to Create iOS and Android Apps

This is the first thing you should look for if you’re seeking mobile app development software for real users. The best tools let you create iOS apps and Android apps in a single build.

If you can’t simultaneously create Android native apps and iOS native apps using the platform, it’s going to add to your costs and extend your project deployment time.

App Development Timeline

How long will it take for you to create the app?

Some app development solutions say you can build the app in hours. Others advertise weeks or months. 

This answer is going to vary for everyone. It depends on what type of app you want to build and the features you’re adding. If you’re going to add custom features beyond the plug-and-play options offered by the software, it’s typically going to take a bit longer.

Free Trial

Always sign up for a free trial of app development software before you start building.

These trials are the best way to get a feel for the app builder and what the solution offers. After playing around testing a handful of these solutions, you should be able to quickly identify which one gives you the most flexibility. 

App Development Software Cost

Your budget is obviously an important factor when you’re comparing app development tools.

With that said, you shouldn’t look at price alone if you’re assessing two tools side-by-side. While one tool might have a lower price tag, it could be extremely limiting compared to tools with more custom options. 

Generally speaking, cheaper app development software translates to less flexibility. You’ll be bound by certain restrictions of the tool, making it tough to scale or add custom features. 

Some solutions might have a higher price point, but they come with pro services solutions and added support before, during, and after you launch the app.

Check out our guide on the value of mobile app development services vs. app builders to learn more about this concept. 

Customization

Lots of app makers on the market are rigid and don’t leave much room for customization. You’re bound by the limitations of the software and what that tool can handle.

BuildFire is the only app maker that truly allows you to create fully custom apps without writing any code. That’s because BuildFire offers limitless scalability and customization. 

If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the feature marketplace, BuildFire has a team of expert developers that can create custom functionality for you. 

Assess All the Features

This is something you can focus on during your free trial of an app development tool.

Assess the features and see if there’s something missing that you’d need to complete the full app. The best tools should include features for push notifications, analytics, app publishing, and more.

You can also look at the pre-built functionality for things like calendars, video integrations, polling, social walls, event management, images, ecommerce integrations—the list goes on and on. 

Ease of Use

Simplicity is key when you’re comparing app development tools.

If you don’t have any technical skills or coding knowledge, you need a solution that lets you create native mobile apps without writing any code. 

With any software, there’s always a slight learning curve. But you shouldn’t have to go through any complex training or courses to figure out the tool. Some solutions on our list are a bit more advanced and designed for developers. These often come in the form of low-code app development as opposed to no-code app development. 

White-Glove Support

Having a team of experts at your disposal definitely makes some tools stand out from the crowd.

If you have some questions or need something done for you, you’ll definitely want to lean towards a tool that offers white-glove assistance. This can range from basic questions about using the software to full-service feature creation. 

App Performance

The best app development software delivers a stunning final product. After all, isn’t that what’s most important?

Some tools might be cheap and easy, but the end result is a rigid app that crashes and has too many problems. 

Check out some of the existing apps that have been built using the software you’re considering. See if those apps perform well or if they have bugs and errors. You can also refer to the user reviews of those apps to see whether or not real users are happy with the in-app experience. 

App Submission Process

Development is just the beginning part of creating and managing an app.

But once the process is complete, how are you going to get your app live on the app stores?

The Apple App Store and Google Play Store each have a unique publishing process. So it’s in your best interest to use an app builder that provides a seamless submission process. 

White-Glove Support

Having a team of experts at your disposal definitely makes some tools stand out from the crowd.

If you have some questions or need something done for you, you’ll definitely want to lean towards a tool that offers white-glove assistance. This can range from basic questions about using the software to full-service feature creation. 

Final Thoughts on the Top App Building Software

The best mobile app development software should be easy to use, customizable, and built to scale. 

This guide contains something for everyone, but some of these tools definitely stand out compared to others. 

We also have an in-depth ebook—a Complete Buyer’s Guide to Mobile App Development Platforms that can help you narrow down your options and find the right solution for you.

If you’re ready to get started, you can sign up for a 14-day free trial of BuildFire and start making your app today.

How to Create a Design Concept For Your App

An effective design concept is the foundation of a mobile app and its goals. Creating a design concept requires a firm grasp of the problems your app aims to solve, your target audience, and the ideal aesthetics of the final project. 

Starting the mobile app design process with a clear design concept is crucial for success.

As a designer, entrepreneur, or business user with an app idea, our minds automatically create a concept when we’re brainstorming an idea. But creating a conceptual design helps ensure everyone’s goals are aligned and puts you on the path to creating a good UX/UI design for your app.

This in-depth guide explains everything you need to know about design concepts and why they’re so important. We’ll also walk you through the step-by-step process of creating a design concept and cover the key principles of concept design. 

What is a Design Concept?

A design concept is a general idea and perception of a product that drives its development explained through sketches, images, written statements, and other visuals. 

Conceptual designs help developers, designers, and stakeholders stay on track during the design stages and creative process—ultimately ensuring that the final product delivers value to its target audience when it’s brought to market. 

The best design concepts showcase the core objectives of a product with precision. It requires a clear understanding of the target users, problems that need solving, preferred aesthetic styles, and visions of all stakeholders. 

Why You Need a Solid Design Concept For Your Mobile App

Conceptual design is vitally important during the early stages of a mobile app development project. It provides the foundation to visually shape an idea and concept.

Investing in a design concept reduces the chances of running into problems, confusion, or setbacks down the road. Everyone on the team will have a clear understanding of the concept, which makes it less likely that they’ll take the project in the wrong direction.

Starting a project without a clear purpose is dangerous, especially when you’re putting real money into the product. Re-designs and big changes once development has started can be expensive and will likely extend your development timeline as well.

The final product also suffers if a design concept hasn’t been clearly established from the beginning. This results in a sub-par user experience, which can ultimately impact your brand image and revenue.

Conversely, a solid design concept speeds up the design process, development stages, and helps deliver a visually stunning final product. Users will experience a great UX/UI design that keeps them coming back to the app for more. 

Concept design establishes the moods, emotions, and gut feelings of artistic methods. It’s about creating something that’s aesthetically pleasing while describing your brand image and conveying information about the app.

At its core, a design concept is essentially a thought or an idea. But putting that idea on paper bridges the gap between abstract perceptions and attainable visuals. 

You can use design concepts to establish a design language that clearly communicates with UI/UX designers. A design concept does not actually dive into the stylistic details of the app—it simply lays the groundwork for the design features. 

5 Steps to Design Concept Development for Apps

Here are the five steps for creating a design concept. Make sure you start with these steps before you dive into other parts of the mobile app design process

Step 1: Get Organized for the Creative Process

The first step of this process is all about gathering your thoughts. You can’t communicate the concept in the next stage until you have a clear understanding of everything first.

Depending on your role in the project, you must have a firm grasp of the app’s purpose, goals, and business objectives. If you’re a business owner or an executive-level decision-maker that’s leading the charge for this project, you probably already know the answer here.

But if you’re a designer or project lead, you’ll likely need to obtain a lot more information from the clients or stakeholders before you can continue. 

Take some time to research the competition. How are other apps in your category designed? Do these apps have a good UX/UI design? Or are they missing some essential features?

Then you need to decide whether or not you’re going to mimic certain concepts or you’re going to create a concept that’s 100% original. It’s worth the investment to conduct internal tests with real users to see how they react to competitor apps.

Gather all the data from your tests and use that information to guide your concept design.

Step 2: Verbalize Your Design Concepts

Again, a concept starts as just a thought. But you need to draw these thoughts out before you can formalize them. Verbalization is the first step of this process.

Many creative individuals struggle to put their thoughts into words. It all depends on the project.

For example, an app designer will likely have a very different background than an architecture student. A UX/UI designer won’t necessarily have interior design skills. Yet all of these roles require creativity and precision when it comes to completing their respective projects. 

If you’re struggling to put your thoughts into words, try going through the mind mapping process.

Start with just a word or phrase related to the brand or other designs. Then use that word to come up with similar words or phrases that come to mind. This will help you establish a unique sequence for your thoughts and the characteristics associated with that concept. 

Establish a time limit on this process. You should give yourself enough time to let the creative juices flow, but you don’t want to spend all day on it. 

It’s vitally important that you schedule your brainstorming sessions at a time when your mind is free from distractions. Everyone is different. Some of us are more creative in the mornings. Others are more creative on nights and weekends. 

Try to limit distractions from phones, computers, TVs, and other technology. Going for a walk or spending time in nature will also help with the creative process. 

The final step of verbal ideation should be a complete phrase or single sentence that illustrates the concept with precision. This will help you focus your efforts on that specific concept throughout the entire design process.

For more inspiration and examples, check out our app design resources

Step 3: Sketch Your Design Ideas

Now that you’ve verbalized your ideas, it’s time to put those words on paper. You must have a firm grasp of the core goals of the app to complete this step of the project. 

Even if you’re not super creative, that’s ok. Get out a pen, paper, colored pencils, and markers. There’s no right or wrong way to sketch your concept.

Starting with informal low-fi sketches is your best bet. Don’t worry about the details or intricacies just yet. You’re just putting your thoughts on paper. 

You might experiment with different app layout ideas or templates. Or maybe you just want to get some of your core principles displayed. Your sketches might look completely different from someone else going through the same creative process, and that’s 100% ok.

In fact, your sketches don’t even need to be related to mobile apps just yet. They can be any creative concept or inspiration for the next steps. 

Step 4: Narrow Down Your Design Concept Choices

You can eventually take your sketches and use them with other visuals as creative inspiration. But you ultimately need to narrow your design decision to just one design. 

If you’re a designer, you can take each concept directly to your clients and get their input. If you’re a stakeholder, you can also run additional tests and focus groups to see if certain concepts resonate with your target audience compared to others. 

Having lots of different ideas, sketches, and visuals is great during the brainstorming process. But you don’t want to overwhelm the design team and developers. 

Giving them too much is just as bad as giving them nothing at all, especially if the different concepts are unrelated.

Finalizing a direction to take your design concept is arguably the most important stage in this process. The final choice will act as your north star for the duration of the design and development stages. 

Step 5: Develop Your Mobile App’s Design Concept

Actually developing the final concept is the final step of this process. This means passing off the concept to the people who will be turning your thoughts into reality. 

It’s important that the final concept has been reviewed and approved before development begins. 

This often involves taking a concept and using it to wireframe your app or create a prototype. Sketches aren’t usually professional enough if you’re presenting a concept to clients, stakeholders, or investors. But creating a wireframe and prototype will showcase your concept and get everyone on the same page. 

If you need some assistance with this step, you can consult with our professional team here at BuildFire. We can handle all of the designs, prototyping, and wireframes on your behalf. Our strategists will even run a competitive analysis to see how your design stacks up against other apps on the market. 

Once the design concepts have been finalized and approved, we can take that concept and use it to develop an app for you. So there’s no need to hire an in-house team or work with freelancers to bring our idea to life.

BuildFire handles all of your design and development needs under one roof. Learn more about BuildFire Plus here.

Key Principles for Design Concepts

As you’re going through this process and finalizing your design decisions, you must consider the following design concept principles. This will help steer you in the right direction at each stage.

Color Scheme

Defining your color palette will really help drive the rest of your concept. Colors are a powerful way to convey a feeling, emotion, or brand message. 

It’s also worth noting that different tones convey different messages to end-users. For example, yellow conveys youth, optimism, and happiness. Blue exudes trust, professionalism, and formality—which is why so many banks have blue in their logos.

Choosing a color scheme early can help pave the way for other design choices in your project. 

UI Elements

You won’t actually be finalizing any user interface elements in the early stages of the project. That’s ultimately for a UI designer to implement.

But with that said, you should still have UI in the back of your mind as you’re creating a concept design. 

This will ultimately translate better to the design team when you’re passing deliverables to the next stage. Rather than having to come up with the UI concepts from scratch, they’ll have at least some direction of what you’re thinking. 

Understand the Users

So many people fall in love with their app idea, but they don’t actually validate it. You might think your design concept is amazing, but that alone isn’t enough to bring it to market. 

Figuring out if real users will accept your design choices is an absolute must for app development. 

Waiting until the app has been fully developed to conduct these types of tests is a mistake. What if the users reject your idea? It’s easier and much less expensive to make changes while those concepts are still on paper before any code has been committed. 

Familiarity

People have a certain expectation whenever they’re using a specific product. This includes mobile apps.

So while it’s important to let your creative juices flow, you don’t want to step too far outside of the box when you’re creating a design concept. 

You should mirror familiar choices that have been used for similar apps on the market. This will drastically reduce the learning curve of users, as the design concept ultimately shapes the user interface.

Typography

Look through different fonts and typography templates to see which ones resonate the most with your concept. 

Your brand message and app perception can easily be conveyed through the right typography.

For example, certain text choices look very professional. Others are a bit more fun or silly. 

Creativity

Be unique and showcase your style in the design concept. The best concepts invoke emotions and have a personality of their own.

At worst, the design concept gets rejected before it goes into development. That’s ok. You can still take some creative chances and express your ideas at each step. Just don’t try to reinvent the wheel with every decision. 

Final Thoughts

Creating a design concept is an important step in the overall app development process. It gets everyone on the same page before development begins, ultimately saving time and money for your project.

If you need some help creating a design concept, schedule a free consultation with an expert strategist at BuildFire. 

We can handle all of your design, development, and post-launch needs—getting your app to market faster than traditional development. This allows you to focus more on your business and customers while we take care of all the technical requirements. 

The Value of Mobile App Development Services vs. App Builders

There are lots of different ways to create mobile apps.

Most businesses and entrepreneurs are torn between two options—using an app builder or leveraging mobile app development services. 

But what if I told you that you didn’t have to choose? The vast majority of people building mobile apps fall somewhere between these two paths. An app builder alone isn’t flexible enough to accommodate their needs, but they don’t quite want to outsource the entire project.

This guide is a must-read for anyone that wants to develop a mobile app. You’ll learn the advantages of each method and discover an alternative option that’s the best of both worlds.

Comparing Mobile App Development Services and App Builders

First, let’s make sure you have a clear understanding of these two options for mobile application development. Side-by-side, app development services and app builders are very different.

Mobile App Development Services

Traditionally, these services come from a mobile app development company or agency. You’re essentially outsourcing the entire mobile app design and development process. 

The exact services vary slightly from company to company, but most offer some version of a total package to build native apps. These agencies have a team of in-house mobile app developers that can create a custom mobile application based on your specific requests. 

Depending on the company, iOS app development and Android app development might be two different services. So if you want an app built for multiple platforms, it’s usually in your best interest to work with an agency that offers both in a single solution. 

The best mobile application development services focus strictly on mobile apps. You’ll find some agencies on the market that offer app development alongside other agency services like web design, SEO, social media marketing, PPC, and more. It’s generally in your best interest to avoid these. App development shouldn’t be a side project or an afterthought—it should be the company’s core service.

It’s also worth noting that not every app development service falls into the same category. 

Some agencies simply build what you ask them, and that’s the end of it. But if you’re using a service like BuildFire Plus, you’ll benefit from services that go above and beyond basic app development.

For example, BuildFire offers more consultancy and assistance during the pre-development stages to align your business goals with your app vision. We’ll also handle wireframes, prototyping, designs, a competitive analysis, and everything else to ensure your app is a success.

Our team continues to be a partner in your success even after your app launches. We’ll run reports on user engagement and app store performance to ensure your app is optimized for growth. 

If you have ideas for new features down the road, we’ll handle that too.

Not every app development service on the market offers this level of white-glove support. So it’s definitely something to consider as you’re shopping around and comparing different options. 

App Builders

App builders are designed for non-technical users that want to create a mobile app. Anyone can use an app builder to make an app without hiring a mobile app developer or learning programming languages. 

Some of you might have some experience with website builders like Wix or Squarespace. Most app builders fall into this same category. All of the backend technology and infrastructure are built for you—all you need to do is add your content and customize the app based on your needs.

App builders are great for DIY users with lower budgets. But like most software on the market, there are significant differences when you’re comparing platforms. 

We have a complete Buyer’s Guide to Mobile App Development Platforms that can help you narrow down the best option based on your needs. 

In short, some app builders are more flexible than others. Many plug-and-play app builders are fairly rigid and not scalable. You’re bound by the restrictions of the platform, and customization is limited. Basically, if the app builder doesn’t have a feature or function you want, then you’re out of luck.

That’s where BuildFire stands out from the crowd, and it’s really in a league of its own when you look at this category as a whole.

First and foremost, BuildFire’s app maker is really easy to use. It’s a web-based platform that gives you full control over your app design, features, and content. Just start with a template and start customizing everything from there.

BuildFire also offers limitless functionality. You can take advantage of the 150+ pre-built plugins in our feature marketplace. But if there’s a feature you want that doesn’t currently exist as a plugin, we can build it for you.

You can create an app for iOS and Android without writing a single line of code and for a fraction of the price compared to traditional development. 

But you’re not completely on your own during this process. If you need some help or have a custom feature request, BuildFire’s team of experts is just a click or call away.

Pros and Cons of Mobile App Development Services

Let’s take a closer look at the advantages and potential drawbacks of working with an app development company. This can help you determine whether or not this path makes sense for your mobile app development projects.

Benefits of Mobile Development Services

  • You don’t have to hire an in-house team or freelance mobile app developers.
  • The best companies offer more than high-quality native apps. You’ll also get a project manager, quality assurance agent, management services, and other related services that focus on business growth.
  • App development services can create iOS apps, Android apps, and sometimes build a web app for your business. 
  • You’ll be working with a team of experts that know what it takes to create a successful mobile app. So you’re not alone during the process and always have someone that can answer your questions and guide you through each step.
  • The best app development companies offer everything from strategic consulting to UX/UI design, app development, and post-launch support. 

Potential Drawbacks

  • Not every agency that creates mobile apps specializes in development. Some offer services that are unrelated to app development (SEO, PPC, etc.) that often take away from the quality of your final product. 
  • Compared side-by-side with an app builder alone, development services are a bit more expensive. 

Pros and Cons of App Builders

Not all app makers are created equally. But generally speaking, these are some of the pros and cons to consider if you want to build mobile apps using this method.

Benefits of App Makers

  • App builders make it possible to create cross-platform apps without hiring mobile app developers.
  • They use mobile technology that bridges the gap between software development and non-technical users. This makes mobile app development more accessible to the masses.
  • Using an app maker simplifies the mobile app development process. It shortens the development timeline and gets apps to market quicker than traditional cross-platform app development. 
  • You can use a template to get started, build momentum, and get inspired with your design and ideas. 
  • App makers save time and money when you’re building cross-platform mobile applications.
  • All of the backend infrastructure is handled for you. You won’t have to worry about servers, databases, backups, push notifications, and everything else your app needs to be successful.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Some app makers use development frameworks that create hybrid mobile apps. These aren’t ideal for certain types of apps, like gaming apps, augmented reality apps, or graphics-intensive mobile apps. 
  • Many app builders are rigid and can’t be customized beyond the plug-and-play features (although this is not the case for all of them).

The Best of Both Worlds — Mobile App Development Services and App Platform Under One Roof

BuildFire is the ultimate solution for cross-platform app development. Between our robust platform and pro services, we’ve created over 10,000+ mobile apps in every category that you can imagine. 

