Event specialist, Cheryl Lawson, shares how she created the Event Planning Tools App. As an instructor of event and meeting management, I have the opportunity to see the tools to which my students gravitate. Most of them are drawn to ‘make my life easier tools.’ When I asked them to ‘create a budget’, they would download the same Microsoft template. One of my ‘make my life easier tools’ is the meeting space calculator. After I decided to create an app, it was an easy decision to bring these tools to a mobile platform. I’ve created a list of steps to help other professionals create their own apps. @Partyaficionado

1. 8 Steps to create your own Mobile App

2. Step 1: Decide what your app will do for the end user. What your app will do, or which problem it will solve. This is a good time to determine if you will offer your app for free or charge for it.

3. Step 2: Decide on a platform. Each mobile platform has it’s own language called, application programming interface or API. Apple, Google Android, and Blackberry each offer their API to registered developers. There are also APIs for applications like Twitter, Foursquare, and Facebook to help you add additional functionality to your mobile app.

4. Step 3: Sign up as a developer on the platform you’ve chosen. BlackBerry®

5. Step 3: Sign up as a developer on the platform you’ve chosen. Iphone®

6. Step 3: Sign up as a developer on the platform you’ve chosen. Android®

7. Step 4: Download the API, choose a coder, or do it yourself. There are a number of agencies and coders offering app building service. More recently, there are simple WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) app creators that require little to no coding expertise.

8. Step 5: Design your app. Create the functionality for your app. Note: Just because you have a good coder, does not always mean you have a good designer. It may be necessary to hire someone else to create the artwork for your app.

9. Step 6: Test, test, and test again. Make sure your app works. Try both landscape and portait, and different keyboard configurations. Test your app using low signal, 3G, 4G, and wifi as appropriate.

10. Step 7: Launch and tell. Upload your app to the platform’s website and wait for the app to be approved. Tell people about your new app. Scan this code with your android powered phone to see example.

11. Step 8: Support. Your app going live is just the beginning. Pay attention to comments. Use the feedback to connect with your customers and make improvements.

12. Cheryl Lawson @PartyAficionadois the owner and founder of event planning and marketing firm, Party Aficionado, and creator of the Event Planning Tools mobile app. Party Aficionado helps companies develop social marketing strategies both online and Face to Face, using full event coordinating capabilities, and coaching to help companies cultivate their audience before, during, and after events. To learn more, visit http://www.partyaficionado.com