How To Create A Mobile App For Your Portfolio Website On WordPress?

WordPress offers professionals a ton of ways to create stunning portfolio websites. Whether you’re a UX designer or an architect with no technical experience, WordPress is an obvious place to start.

This is why a majority of the CMS websites in the world are built using WordPress.

It is generally the case that anytime you create a website on WordPress, it will be more or less responsive on mobile devices as well. Most themes that allow you to customize your website are mobile-friendly as well.

So why would someone with a portfolio website need a mobile app? For a portfolio website owner, going through the trouble to figure out how to create an app can even seem like overkill.

After all, creating an app is not easy and effortless.

How Can Mobile Apps Help Your Portfolio Websites?

Mobile apps are not a new trendy technology anymore. They’ve been around for a long time now, enough to be considered one of the primary mediums for digital engagement.

Smartphone usage has gone up and so has app usage. Major brands and businesses are not the only ones invested in publishing mobile apps. From startups to small businesses, there is a tendency to move towards mobile apps.

So the question is how portfolio website owners can benefit from creating a free mobile app.

Firstly, apps mean accessibility. If a lot of your business comes through a portfolio website, having a mobile app alternative is the best way to present content on smartphones.

Yes, mobile responsive websites can do the job as well. It is however easy to see that apps are a better way to consume content on mobile devices. Unlike mobile websites, apps are built to perform well on a device.

Secondly, apps open up new opportunities to drive engagement. Push notifications and in-app messaging allow you to talk to potential customers directly.

Are these advantages significant enough to get into app development?

Finally, it’s wrong to think that app development is complex and tedious. There are several development options available to create a mobile app without coding.

In the following section, you can see the different options available to create a mobile app for your portfolio website.

Creating A Mobile App: What Are The Options?

Businesses generally assume that app development has to be a complicated process. If you choose to hire a development agency or code it from scratch yourself, the process is indeed difficult.

There are however other options that allow you to make free apps without worrying about programming.

Let’s see how all the available development options work.

#1: Make A Mobile App With Custom Development

Custom app development basically means you’re going to get a mobile app built from scratch.

This naturally involves coding. If you run a company that has a dedicated technical team, you can consider expanding it in order to create a mobile app.

Custom development takes time because developers build a new app from scratch. If you don’t have a technical background, it is best to either hire a team of developers or an outside agency specializing in Android application development services. App development is not something you can learn overnight.

In some cases, custom development is the right way to build an app. If you require unique features, custom development is the best way to go about it.

Keep in mind, custom development is not exactly cheap. You need to make a significant investment to hire developers or a development agency. 

#2: Consider Using DIY Mobile App Builders

DIY app builders are platforms that allow you to create apps without coding. If you don’t have a storied background in app development, it makes perfect sense to use these DIY tools.

The process of creating a mobile app can vary depending on the tool you choose. If you already have a portfolio website built on WordPress, using a website-based app builder is the best choice.

Such a tool essentially syncs your website’s content to the app automatically. This means all your portfolio website’s data like pages, posts, categories, and menus can be synced to the mobile app.

As mentioned earlier, the exact process of building your app can vary. Let’s use AppMySite in this case. This platform enables you to make free apps and you can upgrade later when you wish to publish them to the app stores.

Here’s how the process works

• Design the basic elements of your app. This includes your icon, splash screen, and overall color theme. There is also a section where you can design the onboarding and home screen of the app. In case the design features are too restrictive, you can upload your own artwork.
  
• Connect your WordPress website and app. The process is fairly simple and well explained within the platform. Once connectivity is established, your app will be populated with content from your website. There’s a special Preview feature that allows you to see how your app looks and works on both Android and iOS device emulators.
  
• Configure your app’s settings to make sure it works just like you want it. There are options here to manage user onboarding, showing a bottom menu, updating general app info, and more.
  
• Download your app from AppMySite. For Android, you can download your app’s APK and AAB file. For iOS, you can download the IPA file. These files can be submitted to the app stores where they’re reviewed and subsequently published.

If you wish to change the content of your app, such as a post or a page, simply do it on your website. Your app will be updated in real-time. Thus, you don’t need to worry about updating your app. Simply manage your website and the app will take care of itself.

As you may discern, this process is much easier compared to custom development. It is the best way for WordPress site owners to create an app.

In conclusion

Apps may seem like an unnecessary luxury to typical portfolio site owners. The general consensus is that app development is expensive and complicated. This makes the prospect of making an app seem excessive.

If you have a website, making an app doesn’t have to be complicated or tedious. It’s not even a financially risky proposition as website-based app builders don’t cost a lot of money.

DIY tools uncomplicate development and make it easy for users to build apps effortlessly. Once you find a platform that best suits your needs, you can get started with app development without worrying about coding.