Creating a useful mobile app could be the next step in your business. It might be the missing piece of puzzle your business needs to thrive in this challenging times and rise above the competition.
However, despite how attractive this proposition is, it can prove to be a challenging endeavor. There’s nothing like a good challenge right?
This one’s different especially if it’s your first time. Developing an app isn’t as straightforward as it sounds and there are quite a number of things to consider.
The best time to leverage mobile app marketing is now. According to SmallBizDaily, the mobile app market will record a 385% growth rate through 2021.
Since the demand for mobile apps will continue to increase, it’s vital to keep the best practices in mind.
What type of app do you want?
You’ve got to be clear about it.
No two apps are the same and you have to adjust your craft to suit the situation or you might it up big time. Now you don’t want that do you?
Making the grade as a top-level world-class app developer comes with a lot of practice.
You simply have to put in the work and watch yourself evolve as you come to grips with the fine details as you go through the different phases of app development.
Now that you understand the measure of the task ahead, I believe you will appreciate a little guidance to help you on your way as you embark on this exciting but demanding assignment.
With my experience as a professional mobile app developer who has developed several A-list apps, I have compiled a list of the best practices you should keep in mind when you’re developing your mobile application.
I must emphasize that there is no official template for creating a mobile app but there’s quite a wealth of resources that you can tap into.
I will provide a brief overview of the basics you require to proceed with each of these best practices but you’ll have to do some learning along the way.
Here are 15 of the most important practices you should focus on:
1. Conduct Your Research
The first thing to do when you’re embarking on a journey is to find out exactly where you’re going and how to get there.
Developing an app is very much the same. Without comprehensive research, you’re likely to get lost in the haystack of unsuccessful apps.
One of the first things you must do right away is to identify the type of people you’re developing the app for; your target audience.
You need to understand users’ behavioral patterns.
The next step is to identify the specific needs that your app is looking to address and think of how your app will meet these needs. Is your app valuable to your target audience?
What area of their lives will benefit from your app?
Don’t forget your competition. You’re probably not the first person to stumble on an idea of developing this kind of app.
This means you already have competition before you even start developing your mobile application but you should be worried about it yet.
Look closely at similar apps, the mode of operation, features and functions to see if there’s anything you can improve upon.
An innovative app that offers something extra is always welcome on the market but you need to cover all your angles to make sure you don’t spend your time and resources building an app that’s of no use to anyone or already has a replica serving the same purpose.
2. Choose a Development Method
There are a variety of ways to build an app depending on the type of app you want. Consider this factor before you embark on developing the app because it plays a critical role in the final product.
The options available to you include native, hybrid, and web-based mobile applications.
And while each of these options come with advantages and disadvantages, the most important factor in making the right choice is the kind of app you want to develop.
Game apps require a seamless user experience to make it attractive so a native-based app looks like the best fit for this purpose.
While it’s a great option, it’d cost considerably more and can only be built to work on a single platform at a point in time. This means it isn’t the right option if you would like to launch the app on multiple mobile platforms.
The hybrid-based option is more cost effective and can be developed for dual platforms at a time while web-based apps are ideal if you would like to make your app available outside the conventional app stores.
Your skill set also plays a role here — so it’s important to carefully think this through before you proceed.
3. Choose Your Preferred Platform
As earlier stated, your target audience plays a key role in developing the right app for your small business. This combined with your development method should help you decide the platform you decide to launch your app on.
Although Android and Apple are both mobile platforms, there are marked differences between both sets of users.
You need to find out the platform on which your target audience is most active. When it comes to market size, the majority of app users still prefer Google Play store. In Q1 2017, Google Play store generated 70% more downloads than iOS App store.
This is a key consideration if you’re trying out the app on one platform first.
Of course, you’ll have your mobile application on all available platforms in the long run but you may need to create a scale of preference based on the information you’ve gathered during your research.
4. Secure Your Mobile App
You might think this relates more to bank vaults than it does to mobile apps but it is something you should really look at when you’re building your app.
Your app is going to store a lot of data about your users and your own company. Hence, you have to prioritize security.
This information might contain sensitive details like bank information, credit card details, phone numbers among other vital data depending on the type of app you developed.
Protecting this information is your sole responsibility and you’ll have failed your users if their data is compromised in any way. In the digital age, it’d mean the end of your career as a developer and a brand.
There are a number of potent security options for you to consider and these include 2-factor authentication, fingerprint lock among others. Having back-ups are equally important.
5. Test Your Mobile App Before Deployment
You need to keep test running your app until the development process is complete. This will reveal the errors or bugs in your app.
Although it’s hard work, it’d be disastrous to wait till you’re done before running tests.
Fixing problems will be much more difficult and more time-consuming if your app is already finished before testing commences.
