How to Plan an App Development
Endorsing existing business or expanding a new income stream
Before you start detailing the next ‘must-have’ app, you need to have a clear understanding of the app will be a marketing tool, or it will be able to make enough money to cover the app development cost. You need to decide the app category, whether it will be shopping, social, communication, music & audio, photography, family, and more. Decide on the app will be for worldwide release or targeting a few selected markets. Another important thing you need to evaluate before you consider making a mobile app decide on your monetization model. You want to give the free-to-play or paid apps. If you are planning to promote your business via the first or next mobile app, set your app to free as this will magnetize possible downloads. But, if you want to make money, the app should be under the ‘paid’ category. Select the right pricing strategy for your app. However, if you failed to pick on the wrong pricing strategy, it can cost you plenty. If the initial primary business model includes in-app purchases, co-branding, ads, subscription, and more, you’ll possibly want to offer your app away for free.
Which platform, iOS, or Android?
There are various factors you need to think before selecting a mobile platform for your next mobile app, looking particularly at the two major platforms, iOS, and Android. The first thing you need to decide is the geographical market you want to aim with your app. The popularity of the platforms differs from one country or the next. Another thing to consider is the variation in user demographics between both mobile platforms. There are now more people using Android devices than Apple devices all over the world. Though Apple users on Apple Store tend to spend more than Android users spend on Google Play. The cost of building an app for Android or Apple iOS mobile devices is relatively similar. Developing an app for Android devices can be higher at times as you need to develop an app for different versions of Android. Still, the Android platform allows you to get hold of a far-reaching audience, but the iOS audience spends more. Both platforms have their advantages and disadvantages; think wisely before you choose the mobile platform for your next app.
Hiring a developer or make an app yourself?
Should you hire a developer, or should you learn to code? It’s essential to make the right choice. It is frequently ignored the fact that the programming languages, Objective-C, and Java are used to build native Apple, and Android apps, respectively- both the languages are difficult ones. You may take up to 18 months to develop real expertise. Numerous online resources will support you in being trained to code for your app. The hiring developer may cost more, but the right developer can add value in many ways than just development, it will help you increase profits for your app business. You need to understand that developing a mobile app is not just about coding. It requires excellent functional design and user experience. Before hiring a developer, check their portfolio for excellent UI/UX skills, beautiful looking apps with attractive user interfaces is one of the important aspects while developing an app. You can create Android app free using AppYet.
Keep the risk low
Creating an app involves lots of risks of time and money. I would suggest you limit your risks and keep them low, instead of targeting to develop a great app, focus on creating a successful first or next mobile app. When you code for your app, ensure you don’t spend more than 6-12 months, simultaneously, a goal to bring a profit as quickly as possible. Secondly, make your app available in online stores at an affordable price for users. Reviews and feedback of apps will help you authenticate your notion of app’s pricing, app UI /UX, theme, features, and more. The information and experience you gain from the publishing progress will help you to make more intelligent decisions. Now, you have decided to create a mobile app, keep the aspects mentioned above in mind, and link to resources that can help you with your choices.
Mobile App Development – Dos and Don’ts
If you are planning on designing your dream app and make it stand out of the app crowd, then you should read the following directions that can help. As a mobile app developer, I know designing an app takes a lot of creativity, planning, and intensive efforts. Moreover, the game gets harder when you’re designing for an international audience. Apps are becoming a pervasive part of technology, and its users are overgrowing with the smartphone industry today, but before you do mobile app design willy-nilly, make sure they accomplish something. All App developers know how hard it is to build an app and get it ready for people to download it. Why spend all that time, money, and resources on marketing to increase the download? Here’s a simple summary of 5 dos and don’ts for mobile app development, to ensure that your mobile app development project is a success. We spoke to some of the hottest global apps and got their top tips to share. So here’s a short breakdown of the dos and don’ts of mobile app design.
Mobile App Development – Dos
1. Design with the user in mind
The user should always be at first as with any type of design, right from the pre-planning stage. Before design, you should need to consider who your target audience will, what they want/need, what their aims and purposes are, and how they behave when they use your app on mobile and tablets. Never forget to put yourself in the middle of the user at all stages of the design process.
2. Keep content consistent
While designing your app you must consider the content placement and its consistency and make the text large enough to read and click. If your app is clunky or unwieldy for the user, they will become easily frustrated and are unlikely to return for a second visit. Making sure that text is large enough to read, and other elements like buttons are bright and big enough.
3. Make sure your app works for basic users
Today’s there are millions of smartphone user from young children to grandparents, and tech-savvy. If you want your app to be widely used and consistently download and purchased, you have to create an app for all types of users. Apps need to pass the “mom test”:
4. Simplify functionality
During the mobile app design & development process, you have to work on the simplicity of the app to avoid complexity with app navigation. The more natural the app is to handle, the more the user will want to use it.
5. Research your competition
Research your competitor and their app design. Who are in your competition and will be and whether your idea is already well-served or coming is one of the most important. Do your research, see what your competitor is doing before design an app.
6. Types of apps: native, mobile web and hybrid apps
Design and Developed for one platform. Select one of these platforms according to your app functionality. Native apps are found within the smartphones and are accessible through icons found on the phone home screen. These apps are downloaded from an App Store. Mobile web apps are not determined to be real apps but rather websites that feel like native apps but are not executed as such. Hybrid apps are a combination of native apps and mobile web apps. Like native apps, they are downloaded from the app store.
Mobile App Development – Don’ts
1. Avoid complexity
If you are a newbie in mobile app design & development and still getting to grips with designing skills and coding, As a UI/UX designer it’s my advice strongly that doesn’t make things complex, always think simple first and should not try to make a hyper-complicated app as your first project. Always design the app such that it’s easy to access and use for the USER and also more comfortable for YOU to implement as a developer and must be designed according to app store guidelines.
2. Don’t begin with design but wireframes
While developing an app, you should focus on the design flow first, and once it is determined in the form of wireframes, then the required design should be prepared accordingly.
3. Don’t cram too many items on your page
you know that the screen size of mobile is small, and even if you have hundreds of things you want to offer, if you try to put them all in one space, your customers can’t figure out what they’re supposed to click.
4. Don’t fill the screen with non-related content
let’s take an example of a grocery store app if I’m looking for rice and oil to cook biryani with. I want to be able to go directly to the cooking aisle and find those specific things. I don’t want to find grilling tools hanging from the shelving or disinfecting wipes on a stand next to the flour. Like me, your potential app users will do the same. If they are shopping for suits on your site’s store, they don’t want to see ads or recommendations to buy a mobile phone.
5. Don’t push too much content
Too much content can hurt your brand. Although Content Is King and consistent updates keep users coming back for more, you don’t want to bog them down with more material than they can handle. I suggest that keeping your app simple the first time out.
6. Don’t copy from another operating system
I strongly recommend you do not blindly copy and paste style from other operating system designing style. Keep in mind the style of OS you are designing for. Each OS has a distinct look, and you want to be careful not to make the app look like it doesn’t belong on the platform.