Whether you’re a solo user that prefers the DIY approach to mobile app development or an enterprise organization that wants a full-service solution, BuildFire has you covered. 

That’s what makes our software and service so unique compared to other players in this industry. BuildFire is truly in a league of its own. 

Our app development platform and custom development services are both industry leaders.

First, we have the only app maker on the market that offers truly limitless functionality. For most DIY users, there’s a good chance you can find whatever feature you need in our plugin marketplace. If not, no problem—we’ll create that feature for you.  

Most app development solutions offer just one solution—app builders or development services. But BuildFire has both.

Even when you compare BuildFire side-by-side with other development services, our offerings blow the competition out of the water. That’s because BuildFire is a dedicated partner in your success. BuildFire Plus offers:

  • Competitive analysis
  • System architecture
  • App strategy sessions and planning
  • Wireframes
  • UX/UI app design
  • Prototyping
  • User engagement reports
  • App store performance reports
  • Content updates
  • Post-launch maintenance and support

The list goes on and on. Most app development services end the engagement when the app is complete. But with BuildFire, we’ll be there for the lifetime of your app.

App Platform + Development Services vs. Standalone App Builders

Not everyone needs or wants full development service. That’s ok.

If you’re a smaller business or operating on a tighter budget, an app builder might be fine to accommodate your needs. But if you fall into this category, it’s crucial that you find an app development platform that can truly support your needs and growth.

That’s why it’s so important to find a robust app platform that also offers custom development services—and this is where BuildFire shines.

With standalone app builders, you’ll eventually run into growth restrictions. It may not be today or tomorrow, but at some point you’ll want something that the platform doesn’t offer. Now what? You can’t just move your app to another platform. You’d have to start the project over from scratch, which would likely crush your initial budget. 

BuildFire is different. DIY users can take full advantage of the app development platform and use it to create 90% of the app. But if you run into that small 10% that requires some white-glove support, we can handle this for you in-house. 

You’ll still be able to build your app for a fraction of the cost and at a fraction of the time compared to traditional development. But you’ll also benefit from having development services at your disposal. 

Even if you can build 100% of the app using the platform alone, BuildFire still shines over other mobile application development companies for several reasons. 

Once you finish building the app, we’ll get it published on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for you. As new Apple and Android mobile devices get released and OS changes over time, we’ll make sure your app is compatible by handling all of the updates on your behalf.

If you want to add new features down the road, we can take care of that as well—even custom features that aren’t offered in the plugin marketplace.

BuildFire is a dedicated partner in your success, even if you’re not using the full-service development option. We’ll survey your users, provide you with in-depth analytics, and be there every step of the way as your app scales and evolves over time. 

Other mobile app platforms on the market might seem cheaper at first glance. But they don’t offer these additional services. So the end product is more rigid and less creative. 

Final Thoughts — Which One is Right For You?

Now that you’ve seen the difference between mobile app development services and mobile app development platforms, it’s time to figure out what’s best for you and your unique needs.

If you’re on a tighter budget and just need a basic mobile app, an app builder will likely be fine for you. 

For midsize businesses and other business use cases, app development services can really help take your idea to the next level. It’s still easier and most cost-effective than assembling a team on your own or hiring in-house developers to create a mobile app.

Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between these options. With BuildFire, you have a robust mobile app platform with all the benefits of a full-service solution. 

Schedule a free consultation today to get started and see how BuildFire can be a partner in your success.

How to Create a Mobile App Wireframe

Wireframing is a crucial step in the mobile app development process. It helps provide a clear vision for stakeholders, development teams, designers, and everyone else associated with the project.

An app wireframe is the backbone for creating a successful design and building an app that users will love.

This in-depth guide explains everything you need to know about app wireframes, including how to make an app wireframe and best practices to follow.

What is a Mobile App Wireframe?

An app wireframe is a two-dimensional blueprint and visual guide that represents the skeletal framework of a mobile application. 

The wireframe stage takes place early on in the product life cycle before any actual development or design begins. This initial stage of an app project helps demonstrate how the app will work and what it will look like.

Wireframes should visually illustrate different steps in the user journey as a way to identify potential pain points before the dev team starts building. It should include all of your page elements, navigation screens, content, and main objectives. 

An app wireframe gets everyone on the same page, so the team knows what they’re building, and stakeholders know what to expect as the final product. 

Wireframes do not include any colors, stylized graphics, images, logos, fonts, or mobile app design elements. They’re simply early sketches that show how the app will be used.

You can think of a wireframe like the blueprint of a house. It contains all of the rooms, doors, windows, electrical infrastructure, and plumbing but does not include any furniture or decorations.

Why Are Mobile App Wireframes Important?

App wireframes are a crucial part of the mobile app development and design process.

Wireframing helps provide a clear picture of how end-users will interact with your app. If you can’t explain how your app idea solves the problems of your customers, then you might need to go back to the drawing board. 

Let’s take a closer look at the reasons why it’s so important to create an app wireframe.

Visual Blueprint of the App

Having an idea is great, and having a good idea is even better. But even the best ideas are useless if you don’t have a clear plan and vision.

Verbally conveying your idea to a development team and assuming they’re going to deliver what you want is unrealistic. 

But a wireframe gets your point across and makes it easier to share your vision with project teams, investors, and stakeholders.

You can’t think about funding, user testing, or other business-related decisions without a wireframe. Putting these ideas into a wireframe first will make your life much easier. 

Faster Iterations

An app wireframe helps simplify an otherwise large or intimidating development process. Breaking your project into smaller, attainable tasks is a much easier way to achieve success. 

The great part about building a wireframe is that it doesn’t take a ton of time. This helps you build momentum and get the ball rolling as you’re assembling your team, giving presentations, and pitching investors. 

Executing these iterations in the early stages of development is much easier, and you can continue building on these steps. 

Avoid Mistakes

Your app wireframe should lay out the different screen functions. 

It helps you determine where certain app features should be placed and if there’s enough room on the screen to accommodate those functions. 

An app wireframe helps you establish a hierarchy of elements before you implement the design. It’s much easier to do this on paper than after you’ve committed any code. 

Mistakes here are really easy to fix. But fixing mistakes post-development is much more challenging. 

Saves Time and Money

As previously mentioned, an app wireframe helps you identify potential flaws and pain points before anything has been coded. This saves you a ton of time and money on development costs. 

Wireframes also provide your developers and designers with a clear picture of what they’re building. So starting with a wireframe can actually speed up the development process and shorten your overall timeline. 

Even things like content creation will be streamlined since the structure of your app’s screens have already been organized. Content creators and designers won’t have to ask any questions about where certain elements should be placed.

An app wireframe makes it easier to estimate costs as well. For example, if you’re outsourcing a UX/UI design team, they’ll likely provide you with a more accurate estimate since they know exactly what you’re looking for. So the chances of running over budget are reduced. 

How to Wireframe Mobile Apps in 5 Simple Steps

Creating a wireframe is easy when you follow the step-by-step guide below:

  1. Map Out the App’s User Flow
  2. Organize the Mobile App Content
  3. Determine the Layout
  4. Create a Detailed Wireframe
  5. Integrate the Design Elements

Step #1 — Map Out the App’s User Flow

User flows are the backbone of wireframes for mobile applications. 

A user flow is a visual guide that showcases the series of actions a user must take to reach a specific goal. Not all user flows are linear—meaning there might be multiple paths to achieve a goal within your app.  

You can start creating a user flow by sketching your idea on a piece of paper. Eventually, you can take this sketch to the next level with a digital version of the flow.

Remember, an app wireframe does not contain design elements just yet. So you can use simple rectangle boxes as image placeholders with arrows to showcase the flow. 

You can start to think about dropdown menus or the bottom tab bar of each screen, but these won’t necessarily be included in the early sketches of UX flows. 

After you’ve visualized the flow, you can share your early concepts with others. This allows you to get feedback from your team and other people. It forces you to create each screen with a clear purpose for achieving the end goal.

If a screen does not help a user do something related to the app’s purpose, then it can be removed from the flow. 

For example, let’s say you’re designing a food delivery app. The app’s goal is to get food in the hands of users who can order from different restaurants. 

After selecting a restaurant, should the user be brought to an “Our Story” screen for that particular establishment? No. That would disrupt the flow of ordering. 

These are the types of things you need to take into consideration when you’re going through this process. 

Step #2 — Organize the Mobile App Content

Now that you have a clear vision of your wireframe design, you can start to think about the actual copy and content that you’ll use in the app. 

What is going to appear on different mobile screens? How will that content integrate with the user flow?

Using a simple spreadsheet or reusable content blocks is an effective way to organize your content. You can start to list out things like headers, images, links, and anything else that will appear in your mobile frame.

For example, let’s say you’re creating a fitness app to expand your personal training business. You could put together a spreadsheet with your main app content that includes training videos, meal prep instructions, and fitness guides. 

Then you could organize that content even further by segmenting cardio exercises from weight lifting. Within a weight lifting category, you can have sub-segments for arms, legs, back, etc. 

It’s much easier to organize your content now, as opposed to later on when you’re mapping out the screen layouts. You can refer to your content list as you plug things in during the next steps.

Step #3 — Determine the Layout

Next, you can establish the visual hierarchy and interface elements of your key screens. This will eventually set up the interaction design. 

Your app layout is essentially a combination of the first two steps we’ve already gone through. You’re going to take the content from step two and integrate it with the user flows in step one. 

You can still use basic shapes and tab bar placeholders instead of using any actual copy. But you can eliminate at least some of the placeholder text or screens with headers.

For example, your home screen layout might initially include Lorem ipsum placeholder text. Now you can get rid of those placeholder headers and add the main headers from your content list. 

You can establish the hierarchy of screen elements using size as a point of reference. 

Larger buttons, text, and CTAs are more important than smaller text located at the bottom of the screen. You can play around with different variations of the screen layouts as you’re going through this process. 

I strongly recommend using easily recognizable design patterns when you’re thinking about the screen layouts. 

For example, let’s say you’re going to include a bottom tab bar navigation on each screen of your app that includes the app’s most important screens. Having a house icon for a home screen makes more sense than a random shape or icon. This is something that users are already familiar with, and they understand exactly where that button is going to take them. A smiley face icon is not appropriate for your settings page. 

Look at the example above. You know exactly where the home button and settings button are, even without any text on the page.

Similarly, these icons would not fit in the middle of the screen, but they make sense placed at the bottom navigation. 

These are the types of things you’ll have to consider when you’re mapping out the screen layouts. 

Step #4 — Create a Detailed Wireframe

Detailed wireframes go beyond a basic sketch or hand-written notes. They are often high-fidelity versions of what your app will look like, including ready-made templates for your screens. 

You don’t have to put in real images, videos, or anything like that just yet. But the wireframes should be digitalized and include the real spacing between buttons and content. 

A detailed wireframe does not need to include any logos, custom fonts, or specialty UI elements. But they are a bit more formal for sharing with stakeholders and other team members. To make something stand out, you can use bold text, sizing, or spacing. 

For example, here’s an example of a wireframe for a reading mobile app. 

As you can see, there is still some Lorem ipsum placeholder text in the author bio section of that particular screen. But the sign-up screen has been replaced with actual text.

The screen in the middle of this example shows how different book topics will be displayed on the screen, but it doesn’t actually go into detail of the genres. 

Step #5 — Integrate the Design Elements

Technically, design elements are not part of the actual process for wireframing. Design is a completely different stage in the development process. 

However, wireframing and design are so closely related that it makes sense to start thinking about it now. 

If design isn’t your strength, you can consult with multiple designers to show you different design patterns and ideas. 

The responsive design development stages and other design elements will be implemented later on, but you can still add some of them now, depending on your goals. 

For example, let’s say you need to raise money to fund your app. Pitching the app to investors is probably better if the wireframe includes more than just black and white placeholder text. Even some design elements can make the wireframe a bit more visually appealing. 

Additional Resources: The Definitive Guide to Mobile App Design — Free Ebook Download

Wireframes vs. Mockups vs. Prototypes: What’s the Difference?

Sometimes the term “wireframe” gets used interchangeably with other design concepts during the initial stages of a project. But an app wireframe is not the same as a mockup or prototype. 

While all of these terms describe different types of app blueprints, there are distinct differences that you need to understand during the wireframing process. 

Wireframes

Your idea might start with a simple sketch of a mobile or web app. These could be hand-drawn interfaces of screens. But an app wireframe takes this step to the next level. It should include a more detailed illustration of the app’s functionality and structure. 

Mockups

Mockups are more advanced versions of wireframes that include UI elements. You’re bringing in everything that was intentionally left out of the initial wireframe, like colors, logos, fonts, and other visuals. Mockups are a much closer version to your final project in terms of design and can even be used in pitch presentations to investors or other stakeholders. 

Prototypes

A working prototype is an interactive blueprint of your mobile app. It should include clickable functions that allow you to move between screens, the same way your end-users would be navigating and using the app. 

Mobile App Wireframe Best Practices

Now that you understand the basics of wireframing and how to wireframe an app, it’s time to share some of our secrets for success. Keep these tips and best practices in mind for your wireframe app:

  • Start your wireframe in the early stages of development to help visualize the idea.
  • Think about how your wireframe will change on different mobile devices and screen sizes (iOS vs. Android or smartphone vs. tablet).
  • Use a wireframe template and UI kit for mobile design as inspiration. 
  • The UI/UX flow must be a top priority for your mobile app wireframe. 
  • User flows should be synonymous between devices and platforms (Example: if a user switches from your iOS app to Android app, they shouldn’t have to re-learn how the app works).
  • Start with a basic sketch before creating a digital or high fidelity version of the wireframe.
  • Don’t add any actual content or design elements until the very end. 
  • Test all of your design decisions before you start building. 
  • Make sure your entire team is on the same page before any coding or design work gets completed. 

Final Thoughts on Mobile App Wireframes

Creating a mobile app wireframe is one of the first things you should do to visualize your app idea before it goes into development. 

You can make a wireframe on your own by following the steps in this guide. If this sounds too intimidating for you, our team at BuildFire can help.

BuildFire Plus, our all-inclusive app development and design service, includes everything you need to hit the ground running. Not only will we create an app on your behalf, but we’ll also create wireframes to bring your vision to life. 

In addition to wireframes, this service includes prototyping, system architecture, design, and so much more. We’ll even handle your content updates and post-launch maintenance. 

Schedule a free consultation if you’re ready to discuss your app idea and get the ball rolling on a wireframe.

Hiring an App Development Company vs. Freelancers

If you’re tasked with creating a mobile app, one of the first things you need to do is answer a simple question—who will build it?

There are lots of different options to consider for mobile app development. But most businesses find themselves between one of two options—hiring a mobile app development company or hiring a freelancer.

This is a crucial decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Your mobile app development method will have a significant impact on your project timeline, budget, and the quality of your final product.

There are pros and cons to each mobile app development path. We created this guide to help you decide whether a custom software development company or freelance developer is right for you. Let’s dive in!

Types of Mobile App Developers

Before we compare mobile app development companies side-by-side with freelance app developers, it’s important that you understand the different categories for mobile app development. 

This will make it easier for you to weigh your options, as each type of app developer and development company is better for different types of mobile apps. 

Mobile App Development Company

The best app development companies offer full-service solutions for custom mobile apps. These are typically enterprise-grade services that include everything from mobile app design to project management, UX/UI design, and everything you need to build successful apps.

For enterprise clients, a mobile app development company provides all of your mobile development needs under one roof. You can outsource the entire project to a highly qualified team of developers and designers and feel confident in knowing you’re getting the highest quality product in return. 

The top mobile app development companies provide cross platform mobile apps, meaning you’ll benefit from Android app development and iOS app development simultaneously.  

Some mobile app development companies even offer services beyond basic app development. They provide your backend infrastructure, assist with app publishing, provide post-launch support, and even help with refining your mobile app idea to ensure there’s a viable market need.

Read More: Resources for Outsourcing App Development

Boutique Mobile App Development Companies

A boutique mobile app development agency is a bit smaller than a traditional app development company. They still provide many of the services of a full mobile app agency, but they do so on a smaller scale.

These solutions are typically better for smaller businesses in niche categories. For example, you might find a boutique app developer that specializes in building a certain type of app, such as a gaming app. But they don’t do anything outside of that highly specific category. 

Boutique app developers have fewer resources than larger app agencies, meaning they may only be able to take on a handful of app development projects per year. They might be a bit more limited in what they provide with infrastructure, publishing, and post-launch support. 

In-House Mobile App Developers

Some larger organizations employ a team of in-house app developers. But this is really only a viable option for businesses that continuously create, launch, and maintain mobile and web apps. Otherwise, hiring full-time employees specifically for app development isn’t really worth it.

For example, let’s say you want to create a dozen mobile and web apps over the next three years—strictly for internal use. Business productivity apps or extensions of web apps commonly fall into this category.

Then it might make sense to go with in-house developers over an app development company.

But even the top app developers may not have the same experience as an app development company. Plus, hiring full-time employees comes with extra costs and obligations. You’ll have to factor in added costs like health insurance, payroll taxes, PTO, and everything else associated with maintaining your staff. In most cases, outsourcing is a much easier path to app development.

Freelance App Developer

A freelance mobile app developer works for themself. You can find them on freelance job boards like Upwork, Fiverr, Flexjobs, and similar alternatives.

Companies are typically drawn to freelance developers for the lower cost. But these low price points can end up costing you more time and money in the long run—so it’s best to tread cautiously if you’re considering this path to app development. 

Some freelancers might charge lower hourly rates, but they take two or three times longer to create an app compared to an app development company. It’s also rare for the same freelancer to build both an Android and iOS app. Since Android platforms and iOS platforms require different tools, skills, and development languages, you’ll likely need a minimum of two freelancers to get the job done.

With that said, freelancers do have some benefits for smaller projects and non-business apps. But they’re never a good idea for enterprise app development.

Benefits of Hiring App Development Company

Finding a top mobile app development company will make your life much easier compared to in-house app development or hiring a freelancer. Below we’ll take a closer look at some of the top advantages provided by software development companies. 

More Experience

All of the top app development companies employ multiple developers. The best mobile app developers are versatile and have lots of experience working on a wide range of different mobile and web apps. 

A mobile app development company will also produce significantly more apps in a given year compared to a solo freelancer. 

Even the best mobile app developers probably can’t create more than four to six apps in a year. But an app development company can produce hundreds.

If anything comes up during the development process, there’s a good chance that someone in the app development company has seen it before. But if a freelancer runs into an issue or stumbling block during development, they don’t always have someone to lean on. 

Multiple Mobile App Development Services and Pricing Options

Custom software application development is not a one-size-fits-all offering. You can expect an app agency to provide several different software solutions and development services to accommodate your needs. 

A freelancer typically won’t be able to match these service offerings, and they’ll likely be priced at a fixed hourly rate for the duration of your project. 

But with a mobile app development company, the pricing is much more straightforward and transparent. Rather than paying an hourly rate, you’ll often pay a fixed monthly rate for app development services or be quoted on the entire project. 

For example, here’s a look at some of the BuildFire Plus development services and pricing. 

