There are more 2.4 million mobile apps in the Android Play Store and nearly 2 million apps in the App Store for iOS users to download as per statista.com.
On the flip side, 60 percent of apps have never been downloaded, while 25 percent of them were accessed only once.
Developing a successful mobile app can be tricky as it requires numerous things to consider. Not only developers need intuitive app design, but they also need to focus on the demands of the target market and the overall user experience.
To simplify the process, we list out some practical tips on what you should include in your app and what you should avoid in the developing process. Here are the do’s and don’ts that every developer needs to remember and apply in order to make their apps stand out.
Table of Contents
The Do’s
Define your ‘Why’:
Many people start building their apps because they hear that mobile apps are trending and have an enormous potential to build a brand. While this is partially true, you still need to know what you want from an app and how do you plan to achieve it.
Try to articulate the pain points that you are trying to solve with the app and make sure you have an aim and purpose beyond making a profit. Constantly refine your ideas and have a clear vision as you start your new endeavour for business.
Conduct proper research:
The mobile app market offers lucrative returns, and many developers jump straight into the designing process without researching who the users are and what they want from an app. Proper research helps you understand the pain points of potential users and their needs and expectations. Once you are armed with the knowledge about your customers, you can create an experience that resonates with them.
Another aspect of research that developers can hugely benefit from is competitive analysis. No matter how unique an idea you have, there is a good chance that someone out there has a similar idea. Analyze your niche and look for apps that are similar to your app. Identify the weak areas of those apps and address them to attract the audience.
Personalization:
It is no secret that customers crave for a personalized experience. 80 percent of consumers will do business with a brand that makes the experience more personal. With the total number of mobile apps now in millions, personalization is the only way to distinguish your product from the competition. Personalization works because it gives the consumers a feeling that the mobile app is made for them.
Research the users’ demographics, age, interests, and send them notifications and messages based on their likes and dislikes. Engage the users with user-friendly design and activities like quizzes, discount offers, and gift cards.
You can also build a community where users can interact with each other and the developers in the app. Other features like in-app support and services also help build trust among the users that they are being heard. AirG, for instance, provides the customer inquiries and support features that make AirG scam reporting a breeze.
Optimize your app for app stores:
Many apps fail to create an impact because they lack effective marketing strategies. Make sure you have a proper marketing plan even before you start building your app. Optimize your app for app stores to ensure that the app ranks higher in the charts and get the highest ratings.
Use a development framework that allows you to deploy your app on all the popular app stores without rewriting the entire code. Also, make sure that your app makes use of a device’s features like app history and GPS to enable location-based functionalities.
The Don’ts
Don’t ask for unnecessary permissions:
When users download a mobile app, it usually asks for certain permission requests. If an app asks such requests without any context and an obvious need, users get suspicious and often deny the requests.
Make sure your app requests permission only when it is absolutely necessary for the operation of the app and the user experience. For instance, it does not make any sense for an alarm clock app to access a user’s contact list. On the other hand, users won’t mind allowing a messaging app to access their contact list.
Never compromise on security:
This is perhaps the most important area you should work on when developing an app. Many apps take and store users’ passwords, credit card information, and other valuable data, which can have severe repercussions if app security is compromised. Take all the security measures to earn users’ trust.
Many hacking and data theft cases have emerged in the past few years, which made consumers skeptical about cybersecurity. Make sure your app keeps up with all the necessary security features and updates so that users can trust you with their valuable data.
Don’t ask for feedback straightaway:
Collecting user feedback and implementing their suggestions is, without a doubt, vital for the success of an app. App reviews and ratings help users make informed decisions, and an app with positive reviews has a higher chance of being downloaded.
However, you shouldn’t ask users to rate your app on their first experience. Many app developers make a mistake by forcing the users to rate the app too soon, which decreases the amount of useful feedback.
Interrupting users, in the middle of something important, is not only annoying but can also be counter-productive in terms of rating. Provide a great experience and give users the time to form an opinion before asking them to review your app.
The bottom line:
Mobile apps usage is constantly on the rise, and so are the users’ expectations. App developers need to be on their toes to meet these expectations and build apps that are relevant and valuable to the users. Use this resource and follow the tips before you decide to enter the world of mobile apps.
ABOUT Alycia Gordan
Alycia Gordan is a freelance writer who loves to read and write articles on healthcare technology, fitness, and lifestyle. She is a tech junkie and divides her time between travel and writing. You can find her on Twitter: @meetalycia
