A mobile application, most commonly referred to as an app, is a type of application software designed to run on a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet computer. Mobile applications frequently serve to provide users with similar services to those accessed on PCs. Apps are generally small, individual software units with limited function. This use of app software was originally popularized by Apple Inc. and its App Store, which offers thousands of applications for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
A mobile application also may be known as an app, web app, online app, iPhone app or smartphone app.
To have a mobile app for your site is cool, right? No matter how responsive your WordPress theme is, you need a dedicated mobile app to take your site to the next level.
If you would like to convert your WordPress site into a mobile app, we will give you some plugins to turn your WordPress site into a mobile app. These plugins will help you to create a mobile app for your site so you can host on app stores to drive extra traffic to your site.
Other than traffic aspects, having a mobile app for your site makes your online business sound very professional and user-friendly.
If your brand isn’t readily available to mobile users, you’re headed in the wrong direction.
Having a responsive website is the first step you need to take in order to comply with both Google’s initiative and consumer demand.
The second? Well, that would be to build an app for your WordPress site.
In the following guide, we will show you 7 reasons why your WordPress site needs an app – and 3 reasons why you probably won’t create one anyway!
But be prepared: you might walk away from this post with your mind changed… as well as tips on how to create an app from your WordPress site, from start to finish.
Why You Should Build an App for Your WordPress Site
You have a WordPress website that’s performing well. You’re making money, gathering leads, and building your brand’s presence on the web. You’ve even gone to great lengths to give it a responsive design that your website visitors will enjoy using.
But mobile-first doesn’t just stop at browser-based web experiences. As you’ll find in the 7 reasons below, a mobile app is essential to your business if you want your brand, readership, and income to expand.
Reason 1: People Prefer Mobile Apps to Mobile Websites
Let’s start by addressing the most obvious question here: why doesn’t a mobile website suffice in addressing mobile user demand? If mobile users already have the means to connect with your WordPress site through their devices, why should they even embrace the mobile app?
According to data from e-marketers mobile users will spend 2 hours and 35 minutes, on average, inside of apps every day in 2018. Conversely, they will only spend 26 minutes on the mobile web.
How to Turn WordPress Site into a Mobile App
Creating a mobile app for your site can be a very costly affair if you outsource the development to an external developer. And, it’s not possible for every webmaster to develop a mobile app from the ground up, it needs specific coding skills or good amounts of cash in your pocket.
The best part is, if your site is on WordPress there are some plugins that can help you to turn your site into a mobile app within a few minutes and without much expense.
So, let’s check the best plugins that will turn your site into a mobile app.
1. App presser
AppPresser is by far the most popular tool to convert your site into a mobile app. It’s a premium WordPress tool that provides a custom solution for your site according to your needs. Have a look at the products available on App to find the best plan as per your needs.
2. Mobiloud
Mobiloud is a premium service that helps you convert your WordPress site into a mobile app for Android or iOS. Mobiloud seamlessly integrates with WordPress through their WordPress plugin and automatically updates your apps with any changes on your site.
3. Mobapper
Mobapper is a handy WordPress plugin that converts your site into a mobile app. It helps you create native mobile apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and Blackberry. All of your content will be readily available in the apps.
The best part is, this plugin lets you control the content delivered to mobile.
4. Mobile app plugin
Mobile App Plugin is a very easy solution to create a native app for your WordPress site, all you have to do is install the plugin and set up your app by visiting the CMS website. Select WordPress as a feature, and you’ll just have to choose your theme colors and fonts, add in your website URL in the WordPress tab, and you’re done!
5. Ideapress
IdeaPress is another quality service to create your native app for your WordPress site. You can choose which categories and pages you want to include in your apps and even choose different content for platforms, whether it be iOS, Android or Windows Phone.
Dynamic updating is the best part of this app tool, IdeaPress apps can be updated through your dashboard and have the changes pushed directly to the apps within minutes without re-publishing.
What To Do After Creating Your WordPress Mobile App
Once you’ve decided which option fits best into your budget and timeline, while also leading to the best results, you can proceed with creating an app from your WordPress site.
With your mobile app created, however, don’t forget about the marketing side of this.
Create Your Icon
One of the benefits of building a mobile app is its continual presence on your customers’ home screens. With an instantly recognizable icon, your brand can stay top-of-mind even when they’re not inside the app.
However, that brand awareness doesn’t begin on their mobile device’s home screen. It begins within the app store. This means you need to design an icon that can instantly capture their attention while conveying a lot about your brand’s style.
To nail this piece of the app marketing process, be sure to hire a designer who understands icon best practices. You can find a number of app icon design best practices as well to guide you through the process and ensure that you end up with an icon that looks just as great as your mobile app.
Write Your Description
The app icon and screenshots from inside the app will go a long way in luring new users to your mobile app. However, you can’t rely solely on imagery to sell it. You need to craft a description that succinctly sells the concept of your mobile app and the pains it solves for customers as they discover it in app stores.
Mobile app marketing Tip #5 describes the best approach for writing a description that’s sure to convince users that your app is worthy of a download.
Develop a Promotional Plan
Just like with organic search marketing, you can’t expect Google or Apple to instantly recognize your app’s value and push it to the top of search results in the app stores. You’re going to have to actively promote your app. In doing so, you’ll boost its reputation in the stores (as well as elsewhere online) while simultaneously collecting more satisfied customer reviews.
To promote your mobile app, consider the following questions:
How will you get existing readers of your WordPress site to download your app?
Would a call-to-action at the bottom of each post make sense? Can you announce your mobile app in a new blog post or newsletter? How about a notification in the responsive site that suggests users download the mobile app version? Would reminders in social media help?
Think about the best way to reach them and start sharing the news of your mobile app there.
How will you get new readers to download your app?
This plan will involve a variety of different approaches.
First, develop a marketing campaign strictly for the mobile app and post it out to all platforms where you know your audience will be.
Next, ask current readers or customers to leave reviews for the mobile app inside the app store they got it from. You can do this through the app, as a push notification, or with a quick email. The more ratings and positive reviews you gather, the more that social proof will work in your favour.
Finally, reach out to bloggers, product reviewers, and PR websites and ask them to review your mobile app. press outreach can really help in getting the word out to a broader audience while selling users who put a lot of trust into what expert reviewers say.
Conclusively
A strong mobile presence is key. Without one, you’re going to be missing out on traffic, engagement, and revenue.
Your users significantly favor the experience of mobile apps over responsive websites, and so this opportunity is not one you can afford to skip. In addition, not only do apps allow you to reach a greater audience on the platform they want to be on, but they enable you to deliver certain features that only come from mobile-connected applications.
And while there are some costs associated with building an app for your business, they can be kept reasonably low when you invest in the right app-building solution for your needs. When you build a beautiful looking app that delivers real value to your customers, the return on investment will be huge.
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