The rise of online DIY app builders has made it easy for business minded people to enter the mobile market. White label app building platforms give entrepreneurial minded individuals all the tools they need to start their own mobile app company without the need to add expensive developers to the payroll.
White label is by far the simplest way to get involved in the mobile market. DIY app building platforms give you full control of your business. From branding, to pricing, to sales and marketing, you are completely free to implement your own business model. Easy to use drop and drag interfaces make meeting the mobile needs of a variety of different small businesses as simple as point and click.
If you are looking for a low-risk business option, white label app creation is as easy as they come. And, with the rising demand for mobile, now is the time to do so.
Here are seven things that you should think about to help put your white label app venture on a successful path.
Questions to Ask When Starting a Mobile App Company
What Industries Would You Sell To?
The most important thing you need to ask yourself is, “Whom do I want to sell to?” Are you looking to sell strictly to restaurants, or do you think you can corner the education app market?
This question is literally the most important one to ask because you will need to find a white label platform that offers the right components to drop and drag your apps into existence.
In addition, determining what industry or industries you want to sell to will allow you to start to develop your marketing plan. It’s not wise for anyone embarking on any business endeavor to dive in headfirst and hope. A bit of planning and some foresight are the cornerstones of any business venture — especially one that involves such a rapidly growing market like mobile apps. Think, plan, and then start to play.
How Would You Sell to Your Preferred Industry?
The mobile app market is competitive, so you need to be prepared to do your due diligence. It’s more than pointing and clicking an app into reality and then walking away. Like any business, there are sales and marketing involved to keep your business afloat.
So, you need a solid sales plan in place before you start investing in a white label app platform. If you are new to the mobile app business, you should look for a platform that offers training in sales and marketing relative to the app market. Do a bit of training, and spend some time putting together a solid sales and marketing plan.
You need to learn some successful sales and marketing tactics such as:
- What is the best way to sell to small businesses?
- How do you best market your mobile app company?
- Which pieces of functionality really help a business grow?
- Where will you find leads to sell to?
- What should your presentations look like?
The list could go on and on. But the bottom line is very simple — learn what you need to learn about how to sell the product you want to make. This too will help set your white label app venture up for success.
How Will You Brand Your Business?
Your brand is how your clients know you, and it’s incredibly important. Developing a brand takes a lot of research, thought, and trial and error. Do not take this step in the process lightly. What makes it so important?
- Your logo is how your customers will recognize you.
- Your tagline is what will make your customers remember you.
- Your vision is what will make your customers believe in your product.
- Your mission is what will make your customers trust you.
You cannot take any of these things for granted. You need to build trust and loyalty, and a solid brand is the key to doing so. If you do not invest your time and energy in this step, you are making your business vulnerable to your competitors who have.
Your brand is what you represent. You need to believe in what you are doing so your customers will too.
What Features are Most Important to You and Your Customers?
Now with the foundation in place, you can start to look at the type of apps you want to create. The easiest way to do this is to look through the app stores. Ask yourself:
- What do my competitors’ apps look like?
- What are the reviews saying they are lacking?
- How can I do what they are doing even better?
Don’t be afraid to talk to people in the niche market you want to build your app for. Find out what the people who will actually use the app would like to see implemented.
All too often, we go to the heads of companies to pitch ideas. While the owner of a restaurant may have the checkbook, the servers and the people in the trenches are the ones who will be using the app. See what they need to simplify their jobs. You are bound to get some good feedback and some great ideas.
How Much Support and Training Will You Need?
Remember, you are not just going to build an app, throw it in the app store and hope it’s successful. There is an entire cycle you have to go through to get your app on the device of the users who will benefit from it. So, you need to take a good hard look in the mirror and examine your strengths and weaknesses. Are you good with computers but bad with sales? Are you an excellent sales person who is totally turned off by technology?
Your technology IQ today may be great, but what will it be next week? You need to ask yourself, “How much support and training am I going to need to stay in this business for years to come?” And more importantly, you need to ask yourself, “In what nuance of this business do I need the most training?”
Then, you need to make sure that you find a white label platform that offers training in the areas you will need assistance with. A good hard look in the mirror is difficult for most of us, but when you are considering investing time and money into a business venture, looking at your faults, flaws and weaknesses and developing a plan to strengthen them is a lot cheaper than paying for the mistakes they will create later.
Are You Able to Design Apps Yourself or Will You Need a Graphic Designer?
While looks are not everything, it would be a lie to say that people never judge a book by its cover, right? We are naturally compelled to lean towards things that are more pleasing to the eye — even if it’s not always the smartest decision.
Do you possess the skills to design the graphics that will make your app stand out amongst the competition? While most white label platforms have templates that you can choose from that will compliment your niche, if you can design something that will stand out, you will be putting yourself in a position to have your app chosen over your competition.
You might want to think about partnering with a graphic designer. While looks are not everything, they certainly are a great selling point.
What is Your Goal for Your End Game?
Ultimately, you need to know what your end game is. Do you expect to corner the market on educational apps, or are you just looking to supplement your income and pay off a few bills?
Starting a mobile app company can help grow your income moderately, and if done right, it can replace your full time career. It all boils down to how much time and energy you want to invest in making it a reality. Make sure that is clearly established in your mind when you start to put your company together.
Conclusion
White label goods and services have been around for decades. In every industry you could imagine, businesses create products that are rebranded by their partners to sell as their own.
The technology industry, and the mobile app sector in particular, is no exception. As consumers go mobile by the tens of millions, businesses are rushing to catch up, and cash in.
If you are planning on starting your own mobile app company, you have to make sure you do a lot of planning and ask yourself some really hard questions. A good solid plan, and a good analysis of the industry in which you hope to compete, can go a long way in setting your white label business venture on the path to success.
Smartphone Photo via Shutterstock
[“source-smallbiztrends”]