Whether you’re an established multinational corporation attempting to enhance the experience of your digital audience, with a clean, smooth-running app, filled with digital content or a small start-up looking to develop your first app to get your business off the ground, developing an app that appropriately meets the expectations of your existing customers and simultaneously lures in new clients can be a challenge.
Yet, mobile app development is so critical to get right. While the growth of app use and their integration into our everyday lives has only been accelerating since they were first invented by Apple in 2007, the time users spent on apps boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic and still isn’t showing any signs of plateauing.
So, if you’re developing your first app, what are the three biggest things you should keep in mind to ensure it engages your customers, is profitable, and has further opportunities for business growth? Let’s find out:
Know What Type of App You Want to Be
One of the best ways to ensure that your project gets off the ground is to ensure you really comprehend the different types of app marketing, and how each one offers a unique benefit to the app itself.
In the modern digital sphere, there are a plethora of different app options and styles available, so it’s important that you know exactly what you want to be. From social networking, utility, gaming, e-commerce, fitness and wellness, and educational apps, there is a wide range of avenues that you could take your new app down.
But it’s important that you find a niche, rather than trying to create an app that is a hybrid of several different types of content. App users spend time on apps for their simplicity and easy access, so it’s important to create an app that is straightforward, can be consumed somewhat passively, and has a clear and identifiable purpose.
Understand Programming Fundamentals and Development Basics
Regardless of the platform chosen, a solid foundation in programming fundamentals is indispensable for budding app developers.
Learning Programming Languages is the first step. Familiarise yourself with languages such as Swift or Objective-C for iOS and Java or Kotlin for Android. Dive into online tutorials, courses, and books to gain proficiency and understanding.
Understanding Development Concepts is equally important. Master essential programming concepts like variables, data types, control structures, and functions. Practice coding regularly and embark on small projects to reinforce your skills and understanding. By doing this, you can build a strong framework for tackling the more complex challenges in app development.
Consider the Type of People You Want to Build Your App
As already reiterated, the importance of a smooth-running app to the functioning and profitability of your overall business model can simply not be understated. This means that you’ll need to carefully consider the types of professionals you want to be behind the development of your app. Some of the intricacies of app development mean you’ll be unable to work it out alone and it’s worth outsourcing to some of the best freelance talent on the market. Opting for cheap labour could result in poor, inconsistent results, so you may need to invest in the people working for you, to ensure your app is the best that it can be.
Prioritise User Interface and User Experience
It’s easy to spend so long considering who should build the app, learning the programming fundamentals and working out the type of app that you want it to be that you can forget who the app is really for: the user!
This is perfectly understandable – you’ve spent so much time figuring out who you want the app to work for you, that you start overlooking the main goal. But it’s important to keep the user in mind, and always prioritise the UI and UX over anything else.
With so many apps on the market – many of which have big budgets behind them to make them look and run perfect – you have a lot of competition that you’ll need to try to match. Even with a smaller budget, though, you can still ensure regular usability testing, wireframing, prototyping, and incorporating feedback from the users themselves.
Don’t Forget App Store Optimisation
Another thing you shouldn’t forget is app store optimization. This is a crucial aspect of mobile app development that focuses on improving visibility and discoverability across various app stores – including the Apple and Google Play Store. This should start with your app title being concise, descriptive, and including any relevant keywords.
Other keywords will also play a significant role, as they’ll directly impact the app’s visibility in search results. To get it right, conduct keyword research to identify the most relevant words and phrases that your target audience will be using. We’d recommend finding ones that have low competition too. As mentioned before, many of the big brands will already be harnessing the most relevant and simple keywords, and you don’t want to be up against them. Instead, look at things from a different angle and try to capture a percentage of your audience that might have more unique, long-tail searches.
Positive app ratings and reviews will similarly boost your visibility, as well as prove credibility and trust. Encourage satisfied users to leave positive reviews and ratings on the app, either by prompting them within the app itself or through email campaigns. In the same way, make sure you respond promptly to user feedback and address any concerns that may have been raised.
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