Websites and mobile apps have emerged as the new marketplace, which is equally lucrative for both sellers and buyers. Businesses with and without physical stores are all moving online and launching a website and an app is the first step in this direction.
Thankfully, technology is evolving at a rapid pace and there are enough tools available online to help businesses scale faster. Jimdo is one such website builder that has helped numerous businesses go online without facing the hassles of setting up a technical infrastructure.
If you have a Jimdo website, building an app for your site is the obvious next step in the journey of your growth and expansion. Today, we are here to help you with just that. Keep reading and discover how you can cover your journey from website to app with ease.
Suggested Read: Â How to convert your Weebly website into an app? (2024 Guide)
In this blog
- What is Jimdo? An introduction
- Why should you create an app for your Jimdo website?
- How to develop an app for Jimdo?
- How to convert your Jimdo website to app without coding?
- Frequently asked questions
What is Jimdo? An introduction
For those of you who have still not experienced the platform or have landed here just out of curiosity, here is an introduction to Jimdo.
Jimdo is a website builder platform essentially known for its ease and simplicity. The company is privately held and headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, with offices in Munich and Tokyo. It started as a basic content management system and has now scaled to become a full-fledged website development solution for businesses.
Jimdo endorsed two products under its branding – Creator and Dolphin. Creator was a drag-and-drop website builder and hosting service ideal for users with some coding skills whereas Dolphin was an AI-powered website builder designed for users with basic tech knowledge.
However, Jimdo now seems to have moved away from this segregated approach to branding. The website now focuses on the core brand and the products offered under the brand are labeled accordingly.
Jimdo is used by 0.3 percent of all websites and 0.4 percent of websites whose content management systems are known. There are around 819,707 websites using Jimdo. This mostly includes small scale businesses and portfolio website owners.
Jimdo offers a website builder, store builder, and other business tools required to take your idea online. However, if you want to build an app for your Jimdo site, you will need third-party tools and assistance. Continue reading and find out how to create a Jimdo app for your business.
Why should you create an app for your Jimdo website?
Before we start discussing the steps of app development, it is important to have conviction in the process. So, let us start with exploring the benefits of creating an app for your website:
Apps align with changing customer demands
Users nowadays prefer apps over websites and spend 90 percent of their mobile time on apps. It is obvious that apps ensure better ease of usage and accessibility, and it is important to offer your customers just that. Moreover, launching apps can help you overcome challenges related to short attention span and fleeting interests. While website customers may migrate to never return back, an app once downloaded remains on the users’ phones and keeps them connected to your brand.
Apps give you more control over customers
Building native iOS apps and Android apps comes with several merits. Such apps allow you to leverage the native features of the users’ devices and get access to a range of data such as location, contacts, transactions, and more. You can use this data to customize the browsing experience for your users and offer them more meaningful content. It also allows you to determine how users interact with your platform and shape their journey accordingly using the right strategies.
Apps can increase revenue and monetization
Apps connect you with loyal customers who are likely there to stay. Once they have downloaded your app, you can connect and engage with them in a variety of ways and inspire them to convert. For instance, you can implement loyalty programs, or send customized notifications with new deals and offers. Additionally, apps also open new revenue streams like in-app purchases and in-app advertising. You can sell subscriptions or stream ads from global ad networks to earn commissions.
How to develop an app for Jimdo?
Now that you know why apps are important for your business, let us build one. While app development is an intricate process that may vary from one project to another, the core steps may remain the same.
Go through the process below and understand how you can approach Jimdo app development for your website.
Start with researching your app idea
Having a website can give you a robust head start. You will not be starting from scratch. However, no matter what the nature of a project is, thorough research can strengthen your approach and streamline your journey.
So, start with conducting extensive mobile app market research. Postulate relevant questions and find answers to those queries such as:
- What is the core objective of launching the app?
- What customer pain-points will your app solve?
- How will your app stand out amongst competition?
- What is the ideal timeline and budget for app development?
- How will you build, scale, and maintain the app?
Conduct studies and surveys and collect data to understand your target market, audience, and competitors. Next, find a relevant app development platform that aligns with your goals and needs and proceed to develop your app.
Design and build your Jimdo app
Now that you have ample data and ideal app development resources, you can start the process. Begin with creating rough sketches or low-fidelity wireframes of your app. Take feedback on the app layout and structure and work on areas that need improvement.
Next, you can create a prototype of your app if needed. When satisfied with the layout, you can proceed to design the actual app elements and screens. Remember to keep it aligned with your brand theme. This will ensure that your website visitors feel familiar when they land on the app.
