Business apps are a massive thing, that can save a great deal of time and money for any small business. But you need to know what they are all about before you commit. It might look easy from the outside to download a few free apps and have a play with them, but your business is far too important to get these wrong. Here are the 3 most important considerations –
THE COST V THE VALUE
We are obsessed by the price of things. We want to know how much something will take from our bank account. But this pales into significance when you look at the value. A free app that doesn’t actually save you money doesn’t have nearly as much value as a paid app that saves you hours per week and hundreds of dollars a year.
When looking at the app, don’t just study what it costs up front. There may be premium features, monthly fees or in-app purchases that need to be taken into account. These can seriously affect the value proposition of what you are considering. Compare this against the other options on the market. As a small business owner myself, I knew that offering value was the way to success, and the app is free for small businesses. Look for this in other apps too.
WHAT OTHERS SAY
Once you have a good idea of the value of an app, then you are ready to buy, right? Well, no. It might look like it offers value, but the acid test can be what others have found when using the app. Look at the reviews on the relevant app store to see what others think. Try to focus on the more recent reviews as there may have been teething issues early on that have now been resolved. This will give you a good idea of how it might work for you.
ASK YOURSELF – WILL I USE IT?
This is the acid test. There are millions of apps to choose from. Take a look on your phone or tablet now – which ones get used all the time, and which ones are rarely touched? This will give you an idea about the apps that will work for your business. As yourself the question – “Can I see myself still using this in 6 months’ time?” If the answer is “no,” then this probably isn’t going to be the app for you.
