AI | BLOCKCHAIN |
AI,BLOCKCHAIN
“Considering there are about 4 billion mobile phone users in the world, and with the count expected to cross the 5 billion mark by 2019, the demand for Mobile Apps is increasing”
The statistics above keeps on spotlight the increasing demand of mobile phones and mobile applications!
Do you have an idea to develop a noteworthy mobile app? If you do, that’s great, but how are you going to create it? What are the factors you must consider before creating it? Here’s a list of important things you must have in order before you start mobile app development!
In order to make an app, you must learn how the app market works and familiarise yourself with languages like Java, C++ and framework concepts. If you intend to hire a team to build the app for you, you could either hire locally or outsource crowd.
It is important to conduct a thorough market research. Analysing the market will give you insights about competitors, their strategies, strengths and weaknesses. Read user reviews, as this can give you an idea of what users like or dislike. With this information you can develop a more targeted app.
Your app might be great, but here’s the catch – there are a billion ‘great’ apps out there. Why must a user pick your app over the others? You must create an app that serves something different and will keep users engaged. For this purpose, you need to know what the app’s USP is.
Allocate a budget for each stage of app development. You need money to hire developers, buy the right tools for testing in right platforms and so on. A budget also allows the developer to work within the allocated funds while keeping in mind the key features of your app.
Whether you are developing an app for an Android platform or an iPhone platform, it is imperative to decipher the design pattern which will help you deliver a satisfying user experience. Collect existing design patterns for your app in advance. Sketch your app on paper and conduct research regarding menus, navigation and interface of the mobile app.
Keep the file size of your app small. Remember you are dealing with mobile apps, and storage for mobile devices is capped at a certain point. So you want to minify your app in order to provide users with the best experience. Small file size also means your app will consume lesser data which will be a win with users.
The app should be efficient in terms of delivering what it says. Data efficiency is important in this sense. Users are most likely to stop using a mobile app which excessively drains their data. If you don’t want your mobile app to fall into that forgotten category, ensure that you create an app which uses data efficiently.
Various devices users can work with include iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry. To engage with a larger number of users, opt for multiple device targeting strategy. Each platform has different specifications, which means factors like screen size, resolution, network bandwidth, connectivity and storage space must be taken into consideration separately while designing an app for multiple devices. A better strategy would be to master one platform and then move onto launch your app across other platforms.
You must be aware of how touch and gestures play a crucial role in making the mobile experience for easy for a user. You must also know how to meld multi-touch gestures like flick, pinch, swipe, drag and zoom. Incorporating these gestures into your app effectively will enhance user experience.
Do adequate market research before pricing your app so you can figure out your return on investment. Unless your app is a complex niche app, it is ideal to make two versions, free and paid. With time you will understand which one generates more money for you. Also, cover areas like subscriptions, in-app advertising, in-app purchases, locked features etc.
Aiming to cater to a broad audience is great, but you must be able to pinpoint a target audience. Based on whether your app is tailored for children, youth, professionals etc., you must be clear about what problem your app aims to solve, why your app is better than other alternatives, what devices your target audience use etc. Only if you meet expectations of your target audience will your app be a success.
You need to have formulated an effective marketing strategy and initiated marketing at least 2-3 weeks prior to the app launch. Getting your app listed on the app store, using apposite keywords, and adding your app on a review website are few ways to promote your app. Also, opt for in-app advertising, i.e., advertise your app in already existing apps, which will create engagement for your app through clicks. Include social media channels and blog posts in your marketing strategy as well.
Security of your app must be on top of the priority list when you are planning mobile app development. Any sensitive information collected from users by the app must be securely stored. Positive steps must be taken to ensure that the app has the capacity to handle any unfortunate hacking attempts or data breaches.
Your mobile app description on any app store plays a huge role in deciding whether or not a user will choose to download the app. App stores usually display 2-3 lines of the description and in order to read the rest, users need to click on read more. It is important to make the first 2-3 lines crisp and appealing, so that users want to read more, and eventually download the app.
Testing your mobile app before its market launch gives you an experience of how users will see the app. Testing also allows you space to detect any flaws and rectify them before the app launch. After one round of alpha testing, you can hire beta testers for a second round of testing which will allow you to improvise as per observations made.
Discoverability is one of the biggest challenges you face. To overcome this, you should invest time and effort in app store optimisation. Your app name, description, logo and screenshots that you upload – all of these need much attention to arouse the interest of users and produce the best results.
User experience holds the key to success for your mobile app. For example, losing touch with the user while the mobile app is loading could prove to be disastrous as it leaves the user thinking there is something wrong with the app. To avoid this negative impression being formed in the user’s mind, use loading indicators as symbols of assurance that the app is working.
Your mobile app should be user friendly, desirable and deliver high performance to users. These tips can surely help you if you are planning to develop a mobile app and want it to be durable!
Published:24/04/2024
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