Some of them may even be beyond correction. Beta testers are available for this purpose and you can find them through online platforms like Beta Family.
You will get quality feedback from the testers and you can fix the problems indicated in the various error reports before your app hits the market.
6. Prioritize Design
There’s a key difference between a designer and a developer and you’ll need to keep this in mind when developing your app.
Developers are more concerned about the working details of the app while designers are the creative hubs in the development process. You need to find a way to link these two professionals to get the best product and this means working towards a common goal. The design is really key so spend more time optimizing your app design for the users.
You can employ the use of mood boards and similar tools to help you organize the fundamental elements of design to avoid the eventuality of making too many amendments to your app which could affect its overall performance.
7. Build Your App on a Strong Foundation
You can only build on the foundation you’ve laid and that’s why having a strong core is important. This includes the key features and functions of your app that will form the base elements of your core coding.
The additional features can be added later on around the core to complete the picture you’re trying to paint but this would be impossible without the underlying core.
These other functions can be added as plug-ins which will make your app run much faster and easier to maintain.
8. Pay Attention to User Experience
Keep your eyes on the prize; throughout the development process, you must not lose sight of the finished app because that’s what matters in the end. You will need to make your users a major priority to have a good chance of success.
Consider the reasons why users prefer to download mobile apps rather than visit mobile sites. Take a look at the worldwide app downloads. That’s a 15% growth from 2015, according to App Annie.
These reasons are usually linked to comfort, speed, and experience, and your app will end up in the hands of a lot of people eventually.
These people are the reason why you went out of your way to build the app in the first place and you will have to ensure that your efforts are tailored towards the factors that influence their choices from the inception of your development process.
This will ensure that your app achieves commercial success and serves the purpose for which it was created.
9. Get Feedback
One way to know if you’re doing well is by receiving feedback from others and this applies to your app as well. Apart from the information you receive from beta testers, you can ask other developers for their honest opinion on the work you’ve done.
It’d provide you with an objective professional analysis that you might not be able to provide by yourself.
Since you have different ways of working, the developer might be looking at it from a different angle entirely which could open your eyes to something you’ve missed or a feature that could be improved.
10. Adhere Strictly to the App Store Development Guidelines
Rules are made to be broken? Not this time.
Once you’ve picked a platform on which your app will be initially launched, you need to follow the laid down rules of that interface to develop your app the right way. See the guidelines for the Apple store.
This means that you need to get up to speed with the guidelines and approved practices of multiple platforms since you’re taking your app there in the long run.
It is true that you will eventually have to write new codes when that time comes but being familiar with the rules makes it easier for you and prepares you for that eventuality. Not following the rules could get you expelled from the app store so take this seriously.
11. Make Your App Easy to Use
You can do this by adding accessibility features to your app.
Your app will be used by all kinds of people including those who are disabled. Keep this in mind when you’re building your app so you can accommodate them with the finished product.
There are features that make things easy for anyone with special needs and these include assisted voice features, text enlargement options, and other similar things.
12. Update Your App Regularly
You will need to continue maintaining it like any other product and this means regular improvement as well.
As expected, there are cost implications associated with these updates and you should factor it in while you’re still building the app so you don’t run into any financial hole in the future.
This will allow you to make required changes to the app’s features during updates and keep your app performing at a high level at all times.
13. Personalize Your App for Users
Every user who has your app wants it to suit their personal needs. Therefore, you need to take this into account when you’re building the app.
Users will love personalized interfaces, desired features, and the ability to make helpful suggestions.
Whether you’re writing the codes yourself or you’re working with a professional mobile app developer, ensure there’s room to incorporate relevant tools and analytics into your app.
This will give you the chance to watch the habits of your users and utilize the information you collect to help them personalize their experience. This will boost user engagement.
A user’s behavior can be used to send them notifications and pop-ups about the things that regularly interest them.
14. Encourage Teamwork
You will most likely have a team working on your app with you. The combination of people with diverse skill sets often provides the avenue to build solid working relationships that are vital to the eventual success of your app.
Making sure that there is a good team spirit within the group can only make your app better since everyone is looking at the same goal and trying their best to reach it in the best possible way.
It’s not just about you, it’s about the app.
15. Enjoy the Process
Now, you’ve picked quite a tasking job for yourself but it’s not all gloomy.
You’re also going through an exciting process that could change your life and make your business more successful than ever. You deserve to enjoy it as much as you can.
I’m not saying it isn’t important to put in the hard work but take a moment to relax and enjoy the moment every now and then and try not to stress yourself out.
Conclusion
Creating a mobile application is easier said than done.
There will be tough days and difficult moments that you’re not prepared for but it helps to have a guide to help you through the process.
Above all, make sure your mobile app is designed to provide a rich experience for the user. Don’t be overly focused on making money through in-app purchases, strive to provide value and you’ll be happy in the end.
