| To look at websites for some of the largest online | | | | dollars to spare, the next step is to research the |
| news sources (The New York Times and The | | | | quick-fix app developers for the right fit. Many of these |
| Huffington Post come to mind), you'll notice the | | | | companies typically develop the application using the |
| enhanced blog format is fast becoming the CMS of | | | | feeds you provide from blogs, YouTube accounts, |
| choice for those who need to distribute items of | | | | Twitter accounts and other RSS from sites or social |
| interest quickly. It makes sense, for blog content is | | | | networks. Here is a short run down of some of the |
| more apt to be picked up in a timely manner by | | | | most hyped developers for small budget projects. |
| search engines, and as one checks social media | | | | BlogApper - This developers works mainly to produce |
| accounts like Facebook and Twitter you'll find the | | | | native iPhone applications (readers can browse |
| majority of links shared go to some kind of weblog. | | | | content whether or not they are online). Bloggers have |
| The rise in smart phone usage, too, stands to increase | | | | two pricing options: pay $25 a month for continued |
| readers and subscribers for blogs - if you maintain a | | | | service or pay a flat fee of $179 for a one-time |
| blog and seek a stronger following, you may wish to | | | | production. BlogApper will take the RSS of your blog |
| consider making it easier for people to find you by | | | | and allow you to customize with graphics before it's |
| creating an app for quick access. | | | | submitted to the iTunes store for review. |
| Of course, if you don't have the budget of a Huffington | | | | AppMakr - What is nice about this developer is that |
| Post or New York Times to hire a developer to | | | | their site allows you to see beforehand what your blog |
| create something spiffy for you, you may be relieved | | | | will look like as a phone app. With AppMakr you can |
| to know there is a less expensive solution, provided | | | | customize your app to include blog RSS, Twitter, |
| you are willing to accept the restrictions required of | | | | podcast RSS, and even iTunes feeds. Pricing options |
| each of the low-cost app developers and wizards | | | | are $199 for basic services that require the AppMakr |
| working to cash in on the app craze. | | | | logo or $499 for publishing under your own brand.iSites |
| Before you do sign off on that iPhone or Android | | | | - A significantly cheaper option, iSites will produce an |
| application, however, you'll want to take some time to | | | | app for $25 which will incorporate several feeds into |
| consider if you truly need such a thing. Think about | | | | one application (not bad if you have a podcast or |
| your blog and what you write and post: how broad or | | | | several blogs under one banner). For $99 a year you |
| how narrow is your target audience? Do you have an | | | | can integrate your app with a mobile advertising |
| established subscriber base you track from the blog | | | | account like AdMob and monetize it. |
| statistics or through analytics like Feedburner? Do you | | | | As more companies turn to establishing their brand via |
| believe you will see a healthy ROI in terms of new | | | | smart phone exposure, it's likely to see more |
| readership, monetary compensation from AdSense or | | | | companies spring up in the near future. If you plan to |
| other affiliations, or sales of products and services you | | | | reach readers through mobile browsing, take care to |
| promote? | | | | investigate every app maker you consider before |
| Most importantly, do you really think anybody would | | | | making the investment. Once readers subscribe, then |
| download your app? | | | | comes the challenge of keeping your app on their |
| If you are fairly confident your blog can develop a | | | | phones. |
| smart phone following, and you have a few hundred | | | | |