“If you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself.” Think back to a time when you asked someone to do something and the results were less than stellar. Why were you let down? Did the task take longer than expected? Was explaining what you wanted more trouble than it was worth? Or maybe you would have done it differently? Regardless of the reason, sometimes you get the best results when you do it yourself.
Let’s switch gears here a bit to mobile strategies. If you’ve ever been a part of a native mobile app development project, you’ve likely got a few war wounds to tell the tale. And if not, well...consider yourself lucky. Building an app is no small task. If your internal team has the software development skills it takes to create an app that’s on par with industry standards, that’s great. As a marketer, you’ll still have to keep a close eye on the project to make sure it will provide real value for your customers. And if you don’t have the resources to build an app with your internal team, you’ll have to hire a mobile app developer which possesses its own challenges. If you’re still up for the challenge but wish there was an easier option, I’ve got some good news; marketers now have the option to build apps themselves thanks to low code or no-code platforms. Let’s explore some of the benefits that come with building an app without code.
The Golden Goose of App Development Platforms
Remember the scene in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory where Veruca Salt is harassing her dad about the golden goose? She bursts into song begging her father to get her all of the things she wants. Veruca is less than happy with her father when he can’t obtain all of these things instantaneously. I hate to break it to you but sometimes marketers aren’t that much different than Veruca Salt. No, we don’t need geese that lay a hundred golden eggs a day, but we do want a quick turnaround on projects. And if we’re being honest sometimes we have unrealistic deadlines and expectations. But like Veruca harshly learned, sometimes this wish isn’t plausible. Building a custom native mobile app can take up to a year to rollout. And like anything in life, nothing goes 100 percent according to plan; problems will arise with development that either your internal team or an agency will need to troubleshoot, which could take some time further delaying the rollout. By then, your mobile strategy may have already pivoted or the original idea for the app may not resonate with your customers anymore as trends change (Let's not forget how many of us completely threw our entire marketing strategies in the garbage because of COVID-19).
Choosing a platform that enables you to build an app is like the golden goose of the mobile marketing world. That's exactly what our customers are doing today. They're building mobile apps using Lumavate without a single line of code. In fact, we actually have our new employees do the same and one of them even built an app in a matter of hours while in the backseat of a car! One of the features with no-code platforms is the reusability of foundational blocks which means you can use these prebuilt blocks to use across multiple apps, so any member of your team could be involved in the app making process regardless if they have coding experience. Your business moves fast; traditional app development doesn’t. With low code or no-code platforms, app-building takes a fraction of the time.
I Want It That Way
One of the goals with app development is creating true value for your users, but this can be difficult if an external party is coding your app. You know your customers best, so shouldn’t you be the one creating an incredibly engaging mobile experience for them? Your vision can get lost in translation if you work with a mobile app development agency or changing something in a few months will take additional resources.
With a no-code or low code mobile app platform, you get to be in control. Starter Kits and drag-and-drop capabilities allow you to customize almost anything with your branding. And What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) platforms display exactly what your app will look like on any device, eliminating any unpleasant surprises. Additionally, you need the freedom to make changes on the fly. With no-code platforms, you’ve got the power to add or change features however you’d like (no more bribing your internal team to get something changed by tomorrow). Just don’t let this power go to your head. 😏
The Price Is Right
Mobile apps definitely aren’t cheap, but you don’t have to break the bank to include them in your mobile strategy. The average price to build a custom native app can range anywhere between $50,000 up to $100,00 depending on the agency and how many software developers are on the team. Some companies even spend millions of dollars building their native mobile apps. Building an app without code can be as low as $18,000. Not only would you be saving yourself a ton of time if you build an app without code, but you’d also be freeing up a lot of your budget.
You’ll also want to pay attention to the type of app the low code or no code app builder offers. Those that develop Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) like Lumavate, will cost significantly less than platforms that develop native mobile apps because with PWAs, you only develop one and they work across any operating system or device.
An added bonus of building an app without code is you could be a first adopter in your industry. According to the CEO of Github, Chris Wanstrath, he proclaims that “The future of coding is no coding at all.” And really, who doesn’t want to be an industry trailblazer? 💥
So are you up for the challenge of building your own app without code? Create a free account with Lumavate today, and see for yourself just how easy (and addicting) it is to be an app builder.
Meet with one of our experts to see how easy it is to centralize your product data, manage digital assets, and create digital product experiences. Trust us…you’re going to be wowed.
