We’ve already seen it with websites, no longer are they the reserve of big businesses, charities and organisations. DIY website builders mean that many people now just have a personal website, as an online CV or portfolio or just for general musings.

And it’s already starting to happen with mobile apps too. Whilst the DIY platforms are aimed more at small businesses who are unable to afford mobile app developers, be in in-house or outsourced, it’s probably not long until individuals start to utilise the software.

Though from the outset it may not look like a positive step forward, there are some pro’s to the platform. The ability to create a free app – albeit one which cannot be submitted to any app stores and is limited to five people – gives small businesses the chance to see how an app could work for them and gain some vital feedback from a handful of users. This initial process can take away a significant amount of cost and stress from app development and is likely to lead to a more confident decision to engage an app developer.

The con’s begin when users move to monthly subscriptions which allow submission to app stores and unlimited users, amongst other things. Without the experience of app store conditions and what makes successful mobile apps, the results could be detrimental to the wider app market. I’ve already written a number of times about the trust issues facing the mobile app industry, the possibility of an influx of DIY apps could compound the issue.

Failed app store submissions could cause significant frustration and leave users disillusioned with the prospect of mobile apps, whilst a certain level of support is provided, without a dedicated developer who clearly understands the criteria for each operating system, the process could become unnecessarily long.

Understanding how to market a mobile app, post-launch is key to it’s success, once again requiring a keen understanding of apps and the nuances of each operating system. Without a solid strategy to promote the app and gain positive user reviews, it could quickly fail, giving small businesses the wrong idea that a mobile app simply isn’t for them.

Time will tell how these relatively new DIY app platforms fare, but the experience could go either way for small businesses.

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