Partying and socializing has become an inherent part of our everyday lives. We all wish to go out, meet new people, delight in a nice fine dine and have fun. Owing to this, there is huge demand for dexterous event planning apps.
To meet this demand, several app developers are taking to develop adept event planning mobile apps that seeks to connect attendees, informs them about any changes in the event timings or any possible delays, shares information about upcoming events and more. But there is a lot more on the technical side of this mobile retreat business. Let’s have a look at some significant factors you need to pay attention to if you wish to build a mobile app for event planning.
Some Significant Questions to Be Asked and Answered
It is clearly obvious that we spend much more time using the apps on our smartphones rather than browsing the web on them. There are a plethora of surveys conducted to validate the fact further. And, when your business is closely linked to a festival or event organization services, the need for having an event planner app becomes all the more important.
So, this brings us to the vital question “how to do it?” Well, before understanding the development, it is imperative that you answer a few necessary questions.
What Kind of App Would You Need- Web-Based Or A Native App?
A native app is specifically built and assigned to a particular mobile platform that is installed on the smartphone you intend to use, for example, Android, iOS, etc. There are several benefits of developing a native app, the most significant being that native apps does not need an internet connection to work properly. Such apps are self-sufficient and proves to be immensely advantageous when thousands of users attempt to connect to the same WiFi network, causing a virtual traffic jam. Apart from that, such apps get automatically updated whenever there is a strong WiFi connection.
Web-based apps, on the other hand, do not have any restrictions when it comes to device platform. They can operate on any platform and therefore, the developer is not required to create separate versions of the same app for different platforms.
However, if you closely compare the two, native apps remain to be a preferred solution, owing to its endless functional possibilities and ease of use.
Which Mobile Platform to Choose?
The two most widely used mobile platforms are Android and iOS. You may choose to develop a web-based app; however, if you have constraints for your budget, you should go for a native app as that falls much more economical.
Developing a native app is quintessential for startup businesses as creating a native app don’t involve a drawn-out timeline.
Once they launch their app, the rate of app installs and user feedbacks will help them in defining the success of their app. If it works, they can begin with developing another native app for a different platform.
Now, if you are wondering which platform to choose out of the two, then you have to do your homework at first. You need to define your target audience. Both, iOS and Android have exactly different set of audiences.
So, consider your app, its growth prospects and then decide your audience, their location, their buying capacity, choices and preferences, and more before you onboard with a mobile platform.
What Features To Be Integrated In Your Event Planning App?
Your mobile event app should contain the right set of features for it to become a big success. Below, we have listed some basic features every event planner app should possess. Let’s have a look at them.
- Scheduling
This is the most important feature of every event planning app. When you plan an event, you fix a date and tries to eradicate even the slightest possibility of missing it or forgetting the even owing to some other crucial activity. So, your app should include a calendar that displays all forthcoming events and keeps on notifying the user about the same.
- Mapping
The feature of mapping helps the attendees easily locate the way to the chosen place of event. Geolocation helps them understand the route if they are coming from another city or country.
- Automatic Updates
It is important to keep the users updated regarding the impending events, any changes in the venue or timings of an event or any other kind of possible delay. So, your app should necessarily have the feature of timely updates thus, informing the users about every smallest step.
- Sharing
The best way to promote your event is through social media channels. So, it is very important to link your app with all social networking platforms.
It allows the event attendees to share the event details with their friends and family along with their captured personal experiences.
Sharing, therefore, is the best and the most powerful marketing tool that works proficiently without your involvement.
- Program Preview
Advertising your event by means of badges, print media, etc. is not a bad option to arouse the excitement among the attendees. However, if you think from a business perspective, you should try to control additional costs for bringing down the overall project price. So save your money by including all information about the event program in your app and avoid the use of stacks of paper for promotion.
What Qualities Should Your App Possess?
Lately, a lot of event apps have emerged to engage the attendees for enriching their attendance experience. In this particular category of apps, the success largely depends upon the popularity of your app and how it catches up the attendee’s attention. Below are some significant ways of doing that.
- Engagement
It is not easy to drive user engagement. The best way to do this is by proffering highly personalized content to all customers.
There are several apps that feature alluring designs and stunning animations, but even then fail to please the audiences.
This is only because of lack of customized content based on user interests and preferences. Adding such features will indubitably raise your initial cost of app development, however, they will definitely pay off in the future.
- Interaction
Your event app should offer optimal user interaction. A lot of times, customers would want to ask questions in real time, so that the speakers could address them right after their speeches. Try to create an app where users can interact anytime and anywhere. Also, keep looking for ways to enhance the interaction levels in your app.
- Improvement
It is important to provide the attendees with an option to express their opinions as all the tech-lover generation of today tends to ventilate their experiences among the friends and family while using the social networks.
Your app should permit the users to post reviews and feedbacks about any specific speaker’s speech or a full event in general.
These feedbacks will also help you in understanding your customer needs and will graph the ways for delivering them in a better manner.
Stay ahead of your competitors via a #mobileapp. Incline customers with your app so as to earn impressive revenues. https://t.co/glms1B9LKM pic.twitter.com/hSQ703BTfM
— OctalInfoSolutionUK (@octaluk) May 4, 2017
Final Thoughts
The grail of every event planner app is to offer a versatile solution that permits the attendees to store all event information, share their opinions and experiences, and interact with your app in an efficient manner. Try to develop an iPhone or android app that sticks all event information together and also implements other functions that engage and excites the users.