BuildFire also offers an app development platform with multiple pricing tiers and a white label app development solution. In total, that’s six different plans between three unique development services to choose from.

There’s something for everyone, regardless of your project scope or budget. 

Simple Communication

Effective communication is crucial for creating successful apps. 

Mobile applications are complex, and any miscommunication or discrepancy between the client and the developer can be disastrous. So it’s really important to make sure you’re on the same page as the development team before the build and throughout the development process.

This is much easier when you’re working with a mobile app development company. The best app development companies will take you through strategy sessions, build out wireframes, handle prototyping, and ensure you’re getting exactly what you ask for before any code gets written. 

You’ll also have multiple points of contact whenever you need to ask a question or make changes, which is not a luxury when you’re working with a freelancer.

It’s also common for freelancers to be working in different countries, making it more difficult to sync up with calls. In some cases, you might even be dealing with a language barrier if you’re working with a freelance app developer. 

More Resources

A top mobile app development company has significantly more resources than a freelancer. 

For example, it’s rare to find a freelancer that handles native app development and UI/UX design. Those are typically two different roles. 

But an agency has both of those roles, and more, all under a single roof. They also have the capacity to get your app to market faster compared to a freelancer, as multiple people will be working on your project simultaneously. 

Agencies also have the funds to provide their team with the highest quality software and equipment, which ultimately translates to a better final product. Whereas a freelancer could just be working from a single laptop using outdated software. 

All-in-One Solution

A custom software development company has everything you need under one roof. 

This typically includes a project manager, cross platform app development for iOS and Android platforms, UI/UX design for web and mobile, quality assurance agents, mobile app testing, and more. 

With BuildFire Plus, we’ll even help you run a competitive analysis to ensure there’s a viable market need for your app. We’ll also assist with app strategy sessions and post-launch support.

A freelance developer just can’t compete with these types of services. You’ll ultimately need to hire multiple freelancers to truly complete projects. The hiring process is a challenge in itself, and it’s even more difficult when you’re assembling a development team that’s never worked together before. 

Fortunately, a mobile app development company has everything you need under one roof. 

Scalability

Look for a mobile app development that goes beyond basic app development services. The job isn’t complete when the development process is over. 

You also need to consider post-launch maintenance, app updates, bug fixes, and everything else required to get your app to the next level, even after it’s been installed on thousands of mobile phones.

What happens when you want to add a new feature in a year or two? A freelance developer may not be around or available at this time. But an agency is always there to help guide you through the process of scaling your app and business. 

Support

Building an app is just one aspect of development services. 

You also need to think about software testing and getting your app published on the app stores. This isn’t always a simple process. For example, the Apple App Store has strict publishing requirements. 

A top mobile app development company will help you navigate these requirements and publish the app on your behalf. On the other hand, a freelancer will likely just deliver the app and leave the rest up to you—without offering that extra level of support.

Potential Drawbacks of Hiring an App Development Company

As you’re comparing different mobile app development companies, you should also be aware of some potential downsides of going this route. 

Choosing the Right Mobile App Development Company

If you run a quick Google search for mobile app development solutions, you’ll likely find hundreds if not thousands of options. Finding the right mobile app development company for you and your specific needs might feel a bit overwhelming. 

You can quickly start to eliminate some options based on their location or your budget. For example, if you’re located in North America, you may decide to eliminate any app development companies located overseas. 

Once you come up with a shortlist of options, you’ll have to request a consultation with all of your top considerations. Based on those consultations, you can move forward with who you feel the most comfortable with. 

You can read our guide on how to hire a mobile app developer for more information.

Identifying Core App Development Services

Many agencies offer a wide range of different services. The key here is deciding what they’re best at to ensure it aligns with your goals.

For example, you might run into a web development company that also offers UI/UX design in addition to mobile and web development. Or maybe you find a graphic design agency that also dabbles in mobile design.

Neither of those situations is ideal for mobile app development. 

The best app development companies focus strictly on mobile app development. If they’re also offering SEO services and web design, they’re likely spread too thin. 

Benefits of Hiring Freelance App Developers

There are some situations when hiring a freelance developer does make sense. Here’s a look at the advantages of working with a freelancer.

Lots of Options

Some of the best mobile app developers started as freelancers. So there are definitely plenty of quality developers out there. You just need to find them.

If you browse through freelance networks like Fiverr and Upwork, you’ll find thousands of options to consider. In some cases, you can filter these developers by specialty, location, category, or budget.

So if you’re on a tight budget, you can just adjust the filter for an hourly rate within your budget to only show options that meet your criteria. 

Good for Quick Projects

Freelancers are great for mobile solutions and web app development projects that have a specific start date and end date. If you just need something built without any extra support or post-launch maintenance, a freelancer is probably better than hiring an in-house employee.

But it’s rare for most mobile applications to be defined as a quick project. There’s often a lot more that goes into this compared to web development or other software.

Lower Upfront Costs

Most freelance developers charge a fixed hourly rate for their time. If you compare this side-by-side with an app development company, the upfront costs will probably be cheaper. 

But it’s also worth noting that the development process and timeline will vary based on your project. For example, it might take a freelancer longer to build Android apps than iOS apps. React native app development won’t have the same timeline as other frameworks. 

If cash is scarce, a freelancer might be a better option for you. Just be aware that lower upfront costs don’t always translate to lower total project costs (which we’ll discuss in greater detail shortly).

Potential Drawbacks of Hiring Freelance App Developers

There are definitely some downsides to hiring a freelancer compared to working with a mobile app development company. We’ll discuss those pitfalls in greater detail below.

Less Dependable

A freelance developer is a single source of failure, which is always something you want to avoid in business. What happens if that developer gets sick, goes on vacation, or gets hit by a car? Your mobile app development project just stalled.

Freelance developers don’t have as much accountability as developers working for an agency either. It’s not like they’ll get fired or reprimanded if they’re working slowly or pushing out sub-par code. Nobody is monitoring them or their work. 

Less Security

Freelancers typically don’t have the same security protocols as a leading global technology company. In fact, they might not have any security standards in place beyond basic antivirus installed on their personal devices.

This can be a big problem for mobile apps that contain sensitive company data, sensitive user data, or payment details.

If there’s a breach and that data gets compromised, who is at fault? Your company is on the hook for the software you own—not the developer who built it.

Limited Bandwidth

Your mobile app development project might not be the only thing a freelancer is working on. They’re likely working on multiple projects simultaneously, which leads to a longer mobile app development process.

What happens if they get another project that pays double or triple what you’re paying them? Chances are, they’re going to prioritize that app over yours.

Some freelancers might even work a full-time job and just create apps as a side hustle. 

They just can’t compete with an agency that has a team of developers all working 40-60+ hours per week. 

Quality Concerns

Experience is crucial for mobile app development. If a freelancer has bandwidth restrictions, isn’t using the latest and greatest software, and doesn’t have anyone holding them accountable, there’s a good chance the quality will slip.

It will ultimately be on you to hire quality assurance agents and testers to find bugs or flaws in the code. 

If you’re unable to fix quality problems prior to launch, it’s going to have a direct impact on the user experience. Poor UX is disastrous for apps, as users won’t come back to use them in the future. 

Additional Costs

Earlier, we talked about the low upfront costs of hiring a freelancer. But this often leads to larger expenses that get pushed to the backend of your mobile app development project.

For example, let’s say you hire a freelancer to handle Android app development. Even the top mobile app developers in the world don’t build Android and iOS apps simultaneously. So you’ll eventually need to hire another developer to handle the iOS version.

You also need to consider project management, UI/UX development services, web development services, server maintenance, quality assurance, testing—the list goes on and on.  

Check out our complete guide to building an expert app development team. This breaks down more information about the roles required and the costs associated with those positions. 

How to Find the Top Mobile App Development Companies

Now that you’ve seen the pros and cons of development companies and freelancers, it’s time to find the best mobile app development solution for your specific needs.

As you’re going through this process, there are certain factors you need to keep in mind. This will ultimately help you narrow down your options so you can feel confident with your decision. 

Timeline

How soon do you need to get your app to market? 

An exact deadline isn’t always realistic. But a top mobile development company should be able to offer an estimated timeline. They might even establish some milestones and deliverables to meet along the way to ensure the project gets completed on time.

Team Resources

Who exactly will be working on your mobile app development project?

Find out if the agency is assigning the project to a single developer or if a team of developers will be working on the project together. How much time will they be spending on your app? Are they going to be working on other projects at the same time?

These are all reasonable questions that you can ask during a consultation. 

Budget

You should have a mobile app development budget in mind before you start consulting with app development agencies. When you see a proposal, you can start to narrow down your options based on the quotes you’re getting.

Look beyond the exact dollar figure and think about the value you’re getting. 

Some agencies might come in at a lower price, but they’re not actually offering everything you need to build, launch, and maintain a successful app. They’ll be additional costs that you’ll have to incur if you’re not getting everything baked into a single proposal. 

Location

Location shouldn’t be a dealbreaker for mobile app development. It’s more of a factor when you’re dealing with a freelancer compared to an agency.

Let’s say your business is located in Los Angeles. If you’re working with a developer in India, communication is going to be a challenge with a 12-hour time difference. They might be going to sleep when you’re starting your workday.

But agencies typically have dedicated staff working in different regions to accommodate international enterprise clients. So a business located in Asia or Europe could still work with a US-based app development company.

Portfolio and References

Not every mobile application development company has experience building every type of app. Some agencies develop digital business solutions for HR and internal communications. Others excel at building gaming apps for mass consumption.

What type of app do you want to build?

If the developer or mobile development agency doesn’t have a similar type of app in their portfolio, you might want to look elsewhere.

Final Thoughts

There are lots of different options to consider for app development. 

When comparing a mobile development company side-by-side with a freelancer, there are pros and cons to consider for both paths. While there are definitely some situations when working with a freelancer makes sense, an app development company will usually be the best option for most midsize businesses and enterprises. 

Book a free app strategy session with our team of experts to learn more about BuildFire Plus and our custom mobile app development services. 

BuildFire has been trusted to create more than 10,000+ mobile apps across a wide range of industries and categories. We provide everything you need under one roof from app development to design, post-launch maintenance, and support. 

BuildFire is more than just an app development company; we’re a partner in your success.

Create a Shopping App

The ecommerce industry is booming, and mobile shopping trends dominate the overall ecommerce category. 

In fact, 73% of the total ecommerce market share worldwide comes from mobile commerce. 79% of mobile users have purchased something online from a mobile device within the past six months.

But not all mobile shopping experiences are created equally. 85% of people say they prefer mobile apps to mobile sites, and apps convert at a 157% higher rate compared to the mobile web. 

So if you want to maximize the potential of your ecommerce operation, creating a shopping app is the way to go.

This ultimate guide will walk you through the step-by-step process to create a shopping app.

How to Create a Shopping App in 9 Steps

Anyone can make a shopping app by following these simple steps:

  1. Market Research for Your Online Store
  2. Platform and Tech Stack Selection
  3. Choose Agency for Shopping App Development
  4. Identify Features for Minimum Viable Product
  5. List Additional Features for Your Store to Stand Out in the Future
  6. Create a Mockup of Your Online Store App
  7. Begin Mobile Shopping App Development Process
  8. Test Your Shopping App
  9. Launch Your Shopping App

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a complete understanding of shopping app development and how to succeed in this space. Let’s dive in!

Step 1 — Market Research for Your Online Store

Before you start building anything, you need to validate your idea with market research. This step will look a little bit different for everyone, depending on the stage of your business.

There’s a good chance you fall into one of two categories:

  • You have an existing ecommerce business and want to add a mobile app
  • You’re starting a new business from scratch and want a mobile app on day one

For those of you who are already selling products online, you probably went through the market research step when your business first launched. So some of these tasks may be a bit repetitive. 

Anyone starting a new shopping business from scratch must take the market research step very seriously. Otherwise, you could pour money into a business that the market doesn’t want or need.

Identify Customer Needs and Requirements

The first thing you need to do is identify a target customer profile. Who are you selling to?

Selling to “everyone” is not a recipe for success. You need to narrow things down to an ideal customer profile. Then you need to find out if your products actually meet a market need for your ideal customer. 

Running a SWOT analysis is the best way to start your research.

This process not only looks at your potential customers but it forces you to evaluate your internal initiatives, competitors, and overall market landscape. 

Very few new businesses offer something that’s 100% unique to the market. There’s a good chance there are other online stores and shopping apps selling something that’s almost identical to your offer. 

What makes your product unique to the market? Are you taking a broad product and targeting a niche audience? How will your value proposition stand out from the competition?

These are the types of questions you need to ask yourself and answer with confidence before you can proceed.

Business Model

Shopping apps typically fall into three different models:

  • B2C — Business selling products directly to consumers.
  • B2B — Business selling products to other businesses, sometimes at wholesale.
  • C2C — Customers selling to other customers through an online marketplace (like eBay or Etsy).

Which model are you going to use for your shopping app? 

Monetization Strategy

Next, you need to determine how you’re going to make money from your shopping app.

Compared to other mobile app categories, shopping apps are fairly straightforward. For B2C and B2B shopping apps, your primary focus should be sales revenue. I would not recommend adding ads to your shopping app, as this can ruin the customer experience.

For C2C shopping apps, you can make money by either charging sellers a fee to use the platform or by taking a commission of each sale. You could potentially charge for promoted products to appear high in the search results as well.

Step 2 — Platform and Tech Stack Selection

Once your idea has market validation, you can start to think about the technical aspects of your shopping app. 

Choose Your Platform

What platforms are you building for?

  • Android — Android apps are available for download on the Google Play Store. Android dominates the global market share, with 71.7% of smartphone users owning an Android device. 
  • iOS — iOS apps are available to download on the Apple App Store. It’s a bit more challenging to get your apps approved for the App Store, and iOS controls 53.66% of the OS market share in North America. 

If you’re strictly targeting users in countries outside of North America, it makes more sense to build for Android. But if you’re targeting North American consumers, building for both iOS and Android is the best option. 

This will make your shopping app available to the widest possible audience, and you won’t be neglecting any potential consumers. 

Native Development

Next, you need to decide on how you’re going to create a shopping app for the platform or platforms you’re targeting. 

Native app development requires low-level coding specifically for a single operating system.

So if you want to create an Android and iOS app through native development, you’d essentially be building two completely different apps—one for each operating system. 

This is the most time-consuming and most expensive path to development, and it’s typically not necessary for basic shopping apps. 

If you want to add complex features like augmented reality built into the app, then you might need to go native. But otherwise, this development path is only necessary for gaming apps, virtual reality apps, or apps that require precision and the highest possible performance. 

Cross-Platform App Development

Cross-platform app development is typically the best option for most shopping apps. This means that you can create an app for both iOS and Android with a single build and codebase. 

Cross-platform development typically saves you at least 40% on development costs and drastically reduces your development timeline. 

If you want to create a shopping app on your own without hiring a developer, you can take advantage of no-code ecommerce app makers like BuildFire. 

It’s a simple and cost-effective way to create an ecommerce app for iOS and Android without writing a single line of code. So even non-technical users can do this on their own.

Step 3 — Choose Agency for Shopping App Development

Assuming you’re not going to create the app on your own, you need to find an agency that can create a shopping app for you.

This is typically better than hiring a freelance team that hasn’t worked together before. There are lots of different roles and responsibilities in the app development process, so it’s usually best to go with an agency that has a proven track record. 

Team Composition

The exact number of developers and team members required will vary slightly depending on your project scope. But here’s a general idea of the positions required to create a shopping app:

  • Android developer
  • iOS developer
  • UX designer
  • UI designer
  • Project manager
  • Web developer
  • Quality assurance agents

Again, this is why it’s much easier to just go through an agency. Assembling a team like this on your own is challenging. Ecommerce app development agencies will have all of the resources in-house to accommodate your needs. 

How Much Does it Cost to Create a Shopping App?

The average cost to create a shopping app ranges from $30,000 to $700,000, with a median of $171,450, according to a recent survey,

But there are lots of different factors that contribute to the cost, including:

  • Development method (native vs. cross-platform)
  • Location of development team
  • App complexity
  • Features
  • Tech stack

For example, hiring a freelance developer in India to create your app will likely be cheaper than using a US-based agency. But there will likely be a significant difference in the quality of the final product between these two options as well.

Using a cross-platform development solution is one of the best ways to save money here, as you won’t need to create two separate apps for iOS and Android. You can make an app for both platforms with a single build.

Discovery Phase

The discovery phase is an important step here when you’re consulting with different agencies. You can shop around and get a quote from your top considerations to get a better understanding of the cost, timeline, and other factors.

Essentially, you just want to get a feel for the agency and see if they sound like a good partner for your shopping app development project.

BuildFire Plus is our all-inclusive app development service. 

We offer everything from pre-development strategy sessions to post-launch maintenance and support. We’ll help you run a competitive analysis to validate your idea and get started with prototypes, wireframes, and mockups before the build. 

Our expert development team can create a custom shopping app for iOS and Android faster than traditional development solutions without sacrificing quality. We’ll work with you each step of the way to ensure your app achieves its intended goals. 

Step 4 — Identify Essential Features for Your Shopping Application

Now it’s time to think about the features you want to include in your shopping app. Try not to get too carried away here with the “nice-to-have” features. First, focus on the bare minimum and essentials required for your app to run smoothly.

You can always add more features later. 

We’ll cover some examples of different essential features in greater detail below:

User Registration and Sign-In Process

The best shopping apps offer the ability for users to sign up and create an account. This gives them the ability to save key information in the app, like their name, shipping address, billing address, and payment information.

This will help increase your conversion rates as your users won’t have to manually enter these details for each purchase. They can simply add something to their shopping cart and buy it with a single click. 

Letting users create an account can also help you customize their shopping experience with recommended items based on their purchase history. 

Easy Navigation

It should be really easy for users to find what they’re looking for when they’re browsing for products in the app. A good rule of thumb is that every product page should be no more than three clicks from the home screen.

That’s why it’s so important to put your wireframes on paper before you start building anything, as this will help you design a smooth user flow. You can borrow ideas from big players like Amazon to map out your navigation. 

User Profile Editing

Give users the ability to edit their profiles with preferences. Registration should only ask for the minimum information required to create an account. But give them the option to go back and change their settings at any time for an enhanced customer experience.

For example, users shouldn’t have to enter their birthday to register. But you can ask them to add that information to their profiles later on if they want to receive special deals on their birthday. 

This is a chance for them to customize other preferences, like managing what types of push notifications they want to receive. 

Product Catalog

Obviously, you need to sync your shopping app with your product catalog. This is not only necessary for the app’s functionality, but it will also help you manage inventory and fulfillment. 

For example, if you have an existing Shopify store, you can simply sync your Shopify account to the app to import the product catalog. 

In-App Smart Search Engine

This feature is really important for any shopping app with more than a dozen or so products. 

You can’t expect users to scroll through hundreds or thousands of products to find what they’re looking for. So you need to give them the option to search for products by name or narrow down the results through a search filter. Filter options could include parameters like gender, size, color, product type, etc.

User Reviews

Roughly 95% of consumers read reviews before they buy something. 

