IT'S FAST MOVING BUT WE'LL KEEP YOU AHEAD OF THE CURVE

Mobile Apps, Marketing Tips, Business Tips, App Features Applified Marketing Group Mobile Apps, Marketing Tips, Business Tips, App Features Applified Marketing Group

Simon Said, Now Apple Says… Apple Developer Accounts For EVERYONE. (PERIOD)

It was only a matter of time before Apple, “the Mafia of the App World,” would change their policies once again. Up until this past year all Apps created (what Apple considers “Mass Produced” or “Templated Apps”) for Businesses by an Organization, like us at AMG, could be built under the actual Apple Developer Account of the App Developer. That was a mouthful. Since the dawn of apps this was the norm and really helped streamline the process for us and our clients, keeping them less involved. But Apple “wants clients more involved.”

Simon Said, Now Apple Says…

applesayssimonwheel.png

It was only a matter of time before Apple, “the Mafia of the App World,” would change their policies once again. Up until this past year all Apps created (what Apple considers “Mass Produced” or “Templated Apps”) for Businesses by an Organization, like us at AMG, could be built under the actual Apple Developer Account of the App Developer. That was a mouthful. Since the dawn of apps this was the norm and really helped streamline the process for us and our clients, keeping them less involved. But Apple “wants clients more involved.”

There was a brief moment in the beginning of 2018 where Apple said they were not going to allow “Templated” Apps in there App Stores any longer which in essence was going to shut down hundreds of App companies doing this very same thing for thousands of businesses. Bigger companies than us like MIND & BODY (Booking), CHOW NOW (Food Ordering), MOBILE ROADIE (Music Apps) have designed their app business side of things around these “Templated Apps”. As a result of Apple’s Policy changes these companies have had to suddenly change their business model and no longer offer these types of apps to there customers. For example MIND & BODY now has one app with all of their clients in it as Apple advised them to, so it is more like a Rolodex which doesn’t really help give any one business a competitive advantage over the other, who wants that? If the client wants to try someone else they can see in the very same app the competition down the road great for the consumer bad for the business. While other App builders had to shut down there businesses overnight, we found a solution that Apple approved of which allowed us to carry on providing great apps to businesses with one minor stipulation…

“All pre-existing Apps would need to be moved to their own Developer Accounts if we wanted to update their code AND ALL NEW APPS would need to each have their own Apple Developer Accounts.”

I should also add they wanted apps to look more dynamic, which we already do graphically so that was never an issue with us.

Of course, while I don’t agree with the title “Templated” as we pride ourselves in strong brand imagery and unique features to enhance the business, apps like we make are no different than websites built on platforms such as Wordpress, Squarespace and Wix. The R&D has already been done to build these features or plugins which drives down the cost and we simply put them together like legos and create an incredible USEFUL and ENGAGING tool that helps the businesses grow. The “Web World” was never complaining about these “Templated Websites” but somehow the app world has different standards according to Apple? We are not buying that and most are not either. By the way Google (Android) has never once complained about this practice, they seem more focused on important things like copyright protection! For example, I once had Google reject an app, Hoopology, because there was a gallery photo of Kobe Bryant with the Coach whose app it was and of course he had permission to use it, it was from his phone. As for Apple it only goes to show you how much control they have over the App World and we can't do anything about it but play the game, as Simon once “said,” now Apple “says.” Sounds like a monopoly to me… but hey, we love our apps and so the show must go on! So go on we will together!

We lose Our Branding

I would like to point out the additional bummer for a company like ours is that our name will no longer be listed as the App Developer in the App Store. Instead it will of course show the App Owners “Entity Name,” great for that business, bad for ours. Often that is how we get discovered as the listed App Developer or it even can be perceived as bragging rights for making these awesome apps. As a brand we take tremendous pride in our work and our relationships for that matter with each and every client we work with and having our name listed means a lot. Right now if you typed in Applified Marketing Group in the App Store you would see EVERY APP we have made to date until they all get transferred. The more apps that appear the more validation of your work and more successful or popular you may be viewed. We have done quite well in this department. Time after time I have heard people say they discovered us in the App Store or they were impressed by our Apps. That all goes away. So, for a Developer, that may be the biggest oversight in all of this by Apple is the lack of branding and the “real accountability” for Developers making good or terrible Apps for that matter.

