If you’re looking for a way to add a little extra excitement and engagement to your competition website, then consider adding a mobile app. Mobile apps for competition websites can provide a number of benefits, including the ability to send out push notifications.
Push notifications are a great way to keep your competitors up-to-date on the latest news and information about your competition. They can also be used to announce winners and provide other important updates.
What do I need to create a mobile app for my competition website?
If you’re unsure how to get started, you’re in the right place! The easiest and cheapest way is to convert your website into a mobile view application. This is essentially a browser window with your website and some wrapper functionality around it, such as push notifications.
Before designing your application, you should sign up for a developer account with Google (https://developer.android.com/distribute/console) & Apple (https://developer.apple.com/programs/). Both of these accounts have a fee which can be found on the corresponding pages for each account. You will need a Google & Apple ID which will be used to log in to these accounts.
Your developer will likely use OneSignal & Firebase for the authentication and Push Notification servers. You can create accounts with the following URLs (Tip use your Google account to create the account).
Now it’s time to find a developer to help you create your mobile application.
It’s important to know that Apple has a strict approach to approving mobile applications for their app store. For example, they will likely reject your application if there are bugs in your website that would impact the customer experience. There is also a chance they will reject your mobile app until you provide evidence from a solicitor that your website does not require a gambling license. View our blog on how to comply with the rules on competition businesses.
Find a developer to create my mobile app.
Before you go and look up companies to help you design the mobile app, be sure you go for a developer who knows all the legal requirements for competition websites. Going for a developer without the right experience in the industry can leave you with an application which gets rejected, rendering it useless. We have a team of industry experts who can ensure your applications get published. Make sure you get your competition website designed by a specialist in the industry.
You may find developers charging thousands of pounds to create your mobile application and maintain it. If this is the case, they will likely develop a native application rather than a web view mobile app. While this is still a valid approach, it will cost you a lot more.
Publish my application to the app store
After your application has been created, the next step is to publish it to the app store. This can be a daunting task, even more so if it gets rejected first. Not to worry, just ensure your app and website are bug-free while being compliant with competition websites’ regulations.
For Android, you can publish the app directly through the Google Play Console https://play.google.com/console/about/. In contrast, for the apple store, it is a bit more complicated and should be done through your design suite, such as Visual Studio.
After your app is published, it can take up to a week to appear on the app store.
Once your app is available for download, anyone with an Android or iOS device will be able to find and install it.
I want to make changes to my app.
As you have created a mobile view application, there is no need for expensive maintenance and changes. Your mobile app will reflect the same changes when you change your website. This is another reason to avoid a native application.
For help developing your mobile app, speak to one of our industry experts. Our team can help you get your app created and published quickly so you can start driving traffic to your website through push notifications.
Reach out to us for a free, no-obligation consultation.