How about start with a product that people would actually use? If it is a website, fine. If it is a mobile app, fine. Don't sacrifice business opportunities because of early tech choices.
Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App
21–30 of 587 posts
Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App
#22Given the fact that most people are already maxed out on apps on their device with just things like facebook and youtube, you're going to be hard pressed to get people to install your app just to try it out. With a progressive web app if they like your app they can add it to their device home screen without installing via the app store and without using up space on their device. Also don't need to pay Apple $100 a ye…
> Given the fact that most people are already maxed out on apps on their device with just things like facebook and youtube. I don't even have those apps. If I did, my battery would be dead in a couple of hours. If I need to use those platforms, I do it through a web browser and usually I use a different browser (e.g. duckduckgo) isolated from my other browsing habits.
duckduckgo has a browser now?
Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App
#23The real answer to this question? (Surprise!) It depends.
I have worked on a side project for the last year or so that will have a website and a mobile application. It has social elements, so ultimately I decided to prioritize the mobile application, because that is where users have access to their contacts, and do most of their communication with their friends and family. There are, of course, other business ideas that would be better suited to a website (or electron app?): work-related tools, dashboards, etc.
A lot of people on here are talking about PWAs which are amazing, but iOS Safari is missing the Web Push API. Unfortunately, that makes the effort nearly futile because you have to build a separate mobile app anyway.
If you are an Apple engineer and can help get that shipped, I will buy you a nice dinner. If you're an Apple recruiter, hire me so I can help ship it! :)
Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App
#24Incidental to the main topic of the article (which I hope I don't distract from), but:
> Browsers automatically translate text,
Just Chrome not "browsers", no?
Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App
#25Given the fact that most people are already maxed out on apps on their device with just things like facebook and youtube, you're going to be hard pressed to get people to install your app just to try it out. With a progressive web app if they like your app they can add it to their device home screen without installing via the app store and without using up space on their device. Also don't need to pay Apple $100 a ye…
>if they like your app they can add it to their device home screen without installing via the app store and without using up space on their device
As far as I'm concerned, until evidence to the contrary is provided, most people either don't do this or know how.
Relying on a pinned app for smart phones is a good way to kill your startup.
>you're going to be hard pressed to get people to install your app just to try it out
In fact, the statistics prove[1] that this is false. Most app installs are to try it out, and promptly delete it. Most users will delete your app shortly after installing it.
Informed opinions are nice to share, uninformed ones not so much.
[1]https://www.emarketer.com/content/most-apps-get-deleted-with...
Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App
#26Given the fact that most people are already maxed out on apps on their device with just things like facebook and youtube, you're going to be hard pressed to get people to install your app just to try it out. With a progressive web app if they like your app they can add it to their device home screen without installing via the app store and without using up space on their device. Also don't need to pay Apple $100 a ye…
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Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App
#27What is funny, is this is the opposite I heard on the podcast "The Pitch" when all of the investors were complaining that the developer built a web app first. I can't remember the product, but he justified it well, eventually they agreed, but wanted to see an app before investing.
Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App
#28I built a crypto wallet / portfolio tracker that is much more useful as a mobile app. I can imagine how expanding it to a website could make sense down the road, but the utility is in quick access to transfer funds and check your portfolio which would be a pain on mobile web.
I used Expo (platform for React Native) which made it arguably easier than deploying a website. I also get instant updates too without having to resubmit to the play/app store, and its cross platform.
Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App
#29That's my feelings, although I've seen so many successful app-only startups that I feel I'm missing something that these startups grasp.
E.g. in the UK Monzo, an app-only bank, won't allow you to access your statements, do transfers, or pretty much do anything to manage your account on the web, and is one of the most popular challenger banks.
Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App
#30Depends on your applications use cases and what is needed to make it function. No matter what you're doing you should look for the quickest and cheapest option as long as it fulfills your needs. If I'm building pro grade video editing software I'm likely going to pick desktop technologies, if I'm building something that requires location or a camera I'm going to pick native apps. If the service is just reading data from a server and maybe writing a little with not too much interaction probably a mobile website or a PWA.
Not new advice, just pick the right tool for the job, not what's flashy.