That’s not all. According to BigCommerce, products with at least five reviews are 270% more likely to sell. 

It’s no secret that user reviews have an influence on mobile purchasing decisions. So make sure you include reviews on your product pages. 

Shopping Cart

Obviously, you need to have a shopping cart feature and payment gateway to process transactions. 

There are hundreds of options to consider here, like Stripe. In many cases, you can use the same shopping cart solution that you’re using on your website. Otherwise, you can talk to your development agency to see what they recommend.

Easy Checkout and Payment Options

The best shopping apps have a smooth checkout process. Eliminate any friction in this process and make sure that customers can add items to their cart and finalize the purchase with as few clicks as possible.

Offering as many payment options as possible is another way to keep conversions high.

The options will typically depend on the shopping cart software you’ve selected. But the best shopping carts will support:

  • All major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
  • Debit cards
  • PayPal
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay

This is the bare minimum that you should be accepting. But the more payment options you have, the better it will be for your conversion rates. 

Ideally, you’ll want users to buy from their profile. But having a mandatory login can be problematic, so you should still offer a guest checkout option. 

Shipping Options

You should offer some form of free shipping option, even if you require users to spend a certain amount of money to receive free shipping. Roughly 70% of consumers say they abandon shopping carts due to shipping costs. 

Offering multiple shipping options at varying costs can also boost conversions. Give your customers the option based on how quickly they want the shipment. Examples include:

  • Free standard shipping (5-7 business days)
  • $7 rush shipping (3-5 business days)
  • $25 expedited shipping (next day)

Again, it’s all about giving your customers as many options as possible to accommodate their needs.

Key Admin Panel Features for Online Shopping Apps

In addition to the customer-facing features for your shopping app, you need to consider the features that you’re going to use on the admin side to manage your application. 

  • Order Tracking
  • Inventory Management
  • Catalog App Builder for Product Management
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
  • Customer Support Tools

This is something you need to evaluate when you’re comparing different development solutions and agencies. See what they’re going to offer you in terms of management features and how those features will impact your costs.

Step 5 — Identify Additional Features That Help Your Store Stand Out

Now you can start thinking about other features that go beyond the basic functionality mentioned above. To be clear, you do not need to add these additional features right now. 

For your first build, you should focus on simplicity and getting your app to work as it’s intended. Adding too many features at once can be messy and ultimately take away from your app’s primary purpose. 

With that said, you can start to brainstorm these ideas now and think about them for future updates. Examples include:

  • Customer wish lists
  • iBeacon
  • Maps
  • Augmented reality
  • Machine learning
  • Social media sharing options
  • Barcode scanner
  • Push notifications
  • Chatbot for improved customer service

Again, none of these features are required for your ecommerce app to work. But they are “nice-to-haves” that could ultimately help your app stand out from competitors.

For example, if you’re creating a shopping app as an extension of your brick-and-mortar retail business, adding a barcode scanner can enhance the in-person shopping experience with mobile. Users could scan a product in-store to see user reviews and save it to their wish list for a later purchase. 

But for now, you probably don’t need to worry about adding these features. Just focus on getting your app to market. 

Step 6 — Create a Mockup of Your Online Store App

Mockups are non-functional static designs of an app. This will help you and your team understand the look and feel of your final product. 

The purpose here is to help establish things like fonts, visuals, images, content layouts, color schemes, and the overall user experience from a design standpoint. 

Wireframes, designs, mockups, and prototyping are all part of the BuildFire Plus white-glove service offering. 

This stage ensures that you’re on the same page with our design and development team before they start building your app. 

Step 7 — Begin Mobile Shopping App Development Process

By now, you should know the answer to the following questions:

  • What platform or platforms are you building on?
  • What development method are you using?
  • What app development company are you proceeding with?
  • What features do you need for an MVP (minimum viable product)?

Now you can actually start building the shopping app. If you’re outsourcing this to a development company, then there’s really not much work for you to do here.

Just make sure you have a basic understanding of the development timeline and have a rough idea of when the app will be ready. In the meantime, you can start putting together promotional materials and build some hype for your app with marketing strategies prior to the official launch.

Step 8 — Test Your Shopping App

Once the app is finished, you need to test it before making it available for real users. 

First, you need to make sure the app is bug-free. Then you need to verify that it works as intended. There are lots of different approaches for application testing, including alpha testing, beta testing, user testing, and more. 

Aside from looking at software glitches, you should use this as an opportunity to gather user feedback and conduct additional research. 

No app is perfect, and there’s always room for improvement. So try not to focus on getting everything perfect prior to launch. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in development forever.

But the idea here is to put out a product that’s fast and functional without crashing. 

Step 9 — Launch Your Shopping App

Now it’s time to officially launch your shopping app!

You’ll need to get it submitted to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Each of these platforms has different requirements for approvals and submissions, so make sure you understand the guidelines thoroughly before submitting.

Examples of what you’ll need here include an app name, description, screenshots, app category, and an app icon. 

To ensure your app is highly visible in searches, check out our complete guide to app store optimization (ASO)

Make sure you’re promoting your app on your website, social media, and as many channels as possible to get the word out. Your app marketing strategy will have a direct impact on your downloads.

Conclusion

Shopping apps are superior to mobile websites in terms of revenue generation, conversions, and customer satisfaction. 

If you’re ready to get started, reach out to our team at BuildFire for a free strategy session. We can create a custom ecommerce app with all of the features you need to succeed. We’ll assist you with the pre-development steps and even handle your post-launch updates and maintenance. 

Click here to book your free consultation.

BuildFire Receives Top Awards in G2’s Spring 2022 Reports

G2 just released its spring 2022 quarterly reports on March 22, 2022. We’re thrilled to share that BuildFire continues to thrive and hold a top spot across multiple categories for mobile app development!

This is the fifth consecutive quarter that BuildFire was named a “Leader” in the Drag and Drop App Builder Software Grid Report, the highest level of recognition in the category. We also received a “Leader” badge for Small Business Drag and Drop App Builder Software—up a notch from our “High Performer” rating in the previous quarterly report. Again, this is the highest possible badge awarded in that category. 

BuildFire earned the “Momentum Leader” honor across three categories, and six additional “High Performer” ratings across the most competitive app development reports. 

Here’s a closer look at all of BuildFire’s 11 G2 achievements, badges, and awards for the spring of 2022:

Grid Reports

  • Drag and Drop App Builder Software — Leader
  • Small Business Drag and Drop App Builder Software — Leader 
  • Mid-Market Drag and Drop App Builder Software — High Performer
  • Small Business Mobile Development Platforms — High Performer
  • Mobile Development Platforms — High Performer
  • Application Development Platforms — High Performer

Momentum Grid Reports

  • Trending Drag and Drop App Builder Software — Momentum Leader
  • Trending Mobile Development Platforms Software — Momentum Leader
  • Trending Application Development Platforms — Momentum Leader

Regional Grid Reports

  • Asia Drag and Drop App Builder Software — High Performer
  • Asia Pacific Drag and Drop App Builder Software — High Performer

Check out BuildFire’s G2 profile for full access to our scores and reviews.

Best UI Kits For Mobile App Design

UI design is crucial for every mobile app. But creating a user interface from scratch can be challenging. 

Fortunately, there’s an easy solution—UI kits.

The best UI kits simplify mobile app design projects. They improve a designer’s workflow, saving time and money—ultimately delivering a beautifully designed final product. 

Ready to transform your design system for iOS and Android with UI kits, mockups, and templates? This in-depth guide will teach you how. 

What Is a UI Kit?

A UI kit—or user interface kit—is a pre-packaged collection of all UI components for a mobile app or website. This includes fonts, colors, typography, shapes, navigation menus, text styles, and other UI elements. UI kits can even contain icons, layered design files, HTML files, and CSS files.

With a UI kit, designers don’t need to create every design component from scratch. You can just edit or tweak them based on your needs. It’s not worth it to re-create a new drop-down menu or form for each new design process, especially if you’re just prototyping. 

Designers can easily integrate UI kits into their design system workflow to speed up and simplify the entire process. 

Many UI kits can be used as templates for niche-specific use cases. For example, all ecommerce apps should have a similar user interface. So a designer can use an ecommerce UI kit or wireframe kit as a starting point and then customize the interface from there. 

Why Is UI Important For Mobile App Design?

Functionality is just one component of a successful mobile app. Apps must also look professional and provide a seamless user experience. If the interface is rigid and doesn’t allow users to navigate with ease, an app will struggle with conversions and retention. 

That’s why UI design and UX design are so important.

Your app should also have consistent branding across all digital touchpoints. The color schemes on your web design should mirror the colors in your app. You might even use the same typography from your website in the app design. 

Mobile UI kits make it easy for you to replicate the design features and functions, all translating to a smooth user experience. Designers love UI kits because it makes their jobs easier, and app publishers love UI kits because the end-users benefit as well.

UI design has a massive impact on how much time users spend in an app. If the app is well designed, easy to navigate, and responsive, users are less likely to churn or uninstall the app.

Examples Of Great Mobile UI

Let’s look at some examples of real apps that have a sleek UI design. All of the apps below were designed and launched with BuildFire, and you can get more UI design inspiration from our app showcase page:

AMMA (Agent Multimedia Assistant)

AMMA is a multipurpose media and branding solution for real estate agents and brokers. The mobile app offers templates and resources that agents can use for social media posts and digital marketing. 

The interface design of this is sleek but also delivers in terms of functionality. It’s easy for users to navigate and find what they’re looking for with just a few clicks from the menu.

NowRise

NowRise is designed to help entrepreneurs reach their personal and professional goals. If you visit the NowRise website, you’ll see the fonts, colors, and branding elements match on both channels. 

The use of white space is a great design trick that will still look great if Apple or Android users decide to enable dark mode on their devices. 

My Wealth & Wellness

My Wealth & Wellness is a financial resource app. Unlike other banking apps or finance apps on the market, this entire design system helps put the end-users at ease.

The design is light, bright, airy, and super inviting. These design elements help encourage users to learn more about good financial habits, investing, budgeting, and more. The user interface doesn’t have a boring, outdated, or intimidating feel—like other apps in this space. 

How Do I Create a UI Design Kit?

Effective interface design all starts with the right software and design resources. All of the design tools below will improve your workflow and overall design system.

The best option for you depends on your budget, technical ability, and goal. Some might be better for basic material design or mockups, while others provide all of the UI components you need to create a mobile app.

InVision

InVision is branded a whiteboard software to transform the future of work. But this versatile platform also supports designers, which is why they offer an extensive library of free design resources.

You can use InVision to find free UI kits, mockups, icon packs, and more. They even have some great options for niche-specific categories like food and ecommerce.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is an all-in-one solution for UI/UX design. It’s one of the most popular design tools for both web and mobile worldwide.

In addition to providing a design platform, Adobe XD also offers UI kits. They have kits for both Apple and Google across a wide range of devices. This includes UI kits for iOS, macOS, watchOS, Google Material Design, and more. 

Sketch

Sketch is a design tool built strictly for Macs, and it’s perfect for app prototyping. The software is versatile, beginner-friendly, and something that can be used on a daily basis for collaborative design. It’s also worth noting that starting at $9 per month, Sketch’s pricing is really affordable.

What I like about Sketch is its compatibility with other UI kits. You can bring in components from an outside source and then make changes to the interface directly in Sketch. But in terms of mobile UI kits out of the box, the software lacks a bit compared to other resources. 

Figma

Figma is a popular graphics editor. It’s a free online UI design tool that can be used for a wide range of use cases. But lots of users rely on Figma for mobile app design prototyping. 

The best part about Figma is its extensive resources for designers. You can quickly find UI kits, wireframes, illustrations, design systems, icons, typography, illustrations, widgets, and more. The platform has resources for both web and mobile designs alike.

Advantages Of Using a UI Kit?

Here’s a quick overview of the benefits you’ll experience using UI kits:

  • UI kits save time and money, allowing projects to be completed much faster.
  • Design resources can be allocated to more complex areas of a project, rather than tedious or repeatable items like buttons and navigation.
  • UI kits can provide inspiration for wireframing and speed up prototyping and mockups.
  • Designers don’t need to create every UI component from scratch.
  • UI kits are versatile and support product design for mobile apps, web apps, websites, and more.
  • Designers can quickly and easily make design changes.

Overall, these resources improve the entire UI design system for your mobile app. Designers can even learn new skills when they’re working with UI kits, as they can pick apart different design concepts during the process.

Disadvantages Of Using a UI Kit?

As with anything else, UI kits aren’t always perfect. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind if you’re considering an app UI kit:

  • Not every kit has everything a designer needs out of the box. This is especially true if you’re using a free UI kit. 
  • Some designers think that UI kits limit their creativity. 
  • If you want to match a new UX design to an existing design product, it can be hard to find a UI kit that matches everything exactly (fonts, colors, etc.).
  • Pricing for different UI kits varies depending on the source and quality. You may need to spend some money to find good ones. 
  • If you’re using an open-source UI kit, the design may not be unique. 

If you want to build something for yourself or for a client that’s 100% unique and customized, a UI kit may not always be the best option.

Conclusion

Overall, UI kits simplify the role of an app designer. But they’re not the only way to create a stunning UI design for your mobile app.

BuildFire has a wide range of app development and design services. You can use our platform to create an app on your own with no coding knowledge. Just pick a template, and you can quickly customize all aspects of the design on your own.

We also have an expert team of designers and developers that can create an app for you. With BuildFire Plus, we’ll handle all of the wireframing, prototyping, mockups, design, and development to bring your vision to life. Request a free consultation to learn more.

iOS App Design: Simple Tips and Inspiration

There are more than 2.22 million iOS apps available on the Apple App Store. With so much competition on the market, you can’t afford to have a lackluster iOS app design.

But design inspiration can be tough to come by, especially when you’re trying to create unique designs for iPhones.

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. This extensive guide explains everything you need to know about nailing your iOS app design with actionable tips and best practices. We’ll even show you some examples of designs you can replicate.

The Most Important Tips For Designing iOS Apps

The following sections contain simple steps for designing better apps. Not only will this impress your users, but it will also help you stand out from other iPhone and iPad apps on the app store.

It’s also worth noting that the mobile UI design for iOS apps will look and feel different compared to Android apps. Your design concept for one platform may not translate to the UI elements of the other.

Choose the Right Color Palette

An app’s color scheme can significantly affect the user experience and usability of the app. That’s why it’s so important to start your iOS design with the right color palette.

Your color palette should match your branding, which ultimately influences user behavior based on familiarity. The colors help give users an immediate association with your brand and offerings.

Predefined color palettes are not only easy on the eyes, but they also help showcase important elements of the app. For example, contrasting colors can impact how CTAs are displayed or how other UI elements are viewed on each screen. The color palette must be consistent across each design element of the app.

Use Finger-Sized Tap Targets

This is another design concept that’s directly tied to the user experience. Users must be able to seamlessly click, scroll, and navigate throughout your app. But if the tap elements are too small or too disruptive, it will hinder the app’s usability.

Apple recommends a tappable touch target size of 44x44px for any user interaction element. This ensures that users don’t miss buttons or get frustrated when trying to click throughout your app.

Here’s another pro tip to consider when you’re designing tap targets. You can extend the tappable area of a CTA beyond the visual size of a button. So if someone clicks on the outer edge of a button but in an area that was clearly intended for action, the click will still be recognized.

Create a Wireframe For Your App

A wireframe is a simple layout of an app that demonstrates the key UI elements for key app screens. It’s essentially the initial design concept that you’ll put together before the actual design work starts.

Wireframes can start as basic sketches on a piece of paper or a napkin. The idea here is to think about the user experience (UX) design and user interface (UI) design for each element.

There are tons of popular tools out there that are perfect for creating wireframes. Try Balsamiq Mockups, Illustrator Figma, and Photoshop if you’re looking for options.

Wireframes help improve the brainstorming process, and they also can help you save a ton of time and money. It’s much easier to change something while it’s still a concept, as opposed to making changes after you’ve committed your design to code.

Did you know that BuildFire Plus handles all of your app design and development for you? This includes wireframes, prototypes, and everything else you need to create a stunning app.

Add Extra Views

Clutter is arguably the biggest design mistake that hinders the user experience. Rather than trying to cram a ton of information into a single view or screen, you can make things easier by adding extra views.

Extra views can come in the form of scrolling or buttons that bring users to another screen. Not only does this remove clutter from your screens, but it also avoids confusion when users are navigating through the app. This is something that you should take into consideration while you’re crafting a wireframe. 

When in doubt, it’s always in your best interest to leave white space and negative space instead of adding additional text, visuals, or buttons to a screen. 

Consider iOS Gesture Norms

Apple is unique compared to other platforms when it comes to gestures. You should familiarize yourself with the standard iOS gestures, as users will expect certain actions to yield specific results.

For example, when a user taps on a button once, they expect something to happen. So don’t require a double-tap on all of your CTAs. In fact, users expect another action to occur when they table tap—this is a standard iPhone gesture for zooms.

You also should make sure that your in-app gestures don’t interfere with system-wide iOS settings. For example, certain gestures will automatically bring the user back to the home screen. Swiping down from the top of the screen reveals the control center.

If your app does something different, it will add confusion and frustration to your users.

Don’t: Design Your Light and Dark Appearance Settings

Do not create separate designs for light and dark appearances. Dark themes are a growing trend in web design, but you shouldn’t apply this concept to your iOS app design.

That’s because Apple already has built-in system settings that allow users to adjust the appearance of their devices. Your light and dark designs could clash with the existing theme settings on a user’s phone or tablet, ultimately hindering the user experience. 

This is also a significant concern for people who have certain settings applied for accessibility reasons. So it’s best to avoid light and dark settings altogether. Let users apply those themes on their own devices, and don’t worry about it on your end.

Do: Design an Adaptable User Interface

One major point of emphasis for interface design is adaptability. You can’t design the UI elements with just one device in mind. Your interface design must work seamlessly across all iOS devices.

This includes all iPhone models and tablets running on different iOS versions. 

The user interface should change automatically when the app is being run on a different device. For example, split views for multitasking on an iPad should be taken into consideration. How will the typography or UI kit change when an iPhone user rotates the screen?

If you’re not designing for adaptability, there are going to be flaws in your app design and its usability.

Best iOS App Design Inspirations

If you still need help coming up with a design concept, the examples below will help steer you in the right direction. You can find iOS design inspiration for apps across a wide range of categories while following the latest UI/UX design trends.

Templates and existing apps are always an excellent source of guidance when you’re designing a mobile application.

Banking App

Here’s an example of a banking app design from Ishtiaq Khan Parag for unflip on Dribbble.

As you can see, it’s somewhat unique compared to traditional financial apps. The color palette is soft and friendly, which is something that users really appreciate in an iOS app.

If you look closely, you can see the design is also built for functionality. For example, if a user wants to click or access a credit card through the app, it’s easy to distinguish one card from another because of the color differences, space, and size.

Social Media App

The iPhone X Social App by Shakuro on Dribbble is a modern iOS app concept for social media. 

The design prioritizes a smooth user interaction when navigating through profiles. There’s a clear visual hierarchy for images, and the layout is easy to follow. 

