Creating an app? 5 tips to get your business to the top faster

So, you think your business needs an app?

With a typical app taking at least 4 – 6 months to develop, the cost of resources and staff could easily pile up to $100,000. And if you don’t have a large budget for it, you will have to do it yourself. And in order to build something that actually works to build your brand, you will need to learn the basics.

So, if you are interested in building and releasing a mobile app for your business, follow these 5 suggestions. It should help you get the results you want and get your app to the number 1 spot faster.

1. Set a goal and do your research

Before you even think about coding and designing, you will need to think about the world. You started your business with a certain goal in mind, so do the same with your mobile app— be as declarative and exact as possible.

Your app needs to solve a problem for your audience and make things simpler for them. Don’t forget marketing, too— you will need to consider your target market before creating an app.

Next, check out the existing apps on the internet. For every idea that is born, there will always be another one that looks the same.

Check out similar apps and determine which features you like and don’t like. Get a better understanding of how it failed to deliver so you can avoid making the same mistakes.

2. Make a sketch and create wireframes

Draw the purpose of your app and how you want each element and page to look. Draw a path that will show how users should use the app or what they should do in order to get what they want.

You should consider using wireframes. This is the storyboard of how your mobile app will run. And creating a digital version of your sketch allows you to make a concrete sample of what your app should look like how it should behave.

There are free or cheap wireframing tools out there that are just as good as the expensive ones. Try out some tools such as Kocomojo for you to start the designing process.

3. Get feedback

Once you have built a model that’s somewhat interactive, you can ask colleagues, friends and some of your trusted customers for feedback. See if they understand every step and if the mobile app does what it’s supposed to do.

If you need to explain everything, it is a clear indication that your app is a failure. You need to remember that you won’t be standing over the shoulder of every individual who uses the app, so you’ll need to have a mobile app that is clear with its instructions.

If you feel like you might need text dialog boxes and constant explanations, your design is simply not worth it. So, create an intuitive design that people can easily understand and give them something that will make their life a bit easier.

Take their feedback seriously and wholeheartedly, if you wish to grow.

4. Build, build, build

Now that you got some good direction, it is time for your developers to do the work. Consider choosing reputable and knowledgeable developers such as newgenapps which offers custom software and app development. Give them the general layout and then ask for deliverable schedules.

Determine a deadline for your minimum viable product which should have the most essential features without the bells and whistles and can be added with subsequent releases.

Take note, however, that you will need to process everything with app stores before you can release your mobile app, so you need to make sure that you leave extra time to deal with those.

5. Testing before release

The last thing you want is your inbox and comment section filled with complaints right after you release your mobile app. So, before you launch your business app, give yourself a couple of weeks to spend on some rigorous testing.

Your mobile app will need to be tested on every platform— be it iOS or Android. You can even consider announcing your app while searching for testers through social media. This will allow you to get some feedback from real users while also building hype and interest around your product.  

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