Mobile applications are changing the way businesses reach customers and generate revenue. The popularity of shopping apps is testimony to the fact that mobile devices and applications are the future of shopping.
The growing number of mobile phone users across the globe has caused a revolution in the e-commerce realm. Eventually, the revenue through mobile commerce is rising like never before as people are spending more time and money on apps.
With the advent of DIY app creator tools like AppMySite, it has become easier to turn a website into app. It is the smartest and most strategic step one can take for expanding their reach and increasing their revenue by tapping into the mobile market.
Here, you can build any type of standalone app or convert any website into an app. AppMySite offers multiple products including a WooCommerce app builder which makes it easier for e-commerce businesses to go from web to app quickly without coding.
However, before you create your own WooCommerce app, you must know where you should invest your resources. By doing so, you will be able to harness the maximum benefits of having an app and also get an edge over your competitors.
In this article, we are sharing the list of the most viable and exquisite list of features of a perfect WooCommerce mobile app builder. Read further and determine your checklist before investing in one.
Fifteen commandments of success: The features to look for
By complementing your website with an app, you can woo potential consumers and provide more value and ease to the existing ones. To build the best WooCommerce app, you will need an app creator that comes with endless attractive features.
On one hand, it should make your app development process easy, and on the other, it should offer a smooth and feature-rich experience to users. So, continue reading and ensure the checklist discussed here to create an app that stands out.
The fifteen must-have features of a WooCommerce mobile app builder are:
1. User-friendly dashboard
The very purpose of a DIY app builder is to save you from the strain of thinking about how to convert a WooCommerce website into a mobile app and build everything from scratch. Therefore, your app creator must save your time, effort, and money.
Get an app builder that allows you to work in a coding-free environment. The interface should be quick, seamless, and intuitive enough to assist in the end-to-end process of app design, development, and deployment. It will be a surplus benefit if it comes with ample tool tips and tutorial videos that can guide you through.
2. Cost-effective Android and iOS development
Only because your app builder has ample exquisite features, it should not burn a hole in your pocket. Look for a tool that offers a range of packages and comes at the best industry prices. It is suggested that you go for a platform that offers plans for both Android and iOS apps as it will give you maximum coverage.
Alongside good packages also ensure good quality. Do not settle for a hybrid or web view app as it will not benefit you in the long run. Instead, get a native app builder that can create fast and responsive apps that are capable of using the resources of the device.
3. Live-preview support
Imagine building the complete app and getting an unsatisfactory final product after paying for it. You will surely not want it. Therefore, get an app builder that allows you to preview every update and make changes parallelly.
As you proceed with the app builder, every step of progress like changes in logo, design, color, or more, should be trackable. Keep previewing your app icon, splash screens, and more, as you keep designing and adding each element. Once done, you should be able to preview the app and get the first-hand experience on an emulator.
4. Engaging and high-performing app
It is proven that an app that has an attractive interface can keep your users coming back for more and boost your conversions. Hence, ensure offering a smooth experience to your users to keep them interested. In fact, 47% of mobile app users expect a page to load in 2 seconds or less.
Clearly, consumers opt for apps over websites for the sake of ease and convenience. Therefore, the need for a frictionless app further intensifies. Fetch a builder that creates apps that have a tempting user interface and can keep users engaged. An app with a fascinating UI (User Interface) will ultimately ensure an amazing UX (User Experience).
5. Attractive design and layout
Studies show that 94% of the first impressions of a mobile app are based on its design and ultimately determine its success. You have no other option but to design your app smartly and creatively. It will not only hook your users but also elevate the visibility and presence of your app on the app stores by fulfilling the design and quality parameters.
The splash screen (loading screen), landing pages, logo, action buttons, category tiles, product menu, and more, should all be designed well and appeal to the users’ senses. The content should be easy to perceive, and the overall theme of the app should be coherent and reflect the identity of your brand.
6. Real-time sync with website
Your website is something that your existing users are already well versed with. Your app must retain that sense of belonging and aid your website. This will build your brand recall value and help your trusted users recognize you easily. In short, the app you build should be in complete sync with your website.
Any change made on the website should reflect in the app, and vice versa. It will help in securing the features of the websites, within the app, and make them identical. This will help in generating traffic share (app to website and website to app) and make app management and usage easier for you and your consumers.
7. Smart menus and navigation
Without a systematic and layered navigation system, you cannot expect your app to get popular. An app that facilitates easy navigation, and can promote repeat sales, increase basket size and multiply conversions. Every brand, especially e-Commerce stores, emphasizes this fact to ensure a flawless experience for consumers. Your app should be intuitive and help your users in meeting their shopping goals.
