Do you want your mobile application to wow users? It’s much harder than it looks. Halfway through 2016, Google Play Store offered over 2.2 million mobile apps while iOS applications numbered around 2 million as reported by Statista. Do you honestly think it would be an easy win with this level of competition?
A quarterly report by the Blanco Technology Group revealed that 58% of iOS apps failed in the second quarter of 2016 while 35% of Android apps sunk in Google Play Store. Leading mobile app developers agree that the top reasons for mobile apps failing in the market within the first few months due to bugs and crashes are poor planning and lack of strategy.
Important Aspects of Planning Ahead for a Mobile Application
As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Here are the essential steps to include in your mobile application pre-planning so you don’t have to face regret and financial loss later on.
Written Agenda for Mobile Application Development
The human brain is an incredible organ but to comprehend the millions of thoughts buzzing through it, you need to jot them down in easy-to-read points.
Objectives of Your App
You need to be absolutely certain about what is that you expect your mobile app to do. Is it simply for promotion or is fixing a problem that does not appear to have any other convenient solution? You must decide and write it down.
Who is Your Target Audience?
Obviously, you want a certain portion of your consumers to take a keen interest in your mobile app. Describe their characteristics and identify them so you know who you want to impress.
The Appearance
If your app is not visually appealing then there’s a huge chance that it will go unnoticed or leave a bad taste in the mouth of your users. You need to show that you put in that extra effort for them.
Functionality
You have to fulfill the promises you made to your users in the promotions. They have certain expectations and if an app doesn’t do its job then it’s pointless.
List of Features
Of course, you will probably wish to make your mobile app more attractive with additional features that set it apart from other apps in the market. Make sure to keep only relevant ones and not overdo them.
Testing Practices
Don’t neglect the testing phase because it is crucial to discover flaws you might have overlooked before and gather first impressions of your mobile app. You can hire QA Software Tester Engineer in India for the testing phase of your application.
User Experience
There are many popular apps right now that have millions of downloads because of the exceptional user experience they offer. Take inspiration and make a memorable one for your users.
Market Research
The place where you intend to launch your mobile app must be explored while you are still working on its design and features.
Industry Trends
The past, present, and future will all help you to predict how your mobile app will be received in your industry.
Target Audience
The preferences of your users and factors like their gender, age, location, profession, etc. are instrumental in developing an app they will love.
Competitors
Take a good look at the mobile development of your competitors. You can see how the same target audience responded to their app and plan better for your own.
Team Feedback
Involve your entire team of mobile developers, marketers, graphic designers, etc. so they can all pitch in their thoughts and give you constructive criticism.
Is it a Good Idea?
The first point to address is whether launching this mobile app is appropriate. Maybe it’s not the right time or the right kind of mobile app for your business.
Is it a Worthy Investment?
There are many important things on your to-do list so as yourself if you are willing to invest all that time, money, and effort into building this mobile app.
Can You Afford it?
There might not be enough money in your yearly budget for such a project. A tentative cost is set aside but in reality, a lot of things could raise that figure.
Resources Availability
You will require not just money but specialists, software, equipment, etc. to build a great mobile app. Check to see if you can access all the resources you need before moving forward.
Is the Plan Feasible?
Sometimes, a plan looks excellent on paper but when you try to execute it one thing after another goes wrong and you start to regret starting it.
Does it Fill a Market Gap?
There is no point in launching an app that already exists in the market. Not only will you come off as a copycat but no one will be interested in more of the same thing.
Is it a Unique App?
The key to developing a mobile app that catches the attention of users is making it stand out among the millions of apps crowding the popular app stores.
Does it Benefit the Users?
Your target audience will flock to download your mobile app if it presents attractive advantages to them so make sure you give them what they want.
How Does it Help the Brand?
It’s not just about your users but also about the level of profit that your mobile app will bring in. Think of the long-term effects it will have on your company.
Will the Users Like These Features?
Choose the features of your mobile app very carefully. Often a feature-stuffed app crashes too often or just confuses the user.
Should it be Paid or Free?
Think about the OS you have picked for your mobile app and look at the pricing trends of that app store. Ask yourself if users would be willing to buy your app. If not, go for in-app purchases and separate premium versions.
How Can it be Improved?
No mobile app is perfect and developers who know that they will have to constantly update it and maintain a good performance are successful.
How Best to Market it?
The marketing has to go into the app development progress and not later. So consult your marketing team on how to make the best impression on users.
Final Draft
When you make your final plan before starting mobile application development, account for each and every issue that might arise and make sure no important detail is left out. Pay particular attention to the following aspects of mobile app development.
- Goals
- Design
- Features
- Functionality
- Pricing
- Marketing
- Flexibility
- Launch
- Analytics
- Updates
Project Management
Mobile application development is a project just like any other so bring in your project manager at this point so that everything runs smoothly once you begin. Then you can attain your objectives on time and within budget. Your project manager will take care of the following essential steps of your new project.
- Task division
- Setting a timeline
- Budget breakdown
- Delegating duties
- Regular meetings
- Work supervision
- Quality control
Moving step by step after careful planning and consultation with your team ensures that every little detail is paid attention to. You are less likely to make mistakes or get overburdened by the giant amount of workload that comes with building a new mobile app. A good plan guarantees a good workflow and increases your chances of success.
