If you’re here, it’s probably because you’ve been considering building your own mobile app. The reasons behind it or your objective might vary, but to build an app, you will need a certain set of skills or a team of professionals who will know how to translate your ideas into a functioning, quality mobile app.
You will need to do your research on competitors and the current situation on marketing, and also need to start thinking about all the elements needed to develop a mobile app. This guide will serve anybody who is looking to learn about how to develop a mobile app that you can later market as well.
Make sure you don’t skip any of the steps provided in this guide as each of them is essential to build a successful mobile app.
What’s Your Idea?
You cannot build an app without an idea. Your app needs to have value for its potential users to be successful. Think about the problem you are trying to solve to get an idea for the app. Just think about the apps you are using every day, each of them is built in a way to solve a certain problem. If you still don’t have a clue about what your app should be, start thinking about the problems you encounter and write them then. Once you have made your list, start thinking about ways to resolve them and choose the ones that would be a great idea for an app.
Is There a Need?
It’s crucial to identify whether there is a need for an app you have chosen. After all, something that seems like a problem to you might not be a problem for other people so they will not be interested in your app. To understand if there is a demand, you can use many free tools like Google Keyword Planner and see how many people are looking for that keyword. Another great idea is to build a landing page that generally explains your app idea, ask for people to sign up for your newsletter, and see how much of an interest you have generated.
Work On Flow and Features
Once you have identified the need and know with certainty there is a need for your app, you will need to detail your product into a document or for those who already feel comfortable with DIY app development, a wireframing tool. Putt your idea down on paper and try to provide as many details as possible. However, don’t just stop at brainstorming. You should think about the flow of how your users will navigate the app and use all of your features. This part is crucial for any developer you choose to build the app for you.
Eliminate What’s Unnecessary
Now, you will need to remove non-core features from the document with all of your details. Look closely at everything you have written down and think about which features should be removed. You should only offer the core value of the app idea. Avoid building features in the first phase which are not essentials as they can easily be added later as an update. Also, keep in mind that your development costs will not be insignificant, so the more you can eliminate, the better.
Design Comes First
Many people will advise you to choose a very basic design and focus instead solely on developing the app. But, the design doesn’t just refer to the way your website looks, it is also about the way your users will experience your app. Think of design as a way of making your mobile app useful.
Hire a Designer/Developer
When considering your options, you should seek a company that has both a great design and development team. Before hiring, make sure you have checked their credibility and their portfolio to see what types of apps they have built before. You might opt for a mobile app development company in NYC as it’s close to you and you wish to have meetings in person with your chosen company, or you will choose a remote team for your app and communicate your idea to them virtually. It’s completely up to you, but make sure your criteria are more around the service quality than location.
Don’t Forget Analytics
Having analytics will help you track the number of downloads, user engagement, and retention rate for your mobile app. You will find many free and paid tracking tools that will provide you with quite valuable information. If you’re not sure if it’s useful or not, keep in mind that such data can be useful for your sales and marketing strategies as well.
Out With The App!
Once you have everything set, it’s time to introduce your app to the world. Ask your users to provide you with reviews not only to gather positive feedback but also to understand what is necessary to be improved with your first app update. Think about the ways you will promote the app launch, and later develop your ongoing marketing and sales strategies to truly make the most of it.