The number of people downloading mobile apps has been rising steadily for years now. In 2019, approximately 204 billion app downloads were recorded worldwide. A year later, the number rose to 218 billion. The industry is also quite profitable, with data showing that the app store spend was $143 billion in 2020. In general, smartphone apps are projected to generate more than $935 billion by 2023.
If you are hoping to tap into this market successfully, there are several things that you must know:
The Dos In Mobile Application Development
1. Find Your Target Audience
It’s impossible to develop an app when you have no idea who its target is. So, start by defining your target as accurately as possible. What age bracket are you targeting? What’s the gender of your expected audience? Are there any other unique details to describe your audience?
The information will help you develop a highly targeted mobile application, which is good in various ways. For starters, you’ll know the kind of user experience to deliver. The younger Gen Z, for instance, have completely different expectations from an app compared to the senior population. They probably want something trendy and highly interactive. On the other hand, older people would prefer a minimalistic app.
2. Develop A Framework
Once you have all the relevant information about your target market, create a guideline on the kind of app that will satisfy their needs. This basically means deciding the type of features to be included in the application.
It’s vital to make a comprehensive framework since developers will follow this guideline.
3. Hire Experienced App Developers
Hiring professionals is also a viable way to develop a great app. Bring your big ideas and expectations to a team of experienced app developers. You could choose to work with a freelancer or an app dev company. The two have unique differences that may affect the final product, so make the decision wisely. That said, many people find it easier dealing with an established company than individuals.
Knowledge, experience, portfolio, and reviews are some of the things you’ll want to consider when hiring an app developer. Price may also be a determining factor but remember, you always get what you pay for.
Clear communication between you and the developers you choose is also crucial. Ensure they understand the fine details of your project, and feel free to ask for advice on anything you’re unsure of.
4. Design For Different Mobile Screens Sizes
There are hundreds of smartphones out there coming in at different sizes. If you want to capture a significant portion of the market and deliver the best user experience for every visitor, you have to optimize your app for different screen sizes.
5. Include Unique Features
There are more than eight million mobile apps out there. For you to stand out, you have to develop something exclusive.
Channel your inner creativity to come up with a unique idea. Look for inspirations online and find gaps that you can bridge. Alternatively, you could try and pick up something already in the market and implement it better than everyone else.
6. Consider Supporting Multiple Languages
Supporting multiple languages is more about expanding your reach than anything else. There’s a big world out there, so don’t get caught up building an English app when there are more than 500 million Spanish-speaking people that could boost your revenue.
7. Prioritize User Friendliness
You could have the best idea in the world, but if you implement it poorly, it becomes pointless.
User experience can make or break your app, so make it a top priority. This is particularly important when you are making a business-to-customer (B2C) product like an eCommerce app. Most of your customers probably don’t have any technical knowledge. They just want to scroll through the catalog, add their choices to the cart, and checkout. Give them the smoothest experience, and they’ll keep coming back.
The Don’ts In Mobile Application Development
1. Don’t Overlook Key Features
In your pursuit of exclusivity and uniqueness, do not make the mistake of neglecting basic features. You should also avoid sacrificing key features for the sake of reducing your budget.
2. Don’t Complicate The App.
Create a decent app that provides information in a presentable manner. An experienced developer should have no problem building such an application.
Remember to test the app for performance and user-friendliness before launching.
3. Don’t Settle For The Cheapest Developer.
It’s tempting to settle for the cheapest developer you cross paths with but don’t do it. The low price tag will be reflected in the shoddiness of the final product, and that’s something you don’t want.
The mobile development industry will keep on growing as smartphones and internet speeds get better. However, you can only get a portion of this market if you develop a nice app that addresses a gap in the market.