You can clearly see the ability to search or quickly navigate to parts of the app. Overall, it’s really clean and works perfectly for iPhones. The imagery style is also visually appealing. From a user perspective, the design looks great but also functions well.

Ecommerce App

Here’s an e-commerce app design from BuildFire.

This design uses white space to focus on what matters most for the app’s purpose—the products. In each screenshot, the products clearly jump out at you. 

The lack of clutter on each page makes it easy for users to browse through products and add items to the cart. Since the screens aren’t filled with extra information, the CTAs like “add to cart” are a clear point of emphasis. 

Having a menu at the bottom of the screen also makes it easy for users to navigate to the app’s most important pages. 

Smart Home iOS App

The Smart Home Control App Concept by Kristina Malik for Steelkiwi Inc. on Dribbble is a great example that showcases a great design without sacrificing functionality.

This smart home app concept has a minimalist aesthetic but still has a highly functional dashboard. 

It’s easy for the user to navigate across screens, and they can get a ton of information at-a-glance from a single view. The color palette is unique and on-brand with the feel for this concept. 

All of this translates to a positive user experience as they’re trying to control so many different aspects of smart technology throughout a home.

Music App

When looking for music app inspiration, it’s tough to look past an industry leader like Spotify.

Beyond brand recognition, Spotify has a great app in terms of its functionality. Obviously, the primary function is a music player. But Spotify also makes it easy for users to find podcasts and customize their listening needs.

There’s a seamless ease of use throughout the app interface, and users can get different features and benefits based on the subscription pricing they select. 

If you want to create a podcast or audio content app, following the lead of Spotify or Apple Music is always a good idea.

Event Planner App

Here’s another event app concept from BuildFire.

You have a lot of flexibility with the mobile app design choices for events. It all depends on what type of event you’re planning.

For example, a concert app (like the design above) would be very different from a wedding planning app or a networking app for business conferences. The color palette must match the theme and feel of the event.

At the same time, functionality is always a top priority for iOS app design. Users should be able to clearly find event info, register, connect with other attendees, and perform other key tasks. Having a dedicated section of the app designed for sponsors and exhibitors should be taken into consideration as well.

So make sure you think about the CTA placement and colors when you’re going through the wireframe process for your event app.

Meditation App

Headspace is one of the most popular apps for meditation and sleep.

This is an excellent design concept to model after if you’re trying to create an app that offers similar functionality. The color palette is bright and friendly, which helps put users in the mood for meditation. 

It’s easy for people to navigate between screens to find the perfect type of meditation for unique scenarios. They can choose from stress meditations or anxiety-reducing tips. All of the options are quick to find and access because of the app’s functional design. 

Conclusion

UI/UX design is important when you’re creating an iOS app. Make sure you start with the right color palette, use finger-sized gestures, create a wireframe, add extra views, and consider iOS gesture norms in your design concept.

Following the latest design trends will keep your users happy and ensure the app’s usability isn’t compromised. You can get iOS app design inspiration from platforms like Dribbble, Behance, and Pinterest. Using a template is another useful starting point for inspiration. 

If you need some assistance with your iOS app design, request a free consultation with the experts at BuildFire. With BuildFire Plus, we’ll handle all of the app design steps for you. Then we’ll take that design and create a stunning app. Check out our app showcase page and customer stories for even more app design inspiration.

Getting Started: How to Create an App For Your Business

It’s no secret that mobile apps have become part of our daily lives. From increasing brand awareness to generating more sales and improving internal workflows, the use cases for mobile apps in 2022 are seemingly endless.

But how do you get started with app development?

The vast majority of executives and decision-makers understand the importance of mobile apps. Many already have an app idea in mind. But taking that next step to actually create an app is where they struggle.

If this sounds like your situation, you’ve come to the right place. This step-by-step guide simplifies the mobile app development process and explains how to create an app for your business that’s delivered on time and within your budget.

7 Steps to Create Apps For Your Business

App development is far less daunting when you break it down into simple, attainable tasks.

  1. Define your app development goals
  2. Set your budget and establish a timeline
  3. Assemble your app development team
  4. App design
  5. Add your key features
  6. Testing
  7. Promote and publish

We’ll cover each of these steps in greater detail below:

Step #1 — Define Your App Development Goals

It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many businesses skip or rush through this first step. Don’t make the same mistake.

Take a moment to truly understand your app’s purpose. This is the first building block on your path of building a successful app.

Avoid obvious or ambiguous goals like “we want to make more money” or “we want to make our customers happy.” These aren’t specific enough to drive the rest of this process and won’t get you very far.

Obviously, your goals will vary based on factors like your business size, target audience, industry, and other factors.

But one of the first things you should do is think about your app users. What pain points or frustrations are you trying to solve for them? Are you creating a customer-facing app that’s available for mass download on the app stores? Or is this an internal app for your employees?

Let’s look at some example goals for both consumer apps and internal apps so you have a better idea of how to approach this step.

Mobile Apps For Customers

The following example scenario may not apply to your specific business. But you can replicate the thought process and logic as you’re narrowing the focus of your goals.

Let’s say you run a gym chain with 25 locations across three states in your region. Each location has a different class schedule, and attendance varies by class, time, and instructor. Some classes are packed, and others are empty. Not only is this hindering the customer experience, but it’s also costly when you factor in the instructor’s fees to teach an empty room.

The solution—a mobile app with a real-time booking feature. Members can view schedules, class information, and sign-up for a spot directly from their mobile devices.

Can a gym app have features like membership sign ups, personal training videos, meal plans, and workout routines? Absolutely. But first, you need to focus on your primary goal and use case. Secondary features can always be added in at a later point.

Mobile Apps For Employees and Internal Processes

Internal apps are completely different from customer-facing applications. These are typically designed to improve the employee experience or reduce costs in specific workflows. 

In this scenario, let’s say you have a mid-sized organization with roughly 700 employees dispersed across eight corporate offices nationwide. In addition to those eight offices, 20% of your staff is fully remote, and an additional 35% is hybrid. The majority of those hybrid employees split time between their homes, offices, and working on the road.

The problem? Your HR department is confined to a single location in Chicago, and your HR staff is only in the office from 9 am to 5 pm EST. 

So when a hybrid employee working in California has a question about their benefits at 2:30 pm local time, they’re unable to reach an HR representative. Even if your staff is able to reach HR during office hours, they wait on hold, and it creates HR bottlenecks. This is not how you want your employees to spend time at work.

In terms of budgeting and personnel, extending HR office hours or opening an HR department in another location just isn’t an option for you right now.  

The solution—an internal mobile app for HR communication. You can set up a centralized HR communication hub and even customize an employee self-service dashboard. So if they have questions about their pay, benefits, or other HR information, they can access it 24/7 without the need to call or email an HR rep.

Other internal employee app goals could be related to training and compliance, employee onboarding, quick communication for urgent scheduling changes—the list goes on and on.

But again, rather than trying to build an app for everything, you need to focus on just one or two primary goals when you’re getting started. 

These goals will be your north star as you continue through the rest of these steps.

Step #2 — Set Your Budget and Establish a Timeline

Now that you’ve clearly identified the intent and purpose of your app, it’s time to assess your finances. Let your CFO and Controller do their jobs here and come back to the table with a reasonable budget for app development. 

They’ll obviously need to factor in some estimates for how the app will improve your ROI or change internal overhead costs.

Your HR costs might drop. But app maintenance costs will be a new line item on your expense report.

Common app development costs that you need to take into consideration include:

  • App developers
  • App designers
  • Backend infrastructure
  • Servers and architecture
  • Hosting expenses
  • Maintenance

In addition to the development costs, you’ll also need to consider the ongoing costs to maintain your app. Your costs don’t stop the day your app launches.

Beyond development, you’ll also need to consider your app marketing costs and user acquisition costs (assuming you’re building a consumer app). 

What kind of timeline are you looking at to launch your app? In some scenarios, you may not be in a rush. But depending on your company goals, you may need the app sooner rather than later.

For example, new ecommerce apps should be done and in the hands of users before the holiday buying season. Event apps would obviously need to be finished well before the event itself was taking place. 

Your budget and sense of urgency will ultimately help dictate your development team, which we’ll cover in greater detail next.

Step #3 — Assemble Your App Development Team

This step is often one of the biggest stumbling blocks for businesses. Many SMBs and enterprises have internal IT teams. 

But do those teams have what it takes to create the native app you need? How will this new project impact their existing job and responsibilities? That’s why the vast majority of companies tend to outsource their app development needs.

In short, you have four main options to consider:

  • Use internal resources
  • Hire app developers
  • Hire an app development company
  • Use an app maker

I’ll explain these options in greater detail below, so you can figure out the best method for your needs.

Using Internal Resources

I’d say less than 5% of organizations are equipped to handle app development in-house. Having some engineers and in-house developers on your payroll that know how to code isn’t always a qualifying factor.

It’s unlikely that your IT team has the experience required to develop apps. Even if they do have experience building apps, they probably haven’t built dozens, hundreds, or thousands of apps. Do you want to put your app project on the shoulders of someone who has only built one or two apps in their life? I assume not.

With that said, there are definitely some scenarios where you can consider using internal resources. If you’re building an internal application for a single workflow or business process, you might be able to get away with using your IT team.

But if the app is going to be used by your customers or employees at scale, then it’s definitely in your best interest to outsource.

Hiring App Developers

Many companies opt to hire freelance developers. But assembling your development team through Fiverr or Upwork isn’t always an ideal scenario. 

This option is better suited for small businesses with simple needs. Mid-sized organizations and enterprises could run into some problems with this method.

First of all, you’ll likely need multiple developers. If you’re coding an app from scratch, you’ll need at least two versions of the app. Android apps and iOS apps are written in two different programming languages. 

Could you hire a single developer who knows how to write both? Sure. But that essentially doubles your development time, as that developer would need to build two completely different apps from scratch. 

You’ll also need to hire a designer, tester, and project manager. You could potentially use an in-house manager to lead the app project. But again, you need to consider that person’s experience leading software development teams. 

When you outsource projects to freelance developers, you’re at the mercy of those individuals. Some of them might be overseas or working in different time zones, which could add complexities to your communication process.

But this also leaves you with a single point of failure. What happens if you’re six months into a 12-month development project and your Android developer goes cold? Maybe they’re sick, or maybe they’re working on another project. But you haven’t heard from them in a week—now what?

This happens more often than you might imagine when working with freelance developers.  

Hiring an App Development Company

The best app development companies give you an all-inclusive development service. You need an app—they deliver. 

BuildFire Plus is more than an app development agency—we’re a partner in your success.

At BuildFire, we’ll walk you through each stage of the development process. We’ll start by aligning your business goals with the project. Then we’ll help you with the pre-development steps like wireframes and prototypes. Our team will even run a competitive analysis to compare your app goals to leaders in your industry. 

We offer app strategy sessions, user engagement reports, and everything else you need to create and maintain your app.

Best of all, you won’t have to worry about anything. We’ll handle all of the backend maintenance, servers, architecture, and updates in-house. 

We have more than 10,000+ apps under our belt. So it’s safe to say we’ve seen it all in the app development space. 

Our white-glove touch paired with our technical expertise separates us from other app development companies on the market. 

This is by far the best option for SMBs and enterprise organizations. You’ll get the app (or apps) you need without the hassle or headaches associated with managing freelancers or in-house projects. BuildFire will work with you every step of the way to ensure you’re getting exactly what you need to achieve your business goals.

For the best end-to-end app development services, book an app strategy session with our team here at BuildFire.

Using an App Maker

An app builder is a viable option for smaller companies that don’t have the budget to hire a development team. 

So if you’re a solo entrepreneur or small business owner that prefers the DIY approach, this is definitely something that you can consider. 

Enterprise users are better off hiring a development company.

Step #4 — App Design

The approach for this step will depend on how you proceed in the previous step. If you’re hiring individual roles for your project team, then you’ll also need to hire an app designer.

If you’re using an end-to-end app development solution, they’ll have designers to handle this for you.

Start with a wireframe to get the blueprint and vision of your app. From there, you can create a prototype with your logos, branding, and color schemes.

If you use an app development company like BuildFire Plus, we’ll create a fully interactive app mockup with your design elements. This will give you an opportunity to see the look and feel of your app in the early stages. It also ensures that everyone on the app development team is on the same page for your goals. 

It’s also worth noting that the design might be a bit different for Android and iPhone apps. Each platform supports different devices. So the iOS app version and Android app version may need design variations to support those differences.

Changing your design down the road can be very time-consuming and expensive. So it’s important to nail this now.

Your design team will focus on your backend architecture, API design, technology stack, and other critical elements as they’re working on the visual components of your app. It’s important for decision-makers and stakeholders to participate during this stage. This ensures that their vision aligns with what the designers are producing. 

Step #5 — Add Your Key Features

Lots of organizations get off track during this step. It’s very tempting to add all the features under the sun. But this is expensive, complicated, and it can overwhelm your app developer.

Stick to the features that strictly align with your goals defined back in step #1.

Your fitness app to simplify class signups doesn’t need a social media-type feature for gym members (at least not yet). Your internal app for employee communication doesn’t need an ecommerce app feature to buy shirts and hats with your company logo.

Most apps will have the same core features, like push notifications, app analytics, and app user login screens. 

Each new feature you add will change the cost and timeline of your development process. 

Start with an MVP (minimum viable product), and work your way up from there. What are the bare-bones features that your app needs to achieve your goal? Save the “nice-to-haves” for later, and only focus on the necessities for right now.

Step #6 — Testing

Before you submit your app to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you need to make sure that it’s bug-free and ready for real users.

Your app won’t be perfect—no app is. Even Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and Uber have bugs and glitches that need to be fixed over time. It happens.

But your app needs to have a fairly seamless user experience. If there’s too much friction and issues, users simply won’t re-open the app after downloading it. 

You should have quality assurance agents on your project team from the beginning. This makes things easier for testing purposes, as they can do continuous testing as each milestone is reached. It’s also less intimidating for an app developer to fix issues on the latest code deliverables, as opposed to an entire six-month project. 

Successful apps must be tested on multiple platforms. The iOS app might be fine, but there could be a glitch on the Android version. 

App testing is something that must continue for the lifetime of your app. As devices change and software moves to new versions, native apps can develop glitches or bugs that need to be addressed. 

For example, your iPhone app could work fine today. But in two months, when Apple releases its new version of iOS, your new features may not be compatible with the update. 

This is another reason why it’s so advantageous to work with an app development company. Not only will they deliver a professional app for your business, but they’ll also handle all of the testing and updates for you.

Step #7 — Promote and Publish

It’s never too early to start thinking about your launch. Build hype for potential app users and let them know what’s coming.

Create an app landing page and blast updates to your email subscriber list. Let them know your app is on the way, so they’re ready to download it once it’s ready. 

You’ll need to prepare your app for publishing on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Each platform has different submission rules and guidelines. 

In short, Apple is a bit stricter than Google. But in addition to the submission requirements, you’ll also need to start planning for ASO—app store optimization. This ensures that your app is highly discoverable when users search for related terms on the respective app stores. 

Are you making a free app? Or will you charge users to download it?

Even though you might be months away from launch, you need to start thinking about this in the early stages of development. 

If you outsource your app development needs to BuildFire, we’ll take care of the publishing process on your behalf. It’s just one less thing you need to worry about when you partner with BuildFire for your project.

Final Thoughts on How to Make an App For Your Business

Your business needs an app. That’s already been established.

In terms of execution, you have lots of different options to consider. The best path to development is different for everyone. But generally speaking, an end-to-end app development solution will be the best option for the vast majority of businesses. 

With BuildFire Plus, we’ll take care of all your needs under one roof. We’ve built more than 10,000+ apps for our clients, and we’re industry leaders in the app development space. This is much easier than building your own app with in-house developers or freelancers. If you’re serious about creating a successful app for your business, contact our team today to get started.

App Security: How to Build Secure Mobile Apps

Security always needs to be a top-of-mind concern for businesses. This is especially true for companies with mobile apps.

A data breach or hack can cause significant damage to your organization. Security breaches are not only expensive, but they can also crush your reputation.

To ensure security for your business and customers, you must take app security seriously.

That’s why I created this guide. First, I’ll explain some common mobile security flaws and vulnerabilities for mobile devices. Then I’ll show you how to build secure mobile apps.

Mobile App Security Threats

Most businesses understand the importance of securing websites, databases, and cloud storage systems. But mobile app security is just as important, if not more important than these other categories.

Think about the scale of your mobile deployment. It might be installed on tens of thousands of mobile devices—maybe more. 

Mobile app security issues are more prominent than you might realize. In fact, 70% of all internet fraud can be traced to mobile devices. One in five hacks come from rogue mobile apps, and there’s a high-risk mobile app installed on one in 36 mobile devices.

Let’s talk about some common application security threats and mobile app security vulnerabilities you need to be aware of.

Data Leakage

According to a recent study, 85% of mobile apps have little to no security protection. Hackers and cybercriminals have realized this and have increased the frequency in which they target mobile infrastructures.

When a user downloads an app, they generally grant the app certain permissions to other data on the device. So if a hacker can penetrate the app, they’ll gain access to sensitive data beyond the primary use-case of the app.

This could include digital wallets and passwords. If it’s an internal app for employees, the hackers can get their hands on sensitive corporate data as well.

Malware and Spyware

Like computers, mobile apps are also susceptible to malware. 

Some devices are more susceptible to malware threats than others. In fact, a new study found that Android devices are 47 times more likely to carry malware than Apple devices. 

That’s because Androids support third-party app stores more than iOS. It’s easier for an Android user to download apps from somewhere other than the Google Play Store. 
Nearly one in four people think it’s safe to download third-party mobile apps as long as those apps aren’t accessing corporate data.

This is something that Android developers really need to be aware of. Once a malicious app has been installed on a user’s device, it could compromise the other apps on their device as well—even the ones downloaded from legitimate sources. 

Compromised Passwords

Our society has a huge problem with passwords right now. Since so many different tools, accounts, and subscriptions require a password, people just reuse the same passwords across multiple accounts.

So if one account is compromised, hackers can run wild across other accounts as well.

What would happen if one of your developers or someone on your software development team had a compromised password? Could a hacker use that password to gain app access on the backend of your software? 

If yes, that poses a huge risk to your organizational data and app users. Cybercriminals could use that access to deploy malicious links or hacks directly to all users who have your app installed.

Outdated Operating Systems and Software

Failing to keep all of your devices, software, and OS up to date is a mobile security vulnerability. 

As malware, ransomware, and other cyber attacks become more advanced, outdated software can’t detect and prevent newer attacks. But many software updates contain security patches. This holds true for mobile apps, mobile devices, and mobile security as well.

Check out these graphs Verizon’s Mobile Security Index Report:

As you can see, newer Android versions contain fewer CVEs (common vulnerabilities and exposures).Just a fraction of the newest Android releases contain high security vulnerabilities.

Now let’s look at Apple’s CVE’s by iOS version:

It’s safe to say that this graph speaks for itself.

If people are using mobile devices that haven’t been updated to the latest OS, they’re significantly more susceptible to mobile security threats. 

Social Engineering and Phishing

Social engineering is on the rise for mobile. Also known as phishing, this occurs when hackers send fake emails, text messages, or malicious ads in an effort to access passwords or private information.

