If you own a small business, you may be thinking about creating an app to increase brand recognition and the potential for revenue. Since apps have become an integral part of consumers’ everyday life, this could be a smart move. But you also need to be smart when it comes to building a secure, user-friendly, and attractive smartphone app for your business. That means avoiding some of the most common missteps made by owners of small to midsize businesses, including the ones below.
They Try to DIY Their Apps
Search online and you’ll come across countless programs that will help you DIY an app for your small business. Using these programs may save you some money, but know that the results are bound to be generic and they may not be exactly what you’re looking for in an app.
Not to mention that your time is precious. In fact, time is the most valuable resource any small business owner has, so don’t waste yours trying to build an app when you’ve never done so before! Your business is too important and your time is too irreplaceable to do so.
Instead, find an expert that can create a custom, user-friendly app that will do your small business justice. Not sure where to look for this sort of pro? Freelance job boards will give you access to numerous profiles of qualified app developers. Take your time reading through reviews, reviewing portfolios and comparing rates to find the right pro for you.
They Forget About Security
Another risk that comes with DIY business apps? You could leave your business or your customers open to online hackers, scammers, and other would-be criminals. Mobile apps are prone to the same attacks as other tech, including spyware and data leaks. App breaches are fairly common and even large corporations are not immune. These leaks can end up costing businesses big time and could even cause your small business to go under.
This is just one more reason you should trust a pro to build your small business app, rather than attempting to do so on your own. An experienced app developer will know exactly which steps to take in order to protect your new app from attacks.
Of course, you should also have a recovery plan in case a hacker or criminal does end up targeting your app or business. The right plan will consist of developing an effective recovery strategy, putting prevention methods into place, managing your data all in one place, quickly restoring your data, and performing frequent tests to ensure your plan is effective. That way, should a breach occur, you’ll be able to get back online quickly. Additionally, software solutions like Commvault will recover your data and cut costs related to disaster recovery.
They Don’t Ask for Reviews
Think about the last time you downloaded an app to your smartphone. Chances are, you checked out the reviews and ratings before you did so, right? Well, potential users of your app are going to do the same thing, which is why you can’t be shy about asking folks for feedback.
In fact, ratings are so important because more than 80% of smartphone users have stated that they will not even consider an app that is rated below 4.0. Whether they use Android or Apple devices, these consumers also read through reviews to ensure security and user-friendliness.
How you ask for those reviews can also matter. Being direct is not likely to net you many positive reviews or any ratings at all. Try asking your users a question first or use a third-party prompt to request reviews. Prompts should come at the end of a task to increase positive responses. After all, you don’t want to annoy people while they get to know your app!
An app can add another layer to your marketing and sales efforts. It’s a great way to engage customers and get them excited about your business! Just be sure to play it safe when creating your new app, and think seriously about enlisting the help of an experienced app developer. That way you will get a secure and engaging app that really “wows” without wasting time.
Article by Erica Francis from ReadyJob
Photo by Árpád Czapp from Unsplash