What is Appguppy?

Appguppy lets you make your own customized mobile app in minutes and distribute it DIRECTLY to your fans’ and followers’ Apple and Android phones through social media (Facebook, Twitter), QR codes, SMS, email and on your website. That means you get your app out to everyone without having to go through mobile app stores.

Why don’t I get to put my app in the app stores?

Because it’s expensive and requires you to take a chance on getting your app approved by the companies that own the app marketplaces. Actually, we’d have to submit the app for you, and it gets pretty expensive. That means we’d have to charge you for your awesome app, and we really don’t want to do that. On the other hand, marketing your app outside app stores on your own existing social media networks means that we can give you your app for free, and you can get it out there right away. Seriously, you can distribute it in seconds. That gives you a head start on getting downloads—something the app stores won’t help you with.

Why do I want a mobile app when I’ve already got a Facebook and Twitter?

Whether it's your fans, followers, supporters or customers, when people look down at their phones, they’ll be seeing you rather than Facebook or Twitter. Your own mobile app gets you a direct, personal connection with your fans and followers that isn’t overshadowed by another company’s marketing or advertising networks. That means being able to showcase your music, sell your merchandise, and have your fans, clients and members interact directly with you.

Life is about relationships. Your app is your personal mobile relationship with your fan base. You get all the control, you get all the benefits.

What stuff can I add to my app?

Your mobile app will look just like any other app that you might use through mobile app stores. Depending on the phone you're using you'll get a different visual experience. But, you'll always have the same form and structure of a mobile app. So picture a menu of 5 tabs at the bottom of your screen and the corresponding content above. Appguppy will automatically create the tabs for you. But you can create free-form or custom tabs as well. Your free-form or custom tabs will give you a blank phone screen and let you integrate things like your logo, pics and photos and any text to, so that you can come up with something that truly matches your unique brand or your needs.

What stuff do you think I should add to my app?

By the time you get to the “customize” step, your app should be automatically set up to suit your needs, whether you’re a musician, an entertainer, a writer, a business, a nonprofit, a group or anyone else. We have a number of different features and functions that people tell us they love – for instance, the ability to provides news updates, offer geo-location to gigs or store locations, sell your MP3 or anything else with e-commerce, as well a click-to-call function so that your fans and customers can give you a call directly. However, we also give you the freedom to design your own custom content in the “customize” section. Just remember, your mobile strategy gives you the chance to reach your “mobile” fans, so think about giving them what may be valuable to them while they’re on the go.

Okay then, how do I get started?

Click "Get Started" from the home page. Just sign up, complete the 5-step process in 5 minutes and share!

Is this a native app?

No. The mobile app you create will not be coded in the programming language of apps in the app stores nor will you be able to offer it through the stores. But that means you won’t pay hefty developer’s fees or have to deal with getting your app rejected by any app stores. And by distributing your mobile app through social sharing, you’re guaranteed to get all of your fans, followers and customers using it. Also, don't forget, you're getting an app that gets to every phone! Everyone knows that platform fragmentation is a huge problem and it forces people to choose between trying to reach iPhone consumers versus Android. With Appguppy, you don't have to choose because your app reaches practically everyone!

What will my app do? What does my app include?

Your app will tell your consumers about who you are and what you do, integrate all of your social media (including Facebook or Twitter but also your videos, blog and Tumblr), offer your deals or coupons without a cost, blast your events or schedules, sell your products or services and let your customers share rave reviews. Not to mention, your app will provide any phone user with GPS navigation to where you are and includes a customizable look that's unique to you and your brand. And did we tell you that your app can be downloaded to any phone, through practically any smartphone OS? Best of all, your app comes with a built-in mechanism to help make sure it gets downloaded to all of your fans/followers/consumers’ phones. Anyone who downloads your app can re-share it with everyone else, helping your app to go viral.

What phones does my app work on?

Your app works on practically almost all of the phones that any of your fans are likely to have. So if you’re looking for compatibility with a smartphone, Appguppy will create an app that can be downloaded to any iPhone and Android device.

Is this a mobile website?

Here's one of the hidden gems of using Appguppy to design your mobile strategy: Anyone who you distribute your app to has the option of viewing it as either a mobile app OR a mobile website. So if a customer downloads your app, it will look, feel and function like an app. You’ll be able to call it that to your followers or customers. But you've probably noticed that your app has got a uniform resource locator (URL) too. That's part of what lets your app get used as a mobile website. See, our philosophy here at Appguppy is not about making you choose between the "Mobile App" versus "Mobile Website" tribe. It's about helping you to develop and market an effective mobile strategy without having to have the time, money and technical expertise that other solutions require.

How do my fans/followers/customers/consumers download my app?

