--- title: "Monday Buzz: Is It Time to Build an Association App?" id: "26665" type: "post" slug: "monday-buzz-is-it-time-to-build-an-association-app" published_at: "2015-01-05T18:48:09+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T17:52:43+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/01/05/monday-buzz-is-it-time-to-build-an-association-app/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/01/05/monday-buzz-is-it-time-to-build-an-association-app.md" excerpt: "Has your association resolved to build an app in 2015? Make sure you haven’t left key questions unanswered. Plus: Meet the warning signs for underperformance." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "mobile app" - "nonprofit" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Monday Buzz: Is It Time to Build an Association App? If your association is considering building an app in the new year, you’ll want to read [this Nonprofit Technology Network post (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nten.org/articles/2015/to-build-or-not-build-an-app-should-it-be-a-question-for-your-nonprofit) from Ad Council content producer and web developer Zee Hoffmann Jones. Creating an app for your organization may be appealing, especially due to the rampant proliferation of apps in recent years. But, as Jones warns, “just because there *is* an app for everything doesn’t mean there *should* be.” Jones highlights three key considerations to keep in mind when deciding whether to create an app: - Who are your mobile users, and what drives their engagement? - What type of app are you thinking of building (native, mobile web, or hybrid)? - What are your budgetary limitations? “My general rule of thumb is, if you don’t need to build a native or hybrid app, don’t: There are other ways you can make effective, influential mobile experiences that will probably be better for your organization’s goal and budget,” Jones writes. For more insight on app construction, [read Jones’ full post here (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nten.org/articles/2015/to-build-or-not-build-an-app-should-it-be-a-question-for-your-nonprofit) . ### Deadline of the Day https://twitter.com/AssnMediaPub/status/552118684949708800 If you have insights or analysis that association publishers need to hear, you have until January 15 to submit your proposal for [Association Media & Publishing (opens in a new tab)](http://associationmediaandpublishing.org/) ‘s 2015 Annual Meeting & EXCEL Awards. [You can download an application here (opens in a new tab)](http://images.magnetmail.net/images/clients/SNAP/attach/CallforPresentationsApplicationExtension.pdf) . ### Other Good Reads ****Nip underperformance in the bud****by keeping an eye out for three excuses that *Forbes* contributor Ian Altman [has noticed in the business world (opens in a new tab)](http://www.forbes.com/sites/ianaltman/2015/01/05/top-3-excuses-of-underperforming-companies/) . **Nip underperformance in the bud** **Review some of the biggest lists and insights** from the world of events with [Event Manager Blog‘s rundown of its best posts of 2014 (opens in a new tab)](http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/best-event-planning-posts-2014) . **If your schedule’s open this month**, explore Wild Apricot’s list of [17 free webinars for nonprofits (opens in a new tab)](http://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/2015/01/05/17-free-non-profit-webinars-january-2015) . (emojoez/ThinkStock) [Morgan Little](https://associationsnow.com/author/morgan-little/) Morgan Little is a contributor to Associations Now. 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