Building a mobile presence is essential for brands because people prefer to explore and buy products on the go. Think beyond having a responsive website because consumers expect reputed brands to have mobile apps. Moreover, your competitors will probably have one already, so keeping pace with them is crucial. But you may have some qualms about app development costs because it may cost a considerable sum. But the truth is that making your brand mobile-ready is easy on the pocket. Let us share a few tips to get started without breaking the bank.
Set clear goals
The best way to embark on the journey is to set clear goals for your mobile applications. Consider factors like your target audience, monetization strategy, competitor products, and long-term vision to establish your objective. It enables you to start small with only the essential features instead of unnecessary bells and whistles. You can imagine how much time and money you can save by defining your goals right at the outset of the project.
Outsource development expertise
You will probably not have an in-house IT team if your core business is not technology-related. Hiring mobile app developers is not a great decision for such organizations because you may end up spending a fortune on building a team you will not need down the line. Outsourcing development expertise is a better option because it costs a fraction of the in-house model. Moreover, you get experts with diverse skills and experience working on your project.
Choose the app platform wisely
Building a mobile presence on a budget is also about choosing your app platform wisely. Consider your audiences, and figure out whether they frequent the Android or iOS platform. You can get the best of both worlds by opting for cross platform app development that ensures a broad reach. Spending a little more on a cross-platform product today makes more sense than developing a new app for other platforms down the line.
Consider maintenance costs
When budget is a concern for your brand, think beyond the development cost. The lifecycle of the app extends beyond the development stage, so you must consider relevant expenses during deployment and maintenance as well. Not factoring in these costs can disrupt your initial budget, and you may end up struggling to stay afloat. Ask your development team about the cost of maintaining the app in the long run to plan the budget precisely.
Embrace an MVP approach
Experts recommend embracing a Minimal viable product (MVP) as the first step to making your brand mobile-ready if budget is critical. You can save a lot of money and time on development by building a product with truncated functionality. Moreover, it tends to have a simple learning curve for users, so they are more likely to stick with such an app. They are also likely to have fewer glitches.
Making your brand mobile-ready is easy, provided you are money-savvy and selective. Start with an MVP and pick the right app development platform to get your business on the mobile bandwagon.