Mobile apps are becoming an ever increasing way consumers interact with businesses. By some estimations both the iTunes store and the Android Play Store each have about 800,000 apps for download. This is a simple guide to help business owners thinking about creating a mobile app written to help them keep important considerations in perspective.

As the mobile app market is still young, you can find examples of good and bad mobile apps.

For this column I decided to use an example mobile app called Nevus, which was created by Malinee Saxena, M.D., a Minneapolis-area-based dermatologist. She contracted with Austin, Texas-basedRocksauce Studios to collaborate in its design and development. I picked this app and this design studio because the principles and information can be used across many types of businesses and with many design studios.

Mobile Apps – Keeping It Simple

Gutherie Bunn is Rocksauce Studios’ Chief Strategy Officer. Bunn has a number of pieces of advice for would-be app makers. Most importantly, Bunn believes that a mobile app maker creator needs to decide that they are going to do two to three things really well. He advises against trying to do too much with a mobile app.

Keeping it simple was the design philosophy of Dr. Saxena when she started thinking about what she wanted in her app.

• First, Dr. Saxena wanted people with suspicious moles and other skin “spots” to be able to keep a photo diary of their skin moles and spots over months or years so they could show any changes over time to their dermatologist.
• Secondly, she wanted to provide a reminder to reapply sunscreen when you are out of doors using the U.S. EPA’s UV index rating. This is based on knowing what the EPA UV rating is based on your current location as reported by your phone’s GPS.
• Lastly, she wanted to provide some meaningful educational information about how to apply sunscreen and keep one’s sun exposure reasonable by knowing when it is safest to go out in the sun. She chose very simple yet effective images that depict how much sunscreen to use on various places on your body.

This is a photo of Nevus’ “sunscreen monitor page. Notice how this page in the app is clean and easy to use. It has an alarm which can be turned on and off. It has a slider which helps you adjust the time between sunscreen reapplications based on body moisture and type of outdoor activity. Finally, this screen has a large button called the Sunscreen Visualizer, which shows the amount of sunscreen necessary for each part of one’s body. Dr. Saxena and Rocksauce Studios created a screen that was simple, clean and had easy-to-use features. Rocksauce’s Bunn believes that this simple design requires having a strong idea about what the mobile app needs to do as well as a disciplined, well-trained set of professionals to help a business get the most out of their mobile app.

Nevus UV – Sunscreen Alarm with easy to use controls

Mobile Apps Aren’t Websites – Use Screen Real Estate Wisely

According to Bunn of Rocksauce Studios, business owners and developers must change their thinking from a “website” mentality to a mobile app mentality when creating a mobile app. This can be harder than it seems. Websites can often be changed “on the fly” to adjust the look and feel. On a full website there is plenty of screen real estate to use. Think of this analogy: Building a full website is more like landing a fighter jet on a 10,000-foot runway whereas building a mobile app is more like landing on a pitching, moving aircraft carrier deck!

Below is a photo of  the well laid out Nevus mobile app screen that Rocksauce helped design.

This Mobile App gives simple tips on how to apply sunscreen

 

Mobile Apps Require a Rigorous Process from Design to Completion

When Rocksauce and Dr. Saxena began working together, they used a multi-step process much like engineers use when building a complex software program, which a mobile app is. They started with a blueprint. The blueprint captured Dr. Saxena’s functional requirements and features and laid out the process of building the mobile app. Then the artwork phase began. The screens were prototyped for simplicity and user experience. After artwork was complete, software developers begin building the mobile app. Dr. Saxena liked this approach because it allowed her to complete the process with the best possible design and the quickest time to market. It also gave her much more creative control over the process.

Mobile Apps Should Be Developed for Both Apple and Android

The mobile smartphone world is changing on a day-to-day basis. Because of a number of factors, it is cheaper to design an app for Apple-based products than Android. The only downside is you will miss at least one half of your audience if you only design for one platform. So if you are going to build a mainstream app designed for a mass audience, you can’t neglect one platform over another.

Mobile Apps Require Marketing

Some mobile app developers believe when you put your app on iTunes or the Android Play Store your work is over. If you plan to sell your mobile app, you need to budget funds for marketing. Having a website like Nevus does is a good first start. Use social media like Facebook, Google+ and others to get the word out.  Getting your brand recognized though complimentary channels is equally important. I downloaded the Nevus app for Android and saw that many others who downloaded Nevus also downloaded apps for outdoor activities like running, hiking, and swimming. I would expect Dr. Saxena to be interviewed by outdoor enthusiast magazines about her app, sunscreen, and skin cancer caused by sun exposure. Word of mouth is also very important. I have used the Nevus app several times. Most recently at an outdoor festival on Austin’s sixth street. The day of the festival the UV index was 11 (extreme). The alarm went off to reapply sunscreen at 90 minutes and I did. I am now a firm believer in this app as I have a family history of skin cancer and do many outdoor activities.

Mobile Apps – Last Thoughts

I live in a progressive small town outside of Austin that has its own app. The mobile app provides information on area events and businesses. It is designed for local residents and the many tourists who visit every year. I use an Android phone. I am told the app works perfectly on Apple phones. On my Android phone the app barely works. If I were an average tourist trying to use this app to find an attraction and I was using an Android phone I might have a negative opinion of the city.