We’ve all seen these before. You get an email from someone claiming to be Apple or another reputable business, telling you to reset your password or update an expired credit card.

Shockingly, nearly 60% of people say they can’t confidently identify social engineering attacks. Roughly 40% think it’s smart to reply to these attacks.

These numbers are alarming and pose a threat to mobile applications and developers. 

Encryption Gaps

End-to-end encryption is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of mobile application security. 

Any data being transmitted from one point to another should be encrypted. Whether it’s going from your users’ mobile devices to your system, from your system to cloud storage, or from you to a third-party service, encryption is a must.

If these security measures aren’t taken seriously, hackers and cybercriminals can exploit holes in data transfer and steal data while it’s in motion. 

For example, let’s say you have an internal employee messaging app. If those messages aren’t encrypted, someone could potentially access everything your staff is saying when they’re chatting via mobile. This could put sensitive data and private company information into the wrong hands.

11 App Security Best Practices

Now that you’ve seen some common mobile app security threats, it’s time to talk about properly securing your app. The following security measures must be taken into consideration before, during, and after the software development process.

Here’s how you build secure mobile apps:

1. Choose the Right Development Platform

90% of your security vulnerabilities are eliminated if you build an app on the right platform. 

The best app builders have security features built into the system. You can rest easy knowing that your app is safe on the platform’s security architecture. 

If you’re planning to code the app yourself with an in-house development team or a third-party development agency, your app’s security could be a bit more vulnerable. The app code and sensitive data are at the mercy of your development team. If they have poor app security best practices, then your app could be in trouble. 

With BuildFire, not only is your app secure on the backend, but it also comes with features to enhance user security.

You can take advantage of features like SSO and custom registration to add an extra layer of protection to your app when people are using it. This helps prevent unauthorized users from accessing the app from a compromised account.

We have cutting-edge firewalls, robust encryptions, and data policies that are constantly being monitored and updated. Developers can rest easy knowing that our platform is built on AWS, and we have redundancies across multiple servers and geographic locations to reduce the risk of data loss. 

Not only is BuildFire the most powerful no-code app builder for iOS and Android, but it’s also one of the most secure ways to build an app.

So when you’re shopping around and comparing different development options, make sure you prioritize app security. 

2. Application Security Testing

If you’re developing an app on your own or with a team of developers, application security testing needs to happen on a regular basis.

You should test apps during the development process and after the app has launched as well.

Shockingly, 40% of businesses don’t scan app code for security vulnerabilities. 

The same study discovered that organizations test less than half of the apps they build. 33% of those companies never test apps to make sure they’re secure.

Not every security flaw is glaringly obvious. Mobile testing is one of the best ways to find potential vulnerabilities.

So why aren’t businesses testing their apps?

One of the main reasons has to do with lack of planning and poor budgeting. In fact, half of companies don’t have any budget for mobile app security.

Security needs to be part of your app maintenance process. So make sure you plan accordingly for this.

Not only is this important for preventing hacks and malware. But you need to ensure your application security evolves to support regulatory changes. I’m referring to things like GDPR, CCPA, ADA, HIPAA, PCI, and other data security standards.
Check out our guide on the five hidden costs of software you need to anticipate after you launch to learn more. App security and testing is definitely an important aspect of this.

3. Put Yourself in the Shoes of an Attacker

To build secure mobile apps, you need to think like a person with malicious intent. Ask yourself questions that a hacker or cybercriminal would ask when looking at your app.

  • How can your app get hacked?
  • What vulnerabilities are easily exploitable?
  • Do you have weak points or gaps in your app security?

Ask these questions on a regular basis. You can do it during the building process but continue after the app has launched as well.

Penetration testing (also known as pen testing) is a great way to implement this strategy. This involves ethical hacks against your own software. You essentially have a team member try to penetrate your app’s security as if they’re an outsider. If that person is able to break through your security barriers, it’s a problem that needs to be resolved quickly.

4. Keep Software Up to Date

As previously mentioned, failing to update software means you won’t be able to fight off the latest mobile threats, malware, and malicious code.

Make sure you keep your operating system up to date and make it mandatory for your team to do the same. This is one of the easiest mobile application security policies that you can implement in-house.

Updating your software can help protect sensitive data and close outdated security gaps.

This is another reason why it’s so important to use the right app builder or choose the right development partner. If you’re creating an app with BuildFire, you won’t have to worry about any software updates on the backend. 

We’ll automatically update your app to support the latest versions of Android and iOS.

5. Include User Authentication

Adding login credentials to your app is an excellent way to provide an extra layer of security to users.

User credentials help prevent unauthorized account access, which is crucial if your app contains sensitive information. Let’s say you have in-app purchases enabled. You wouldn’t want an unauthorized party to access user payment information, billing address, or other data.

You can take this one step further with multi-factor authentication, 2FA, single sign-on, and more.

BuildFire makes it easy to implement user authentication for your app. 

Everything from custom registrations to OAuth, SSO, and social logins are supported on the platform. Rather than forcing app users to create a new username and password for your app, they can simply log in using their existing social credentials. This is an easy way to authenticate users. 

This eliminates friction and improves the user experience without compromising app security. It also prevents unauthorized users from getting into the app if they get their hands on lost and stolen devices.

6. Prioritize Data Encryption

We talked about data encryption earlier when discussing common mobile app security threats. So it should come as no surprise to see it again here in our mobile app security best practices.

You must have security tools in place to protect data. But when that data is encrypted, it takes your app security a step further.

Let’s say someone is able to get their hands on sensitive user data or app data. If it’s encrypted, that data is useless to them without an encryption key.

7. Apply Strict In-House Security Standards

You also need to consider the security controls for your app development team. Your app is only as secure as the weakest link.

You could implement mobile device management policies and or use MDM software to enforce internal security policies. 

For example, you don’t want your developers, designers, or anyone on your app team to be working on the app from an unsecured device. Something simple like working remotely or writing code on unsecured public WiFi could threaten your app’s security.

Even if you’re using a secure app builder, you want to make sure that anyone who has access to the app on the backend is taking steps to prevent a breach.

If someone on your team is using weak passwords like qwerty or password to access your app, anyone could potentially hack their account and make changes to your app without your knowledge. 

Apply the principle of least privilege to your app team. This means that everyone on your team should only have access to parts of your app that are strictly necessary for their job or task.
I found an excellent graphic from Heimdal Security that showcases the POLP in practice:

In this example, a programmer would have access to write application code—as it directly relates to their job. But they wouldn’t have a reason to access a payroll database. 

Not every team member who works on your app needs to have admin privileges or access to make live changes.

8. Educate Your Team on Mobile Security

Creating and enforcing internal policies is just one aspect of in-house security. You also need to educate your team on application security best practices and the importance of mobile security.

Explain the dangers of using the same passwords on multiple accounts. Tell them why they need to update the software on their personal devices. 

Show them statistics, studies, infographics, and useful resources on mobile security. You can send them this blog that you’re reading right now! 

If you make it clear to your team that you’re taking this seriously, they’ll follow your lead. But if you have a haphazard approach and you’re not reinforcing these app security best practices, you can’t expect your team to care. You can even consult with your in-house security team on a plan for employee education.

9. Eliminate Unnecessary Permissions

What kind of permissions are you trying to access from mobile users?

Try not to collect confidential data or anything that’s not necessary for the direct purpose of your app. Does your app really need to access someone’s camera, pictures, or contacts? If not, then don’t ask for it.

The more permissions you collect, the more risk you’re putting on your company. 

Every additional permission or connection poses extra vulnerabilities. So use a zero-trust approach when you’re building secure mobile apps.

If a permission isn’t related to the app’s key features, don’t bother with it.

10. Be Careful With Third-Party Code

Many Android apps, iPhone apps, and apps available from the official app stores have similar code. So it’s not uncommon for developers to take shortcuts and take code from third-party sources.

Sometimes you can find pre-written code available for free. Other times they’re on paid platforms.

But you can’t assume the code you’re taking from a third-party source is safe. Hackers leverage these code-sharing platforms as a way to inject malicious code into software. If you’re simply copying and pasting someone else’s open-source code into your app, you could be unknowingly opening the door to new security vulnerabilities.

That’s another reason why it’s so much better to create an app with BuildFire. You won’t have to worry about writing a single line of code, so you know everything is secure.

11. Stay Informed on the Latest Mobile Trends

Your mobile app doesn’t exist in a vacuum. You need to keep your finger on the pulse and see what’s happening in the mobile apps industry.

Are there new emerging threats? Have there been any high-profile data leaks? How are hackers exploiting mobile data breaches?

I’m not saying you need to do this every day. But find a trusted source of mobile trends and information, and check on it at least once a month.

Mobile App Security Checklist

Here’s a quick cheat sheet for you to reference as you’re building a secure mobile app:

  • Find a secure platform for app development
  • Encrypt your data
  • Keep all software up to date
  • Run app security tests
  • Create an internal policy for mobile security
  • Educate your team on app security best practices
  • Don’t request permission to data you don’t need
  • Limit your data exposure
  • Avoid unsafe code from untrusted sources or third party libraries
  • Follow mobile security trends
  • Implement a strong password policy
  • Authenticate users

All of these tips and app security best practices will help you create an app that’s safe and secure.

Final Thoughts on App Security

If you’re coding an app from scratch with a traditional development team, your security vulnerabilities are significantly higher. There is just so much that needs to be protected and taken into consideration.

Using a no-code app builder like BuildFire to create an app is a safer alternative. Not only is this faster, easier, and cheaper than traditional development, but it also alleviates nearly all of your application security concerns.

You don’t have to worry about applying advanced mobile security policies to the app. BuildFire handles everything on the backend. All you need to do is apply basic password protection to your account and be careful who you grant admin privileges to on your team.

BuildFire comes with built-in security, user authentication, automatic updates, and more. It’s everything you could possibly need to create a secure mobile app from scratch. For DIY apps, enterprise apps, business apps, internal employee apps, and more, BuildFire has app security covered.

If you decide to code an app on your own, that’s fine too. Handling the security aspects will be a bit more of a daunting task. But your life will be easier if you follow the tips and best practices explained in this guide.

What is a Push Notification and Why Do They Matter?

Push notifications are an essential marketing tool for anyone with a mobile app. It’s the best way to connect with your users, delivering important and time-sensitive messages directly to their mobile devices.

You can use push notifications to drive engagement, increase app usage, influence conversions, and so much more. The possibilities are truly endless.

But there’s definitely a right and wrong way to use push notifications, which is why I created this guide. Continue below to learn more about how push notifications work, why you should use them, when to use push notifications, and how to leverage them effectively. 

What is a Push Notification?

Let’s start with the basics and definitions before we move into the high-level strategies of push notifications.

Elements of a Push Notification

A push notification is a message that’s delivered directly to the home screen of a mobile device. 

Push notifications are superior to email and other customer communication methods because of the delivery. Similar to an SMS text message, pushes go straight to the smartphone user. This almost guarantees that they’ll see it the next time they check their phone or tablet.

When users download an app, they’ll usually opt-in to these messages by default. But the user ultimately has more control over how each notification gets delivered.

While push messages are similar to texts, there are also some significant differences you should be aware of. When users open a push message, they’re brought straight to the app. They don’t land on a screen where they can read the rest of the message. This means that the message must be short, ensuring the users can read everything in its entirety directly from the lock screen.

That’s one of the reasons why push messages with fewer words have a higher click rate:

Unlike emails and texts, push notifications can be sent without the user sharing any contact information. Assuming the user has notifications enabled on their device, app publishers can send them at any time.

Push Notification Functionality: How it Works

There are lots of moving parts behind the scenes for a message to pop up on a user’s notification center. 

A push notification service specific to each operating system is the first requirement. Then the app publisher needs to enable the app with each service. The push services ultimately give the publisher an API (application programming interface) as a communication method with each service. From here, the publisher must add an SDK to their app, which is a code library for each operating system.

Apple Push Notification service (APNs) is one example of an OS-specific service. Here’s a visual representation of how it works:

The process looks a bit different if you’re using APNs to send messages from multiple providers to multiple devices (like smartphones, tablets, and computers).

Beyond Apple, Google Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) is an example of a notification service for Android devices. 

Once an app gets installed on a user’s device, incoming messages can finally get received.

Technical stuff aside, the basic concepts behind how this works from the publisher’s end is pretty straightforward. After you’ve been set up with a sending platform, it’s just a matter of drafting a new message, selecting the target audience, and sending the notification. 

Why Do Apps Use Push Notifications?

There are countless benefits of push notifications. They increase open rates, keep users engaged, drive user retention, and ultimately enhance the user experience. 

Think about the overwhelming amount of messages the average person sees on a daily basis. We’re constantly bombarded with TV ads, radio ads, billboards, social media ads, email ads—it’s never-ending. Most of those messages are of little interest to us.

But push messages are different. Users have already expressed interest by downloading a mobile application. This interest makes push notifications highly actionable. 

That’s one of the reasons why push notifications perform better than email marketing.

I’d like to quickly clear one misconception. Push notifications are not for user acquisition. Remember, the user has already downloaded the app. So campaigns surrounding acquisition wouldn’t relate to push notifications. Read this guide if you’re trying to get more people to download your app.

The great part about push notifications is the ability to target different users based on interests and intent. You can leverage automation to send targeted messages to the right people at exactly the right time.

For example, a user who just downloaded your app shouldn’t get the same message as an existing user who hasn’t used your app in a month. The former needs a welcome message, and the latter needs a nudge to come back.

Here are some common types of push notifications for different apps:

  • Promotional codes for discounts off next purchase
  • Sports score updates
  • Abandoned cart messages
  • Send an alert for rideshare driver on the way
  • Send an automated alert for food delivery arrival
  • Triggered messages based on a location or action
  • Reminder messages
  • Breaking news updates
  • Onboard a new user

As you can see, push notifications are really versatile. As an app owner, you’ll also have the ability to see data for your push messages. You can use that information to improve your campaigns moving forward. Tracking page visits to the promoted page, conversions, opens, and other KPIs will tell you which campaigns are working and which ones need improvement.

How Can Push Notification Campaigns Support My Business?

Now let’s dive into the nitty-gritty. Here’s where you’ll find the most important tips for high-converting push notifications. 

Whether you’re targeting existing customers who are highly engaged or want to focus on users who are about to churn, the following strategies will help you nail every push notification campaign.

Provide Valuable & Relevant Content

If only two words cross your mind each time you craft a new message, make them “value” and “relevance.” 

Is this message valuable? Is this message relevant? If the answer is no to either, then you need to rethink your intent and go back to the drawing board. 

So many apps make the mistake of sending messages just for the sake of contacting the user. But if you’re not adding value or the message is irrelevant, mobile users will unsubscribe. We’ll cover this concept in greater detail later on.

Here are my favorite ways to ensure you’re sending the most relevant content to a user’s device:

  • Send Targeted & Valuable Message Content — You should be segmenting users into different categories. Earlier we gave an example of sending a different message to new users than you would to an existing user. But you can break that down even further and send messages based on in-app actions, like a purchase or page visit.
  • Use Location To Your Advantage — With GPS and geofencing enabled, you can send targeted messages to users based on their real-time location. For example, if a user walks or drives within three blocks of your restaurant during lunchtime, you can send them a promo code off their next lunch purchase. If you have an ecommerce app, users in southern California could get targeted promos about bathing suits, whereas a user in Colorado could get promos for winter coats.

If your messages aren’t relevant and they aren’t adding value to the end-user, they can end up doing more harm than good. But if you start each campaign with these concepts, your messages will convert on a higher level.

Test & Optimize For All Devices

You need to keep the user’s device and operating system in mind when you’re crafting push messages. There are differences between Android devices and Apple iPhones. There’s even a difference in the way Android users behave compared to iOS users.

For example, the text gets cut off on an iOS device around 170 characters. But for Android, you can have a 65-character title and 240-character description.

Aside from Android messages being longer, they also appear differently on the screen:

Even on the same OS, you’ll see subtle differences in push notifications between different software versions. The iOS 10.0 push notifications look different than the iOS 15.0 push notifications, even if they’re being sent to the exact same iPhone model.

Beyond the initial send, you need to be aware of differences between devices and OS for what happens after delivery.

With iOS notifications, the message disappears once the device is unlocked. But Android notifications remain in the notification center until an action is taken. Web push notifications in Chrome disappear when users leave that screen.

Understanding these subtleties between devices and OS is crucial for success. A message might not be performing well just because it’s too long for the device. It could have nothing to do with the intent of the campaign. 

One way to combat this challenge is to segment users by device and OS. So your Android users will have different messages than iPhone users. 

Incorporate Best Practices For Higher Success

As discussed, there are many different types of push notifications. Whether you’re sending abandoned cart messages, subscriptions, re-engagement messages, onboarding messages, social media messages, transactional pushes, or something else, you should keep the following tips in mind:

  • Find the Right Send Frequency — Don’t send more than one push notification per week. Nearly half of all app users will opt out of messages if they get between two and five per week from the same app. So you need to be a bit more selective when you’re putting campaigns together. When in doubt, send at a lower frequency.
  • Keep Word Count Low — Aside from the differences between devices and OS, it’s typically in your best interest to keep your messages short and sweet. Earlier, we saw the data showing that messages with fewer words have a higher click rate. So trim the fat from your campaigns and craft short messages, ideally in ten or fewer words.
  • Personalize Messages For Higher Conversions — We’ve already discussed the importance of user segmentation. But you can take this one step further by personalizing campaigns with the user’s name, assuming you have that on record. Just look at the difference in opens between personalized content and non-personalized content:

Sending messages based on a user’s purchase history is an excellent way to do this. 

For example, let’s say you have a restaurant delivery app. You can send a quick “reorder your favorite” message to users who placed an in-app order within the past week. If they ordered a large pepperoni pizza last Saturday, send them a personalized message this Saturday for a one-click pizza order.

Gain Results in Customer Engagement & Conversion Rates

Earlier I discussed the importance of relevance and value when deciding whether or not to send a push notification. But now I have two words to focus on for the results—engagement and conversions.

What are you trying to accomplish from your campaigns?

Your push marketing strategy should all boil down to higher conversion rates and increased customer engagement metrics. 

That’s another reason why you should be tracking KPIs and other mobile marketing indicators. You’ll also want to monitor in-app user engagement and see if there’s a correlation between those numbers and your push campaigns.

Who is more likely to open and engage with a push message? An active user or inactive user? You might have an assumption, but the data will be the only way to truly know.

Always track the total number of notifications delivered. Then look at the number of clicks and the click rates for each individual campaign. You should also consider factors like the timing of your message or the day of the week.

Is it better to send notifications first thing in the morning so a user sees it when they wake up? Or do you get more clicks in the afternoon? Is there a difference between weekday pushes and weekend messages?

All of this needs to be taken into consideration and analyzed when you’re trying to optimize campaigns for engagement and conversions.

Dangers of Inappropriate Use of Push Notifications

App users are sensitive to mobile push notifications that are irrelevant and don’t add value. That’s why it’s so important to prioritize the user experience when you’re making new campaigns.