Additional Reading: This was a great article I read that put the new Apple Guidelines into perspective

Dollarphotoclub_72820508.jpg

THE COST

The cost of an Apple Developer Account is $99 per year plus tax unless you are a non-profit or an educational entity of the sort then this fee can get waived. During the application process you can submit for the fee to be waived if you qualify. While Apple claims the new changes are to protect against Copyright and improve security by way of dealing directly with the client, one could also say it’s a cash grab and some do. For example say we had 75 apps under our Apple Developer account it would still only cost $99 for the membership. Force those 75 apps to each have their own $99 membership and Apple stands to make a lot of money with the new policy.

On the flip-side, I will say however, that they are right about these points to some extent. People have been abusing the App Store by creating apps that are not what they say they are, while others have even created apps that claim to be entities that they are not. All the more reason to get your app first so nobody else can impersonate your business. So, for the safety and best interest of us all Apple might be right by making this change. “One bad ‘Apple’ spoils the bunch” or in this case spoils the “Apple Store.”

The bottom line.. if you have an app, we need to create your own APPLE DEVELOPER ACCOUNT for it, if you don’t have one already. As of April 2018 all Apps built by us have been created under their own Apple Developer Accounts of which those clients are aware.

Note: Android Apps can still stay under a Developers Account like ours. So those are fine for now.


THE JOURNEY

A FEW SMALL STEPS

  1. Create Apple ID or use Existing One

  2. Get D-U-N-S Number (Dun & Brad Street Number)

  3. Enroll in the Apple Developer Account (Pay the Membership Cost $99)

  4. Transfer Your App from the AMG Account to Your New Apple Developer Account

  5. Update Your App with Our Latest App Source Code

Note: Your App will remain active during the entire process. This is all behind the scenes stuff.


We put together this slide deck to walk you though the process of enrolling in the Apple Developer Account. You can click on the hyper links to take you through the process.

Let us know if you have any questions or need help.

Read More

10 Reasons Why PWAs Are On The Rise

Up until a year ago it may have seemed impossible that something could replace the almighty native mobile app. However, it’s now becoming pretty clear that Progressive Web Apps are on the rise and native apps are on the way out.

Up until a year ago it may have seemed impossible that something could replace the almighty native mobile app. However, it’s now becoming pretty clear that Progressive Web Apps are on the rise and native apps are on the way out. This holds even more true for small businesses, as their customers are looking for a seamless way to collect loyalty points, see specials, and place orders – without needing to commit to storing an app on their phone. While consumers often see the benefits of downloading (and keeping) the Starbucks app, they might find it harder to justify the download of a small business app that they might use only once a week, or even once a month. 

Customers won’t need to weigh the pros and cons of downloading a certain app with a PWA, as it offers a streamlined user experience that begins with how easy they are to access. All the user has to do is click a link, and voila, the PWA is ready to use! And if they like it, they can save the app to their home screen, but they don’t have to. Compare that to downloading, installing, and setting up a native app, just to use a loyalty program for the first time. 

PWAs can attract broader audiences with its lower barrier to entry. More people are likely to try an app if all they have to do is click a link or scan a QR code. From there they can decide whether they want to continue using the app or not. 

But if you still aren’t completely convinced, here are 10 reasons why PWAs are here to stay [infographic]:

Read More

Progressive Web Apps: The Next Mobile Experience?

You may not have heard of them yet, but Progressive Web Apps (PWA) are about to change the mobile landscape. While introduced in 2015 by Google, PWAs have gained popularity this year. So before it becomes all the rage, what are Progressive Web Apps exactly?

You may not have heard of them yet, but Progressive Web Apps (PWA) are about to change the mobile landscape. While introduced in 2015 by Google, PWAs have gained popularity this year. So before it becomes all the rage, what are Progressive Web Apps exactly?

What is a PWA?

In the most simple sense, PWAs are mobile apps delivered through the web. This technology allows PWAs to deliver an app-like experience on your browser. It feels like a native app due to the use of an app-shell that provides app-style navigations and gestures. Since progressive apps are built on the web, they are not tied to specific devices. A PWA displays seamlessly and identically on all devices, including desktop, mobile, tablet, or whatever comes next.

What’s more, service workers enable a Progressive Web App to load instantly, regardless of network quality. In other words, this web app is designed to work offline and in areas of low connectivity. With the help of pre-caching, it stays up-to-date, serving the user with the newest content upon launch. Similar to an app, the user is able to save the PWA to their home screen to access it at any time. Making it installable, without the hassle of downloading it from the app stores.

PWA vs. Native Mobile App

While native mobile apps provide the highest quality user experience, they come with friction for both the user and the developer. One of the biggest differences between PWAs and native apps is the presence of the “app store middleman”. For Progressive Web Apps, this middleman is completely taken out. For app developers, no app store means you are no longer restricted by iOS and Android’s rules and guidelines. A developer will not have to go through an approval process, allowing the app to be used as soon as it’s ready. There is also no need to manually update the app, as the revised app version will instantly and automatically be available to everyone.

