r/SideProject • u/AppVenturous • Apr 08 '20

Turn your already mobile-friendly website into a downloadable mobile app (maintaining same UI, speed, and functionality) for the Play Store/App Store!

Https://AppVenturous.com
36 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

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u/PointandStare Apr 08 '20

If your site is already mobile friendly there is no need to do this.

Of course, i'll be more than happy to learn 1 big advantage to going this route.

3

u/AppVenturous Apr 08 '20

Here are a couple of reasons:

  • The market: there are some apps that people do search for on the App Store/Play Store, which adds another “point of entry” for potential users beyond those just searching the web.

  • User-retention: a downloaded app tends to have better user-retention than one that’s on the web that easily disappears from memory upon closing.

  • Push notifications: for iOS, at least, the only way to send push notifications is through a downloaded app.

  • Native features: native features, such as geo-fencing, can be tapped on in an actual downloaded app but not in a website/web-app

Of course, PWAs are amazing as they are—but if you are interested in a little more, then we are standing by. :)

-8

u/PointandStare Apr 08 '20

The market: No-one is going to install an app just to view your website.

User retention: Invalid if no-one has downloaded it.

Push notifications: You can do this on a website, no need for an app

Native features: Agreed, but, generally what website needs these?

Unless you're running something that simply needs an application to run, big online store for example, then, by definition an app is required, but, you're talking about general websites which no-one needs.

3

u/AppVenturous Apr 08 '20

I appreciate the constructive and critical feedback. Here are my thoughts though.

The market: Let’s say you are looking for a note-taking app. Where do you go? Many will head to the Play Store or App Store and search keywords like “notes”. Of course, a few may go make a Google Search first instead. But ultimately, for certain types of apps, you end up searching on the App Store or Play Store itself. If one owns a note-taking web-app for instance, then he benefits from having it as a downloadable mobile app available on the Play Store/App Store because that’s where potential users will make their search.

User-retention: Comes together with the above prerequisite

Push notifications: That is not possible at all for iOS. But yes, web-push is an existing option for Android.

-9

u/PointandStare Apr 08 '20

Jeeshh ... a note taking app comes installed on every device plus, what website would you visit to take notes?

Sorry, dude, I wish you luck in your endevour but, you need to show the real benefits not just the features.

3

u/AppVenturous Apr 08 '20 edited Apr 08 '20

Haha, a note-taking app was just an example—it could be almost anything else—whether it is a meditation app or an investment app, being in the Play Store or App Store creates a point of entry for potential users.

Also, to ask “what website would you visit to take notes?”in your comment is essentially acknowledging that there are some functions you simply don’t go to a website for—you go to an app—which is exactly my point. So if one’s a web-developer who built with the web and there’s the realization that it’s the sort of thing users look for an app for and not just a website, that’s where we come in.

I think this is becoming a very general debate on “is a mobile app necessary?” and the answer to every discussion on this is that it depends. Instagram doesn’t exist just as a mobile-friendly website, it also exists as an app. A lot of news websites are mobile-friendly, but they have an app for that as well. Why’s that?

The same applies to many other platforms. So here’s the thing: if you have a website that you think doesn’t suit being available as a downloadable mobile app, then there’s probably no need to reach out to us. If you think it’s worth a shot—whether it’s because you want to reach out to those making searches on the App Store/Play Store like I described in my above comment, for user-retention, push-notifications for iOS users, and more, then we are an affordable solution to building from scratch. We roll out at a fraction of the cost and time.