50% of people say they find push notifications annoying. Don’t burn your communication bridge with your users. Once they unsubscribe, there’s probably no chance they’ll opt-in again to pushes from your app.

You also need to ensure your campaign workflow is bulletproof. Some apps have accidentally sent inaccurate or inappropriate messages to an entire user base. That’s a quick way to hurt your brand reputation, and people could lose faith in your company. 

Push notifications are great when used correctly. But they can do more harm than good if you’re not careful.

Don’t just send messages haphazardly for the sake of getting something out there. Each message must have a valid intent. Otherwise, users will unsubscribe, or worse—they could delete your app altogether. 

Implementing Push Notifications For Your App

Ready to start sending push notifications to your app users? As previously mentioned, you need to set yourself up with a push notification service.

But if you’re using BuildFire to create your app, you can send and manage push messages directly from your admin dashboard.

As an app publisher, this will make your life ten times easier than going through a third-party.

In addition to crafting your messages directly from a simple dashboard, you can also enable automatic push sequences for different scenarios. BuildFire supports location-based messages with geofencing, and you’ll have full access to the message history and analytics.

Use BuildFire for activity-based notifications, drip notifications, messages for specific users, and custom user segments—the list goes on and on. 

BuildFire is the easiest way to manage push notifications at every step of the user journey. Here are some helpful how-to articles from our knowledge base to get you started:

Best BuildFire Apps of 2021

The new year is finally here. Like many of you, I use this time to reflect on the past 12 months and set goals for the future. 

As I look back on 2021, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to highlight some of my favorite apps created with BuildFire. Every app on this list had a significant impact on revenue for their companies in 2021. Read on to learn the reasons why each app made the cut for the Best of 2021.

Kidz Bop Live

Kidz Bop is a name that you’ve likely heard of—and for good reason. As the number one music brand for kids, Kidz Bop has sold over 22.5 million albums and generated more than 6.5 billion streams worldwide. 

Only three artists in music history – The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Barbra Striesand – have sold more top ten albums than Kidz Bop.

For those of you unfamiliar with the brand, the concept is really simple. Kids sing covers of popular music. The songs, music videos, and albums are available on all major streaming services, including Apple Music and Spotify.

In addition to selling albums in record numbers, the Kidz Bop brand also sells out arenas worldwide for concert tours. These concerts inspired the launch of Kidz Bop Live, the mobile app created with BuildFire.

The app gives the Kidz Bop core fan base a way to interact with the brand 365 days a year. Parents can find out about upcoming shows, buy concert tickets, purchase merchandise, get access to music, and watch videos directly from their smartphones. 

Unfortunately, most of the Kidz Bop 2021 tour was canceled due to the pandemic. But this only made the Kidz Bop Live app that much more important to the brand and its fans.

The app makes it easy for parents and children to watch exclusive Kidz Bop videos from anywhere. So while they can’t attend any concerts, they can still have fun and engage with the community every day.

Rob Decker, Kidz Bop Director of Marketing, explains why the app has been so popular over the past year. “The most used feature in our app is the video section. People are looking for a way to find and consume our content. While fans are stuck at home, they’re looking for some entertainment.”

2022 looks to be a better year for live music and concert tours, which means the Kidz Bop Live app will help to grow the brand and entertain fans even more in the new year.

311

Sticking with the music theme, this list wouldn’t be complete without the 311 mobile app.

311 has been making rock music for more than 30 years. With 13 studio albums and over 8.5 million records sold in the US, this band has created some of the most recognizable rock songs of the past few decades.

311 has a very loyal fan base. That’s where the 311 mobile app comes into the equation.

The app has everything you’d expect from a band. Fans can find tour information, buy tickets, get 311 gear, and see news about the members. But unlike the average music app, 311 has one of the most active fan communities on the planet.

Fans love the in-app message board.

With BuildFire, implementing this feature was as simple as installing a plugin from the BuildFire marketplace. The rest is history.

Fans use the message board feature on a daily basis to talk about the band and music. They discuss past shows, upcoming events, and share some of their favorite 311 stories. The app has essentially become the ultimate fan community hub. App users even use these message boards to coordinate post-concert meetups and after-parties. 

It’s truly incredible to see how the app evolved from something so simple into a must-have app for every 311 fan.

Amputee Walking School

The Amputee Walking School was founded in 1988 by Todd Schaffhauser. Todd lost his leg to bone cancer when he was just 15 years old. 

But that didn’t hold him back. As a Paralympic Games gold medalist and world record holder, he revolutionized the way athletes can run with prosthetic legs. Todd’s story is truly inspiring. 

Today, The Amputee Walking School has over 30,000 members, and they help more than one thousand amputees every year. 

Enter the Amputee Walking School Mobile app. Created with BuildFire, the app has become a lifeline for amputees and healthcare professionals. 

To summarize its top features, the app offers:

  • Resources for amputees and people considering an amputation
  • Help for people struggling with the mental aspects of amputations
  • Physical therapist training videos
  • Patient training videos
  • Direct access to the Amputee Coalition of America
  • Walking challenges for app users

Arguably the most impactful feature of the app is its physical therapist training. The Amputee Walking School works directly with hospitals, prosthetic companies, and outpatient services programs across the country. This role includes training for physical therapists who work with new amputees during the rehab process.

But an afternoon of training isn’t always enough for a physical therapist to retain information. The mobile app solves this problem by giving therapists direct access to walking videos, exercises, and techniques from anywhere.

So when a patient comes in for a rehab session, the therapist simply opens the app on a smartphone or tablet. They can play a video, and the patient just needs to mimic the movements on the screen. 

This mobile app has single-handedly bridged the gap between physical therapist training and patient care for amputees. The walking challenges and in-app leaderboard helps inspire the amputee community. It gives people motivation to get out there and walk, so they can post their step counts in the app. 

In 2021, the Amputee Walking School mobile app was used to connect doctors, patients, educators, and even prosthetic companies. The sky’s the limit for this app in 2022.

Kids Learning Tube

Kids Learning Tube is an education tool for kids. It teaches subjects through animated videos and songs. With over 1.25 million subscribers and more than one billion video views, Kids Learning Tube has been used by teachers and parents worldwide as a resource to make learning fun.

The app was initially launched out of necessity. After YouTube faced some compliance issues related to online ads in children’s videos, Kids Learning Tube needed to pivot.

They came to BuildFire and launched an ad-free platform where teachers, parents, and kids could access all of the videos. 

The app has proved to be extremely useful in 2021. Countless parents across the globe were navigating unfamiliar waters. All of the school closures and uncertainty forced parents to teach their kids at home. This is far from an easy task.

First, you need to get your kids excited to learn. Then coming up with teaching materials and a way to convey those lessons can feel impossible for parents. 

But Kids Learning Tube solves all of those problems. 

While the app was obviously built for kids, it’s actually used by students and educators at all levels. In fact, a Stanford University student wrote their thesis about how they used Kids Learning Tube to get an A in a college anatomy course. 

Here at BuildFire, we saw a significant increase in the demand for educational mobile apps in 2021. I expect that demand to continue in 2022 and beyond.

Grief Refuge

Many people across the globe experienced loss in 2021. 

Losing a loved one is always difficult, and everyone deals with loss in different ways. But once you learn to cope with your grief, it can make a significant difference in your life.

The Grief Refuge mobile app offers tools and guidance to ease the pain and deal with grief head-on.

This unique app offers comfort and support to individuals who are often at their most vulnerable. It gives them the opportunity to reflect on their grief, share personal stories, and track the entire grief journey.

Grief Refuge provides these support resources on the go. So whenever someone feels like they need some extra support, the app is just a click away.

The daily journaling feature is one of my favorite features of this app. It allows users to take notes and share thoughts about how they’re feeling that day or in the moment. App users can even listen to daily audio recordings to help ease pain and stress.

Sadly, we all need to deal with grief at some point in our lives. The Grief Refuge mobile app is one way to get through our pain.

Savannah Bananas

Savannah Bananas is unlike any baseball team you’ve ever seen before. The homepage of their website says it—they make baseball fun.

This unique team based in Georgia has sold out every home game since it was founded back in 2016, and they have thousands of people on the waitlist for games.

The Bananas have been featured in ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Good Morning America, and Cosmopolitan for both on-field and off-field performances. Here are just a handful of the wacky antics put on by the Bananas:

  • The players wear kilts
  • The team performs choreographed dances at every game
  • Post-game interviews are done in the shower, ice baths, or other unconventional places
  • The owner wears a yellow tuxedo to every game
  • Players run through the crowd when the team scores

You get the idea. It’s LOTS of entertainment, with a little bit of baseball mixed in there as well.

The Savannah Bananas mobile app takes that fun and excitement on the go. Fans can use the app to buy tickets, buy merchandise, view rosters, chat with other fans, and even access tickets on game day. The app has parking information, food and beverage maps, and digital game programs.

Since the games are always sold out, fans can also use the app to watch highlights at any time. These highlight videos include on-field action, as well as the wacky off-field antics. 

PepTalks

PepTalks is one of my favorite BuildFire apps of 2021 for two main reasons:

  1. The app itself is awesome, and it’s designed to help people.
  2. The app creator is even more awesome, and she’s a DIY entrepreneur that built the app on her own—without any prior technical experience.

Before we dive into the app, I want to give you a quick backstory on the owner and creator, Lindsey Eryn Clark.

Lindsey has her own branding studio and also hosts a weekly podcast for entrepreneurs. Unlike other entrepreneurial content, her podcast focuses more on the heart and soul of entrepreneurship. 

Out of necessity in her own life, Lindsey began writing daily pep talks to herself. These were just simple words of motivation to get her through the day. Realizing how much these words were making an impact on her, she decided to share them with friends as well. 

As the list of friends turned into a list with thousands of strangers, she eventually found a platform to text people daily words of encouragement. 

That’s when the entrepreneurial spirit in Lindsey kicked in. She wanted to scale her words of wisdom while simultaneously monetizing her content. That’s when the PepTalks mobile app was created.

Not only did the app allow Lindsey to scale her list and make money, but it also improved the experience for her subscribers. Rather than getting a text message, which wasn’t always supported on different devices, the app allows Lindsey to reach her subscribers with daily push notifications.

Users can customize these settings to control how many notifications they get per day and what type of inspirational quotes they want to receive.

Furthermore, app users no longer have to wait until a specific time each day to get a daily pep talk. They can access the app 24/7/365 for motivation on-demand. 

Lindsey is also using the PepTalks mobile app to promote her podcast and personal brand.

In a year when so many people needed advice, words of wisdom, and motivation, the PepTalks mobile app was there for support.

Final Thoughts

More than 10,000 apps have been created with BuildFire. So coming up with this list of my favorites for 2021 was no easy task. But each app above stood out to me for at least one or two significant reasons when I was reflecting on the year. 

As you can see, BuildFire’s platform is extremely versatile. Individual users, businesses, musicians, and even baseball teams have used our platform to create something special. From videos for physical therapy training to event sales, words of wisdom, and fan hubs, the BuildFire apps on this list are truly unique.

Do you have a creative idea for a new app? Start building it today, and maybe you’ll make my list of the top BuildFire apps next year.

BuildFire Receives Top Awards in G2’s Winter 2022 Reports

We’re thrilled to announce that BuildFire has earned some new badges and significant awards in G2’s latest quarterly reports!

BuildFire continues to hold a top spot in multiple categories, as we’ve earned G2 badges in several consecutive reports. Most notably, this is the fourth straight quarter that we were named a “Leader” for Drag and Drop App Builder Software—the highest level of recognition for that category.

We also earned the “High Performer” recognition in seven additional categories and made the list of “Momentum Leaders” for three different app development reports. 

Here’s a complete overview of BuildFire’s G2 awards and achievements for the winter of 2022:

Grid Reports

  • Drag and Drop App Builder Software — Leader
  • Mid-Market Drag and Drop App Builder Software — High Performer
  • Small Business Drag and Drop App Builder Software — High Performer
  • Small Business Mobile Development Platforms — High Performer
  • Mobile Development Platforms — High Performer
  • Application Development Platforms — High Performer

Momentum Grid Reports

  • Trending Drag and Drop App Builder Software — Momentum Leader
  • Trending Mobile Development Platforms Software — Momentum Leader
  • Trending Application Development Platforms — Momentum Leader

Regional Grid Reports

  • Asia Drag and Drop App Builder Software — High Performer
  • Asia Pacific Drag and Drop App Builder Software — High Performer

You can check out BuildFire’s G2 profile for full access to our scores and reviews.

Mobile App Marketing Costs: How to Plan Your App Marketing Budget

When it comes to mobile app development, there are lots of costs you need to keep in mind. Many of those costs go beyond app development itself. 

If you don’t allocate funds to your marketing strategy, then nobody will know your app exists. That’s obviously a big problem. 

This guide contains everything you need to know about marketing costs for mobile apps. Whether you’re an app developer, white label reseller, launching an app as an extension of your business, or creating a completely new app from scratch, we’ve got you covered.

How Much Does it Cost to Market an App?

This is one of the most common questions our sales team gets when we’re consulting with new clients. But unfortunately, there’s really no single dollar amount that’s an acceptable answer. 

Some app marketers can only afford to spend $1,000 or $5,000 to promote the app. Others spend in the tens of millions. Everyone else tends to fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. 

One thing is for certain—spending more money on app marketing isn’t always better. You can’t just pour money into marketing campaigns and expect to see exceptional results. As long as your strategies are effective, you can get away with an affordable marketing strategy for your mobile app. 

At the end of the day, you need to focus on your cost per install, better known as CPI. This key app marketing metric helps you measure exactly how much each installation is costing you. Here’s the formula:

Tracking this KPI forces you to be smart about your marketing costs and helps you identify whether or not specific campaigns are working. 

Why is it So Important to Set an App Marketing Budget?

Setting an appropriate marketing budget is crucial for app marketers. If it’s your first time going through this process, you might be asking yourself why. 

Is this really necessary? What if you’re not working with a lot of capital?

Regardless of your situation, you ALWAYS need to create a marketing budget. 

Setting a budget for your app helps you allocate funds appropriately. Otherwise, you might put too much funding into a particular campaign or strategy, only to find out that it’s not working. But by setting a budget ahead of time and allocating funds for each campaign, you can make adjustments and switch your strategy based on what’s yielding a positive ROI. 

Marketing budgets also keep you on track for managing your goals. How many installations are you expecting per $100 or $1,000 spent on marketing? How many app users are you expecting in the next three months? What about the next year?

Budgets also help with long-term planning, which is why you need to create one ASAP. First, you need to assess the total app cost—including development and maintenance. Then allocate a part of that budget specifically for marketing. 

How long will that budget last you? When will you have more funds ready to invest in app marketing? 

Many experts recommend spending 12-20% of your gross revenue on marketing. As your app becomes more established, you can lower this percentage to 6-12%.

This is obviously a bit more challenging if your app is still in the pre-revenue stages. If you fall into that category, I’d recommend setting a fixed dollar amount aside that’s specifically for your marketing costs. 

Set a budget that’s something you can work with over time. Look ahead to the next 12-18 months at a minimum when you’re doing this.  

General financial responsibility is another important aspect of setting an app marketing budget. In every component of business, spending with no clear plan is a recipe for disaster. So it’s in your best interest to build these healthy financial habits from day one, as they’ll stick with you for the complete mobile app life cycle. 

How to Create a Mobile App Marketing Budget

Before we dive into the specifics of your app budget, let’s quickly go through the steps required to create your budget from scratch. 

Step #1 — Assess Your Marketing Funnel

The first thing you need to do is look at your marketing funnel. This refers to the entire journey a user takes before they finally install your mobile app. If you haven’t officially tracked users going through the marketing funnel before, it’s still important to assess the process and see what this journey looks like. 

Here’s a generic marketing funnel:

In terms of app marketing, the awareness phase happens when a potential user first realizes that your app exists. They eventually think about getting an app or similar tool in your category to solve a pain point or address a need—that’s the interest stage.

When they reach the desired stage of the funnel, they’ve started leaning towards a particular option or brand. 

The action stage is when they finally decide to download the app and install it on their mobile devices.

Why is this important for app marketing purposes?

Your marketing funnel will show you a clear picture of the journey people take from awareness to action. You’ll learn which channels are moving people through the funnel and driving the best results. Then you can allocate funds accordingly based on your findings. 

What was the trigger that moved a user from a desire to download? Where are users leaking through the funnel? These are areas that you’d want to prioritize.  

Step #2 — Define Your Goals

Many of us assume that the app install is the goal of every marketing campaign. While this is true in many cases, it’s not the only goal you should be focusing on. 

For example, some mobile apps want to sign up users for monthly or annual subscriptions. Others want the app to be an extension of an ecommerce site and drive purchases of physical goods. 

Both of these scenarios would have very different marketing strategies, and therefore would have different budget priorities. 

When defining your app marketing goals, it’s in your best interest to set SMART goals

This forces you to look beyond “we want people to download our app,” which will set you up for long-term success. 

Step #3 — Account For Other Operating Costs

As previously mentioned, marketing is just one portion of the big picture. You still have an entire app to develop and maintain after launch. 

These operations come at an expense. 

You need to think about paying developers, design costs, servers, utilities, subscriptions, and all of the other backend costs associated with app development. Are you renting an office or physical space for your business? Do you have to pay someone to maintain your website or create content? 

Some of you may even hire an app marketing agency to help you here, which is another added cost to consider. 

Everyone’s operating costs will look a bit different. But it’s important for you to understand that all of the money in your bank account can’t be allocated towards marketing. There are other costs to keep in mind. 

Step #4 — Identify Your Most Profitable Marketing Channels 

Which platforms or campaigns on those specific platforms are driving the best results? How are these channels addressing your previously defined goals? 

You’ll need to experiment with different marketing strategies and channels in the beginning. But eventually, you’ll want to weed out the ones that aren’t profitable. You may start with email ads, search ads, or paid social media ads. Then you may expand into long-term strategies, like organic search through content creation. 

Within these profitable marketing channels, you’ll want to test small variations of campaigns as well. For example, you could run A/B tests on your search ads, email promotions, or app landing pages. 

Start by keeping your tests small, and don’t exhaust your entire marketing budget in the beginning. You want to make sure there are plenty of funds left over for you to use in the campaigns driving the best results. 

Here’s a simple example to explain what I mean. Let’s say you have $24,000 allocated to app marketing in the next 12 months. 

Rather than distributing an even $2,000 per month for the entire year, you could start smaller in the first three months to identify your most profitable channels. To keep the numbers simple, let’s say you decide to spend $1,000 per month for three months split between four campaigns. This comes to $250 per month per paid ad campaign. 

Based on the results over those three months, you might learn that two of your four campaigns were useless. Then you can eliminate those and move forward with the remaining $21,000 split between your two most profitable campaigns for the next nine months. 

Step #5 — Compare Your Marketing Budget With Other Mobile App KPIs

Your marketing campaigns don’t live in a vacuum. So aside from the results and metrics coming straight from each campaign, you should also look at other KPIs that will tell you the full story. 

This will also help you find anomalies or events that could contribute to your goal’s performance. 

Check out this post on the top app KPIs and metrics you need to track. All of this will make a lot more sense once you can narrow down the metrics that can impact your marketing plans.