From the perspective of the end user, they are able to access the PWA without having to download it from an app store. Instead, a PWA is linkable, which means anyone can launch the app straight from a URL. You can share it on social media, email, text message, online ad, or link it to a QR code, and the user will instantly be immersed into an app.

By removing all this friction, it will be much easier for users to have access to the app. As the diagram below shows, with every step of the native app download process, 20% of users are lost. Consumers find it tedious having to find the app in the app store, wait for it to download, and worry that it’ll use up all their storage space before they can start using the app. Because PWAs drastically reduce the amount of steps they need to take (essentially making it a one-step process), there is a much higher chance of people actually using the app. In fact, we use 4x as many websites as mobile apps, resulting in a much larger potential user base with a web based app.

Another major difference for app developers is that they will not have to adapt their app to iOS or Android. The fact that PWAs use web technology means they work cross-platform, on most browsers, taking the operating system out of the equation. You can build one Progressive Web App and it will look and perform the same across all devices. Users will have a cohesive experience on any device they choose to launch the app on.

Finally, PWAs are highly discoverable. This means they are easily identified by search engines, allowing them to come up in the search results just like any other web content. PWAs will be treated with traditional SEO, so it gets indexed for more than just the app name, but also the content within the app. It will not be treated as an app specifically, but as a piece of content that can “answer” someone’s “question.”

To put this into context, 60% of searches are now from mobile devices and this number continues to grow. People are actively using their mobile devices to find content, so imagine your PWA coming up in those search results. For example, someone might be looking for a salon in the area, so they use the Google search bar to start their inquiry. The search results will most likely show directories like Yelp and salon websites. If you own a salon business, your PWA could rank in these searches, driving customers straight from the search results to your app. This first touch is an opportunity to convert your customers. An app-like experience will allow customers to schedule a salon appointment from a UI built for mobile. It’s a seamless process starting with a web search and ending with a completed task in the app.

PWA vs. Mobile Website

PWAs are a hybrid of native apps and mobile websites, but how do they differ from responsive websites? Unlike “old school” mobile websites, PWAs are fast. Note that 53% of users will abandon a site if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load. PWAs load instantly, regardless of network state, and provide fast-to-respond interfaces. This eliminates their dependence on the network, as mobile websites do, ensuring an instant and reliable experience for users. A PWA also updates in the background, so users never need to wait for new content to load.

In addition, traditional mobile websites focus on static information, while PWAs are able to provide users with dynamic functionality. PWAs offer an immersive full-screen experience, allowing customers to place mobile food orders, participate in a loyalty program and contact a business. It can also re-engage users with web push notifications, similar to native push notifications.

Who Is Already Seeing Success?

To drive both traffic and re-engagement, cosmetics brand Lancôme launched a Progressive Web App to deliver a fast, app-like experience to their customers.

Lancôme saw mobile traffic exceed desktop traffic for the first time in 2016. Despite a growing number of mobile site visitors, mobile conversion rates didn’t match those for desktop. 38% of shopping carts on desktop led to orders, while the conversion rate for the mobile web was only 15%. These numbers revealed that customers were experiencing significant obstacles when trying to purchase via their mobile device.

At first, Lancôme considered an e-commerce app as the solution. However, they understood that an app only made sense for customers who visited regularly. Mobile shoppers would not return to an e-commerce app weekly, let alone daily, so they wouldn’t see the value in downloading a Lancôme app. The company wanted to build the right user experience on all of their devices. According to Google, “The company needed a fast-loading, compelling e-mobile experience, similar to what they could achieve with a native app—but one that was also discoverable and accessible to everyone via the mobile web”. Enter the Progressive Web App.

The results are staggering:

  • 84% decrease in time until the page is interactive
  • 17% increase in conversions
  • 53% increase in mobile sessions on iOS
  • 18% open rate on push notifications
  • 8% of consumers who tap on a push notification make a purchase
  • All told, the PWA has been a tremendous success, helping the beauty giant make great strides into the mobile revolution.

What does the future look like?  

While native mobile apps are by no means going extinct, a PWA can provide the ideal solution for businesses looking to build a compelling and easily adoptable mobile experience for their customers. PWAs offer the best of both worlds, with all the shareability of the web and all the functionality of the native app. Applified Marketing Group has been working on web apps since 2011 and we are excited about this new technology. It finally gives us the ability to implement native features into our web apps. We will be part of the future of apps, where the mobile app and the mobile website become one.

Read More