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| Paul Canetti. |
Are you thinking about investing in an app, but you are not quite sure if it would be the right way to go for your business?
Well, this blog is designed to help you with exactly that...excellent!
Very late last night I attended a Webinar given by Paul Canetti who has worked on over 700 Apps. Paul is the founder and CEO of MAZ, a publishing platform for mobile and tablet devices. MAZ works with over 175 publications, including Forbes Magazine, to create and distribute digital content.
Paul provided excellent information and some interesting facts. To begin he described the differences between a Native app and a Web app:
Native app: Is a software app (one which you would download from the app store) in which the user is able to make payments through (subscriptions to magazines or bumping up your lives in a game to name just a couple). The app adapts to the phone it is being used on-hense the name 'Native'. These apps need to go through approval from Apple (if you are considering producing one of these app, bare in mind that it has the possibility of being rejected). The Native app is more expansive to produce than the web app. These apps can be used off-line.
Web app: Special websites, written in web language, accessible through a web browser and therefore unavailable off-line. These apps do not need approval from Apple, the web app is cheaper to produce and does not have a payment ability integrated.
Paul talked us through whether your business needs an app. For example if you take a look at you websites Google analytics and see that the majority of your hit are coming from potential clients using their mobile phones to view your website-then its a pretty good chance that your business will benefit from having an app.
Another interesting point was that, the app you produce for your business does not neccessarily have to be the same as your website. He used an example from a Art Gallery, there website was pretty basic and functioned exactly how your would imagine, however when they produced the app, they designed it so that it had picture recognition. Meaning that you could point your phone at a painting and the app would tell you who the Artist is, plus with a wealth of information on the Artist too. This app was far more beneficial to the business, the user and it also brought much attention to the Art gallery as the app was so unusual and innovative.
Paul stated that you should ask yourself three main questions when you are thinking about producing an app:
1) What problem are you trying to solve? This does not need to be complicated, the example Paul used was, say you wanted to solve the problem of being boredom in the doctors waiting room-the solution is to create a game app to play whilst you wait.
2)What market is your app aimed at?
3)Which category are you intending to enter?
4)What is your business model?
Another priceless point was that if your clients are viewing your website on their phones, rather than a desktop, then when your website is being designed-it should be created with this thought in mind. The site should not be too busy and would be easy on the eye if it were a little more spaced out. The result on the desktop would be a slightly characutured site, but on the mobile-it would be easy on the eye and a pleasure to read. Check out http://mashable.com for an example of this.
Pauls last words of wisdom where that you should be careful when you are deciding who to take on board as your app designer and creator. I for one believe this advice is gold dust-after the disastrous experience we had with the appalling Toolkit websites. I ONLY work through recommendations now, this is a rule I will abide by forever. Elizabeth and I were stung very painfully by this company, we are only now-a year later becoming free of their disgraceful workmanship. So, USE REFERRALS! You can always login to the American Express Open Forum and ask business professionals or simply ask your friends and family.
Now for the grand finale...how much does it cost to have an app produced for you?
Well...it depends really! Annoying I know, but true. As a rough guide: The simplest of apps start at $15-20k. Gasp! Yes this is a substantial amount of money but...when you compare this to the $19 billion that Whatapp (a basic app used for sending free text and making free phone calls) sold for, then potentially, it is one of the best investments of all time!
Make sure you are investing your time and your money into a idea you believe in, ask your friends, family or even professionals in the industry their opinion (be careful who you seek advice from too, as you do not want anybody stealing your idea). You can ask @paulcanetti on Twitter questions you may have. This is a website to teach yourself code/how to build an app etc: http://www.starterleague.com
And, here is a website giving you additional information on app statistics: http://blog.flurry.com/?Tag=Usage%20Statistics
I would like to say a big Thank You to Paul and his lovely assistant Dana. And, I hope this information has been useful, it certainly was for me.
Happy apping peeps!
Amber Williams
Bearla International Studies.
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