Components of a Mobile App Marketing Budget

How much does it cost to market an app? Your app marketing cost will depend on where you want to spend your money. To help you figure this out, I’ve narrowed down some of the key categories that you’ll need to account for.

Market Research

Lots of mobile app marketing starts in the pre-launch phase. Arguably the most important pre-launch marketing components is market research.

This isn’t the same as trying to identify whether or not potential users think there’s a need for your app. That’s part of the app development process. In this case, market research involves assessing the marketing funnel and preferred online channels where you can reach potential app users. 

Here’s a really basic and obvious example to showcase what I mean by this. Let’s say you have a health app designed to help people over the age of 55+ years old with weight loss. You probably aren’t going to be marketing your app on platforms like Snapchat. 

Instead, you’d need to find online channels, websites, forums, or places on the web where your target audience hangs out. This process would fall into your market research segment. 

Beta Testing

Beta testing is an often overlooked aspect of app marketing. But it’s crucial to the long-term success of your app and its functionality.

You’d want to see how real app users feel about your iOS app and Android app when they’re actually using it. 

Platforms like User Testing make it easy for marketers to test mobile apps. 

This marketing expense will depend on how many users you want to test your app. It will also depend on the platform you use and how long you want this testing to go on for. 

App Promotion Assets Costs

No matter what type of app you have, you need to create digital app marketing assets. Visuals used for your marketing campaigns would fall into this category. 

For example, who is going to create the custom visuals for your app landing page? How are you going to create promotional videos for YouTube or Facebook?

What about the visuals and marketing resources for your app store page?

Unless you’re a designer and content creator, all of these things cost money. The exact prices will vary based on what you’re getting and who you’re hiring. If you have an existing business in place, you might already have an in-house team dedicated to these digital assets. But you’ll still need to budget for the time it takes for those people to create digital assets for the app. Don’t forget to include those costs in your marketing budget. 

Viral Marketing

The concept of “going viral” can be a really cost-effective way to draw attention to your app. This isn’t always easy or guaranteed to happen. But when it does, viral marketing costs money.

By definition, this normally wouldn’t have a dollar amount attached to it. However, you need to think about the costs associated with the campaigns that have the potential to go viral. 

Let’s say you’re creating an edgy promotional video that has the opportunity to be shared by thousands of people on the web. How are you going to create that video? Are you going to pay for ads to get it in front of more eyes to increase its chances of getting shared?

These types of questions are usually answered with dollar signs.

Social Media Marketing

Establishing your presence on social media channels is a key part of app marketing. While it’s free to create social media accounts, keeping those accounts active will ultimately cost you some money.

Even if you’re on a bare-bones budget and don’t plan on spending any money on social media ads. Someone has to be responsible for writing posts, sharing content, engaging with your audience, and replying to messages. 

You might be able to handle this stuff on your own in the very beginning. But that’s not a scalable plan for the long-term. So you’ll eventually have to pay someone to manage your social media profiles.

Push Notifications

Targeting mobile users with a push notification after they’ve downloaded your app is one of my favorite marketing strategies. It’s a great way to drive in-app purchases or other actions related to your goal. 

But depending on how you’ve built your app, you may need to pay for push notification services to facilitate these messages. Push notifications platforms cost money, which needs to be accounted for in your budget. 

This is an important part of your marketing strategy because it’s intended to reach existing users. So you have a much higher chance of getting these people to convert, as opposed to targeting perceptive users who don’t have the app downloaded just yet. 
Different types of push notifications can impact your costs as well. For example, sending a generalized push notification to all of your users is fine, but sending a push notification based on their location drives more opens and conversions.

For the latter, you’d need a way to track your user’s location and send them geo-push messages based on that location. These types of services will likely cost you extra. 

Influencer Marketing

This is a marketing strategy that has exploded in popularity in recent years. You can pay influencers on social media to market your app using their platform.

It could be something as simple as an Instagram post or a Facebook Live promotion that features your app. You could use this as a one-time strategy or develop ongoing relationships with different influencers. 

If you’re having trouble finding the right influencers to fit your niche and budget, you could always look for assistance from a PR agency. But just be aware that app PR outreach costs will need to be factored into your budget as well, in addition to the influencer marketing costs. 

Website

You need to have an online presence and a promotional website for your app. 

If you already have a business and you’re creating an app as an extension of your business, this should be fairly simple. I’m assuming your business already has a website, so you’d just need to have a dedicated landing page on your site to promote your app. 

For new apps being launched as a completely new business, you can just use an online website builder like Wix or Squarespace to get started here. Create the site ASAP to start building hype for your app, even while you’re in the pre-launch stages. 

App Store Optimization (ASO)

Getting organic downloads from your app on the app stores requires you to invest some money into ASO. This will help you stand out from other options within your app category when someone searches the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store for a relevant keyword. 

It’s important for you to understand that your ASO strategy will look a bit different for your Android App vs. your iPhone App. 

That’s because each platform has a slightly different algorithm and formula used for ranking apps. 

Check out our complete guide to app store optimization for more information on nailing this crucial marketing strategy. 

Final Thoughts on App Marketing Costs

Before you launch an app marketing campaign, you need to take the time and plan for your app marketing expenses. 

Creating a budget is truly the only way to have success with your big-picture app marketing strategy. Otherwise, you’ll likely waste a lot of time and money on campaigns that aren’t getting you anywhere. 

Even worse, you could blow money on marketing that really needed to be used for development, testing, or app maintenance. 

I hope you found this guide useful and good look with your app marketing costs!

Top Mobile Ad Networks (2024)

It’s no secret that we’re living in a mobile world. Everything seems to be trending in a mobile direction in 2024.

In fact, over 52% of all Internet traffic worldwide comes from mobile devices. That’s more than double the percentage of traffic from just five years ago.

As these figures continue to trend upward, mobile advertising is following suit and growing accordingly.

Marketers and publishers have recognized that they need to target consumers with platforms and devices that they are using the most. Consumers in the US spend 35 hours per week using mobile devices. 92% of mobile time is spent on apps.

But with mobile app usage on the rise, advertisers aren’t just using mobile browsers to advertise anymore.

Last year, the gross expenditure of in-app advertising reach $201 billion in the US alone.

If you combine that number with mobile app store advertising, that’s an anticipated $340 billion spent on mobile ads. We’re just two years away from those figures. That’s more than 2.5x higher than five years ago.

These advertisements are facilitated through mobile ad networks.

But there are so many networks out there. It’s overwhelming, to say the least, and difficult to choose which one is the best.

There are two ways to approach this. You can take advantage of these networks to purchase ads and promote your product, service, app, brand, etc. Or you can sell advertising space on your platforms. Maybe you’re interested in a combination of both options.

Regardless of your unique situation, you’ll definitely benefit from this extensive guide on mobile app networks.

Continue reading “Top Mobile Ad Networks (2024)”

25 Mobile App KPIs and Metrics You NEED to Track

Creating a mobile is a big accomplishment. But your job isn’t over once the app launches.

How is your mobile app performance doing? Are you getting the most out of your app? What’s the average user costing you? How many users are profitable?

The only way to answer these questions is by tracking mobile app metrics and KPIs. Key performance indicators will paint a clear picture of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. 

Regardless of your app type or industry, everyone should be tracking the KPIs below. We’ll cover mobile app marketing KPIs to mobile app performance metrics and everything in between. This will help mobile app marketers and mobile app developers alike improve app performance and increase user engagement. 

1. App Downloads

Downloads are one of the most important mobile app KPIs to keep an eye on. It’s one of the easiest ways to tell if your mobile app marketing efforts are working or not. 

If your app isn’t getting downloads, then there are likely other issues with your marketing funnel. 

For those of you who weren’t marketing your app prior to launch, you can’t expect a huge number of downloads on day one. So you need to set realistic expectations for this metric and try not to compare your download metrics to Facebook or Twitter. 

It’s important to track your downloads over time and see how this app metric trends in correlation to your marketing efforts. This can help you pinpoint which marketing campaigns are driving downloads.

2. Retention Rate

For your app to truly be successful, people need to do more than just install it on their device. That’s why the retention rate is so important. 

User retention tracks how many users come back to your app after their first session. 

Studies show that 25% of mobile apps are used once and never opened again. So the steepest drop-off in user retention occurs in the first 48 hours.

So it’s important for you to take steps during these key hours to ensure users have a pleasurable experience. Make sure you’re giving them a reason to open the app again and keep coming back for the long term. 

It’s in your best interest to measure user retention over daily, weekly, and monthly segments. This can help you determine whether or not the metric is tied to specific known issues in the app, like crashes or downtime. 

The key to success with high retention is optimizing the user experience. Having a great UX/UI design goes a long way to high retention. 

3. Active Users

Active users take downloads and retention a step further. This key performance indicator measures how many people are actually using the app. 

You can segment this metric into two main categories—daily active users and monthly active users. The daily active user count is a key sign of engagement. What’s causing people to come back and use your app every day? 

Your monthly active user count is also an important metric. As people in this category could be opening your app several times per week—they’re just not opening it every day. 

4. Mobile App Stickiness Ratio

Stickiness ratio is calculated by taking your daily active users and dividing it by the number of monthly active users. 

This KPI represents your chances of getting an MAU to become a DAU. 

Taking advantage of push notifications and updating your app on a regular basis are two ways to improve the stickiness of your app. You just need to come up with ways to encourage your existing users to open the app on a more frequent basis. 

5. Session Length and App Session Intervals

Session length is a mobile app KPI that tracks how long app users engage with your app in a single session. App session intervals measure how frequently people return to your app.

Both of these are key signs of engagement. I like tracking these because they take your retention rate to another level. If your app has long session lengths and low session intervals, it tells you that people are using your app for a long time and re-opening it on a regular basis. 

Research shows that mobile users spend 77% of time on their favorite three apps. 

96% of app usage is spread amongst ten apps. So if you’re not in the top ten apps used on someone’s phone, you likely won’t have satisfactory session length or session interval metrics. 

6. App Store Rating

Your app store rating is a quick and easy way to see what existing users think about your app. When your rating is high, this metric can be a key part of your mobile app marketing strategy.

The reason why this metric is so important is because it can be directly tied to your app downloads. Most users won’t consider downloading an app if it doesn’t have a four or five-star rating

One way to improve your rating is by giving existing users an incentive to rate your app. Most people won’t go out of their way to do this unless they had a really great experience or a really terrible experience—and the average user usually falls in between these two extremes.

7. In-App Purchases

An in-app purchase is pretty self-explanatory. It’s a metric that shows you how often users are spending real money in your app. 

Obviously, you need to have purchases and app monetization enabled to track a metric like this. But it’s important to track this number over time to see if certain events or campaigns lead to more purchases. 

For example, in-app purchases may increase for ecommerce apps during the holiday season. Or maybe you have a gaming app that saw an increase in purchases after a certain marketing promotion went live. 

8. Mobile App Churn Rate

Churn rate is essentially the opposite of your retention rate. It tracks the percentage of people who stop using your app altogether. 

Not all users who churn are created equally. If your low-value users stop using the app, it’s much worse than losing daily users who were highly engaged. 

Studies show that the average churn rate is 57% in the first month. This number jumps to 71% by month three.

If high-value users are churning, it’s the sign of a much larger problem for your app that needs to be addressed immediately. 

9. Mobile App NPS (Net Promoter Score)

Net promoter score is a mobile app KPI that’s often overlooked. It’s measured through surveys that ask users how likely they are to recommend your app.

Why is this so important? Research shows that people are four times more likely to download an app if they’ve been referred by a friend. Referred customers also have a 16% higher lifetime value than other users.

So a high NPS can ultimately impact other mobile app KPIs, and even help keep your marketing costs low.

10. App Store Ranking

Your app store ranking is your position on app stores for a given search term. The higher your ranking, the greater the chances that people will see your app and download it.

Knowing what to put on your app store page and understanding the principles behind app store optimization are some easy ways to climb the rankings. 

Check out our complete guide to app store optimization (ASO) to learn more about this. 

11. Abandonment Rates

Abandonment rate is often confused with retention rate and churn rate. But this mobile app KPI is a bit different.

This metric tracks how many users stop using your app before signing up. So someone went through the trouble of downloading your app and opened it but never completed the signup process.

High user abandonment is typically a sign of a poor onboarding process. Maybe you’re asking for too much information or not making it easy for users to sign up. 

Syncing your app sign up with third-party logins like Facebook or Google is a great way to keep app abandonment low. 

Then users can sign up using their existing account information instead of going through a long process to create a new one for your app.

12. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

In an ideal world, your user acquisition cost will be as low as possible. This metric tracks the actual dollars it takes to get a single person to download your app. 

This is also known as cost per install (CPI).

To calculate this metric, divide your ad spending over a specific period by the number of downloads in the same period. For example, let’s say you spend $2,000 on advertising in one month. This generated 1,400 installations. Your CPI would be $1.43.

13. Average Customer Support Response Times

How long does it take you to answer customer questions? This is a crucial app KPI for long-term customer satisfaction with your brand and app. 

You should be tracking the time to first response as well as the total time to resolution. 

Consider using a chatbot or something similar to generate an automated reply to customers until a real person can respond. This is one of the easiest ways to lower your time to first response time. 

14. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)

Now it’s time to talk about your revenue metrics. Most of you probably created an app with a plan to start generating revenue at some point or another. But sometimes, this gets lost in the shuffle when you’re tracking so many other KPIs.

Average revenue per user calculates how much revenue the average person generates in your app. To calculate ARPU, divide the total app revenue by your total number of app users. 

If you don’t have a huge user base, make sure you look over the data to ensure that outliers aren’t skewing these metrics. In this case, a single user generating a ton of revenue could make your ARPU appear larger than it really is. 

15. User Lifetime Value

Lifetime value (LTV) tracks how much you expect to make from a single user before that person stops using your app altogether. Here’s a simple formula for app user LTV:

One of the best ways to increase this metric is by extending the average customer lifetime. The longer someone uses your app, the greater chance you have of making more money from them in the long run. 

Your marketing efforts will play a role in user lifetime value. You can’t stop engaging with users after they’ve downloaded the app. You need to drive engagement, release updates, provide excellent support, and ensure the overall user experience is satisfactory.  

16. Average Order Value (AOV)

Average order value is another mobile app metric for those of you who are selling something, whether it be a product, service, or in-app upgrade. 

It tracks how much users spend per purchase. Once you have this number figured out, then you can look for ways to increase your AOV. For example, an ecommerce shop might offer an upsell during the checkout process. 

Another metric in this category to track is AOV per paying user. This KPI eliminates all users who don’t spend any money, so you can get a better understanding of how much money you’re getting from each transaction of paying customers. 

17. Event Tracking

Event tracking is perfect for measuring user engagement metrics. You’ll want to look at specific actions within the app that are noteworthy and good for your bottom line. 

Examples of events to track could include:

  • Registration form completed
  • Item added to cart
  • Content shared with a friend
  • Reaching a checkpoint in a game
  • Purchases

Don’t just blindly pick and choose random events to track. You’ll want to look at specific events that make sense for your app’s performance or monetization strategy. 

18. Average Screens Per Visit

This is another significant KPI for user engagement. Not every session is created equally. 

Let’s say a user opens your app every day—you may think this is a great sign if you’re only tracking daily active users. But if they’re opening the app and not getting past the first screen, it’s a telling sign that there could be a problem with the UI and UX design of your app.

If your average screens per visit metrics are high, it shows that users are engaging with your app and going deep into its capabilities. 

But this is also why it’s important to track app events (as mentioned above). Sometimes average screens could be misleading. Jumping from one screen to another could be an indication of design flaws, meaning the user can’t find what they’re looking for on the first try.

19. App Attribution

Attribution helps you monitor which sources sent users to your mobile app. Where exactly are they coming from?

This is crucial for marketing and sales purposes. You can determine if app users are coming from social media ads, PPC campaigns, organic search, your app landing page, and more. 

As a result, you can use this metric to figure out which channels are driving the most downloads to your app.

20. Mobile App Speed

Speed is arguably the most important KPI for mobile app performance. If your app is too slow, it’s going to cause lots of problems that could lead to churn, abandonment, and hurt your retention rate. 

Fast loading times can help you improve other app metrics. Just look at these numbers:

Speeding up your app increases the page views per visit and session duration while reducing bounces and cart abandonment. Each page should load in less than two seconds, but you should strive to do better than that. Keeping loading times under one second will help ensure users have a great experience. 

21. Mobile App Latency

Like speed, latency falls into the app performance metrics category. While latency and speed are often used interchangeably, they’re actually two different KPIs.

Latency measures the time it takes to request and receive a response from your API. You want this number to be as low as possible. 

For example, latency could impact how long it takes for a user to click a button. Whereas speed measures how long it takes for the page to load after the action has been made. 

22. App Crashes and Bugs

Things like network crashes, bugs, downtime, and other mobile app performance APIs are important to keep an eye on. 

Every app crashes and has bugs from time to time. It happens. But you obviously want to keep these instances to a minimum. Figure out what’s causing the problem, and fix them ASAP with patching or an update. 

Just look at how your churn rates can be impacted by crashes:

If you don’t measure mobile app performance, it could be a slippery slope that hurts other KPIs.

23. Funnel Tracking

Funnel tracking gives you an overview of the user journey. It shows you the sequence of events that a user took from the initial acquisition through the conversion.

For example, a user might enter your funnel when they download your app. From there, you can track their onboarding, free trial sign up, and eventually the path to a paid subscription or purchase.

Funnel tracking tells you where people are leaking from your funnel. This could be directly tied to your offer or maybe a user interface problem within the app. 

If you find out that free trial users aren’t extending to a paid membership, you’d need to look for ways to plug the hole in that leak. 

24. Organic Conversion Rate

This piggybacks off our attribution and funnel tracking. Conversions can be segmented into two main categories—paid and organic.

Paid conversions come from advertisements, whereas organic conversions come through organic search. The latter means that someone discovered your app without any influence from you or your ads. They simply searched for a need or want in the app store and chose your app from the list.

You want organic conversions to be successful, as they could help you lower your ad spending over time. If users are finding your app without you having to pay for campaigns, it’s great for your CPI rates as well.

25. Push Notification Metrics

Once users download your app, you’ll want to keep them engaged with push notifications. KPIs in this category include:

  • View rate
  • Open rate
  • Opt-in rate
  • Opt-out rate
  • Re-engagement rate
  • Conversion rate

If users are opting out of your push notifications, it could be a sign that you’re sending them too frequently. Or maybe the notifications you’re sending aren’t relevant to that user. 

Push notifications can be crucial to your app’s success if you know how to use them properly. So it’s really important for you to keep a close eye on these.

Final Thoughts

These key performance indicators should keep you busy for the lifetime of your app. Don’t get overwhelmed here and feel like you need to start tracking everything overnight.

Start with what’s important to you the most. But eventually, you’ll want to incorporate all of these into your big-picture app strategy.

The great part about using a platform like BuildFire is that you’ll have built-in analytics from your admin dashboard. This makes it easier to track KPIs from a single source of truth.

Questions? Reach out to our team here at BuildFire, and we’d be happy to share some insights.