BlogDevelopmentMobile App Development: Creating Something That Smartphone Users Need

1. Identify the target market

First things first. Answer who will use your app?

You will have to identify who your end users will be. That way you’d know if there is a market for your app. There need to be enough people who would use your app and they should be willing to pay for it. 

The success of your app depends on being able to ‘know’ who your target market is. Not only will it mean that you’re solving a particular problem for the target audience but it will also customize the marketing efforts to communicate with the specific audience. 

2. Offer Value

The value of a good app is in being able to solve a specific problem for the target market you have identified. The only way a user is going to download and use your app is if it is beneficial for them. They won’t just download an app for the sake of the download.

The value add comes in different forms—the app might be user friendly and the speed might be great, the app might be better when it comes to pricing as compared to the competitors, and the app might solve a problem that no other app solves. 

The idea is for the app to combine the needs of the user with the objectives of your business. An app does not have to reinvent the world but it should be good at the one primary thing that it is supposed to do. If that is not the case, then the app is virtually worthless to many potential users.

3. Define features

Why will a user keep coming back to your app? A user will do that only when your app enables them to easily accomplish what they want to do. 

A well-designed app not only has an easy-to-navigate interface that doesn’t frustrate users but also has features that assure them their personal information is protected. From search options to call-back functions—in order to develop a good app, you need to incorporate well-defined features that will draw users toward your app.

But, be careful! Don’t pack it with too many features. It is easy to get carried away and want the app to perform all functions. Define and work on just the core features. What is the ultimate use of your app is the question you want to answer.

4. Choose the right technology

Building a successful app depends on the choice of technology. There are three basic technologies that you can choose from: you can either build a Native appA Native Mobile application is a Mobile App that is developed in the native language of the platform. In iOS,..., a Cross-Platform appA Cross-Platform Mobile App is an app developed using a library that allows development to occur in one language which..., or a Hybrid appA hybrid application is basically a website wrapped inside an App shell. The shell can either be a native app....

Each choice would mean a different cost and a different development approach. Native apps are coded for a specific platform—either Android or iOSiOS is the operating system Apple has developed for its mobile and tablet devices (iPhones and iPads). iOS is the.... Cross Platform Apps use a shared Software Development Kit but they still run natively. A hybrid appA hybrid application is basically a website wrapped inside an App shell. The shell can either be a native app..., on the other hand, is compatible with all devices and operating systems. 

There are pros and cons of each technology and the decision depends on whom you are building the app for and what is the purpose of the app.

5. Make it easy to use

Simple and intuitive UI/UX is at the core of your app’s success.

Ease of use and great navigation on the app, in general, is important in the on-the-go society we live in. Creating an app that is too complex is an app that will not be used and could receive negative reviews.

Better user acquisition and higher download numbers are directly proportional to the simplicity and understandability of your app.

6. Test the app

Before ever releasing an app to the public, it is vital to test it over and over again for bugs and problems that could arise. It is better to work the bugs out well before it goes public. 

Testing your app verifies your app’s correctness, functional behaviour, and overall usability. Among the advantages it offers are rapid feedback on failures, early failure detection in the development cycle, safer code refactoring, and stable development velocity so that you can minimize your technical debt. 

Your app needs to perform as flawlessly as possible and that is when users will be drawn to using it. 

7. Maintain high performance and safety

Good is not good enough when there are endless apps on the market. Your app needs to be the best at what it promised users it would deliver. 

High performance is the key to the success of your app. Bugs and glitches, on the other hand, will deter users and the next time they are cleaning their phones, your app will be uninstalled. 

Similar is the case with the security that your app provides. We work on critical data on our mobiles—personal data, banking information, transaction details, and access keys. There is a lot at stake for the user. 

Your app would need to have privacy and safety measures so that the users are assured of their data is not being taken advantage of. 

8. Take user feedback

The users are integral to your app development process. They are the ones who would use and pay for your app. If they are not happy, there is no buy-in for the app. And that means failure in the market.

As and when your app is made available to users—they will identify real problems that they want the app to solve and they’d give feedback. You would need to integrate the feedback in the coming iterations of the app so that the users feel they are being listened to. That will get the users to trust your app and feel a sense of ownership toward it. 

It could be anything from your app being able to work offline to it being integrated with a payment portal. Pay heed to user feedback. 

9. Update regularly

Working on the app after its release is vital. If you want the app to be relevant in the market, months or even years after its release, introduce constant improvements.

Develop new features to add to your app. These could come from user feedback. Improvement in features makes the users feel that you care about the experience they have.

Users will stop using the app if it crashes or freezes constantly and if the bugs are not fixed instantly. Fixing bugs and glitches in the app is very important for user retention. 

Google and Apple update their operating systems every year. Keep your app coherent with those updates. 

10. Have a marketing strategy

There is just so much information out there. And there are as many apps. Many a time, developing a great app is not enough. People need to know that a great app exists out there and they need to download and use it. 

Get the users’ attention and to do that have a marketing strategy. Have pre-launch, launch, and post-launch campaigns—be visible to the users. 

Promote your solution. Tell the users why they should choose your app over endless others.