Website to App Checklist: What You Need Before Starting
Converting your website into a mobile app is an exciting step that can significantly expand your reach and enhance user engagement. Before diving into the conversion process with SiteTo.App, it's essential to ensure you have all the necessary elements in place. This checklist will help you prepare for a smooth and successful transition.
Technical Requirements
1. A Responsive Website
**Responsive Design**: Ensure your website already uses responsive design principles**Mobile-Friendly Testing**: Run your site through [Google's Mobile-Friendly Test](https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly)**Viewport Settings**: Confirm your site has proper viewport meta tags**Touch-Friendly Elements**: Verify buttons and interactive elements are sized appropriately for touch2. Website Performance
**Loading Speed**: Your website should load quickly (under 3 seconds ideally)**Image Optimization**: Images should be properly sized and compressed**Code Minification**: CSS and JavaScript should be minified**Server Response Time**: Check that your server responds quickly3. Technical Access
**Website Admin Access**: You'll need full access to your website**Domain Control**: Access to DNS settings may be needed for verification**Analytics Integration**: Access to existing analytics platformsContent Preparation
1. App-Specific Content
**App Description**: Prepare a compelling description of your app (30-50 words)**Features List**: List the key features you want to highlight in your app**Privacy Policy**: Create or update your privacy policy to include mobile app specifics**Terms of Service**: Update to cover app usage2. Visual Assets
**App Icon**: Prepare a high-resolution square image (at least 1024×1024 pixels)**Splash Screen**: Design or select an image for your app's loading screen**Screenshots**: Plan for 5-10 screenshots showcasing key app screens**Brand Assets**: Gather your logo, color palette, and typography guidelines3. User Experience Planning
**Navigation Structure**: Map out how users will navigate through your app**Critical User Journeys**: Identify the most important user paths**Offline Content**: Decide which content should be available offline**Push Notifications**: Plan your initial notification strategy (if applicable)Business Preparation
1. App Store Requirements
**Apple Developer Account**: Required for iOS App Store ($99/year)**Google Play Developer Account**: Required for Google Play Store ($25 one-time)**Business Information**: Legal business name, address, and tax information**App Category**: Determine which app store category fits your app2. Marketing Strategy
**Launch Plan**: Outline how you'll announce and promote your app**User Acquisition Strategy**: Plan how you'll drive downloads**Cross-Promotion**: Prepare to promote your app on your website**Analytics Plan**: Decide what metrics you'll track to measure success3. Support System
**FAQ Content**: Prepare frequently asked questions about your app**Support Contact**: Establish a dedicated email or form for app support**Feedback Mechanism**: Plan how you'll collect and address user feedbackNext Steps
Once you've checked off the items on this list, you're ready to begin converting your website to an app with SiteTo.App. The preparation you've done will ensure a smoother process and a higher-quality end product.
Ready to start? [Begin your app creation journey](/app) or check out our guide on [Understanding Mobile App Requirements](/docs/guides/understanding-mobile-app-requirements) for more detailed information on technical specifications.
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Remember, thorough preparation is the foundation of successful app development. By ensuring you have these elements in place before starting, you'll save time and create a more polished, effective mobile app for your users.