This can only be achieved by having an app that has smart searching, filtering, and sorting tools. It should allow people to segregate products according to their varied preferences like size, brand, color, or more. It will also help you in tracking their purchase activity and aid in cross-selling and up-selling of your products.
8. Seamless checkout and billing
If you wish to have an app that is perfect from end to end, then besides other features, also ensure a seamless checkout for your users. The app should have a smart cart that allows people to add unlimited products as they shop. Allow people to redeem coupons, avail discounts, make changes, and more, as they proceed to checkout before making the final payment.
Consumers should be allowed to easily choose their delivery address and other information from the saved data and make changes to it if needed. However, ensure they do not get fed up and keep the checkout steps and pages to a minimum. As a standard, there should not be more than three to four steps to the checkout process.
9. Multiple payment gateways
Payment gateway is the elementary feature that allows you to cater to a wide range of customers and facilitate secure transactions for their purchases. The apps that have multiple payment gateways have a considerable advantage over the ones lacking this feature as more payment options ensure wider coverage.
Get an app builder that allows you to integrate as many payment gateways as you wish. In fact, your customers should have the convenience of choosing their payment method at their checkout. Offer multiple payment options and gateways like cash on delivery, credit cards, debit cards, mobile wallets, or more. Let your customers shop in the way they want to.
10. Social media integration
Social media has become the ultimate publicity tool for the success of any brand. An app that has a visible presence on various social media platforms can also rise above in Google search rankings. Therefore, your app builder must have the social media integration feature, and it will be great if it comes for free.
With this feature, you can link your social media accounts to your app and allow people to connect with you and share your stories and products on various platforms. You can use these platforms to promote your app and also run ‘install ad’ or other campaigns to compel people to download your app. You can also organize referral rewards campaigns and incentivize users to use, test, rank, review, and share your app.
11. Rich push notifications
If you wish to promote your app well and boost downloads, you must have a robust strategy and infrastructural support for the same. An app that facilitates interactive communication with your users is bliss and sending rich push notifications can prove to be a useful tool for direct interaction.
It can help you stimulate new users, retain existing users, and bring back lost users too. Get an app builder that comes with an integrated push notification feature. You should be allowed to create, manage, schedule, and send unlimited push notifications to your users. This will help you easily endorse your brand, send offers and updates, and keep your users informed.
12. Multi-lingual support
You can sell more to people by communicating with them in their own language as it connects people with your brand and you. Your app builder should come with this additional feature of multi-language support to make your users feel more related to the brand.
Translation tools often fail to justify the actual content of the app and much of the important information can be lost. Having multi-lingual support can help you cover a wider demography and give your brand global exposure. Get an app builder that customizes your app language as per the device settings of the users.
13. In-app chat support
Those days of raising concerns over emails and waiting for days to get an issue resolved are long gone. Customers nowadays are more impatient than ever and want quick resolution to their queries, concerns, and complaints. This is why offering an in-app chat feature becomes highly important.
The app builder you choose should enable you to integrate your chat software with the app. This will enable you to offer instant support to users. You can also attract their fleeting interest, capture leads, and help users move ahead in their shopping journey with personalized chat assistance.
14. In-app purchases and ads
As an e-commerce business, you need not be limited to selling physical products only. Implement the in-app purchase feature in your app and sell digital goods and subscriptions to unlock new opportunities for income and revenue.
Moreover, you can also display ads within your app and monetize your app’s content. Show relevant and targeted ads from top global ad networks and earn for every impression. You can also stream promotional and sponsored content within your app to earn extra money. Monetize your app strategically and use what works best for you.
15. Data collection and analysis
Once the app is launched on app stores, you must keep track of the number of installs, uninstalls, and other such activities that concern your app’s performance. It is crucial to get an app builder that comes with analytics support.
It will help you monitor the number of your app downloads and the periodic growth pattern of your app usage statistics. Analyze the statistics, ratings, and reviews to enhance your performance. By knowing about your strengths and weaknesses, you will also be able to set new marketing and business goals.
Build the perfect app now
We have discussed various features to give you a clear insight into the most important components of a perfect WooCommerce mobile app builder. Based on our anatomy and your deductions from the points discussed above, you can choose your app builder.
If you are worried about going over budget in the due course of building an app with all the features discussed above, we have the perfect solution for you. Go to AppMySite’s free online app maker and build your app in a code-free environment.
AppMySite offers several packages and plans that suit different app development goals. Pick one and develop your app. Once the app is built and tested, you can publish your app on platforms of your choice and reach out to potential buyers in no time.
Follow this checklist of the best WooCommerce app features to connect with an infinite number of people and maximize your revenue. Check out AppMySite and build a premium app for your online store. Go ahead and claim your territory now!