Easy. Once you’ve completed the five steps of creation, you can send your app out to your fans and customers through any number of ways. You can use social media and send your app out through Facebook and Twitter. You can also send it out via QR codes and text message. Or, you can simply email out a link or post the link to the app on your website.

So my app won’t be in one of the stores? What does that mean?

That’s right. And that’s a huge advantage. Think about all of the apps that just sit in mobile app stores. Nobody knows that they’re there and so nobody downloads them. Not to mention, there are hundreds of thousands of apps in the stores. How do you think people find them? They don’t. And that’s because it’s too much trouble.

Not to mention, think of all of the time, money and technical complexity that goes into getting your app into the store in the first place. Seriously, it's a real hassle. If you're trying to build momentum for something like a political campaign or a social movement that needs to gain supporters here and now, you probably don't have time to deal with all of the applications that go into getting into the stores. And remember, once you’ve got an app in one store, it doesn’t mean you’ll be reaching the entire market. There are actually 50 different mobile app stores you’d have to get into in order to reach the entire mobile market.

Now, think about what you get with Appguppy. Any app you create with Appguppy is an app you’ll be sharing directly through Facebook, Twitter, QR codes, text message, email AND your website. You’ll be using the power of inbound marketing to bring your fans/followers/supporters/consumers to you rather than going after them with expensive advertising and marketing efforts.

How do I make sure my fans/followers/supporters/customers can access my app?

Easy. You can share your app through multiple channels, including posting on your Facebook and Twitter OR using QR codes and your website OR sending out text messages. That makes it fast and easy for you to get the word out about your app to all your customers through one blast. You can email your app to consumers as well.

How much does it cost?

We're in beta right now, so creating the mobile app is free. That includes creation and distribution. All that we ask in exchange is that you give us your feedback.

What’s the catch?

Seriously, there’s no catch. We were one of you guys and wanted to create a mobile app to build our brand. But we ran into the same problem you’ve run into to get here: mobile app creation is too expensive, too time-consuming and requires too much technical expertise. Our goal was to solve this problem.

Do I need a developer’s license to create my app?

No. No need to secure or pay for a developer’s license. Creating your mobile app just means you sign up for the service, complete the 5-step process in 5 minutes and ta-dah! You’ve got yourself your mobile app.

How much time will it take me to create my mobile app?

About 5 minutes. Seriously. We used a stopwatch and timed our first set of app creators from our alpha release. Your mobile app in 5 minutes and 5 steps. That’s just how we roll.

How do I make updates?

That’s easy too. Anytime you update the content in your social media, your mobile app gets automatically updated.

Do I have to spend a lot of time making updates?/I don’t have the time to make updates, now what?

Making updates doesn’t take any extra time. Whenever you make changes to your social media, your mobile app gets automatically updated.

How do I make sure customers keep using my app?

Your mobile app has a set of built-in features to make absolutely sure that followers use your mobile app and keep using it. How? Well, first, don't forget, you're giving your customers the most convenient way to access you and your brand, which is through mobile. If people want to purchase your products or services or consume your content through their phones, now they can! But also, you can incentivize loyalty by doing things like giving your fans and customers information on your deals and coupons and your events and schedules. As you can see, with features like this, your app makes you as accessible as possible and enhances your connectivity with your fans/followers/consumers.

Can I sell my music through the app?

Yes! We offer integration of all of your music from iTunes and 7Digital. And even if you don’t currently offer your music through these sites, our Appulator will direct you to TuneCore so that you can get signed up.

Can I collect donations for my cause or sell my products or services through the app?

Yes! Not only does your mobile app market your organization and expand your social media strategy but it also functions as a storefront. You can post new products or services and collect payments from customers. Currently, we offer PayPal integration for sales of your products.

Can I make money for my cause or my business through the app?

Yes! Selling your products or services directly will put cash into your pocket right away, but so will informing your supporters and customers about deals and coupons and posting your schedule for services you offer. All of these things help you form relationships, build credibility and grow your mobile brand. That’s both mobile marketing and mobile commerce!

Can I sell tickets for my events through the app?

Yes! We've now integrated Eventbrite functionality so that you can create a tab dedicated just to letting your customers buy tickets for your events and know who else will be attending. Why's that such a cool feature? Because if you're trying to drive ticket sales or boost attendance at your events, now you can simplify the entire process. Once people know about your event, they can purchase a ticket instantaneously!

Can I use my app for customer support?

Yes! We've added a new feature that lets you create Twitter hashtag discussion threads. How do you use this for customer support? Just tell your customers what the twitter hashtag phrase is for specific help-desk questions, and you can generate a virtual mobile customer support line in minutes. You can answer questions yourself or your customers can give each other tips. The key thing, is that you've just provided yet another avenue for customer engagement and two-way conversations!