Is App Design for Small Business a Good Idea?

Technology evolution is nonstop. There are approximately 24 million app developers in the world and that number is expected to grow to nearly 29 million by 2024. Why? It may be because experts predict mobile apps will generate more than 935 billion US dollars in revenues via paid downloads and in-app advertising.

Building a great app is not only beneficial to promote your service or product, but it allows you as a small business owner to become more knowledgeable in the digital world and generate interactions with your users. If done correctly, it’s one of the most effective ways to engage and retain loyal customers.

According to Salesforce, small business owners need to be innovative and agile to stay on top of the competition and navigate change. So, if you are just getting started in the app industry, we want to help guide your search, discover challenges, and make an informed decision before starting the app design for your small business.  

Potentiate Your Resources 

The first thing to consider is your budget. According to The Manifest, nearly half of small businesses spend less than $25,000 to design, launch, and build their mobile app, though experts caution that smaller budgets may not produce a successful product.

Don’t get discouraged by the numbers. Having a limited budget does not mean your product cannot succeed. If you work with the right people to develop the app, and you have a defined strategy to promote it, you may be surprised at what you can accomplish. 

Here are some tips to help you limit your costs to the highest-value efforts:

Know Your Business Goals

What is the main purpose you are looking to fulfill by creating this app? Sounds like a simple question, but it can be challenging to answer. Before you engage in app design for your small business, you need to know your customer and the challenge(s) your app will solve. Once you have a clear understanding, you can set goals on how to achieve your objective.

According to The Balance Small Business, for effective goal setting, you need to do more than just decide what you want to do; you also have to set specific, task-oriented, achievable goals and then work at accomplishing whatever goals you set. For many people, it’s the second part of the goal-setting definition that’s challenging.

Have you heard about the SMART model? It is an easy way to track your goals, as they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. 

Effective goal setting begins with a clear understanding of what SMART goals are and an awareness of the process needed to achieve them. Working closely with your team and identifying your goals will help you differentiate your app from competitors and add customer value. 

Listen to Your Audience

Your customers will always have something to say, so partner with them as a treasure trove of information. They are the ones who will use your app, making it essential to get their input.

All Business states that with mobile apps, business owners have the opportunity to interact with their customers in real-time, drive sales, and improve their market reputation. A mobile app is more likely to engage your customers than a website or even social media, in some cases.

Collecting that feedback is crucial for the first phases of your small business app design journey. Having your goals set and the voice of your audience loud and clear is the GO sign you need for the creative process. 

Don’t Miss On The Latest Trends

Stay on top of the game by doing your research on the most current app design and user experience trends. UX Design shares that the rapid growth of technology influences design trends every year. 

Putting in the money and time into app development will be for nothing if you develop an app that isn’t modern. You need to be aware of the existing and upcoming design trends, constantly learning and improving to be up to date on the current market. 

By the end of 2020, working towards generating interactions and telling a story were the two key aspects of app design for small businesses. Capturing the users’ attention and generating conversations will transform your app idea into a top-rated product they will love to consume. 

Increasing Revenue with Quality Service

Besides spending your limited budget wisely, developing an innovative app will benefit your small business in many ways. 

Adding a mobile app to your business can help with increasing small business return on investment. A well-designed app can help boost sales by attracting new customers and retaining the ones you already have.

Quality service is another aspect to consider to help your small business grow and gain customer loyalty. Offering a unique application that solves a specific need will allow you to extend the customer experience and increase revenue. 

And as you continue to gather user feedback, you can iterate on the design to keep your app modern and valuable. By keeping a pulse on what your customers want and what the competition is doing well, you can continually improve and evolve your app to meet or exceed demand.

Know the Basics of App Development

You don’t need to be tech-savvy to get started with your small business app design. Even though plenty of apps fail because of lack of functionality or poor design, know that what really matters is finding a balance between technical and visual elements. 

According to Medium, your app design should be exceptional and unique. You want your app to stand out from the millions of other apps. You have to be creative and offer customers something valuable they can’t find somewhere else.

From a User Interface (UI) perspective, there are key principles that go beyond your apps look and feel, such as:

• Consistency – Make sure your product is consistent across typefaces, buttons, and labels, and interactive elements work the same throughout your app.
• Familiarity – Incorporate familiar design elements so users can quickly use features without a huge learning curve.
• Clarity – Design the app to be as simple and concise as possible, enabling users to complete tasks in the shortest time possible. 
• Content Prioritization – Display only essential information and functionalities so as not to lose user interest.

Related: How to Make an App for Your Small Business

Consulting with an experienced developer is a great way to start sketching your app and learn from the process. Clearly communicate your thoughts and ideas with the developer so they know what you want and are able to deliver to your expectations. 

If you work with an experienced developer, they will be able to help you tweak your idea to avoid common mistakes. According to BuildFire, having conversations about previous work and recommendations from your developer is vital to save time, unnecessary iterations, and to deliver better functionality to your final users.

Here are three questions you should an app developer before you sign on the dotted line: 

1. Can I see a list of your previous clients? This question will also help you find out more about their work style and preferred development platforms. 
2. Do you provide work documentation? Once your app is ready to launch, make sure they provide documentation for how to use and eventually improve the application.
3. What are your fees and terms? This part is crucial when it comes to staying true to your budget. Ensure they define the set of deliverables when you get to the payment stage.

Discovery and Design

Although the process of developing a digital product is unique to each client, it is important to start building from the foundation of collective experiences and lean development philosophies in order to deliver digital products affordably and efficiently. 

Schedule an App Design and Build with an Austin App Developer

Creating an app is much more than hiring a developer to build an app for your business.

We encourage you to explore your options and seek trusted guidance to get started with your unique, efficient, and innovative app.