Building your Branded App is a simple and straightforward part of the 6-8 week Branded App process. While you can't submit an app until your Apple Developer Account is set up, you can still get started on the steps in this article! Remember that you must publish your app at least 14 days before your first event, or 28 days before if you're using Single Sign-on.
This article shows how to create, configure, and publish your Branded App in the Webex Events Platform.
🤔 Not sure what a Branded App is? Check this out!
Before you get started...
Make sure you start the Apple Developer process as early as you can.
It's also really important that you read our article about avoiding app submission problems so your app can sail through the Apple and Google approval processes. ⛵
Create your Event App or Community
You can only submit a Branded App when it's linked to a published Event App or Community. We also require that you configure your Event App or Community with the following graphical elements:
Logo (this and the Cover Image are added during Event or Community creation)
Cover Image
Banner images (if you're using the Banners layout)
These customizations are necessary because our app engineers take screenshots of your app for the App Store and Play Store listings before they submit the app. If your app doesn't look fairly close to the finished product, users might be put off or confused, or your app may even be rejected. Here's how a Branded App looks on the App Store:
⭐️ Keep in mind, while you don't have to add every single feature you'll be using, we recommend adding and customizing at least 9 features.
If you haven't created your Event App or Community yet, click here for instructions! 📖
If you've already done these things, AWESOME! Keep reading to learn how to create and publish your Branded App. 🌈
Create a new app
From the My Apps Page in the Webex Events Platform, click Create App.
⭐️ Keep in mind, updates to your app's configuration and settings must be sent to Apple for approval, so take a few extra minutes to double-check things as you go. 🧐
App Basics
Now, fill in this basic information about your app:
⭐️ Keep in mind, the previews to the right of the App Basics page update in real-time — use them to make sure you like how everything looks! Toggle between the Apple and Android previews by clicking the icons at the top of the preview.
App Icon - This icon appears in the App Store and Play Store, and it's the icon that appears on device home screens. Read our Image Dimensions Quick Reference guide for exact dimension requirements.
App Name - This is the primary way attendees will find your app when searching in the app stores. Enter a simple, memorable, easy-to-spell name up to 30 characters long that reflects all the Events and Communities contained in the app.
App Label - Think of the App Label like a subtitle that describes what the app is or has to offer. The App Label can be up to 30 characters long and appears below your app’s name in the app stores.
Because Google doesn't allow the App Name and App Label to be identical, you must enter different information in these fields.
App Description - Enter an engaging App Description that lets potential users know why they'll love your app and how it will help them get the most out of your events. The ideal description is a short, informative paragraph followed by a short list of main features. Including your company name usually helps with Apple approval.
⭐️Keep in mind, the first sentence of your description is the most important. Make it count!
⚠️ Warning! To prevent Apple from rejecting your App, don't mention payment, paid services, paywalled content, raffles, sweepstakes, gambling, or include direct links to ticket purchase websites in your description. Also avoid mentioning COVID.
Home Screen Name - The Home Screen Name can be up to 12 characters long and appears in two places: as the label below the app's icon on device home screens, and on the app's login page. We recommend simply reusing the app or event name unless it's too long.
⭐️ Keep in mind, the Apple App Store shows images with rounded corners, however you don't need to round the corners of your app images. Simply make sure image content is centered for icons and other images.
Click Save & Continue when you're done.
App Branding
Appearance and Splash Screen
The App Branding section lets you pick the app highlight color and upload custom Splash Screens. Check out our Look Book for inspiration!
Theme Color - The Theme Color is an accent color in your app. It affects the top and bottom navigation bars in the app and the feature page indicator. It's a great idea to match the Theme Color to your feature icons!
Splash Screens - The Splash Screen appears for a couple of seconds whenever a user opens the app. These are a great place to display a brief welcome message or show a title sponsor's logo! See our Image Dimensions Quick Reference for dimension and file type requirements.
⭐️ Keep in mind, the Splash Screen appears exactly as you upload it. Make sure you add any elements such as sponsor or event logos and text to the Splash Screen image before you upload it.
