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As the number of smartphone users increases, the app market is overgrowing. From small businesses to fitness and e-commerce, there’s an app for everything you can think of.
Apps are practical tools – especially for businesses. Many service-based companies want to know how they can develop a successful app in a contemporary tech-based world.
It isn’t difficult to name some profitable apps, as they are widely used. But did you know many apps created with an identical perspective failed to succeed?
The question is, why does this happen? What makes some apps stand out from the rest?
Well, it all comes down to the efforts, ideas, and techniques used in the development. It results from three aspects combined: market, user, and the product.
Whether you’re a blogger, a business owner, or simply looking to make your way into the digital market, building your own app is a brilliant idea.
It might be tempting to start building immediately, but there are some critical steps you should take beforehand. So, if you want to make your app profitable, make sure you don’t skip any of them.
Do your research
A famous saying goes like this:” Knowledge is power”. Before entering the digital world, you should gather enough information about your industry. You need to know who your target audience and competitors are. Conducting research is essential in gaining insight into the opportunities and obstacles of the market. Plus, you’ll learn the limitations and how your idea will fit in the tech world.
If you want to know the chances of your app succeeding, make sure to study your competitors. That way, you’ll manage to define an idea that is unique and stands out from the rest. It’s crucial to learn the strengths and the weaknesses of your competitors. Finding out what’s working and what’s not will help you come up with a solution to improve users’ experience on your own app.
Define your goals
You cannot start developing an app without defining your goals beforehand. Ask yourself what you want to achieve with this app and what problems you want to solve. Your goals will define the whole development process. If you don’t get a clear idea of your purpose initially, staying on track once you start working on your app will be challenging.
There are many reasons to develop an app, but two primary goals have to be achieved: your business goals and potential users’ goals.
When setting your objectives, make sure they are measurable so that you use your time and resources effectively. Think about the outcome you want to reach and start working towards it.
Sure, making a profit from your app is essential, but don’t make it your goal. If you want to stand out from the rest, you should focus on your purpose.
Whether you’re a blogger, a business owner, or simply looking to make your way into the digital market, building your own app is a brilliant idea. It might be tempting to start building immediately, but there are some critical steps you should take.Click To TweetEstablish the app’s features
Once you’ve defined the objectives, the next step is deciding your app’s features. Many people are tempted to add extra features that aren’t necessary. But besides adding to costs, they will also make the development last longer. To avoid this, do your best to stick to the app’s primary purpose.
When establishing your app features, consider these four elements: design, reliability, usability and functionality. Keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to provide solutions for users in a simplified way.
Some popular app features are:
- Customer loyalty
- Push notifications
- Booking capabilities
- User directory
- Community wall
- Questionnaires and surveys.
Create a wireframe
Another essential step in the development process is creating a wireframe – a layout for your app. You don’t have to make it too formal at this point or worry about the graphic design. Its purpose is to lay out the schemes and show the app’s features. You can create it on paper, a whiteboard, or, if you want to be more practical, you can use a wireframing tool.
You can work on the design elements later on, as there will be other steps you have to go through until your app is fully developed. At this stage, you should focus on flow and structure. Plan the user’s journey on the app – illustrate what happens when they click a specific button or what the next page will look like.
Wireframes are very effective because you can make changes to the interface sketch more rapidly than if you were working with the final model.
Ensure the app is safe
From banking information to personal data, people store critical information on their devices. Thus, ensuring your app is safe from any threat is crucial. There are various ways to improve mobile security. However, it’s not an easy job since you have to identify the possible threats and establish the security levels yourself.
There are some standard security practices you can follow:
- Encryption of sensitive personal data;
- Token validation – providing one for each device and adding different expiration times for sessions;
- Implementing safe communication standards;
- Proper cryptographic key management.
Ensuring safety is not important only for users but for you as well. If something happens to people’s data, they can claim compensation for data breach, and you’ll be held liable for it.
Make sure the app is user-friendly
No matter how remarkable your app is, it won’t mean anything if your users can’t understand how it works. It’s vital to create an easy-to-use interface. Even if your target audience is made of users with tech experience, they are downloading the app because they expect it will simplify their lives.
Perhaps they want to take a break from their busy lives and download a game. Or maybe they will install an app to help them manage their finances better. Or one that allows them to keep in touch with their friends. Whatever they want to use the app for, one thing is clear: they aren’t looking for one that makes them work more. The easier they can find what they need, the better it is.
The bottom line
Developing an app isn’t easy. Even if you’re doing it for the first time or have built apps before, there’s always something to improve. This is why it’s crucial to educate yourself before getting into the development process. With a clear idea in mind and these practical tips as your guide, you’re ready to embark on your digital journey.
