For the uninitiated the world of app development can be as
mysterious and out-of reach as a black hole, something to be dreamed and
wondered about, but never touched. Making an app for your own small
business is entirely within your reach. It is not even that difficult to
do yourself. If you would rather shell out the money and not have to
deal with the construction yourself it's fine, but it surprised me when I
learned how simple it can be to make a custom business app for Android
devices or the iPhone.
Start
by brainstorming ideas. Do aspects of your business lend themselves
well to an app? What do regular customers need to know about your
business? Are there certain questions people call you to ask about your
business regularly?
Let's say you run a small music venue. The obvious things you would want to include in an app are schedules of performers, specials you have during the week, and news, topical things like those you include on your company's website. Think about how people use their smart phones. A plugin that gives people directions to your theater from wherever they are is a smart feature. An alert that tells people when you book a major artist might also be helpful.
Obviously, your app needs are specific to your business, so talk to your friends and customers and find out what they would like to see in your app. Once you have a list of features and an idea of what your app will look like, download either the iOS Developer's Kit or the Android Developer's Kit and head over to BuzzTouch.com. There are other similar websites, but BuzzTouch is the easiest and most app-building intuitive I have found. This website allows you to design an app without knowing any code. The site features lots of videos and tutorials for beginners, and some more refined control for those that know more about coding and app development.
The site constructs apps by manipulating 'plugins'. These little modules can form screens, menus, and features that will make up your app when it is finished (there is a plugin, for instance, that is a calendar. If you wanted a calendar to be accessible on your app, you could link from your 'main menu' plugin to this plugin in your app). Once you have chosen and configured your plugins you export your app, and the site translates what you have built into code. You can submit your app files to the App Store or the Android Marketplace, and use your own company's website or BuzzTouch to update it and change it as you wish.
The whole process is relatively painless, and the only costs are in submitting your app to the App Store ($99) or the Android Market ($25). In return, you make your business more visible by giving your customers access to your business that is interactive and modern.
Let's say you run a small music venue. The obvious things you would want to include in an app are schedules of performers, specials you have during the week, and news, topical things like those you include on your company's website. Think about how people use their smart phones. A plugin that gives people directions to your theater from wherever they are is a smart feature. An alert that tells people when you book a major artist might also be helpful.
Obviously, your app needs are specific to your business, so talk to your friends and customers and find out what they would like to see in your app. Once you have a list of features and an idea of what your app will look like, download either the iOS Developer's Kit or the Android Developer's Kit and head over to BuzzTouch.com. There are other similar websites, but BuzzTouch is the easiest and most app-building intuitive I have found. This website allows you to design an app without knowing any code. The site features lots of videos and tutorials for beginners, and some more refined control for those that know more about coding and app development.
The site constructs apps by manipulating 'plugins'. These little modules can form screens, menus, and features that will make up your app when it is finished (there is a plugin, for instance, that is a calendar. If you wanted a calendar to be accessible on your app, you could link from your 'main menu' plugin to this plugin in your app). Once you have chosen and configured your plugins you export your app, and the site translates what you have built into code. You can submit your app files to the App Store or the Android Marketplace, and use your own company's website or BuzzTouch to update it and change it as you wish.
The whole process is relatively painless, and the only costs are in submitting your app to the App Store ($99) or the Android Market ($25). In return, you make your business more visible by giving your customers access to your business that is interactive and modern.
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