Background Color - This color borders the Splash Screen on devices with uncommon screen sizes. Most devices won't use the Background Color. Choose a color that complements the Splash Screen images.
Sign Up And Log In Options
These options let you choose how attendees can log in to your app. We've included a summary of each option here. For an in-depth look to help determine which are right for you, check this out.
Options are:
Email - Use this option if the Event App or Community that will be linked to this app is set to Invite Only.
Social Options - Attendees can choose from Webex, LinkedIn, or Google.
⭐️ Keep in mind, when you enable any of the social login options, Apple requires that the Apple login option be displayed on iOS devices. This is part of Apple's usage terms and can't be bypassed.Single Sign-On (SSO) - This option lets you implement your company's SAML 2.0 single sign-on solution at no additional cost. When using SSO, please submit your app no less than 28 days before your first event. This ensures plenty of time for implementation and testing. For complete details on using SSO, check this out!
When you're done uploading photos, picking colors, and choosing your Sign Up and Log In options, click Save & Continue.
✋ Time out!
You can now publish your Event App or Community and link your Branded App to it! Since you have to publish before you can submit your Branded App for App Store approval, this is a good time to do so. Don't worry! Attendees can't find your event until the Branded App is published, so you can keep editing while your Branded App is being approved.
This is also as far as you can go without your Apple Developer Account setup. If you haven't enrolled your organization in the Apple Developer Program yet, follow the instructions in our Apple Developer Process to get started. If you've been building your app while following along with this article, don't worry! Your app is saved, and you can come back and keep editing when you're ready to continue. 👍
Configurations
At this point, you have your D-U-N-S number, you've enrolled in the Apple Developer Program, and you've invited Webex Events to your Apple Developer Account. It's time to publish your Branded App! 🙌
01. Enroll in the Apple Developer Program
This step is simply a reminder to enroll in the Apple Developer Program. If you're enrolled, click Next.
02. Developer Team Details
Fill in the required information from your organization's Apple Developer Account.
03. Grant Webex Events Access
After you've invited Webex Events to your Apple Developer Account, click the refresh icon next to the Not Connected indicator to refresh. Remember that it can take up to 30 minutes for the Platform to show the connection. If the Status remains on NOT CONNECTED, please try our troubleshooting steps. Once the status shows CONNECTED, click the Continue button.
Review, link, and publish!
On this step, you have one last chance to see how your app will look to attendees. Make sure you examine it carefully for errors, and make sure you like the way it looks. Make any necessary changes now before you submit! 🔍
When you're ready, click the Submit App button.
Publish your app
After you click Submit App, a modal appears asking you to link the App to an existing Webex Event or Community. Only Events with a published Event App appear in the list.
After selecting an Event or Community, click Next.
Finally, select the team under which the App will be published, and click Publish App. If the Team you select doesn't have any Branded App credits, the button says Purchase App. Please reach out to your Webex Events contact or live chat our support team to purchase credits.
You've just submitted your app — congratulations! ✨🎉 Our engineers will review it and keep you updated throughout the app store approval process.
Next Steps
Branded Apps take up to 28 days to go through Apple's approval process, depending on whether you're using Single Sign-on. The App goes through different statuses on the My Apps page as it moves through the process. To learn about each of the statuses, check this out.
⭐️ Keep in mind, after you click Submit App, you and your attendees won't be able to access the Web App for any linked Event App or Community for 3-4 days while our team prepares it for final App Store approval. You can access the Web App again when the app's status has changed to "Waiting for App Store Approval".
As you wait for the App Store to approve your app, continue to work on your Event App! Once your Branded App is live in the app stores, you can edit connected Events and Communities at any time, and the app reflects those updates immediately.
If you need to make changes to your Branded App's settings or appearance after it's been published to the App Store and Play Store, check this out. Edits to the app itself must go through the 2-14 day App Store approval process again. The Web App for any linked Event App or Community will have zero downtime.
Questions? Chat Us or Email support@socio.events