Better app development isn’t hard, in fact it just takes the right mindset and some well thought out planning.
Here’s how to do so:
1. Start With A Clear Goal.
Any strategy for successfully creating and promoting a new app relies on setting up clear goals for your new software. One of the best ways to think about this need is by concentrating on the problem your app is going to solve. Not only will this help you keep the development process focused, it will also make it easier for you to market your app once it’s complete. Make sure you look at the other solutions currently available for this particular purpose and concentrate on the features that distinguish your app from its competitors.
2. Define Your Market Properly.
Many unsuccessful apps fail because they’re launched without any understanding of who would want to use them. The time to start learning more about your prospective users is early in the development process. The way your app works should be tailored expressly to meet the needs of your users. If you’re building an app for the use of customers you’re already serving, this sort of research can be easy. Just for a start, you can use customer surveys to zero in on the sort of hardware (smartphones or tablets) and operating systems (Android or iOS) that are more common among your target audience.
3. Build An App That Is Both Simple And Distinctive.
If you want your app to resonate with a large user base, it needs to stand out due to something unique about the experience it offers. Keep in mind that you don’t want your app to be distinguished by being hard to use! You should strive for simplicity and user-friendliness wherever possible. Identify the unique advantages of your app as early as you can and make sure your prospective users hear about them. Don’t worry about over-specializing; it’s better to do one job extremely well than to do a half a dozen jobs poorly. Custom apps can be an option for more complex apps, however there are a raft of tools to create your own apps out there nowadays that can also do a very impressive job.
4. Recycle Wherever Possible.
Use as much pre-existing material (content, visuals, video, text, etc.) as possible when building your app. Besides saving you some time (and possibly money), this will promote a consistent, recognizable brand across multiple channels. Look for opportunities to enhance your new app using pre-existing resources within your organization. For instance, if you’re a restaurant owner and you’re putting together an app for customers, go beyond the standard must-haves that users expect. Besides sharing your hours of business, wine selections, and menu, your app could also load your existing RSS feed to display fresh specials every day.
5. Why Simplicity Matters.
Although some software developers would like to think otherwise, the truth is that “gee-whiz” design features that don’t significantly improve the user’s experience aren’t going to make your app more popular or profitable. Everything you put into your app needs to be focused on giving the user the most satisfying and helpful experience possible. Bear in mind that you have a very short span of time to make a positive impression on your users. Your app should deliver clear value as rapidly as possible.
6. Speed Matters.
Your app absolutely must be as quick as you can make it. If your app is slower and more cumbersome than a mobile-optimized website, why would anyone bother using it? Trim as much as you have to to keep your loading times short.
7. Testing Is Vital.
You have to hold back a few resources to put your app through testing before you launch it. It’s always better to catch bugs prior to release than to disappoint your users afterward.