Develop the core functionalities of the app and integrate relevant features. If you are using a web to app conversion tool, this process should be easy. Else, you may have to build the backend and frontend from the ground up. It totally depends on the choice of your app development method or technology.
Therefore, make sure not to opt for a technical framework or complex tool. Go with a solution as simple and straightforward as Jimdo itself. Build and scale your app and configure the layout and features such that it remains in sync with your website.
Preview, test, and deploy your app
Once you have built the app, you can proceed to one of the most important steps in the app development process which is testing. Take this seriously and invest some time analyzing each element of your app with a zoomed-in approach.
Test your app’s design, screens, architecture, features, functionalities, buttons, navigation, content, and more. Also make sure that your app looks, works, and performs well across all types of device environments.
If you encounter any flaws, bugs, or shortcomings, fix them and test your app again. You can refer to our detailed mobile app testing guides and learn to test Android and iOS apps. Next, go ahead and deploy your apps on the Google Play and Apple App Store.
While your app goes live on the stores, you can start promoting it parallelly. Create app-only offers and incentivize your customers to download and use the app. Collect feedback, reviews, and rating, and continue to improve and enhance your app experience.
How to convert your Jimdo website to app without coding?
Jimdo is essentially suited to businesses that want to build a strong online presence without having to spend a fortune. If you are one of them, ease and affordability are likely the two most important factors for you and building an app for your Jimdo website should be no different.
AppMySite offers the same and lives up to these expectations. While it has large-scale solutions for enterprises, professional developers, and agencies, it also offers multiple products for small and medium-sized businesses.
With AppMySite, you can create apps without any coding. You do not need an army of tech-experts or any coding knowledge to create apps with the no-code app creator. The Web to App converter solution offered by the platform is the best way to launch apps for your website.
Here’s how you can build an app from your website in only a few steps:
- Sign up on AppMySite app builder and create your account. Select the ‘Web to App’ product, enter the required details, and click on Create.
- Start with creating visual assets for your app under the ‘Design’ section. Create your icons and screen designs from scratch or upload your existing artwork.
- Next, go to the ‘Connectivity’ section and connect your website and app. Sync your website contents with the app and auto-populate data with only a few clicks.
- Configure app’s navigation and define the color theme, menus, and other related settings.
- Add advanced features to the app such as push notifications, chat, monetization, etc., as required.
- Preview your app’s contents on a live emulator and make the required adjustments. You can also test the apps on real devices to be thorough.
- Generate your Android and iOS app builds and submit them on the Google Play and Apple App Stores.
That is it! Whether you want to build an app from scratch or convert your existing website into an app, it only takes a few steps with AppMySite. Design, develop, and build your app with ease and go mobile in no time. Â
Frequently asked questions
What is Jimdo used for?
Jimdo is a beginner friendly drag-and-drop website builder. It enables businesses to create a site and go online without going through the hassles of custom coding. Jimdo offers templates that are suitable for starting various types of online business such as portfolio websites, restaurant websites, real estate websites, and so on. It also offers other supporting tools to get your online business up and running.
Why do I need an app for my Jimdo website?
Apps are the new driving force in almost every industry, including e-commerce. While websites are still great for SEO and web exposure, they are not enough anymore. If you want customers to stay with you for a long time, you will need them to download your app. Moreover, many customers browse app marketplaces to find relevant apps for their goals. This, coupled with the fact that users are spending more time on apps than websites, highlights the importance of developing an app for your website.
Which businesses use Jimdo?
Jimdo is an SME-friendly platform. It is mainly used by small and mid-level businesses that want cost-effective solutions while maintaining quality. Jimdo’s client list exhibits the same. Some websites built using Jimdo are Living Ginger Designs, Hej-its-her, Zaven Store, Womenletics, and so on. Most of these are small businesses, portfolio websites, music websites, photography websites, and so on.
What is the best Jimdo app builder?
As of now, Jimdo does not officially offer an app builder of its own. However, you can create your own app with an online no-code app creator like AppMySite. AppMySite offers a Web to App solution that can be your go-to Jimdo app builder irrespective of your website type. It offers ultimate ease of use and enables you to build feature-rich and aesthetic apps that add real value to your business.
How to turn Jimdo to app?
Using a website as a foundation to build apps can save you tons of resources and time. You can turn your Jimdo website into an app with AppMySite. From design to development and deployment, manage every step with ease and watch your app idea come to life without writing any code. Design and connect your app with your website and auto-sync the site data to the app with only a few clicks. Launch your app on the top app stores and be ready to roll in no time.