So my parting advice is if you can’t get a quality app built that connects you to your audience for both Apple and Android platforms, don’t build a mobile app at all.

Sam Thacker is a partner in Austin, Texas-based Business Finance Solutions.
Direct email: sam@bfs-usa.com.

Calculate Your SEM Needs

SearchCalc makes complicated formulas simple

Elite SEM’s SearchCalc was built to give marketers a quick reference to figuring out their CPM to CPA, CPC to CPM, Max CPC to PPC and BannerSearch Campaign CPA needs. If that sounds complicated, you understand why SearchCalc was created.

Elite SEM is an Inc. 5000 Search Engine Marketing company located in New York City, working with clients such as Black & Decker, Farberware, USA Today, Hugo Boss, and more.

For SearchCalc, Rocksauce Studios created a simple, clean interface with clearly defined buttons & text areas. We brought along the look & feel from the Elite SEM brand, and used it to fine a subtle, enticing interface.

A Beautiful Way to Protect Your Future

Republic Trading Group offers precious metals & sound peace of mind

The Republic Trading Group came to Rocksauce Studios because they wanted to develop a new version of their corporate website, but wanted something which not only captured the intrinsic beauty of the product they were offering, but which would also convey a sense of trustworthiness.

Rocksauce chose to showcase beautiful images of gold bars and silver coins while combining them with lush visuals of supple, brown leather. For the Republic Trading Group rebranding effort, Rocksauce Studios wanted to tap into a vein of nostalgia, with a modification of a classical shield form and serif font.

Jason Bender

Lead Developer

Jason is a highly gifted, talented, and motivated developer. His ability to think, self-direct, and execute in the fast-pace and consistently changing environment that exists in today’s industry has enabled him, even at a young age, to accomplish more in his field than most. Whether its topping the App Store charts, writing code for Rainn Wilson, or building an app for the local business around the corner, Jason brings the same level of intensity and passion to every project.

“Working hard isn’t an action, its a way of life, its embedded in your DNA, and if you love what you do, it’s as natural as breathing.”

Jason’s developmental skills are often described as “ninja-like” and “epic”. His final delivery of projects has been known to leave people speechless for days at a time. The only thing he loves more than perfection is his own mother (and his wife and son of course). That’s why, for Jason, joining the Rocksauce team was an easy decision. He finally found a home amongst other like-minded individuals that are as passionate as he is about building outstanding, jaw-dropping applications.

When Jason is behind the curtain of your application, prepare yourself to receive excellence, or it might just sneak up and slap you in the face.

Einy Manning

Chief Corgi Officer

Born and bred on a cattle ranch in Wimberly Texas, Einstein Marie was elected Chief Corgi Officer shortly after her adoption by CEO Q Manning. She succeeds her older brother, Krypto, who was the CEO’s bestest buddy, until his passing in 2012.

“Bow wow wow yippe yo yipee yay!”

On a daily basis, Einy champions every member of the Rocksauce team with her exuberant excitement and sloppy kisses. She can often be seen standing on her stumpy legs as she begs for a cookie.

Make sure to say “Hello!” whenever you stop by the Rocksauce Studios office. If she’s not getting enough attention, she’s very vocal and will let you know!

Daniel Sargeant

Chief Technical Officer

Daniel Sargeant was born in Southern California and went to Grove City College in Pennsylvania earning a B.S. in Computer Science and Math.

“Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start”

Daniel moved to Austin after college for a job in the defense industry doing social network analysis, big data analytics, pattern detection and network security. He was drawn to mobile development early on, beginning work on Android apps as soon as the first preview SDK was released.

After several years of hobbyist mobile development and nearly seven years in the software industry, he decided to join Rocksauce to create mobile apps fulltime. Daniel loves to make products that are fast, dependable, and improve users’ lives. He’s always on the lookout for new techniques and technologies that increase quality and decrease development costs.

As a technologist, Daniel is constantly learning, and still loving it.

RJ Nye

Designer

RJ Nye is a native Texan, having been raised in South Texas to relocating to Austin to study graphic design. While a student at The Art Institute of Austin, he developed a taste for creating smart, beautiful user interfaces.

It was no fluke that he joined the Rocksauce team before even attending his graduation ceremony.

“Great design isn’t just about the aesthetic. It’s also about creating a memorable interactive experience. You can’t fake that.”

As Rocksauce’s App Design Samurai, he partners with the Creative Director to deliver art that goes beyond your expectations. RJ has an eye for detail and a keen sense of brilliant UI design. With him on the team, he helps strengthen your app to make it stand out among the competition.

Cisco Serret

Developer

A Los Angeles native, Cisco has lived in Alaska and Nevada before making Austin his home.

Starting his career in electronic systems development, he moved on to C++ development at Activision and Mindscape, then moved on to ASP and database development, then on to creating PHP driven websites for the Alaska National Guard, and then moved on to Flash actionscript development for major movie studios in Hollywood, and, finally, in Austin TX, is now involved in IOS and HTML5 development.

“Make applications that regular people can figure out quickly. An app that is difficult to use or figure out is a failed app.”

Cisco is always excited about shiny new things, especially when it comes to technology and new software development tools and methods. Besides software, Cisco is also a voracious reader of military history books, and is involved in wargaming, of both the paper and electronic kind.