Just like any other project, building a successful mobile app for your business can be a daunting task. If one doesn’t take mobile app development seriously, it could lead to bad outcomes which will cause your business to suffer. What’s in a mobile app anyway and why is this creating a buzz for businesses? Mobile apps when developed appropriately can be the best asset for your business. Among its benefits include but are not limited to optimizing marketing efforts, sales, revenue, and internal business processes. What sets mobile apps apart is targeting a whole new set of audience and generating new streams of income. However, it’s not as straightforward as it may seem. According to Statista, there are already more than 3 million apps on Google Play Store and Apple Store combined. While, in total, Google Play Store and the Apple Store have the most apps, there are more Android applications in the Google Play Store than iOS applications in the Apple Store.Developing an app entails extensive use of resources and expertise, hence, it is imperative to take every step of the development process with caution, precision and creativity. In this article, you need to review some of the common errors in mobile app development and the ways to remedy them.
- Lack of due diligence and research. There’s a reason why research and feasibility studies come first. Important considerations like the necessity of actually developing a mobile app, estimated budget, target market, objectives and etc. A common mistake done by business owners is jumping to conclusions without doing the bare minimum of ensuring to align your objectives to existing data and trends in relation to your business’ capacity to develop an app. Never underestimate the power of thorough research as the first step in kicking off mobile app development. If no one ends up using your app, it could put a big financial burden on your business. You need to clearly define your business objectives and see if the app fulfills those objectives. Businesses want users to connect and make purchases through their app.
- Poor UI/ UX Build. This happens when you focus too much on the application’s appearance while forgetting the customer. It is imperative to put the user’s convenience first and how your app can cater to their needs. Build an app with an end-user objective in mind, not the one that just serves your business objective. In other words, you need to tailor fit your purpose to your app’s functionalities. You need to make sure that you’re developing an app with a focus on your customers’ needs and not just the design. User experience plays a vital role in engaging and improving your customer base. Make sure the app design is fluid and straightforward, allowing users to navigate through various screens swiftly. The apps that fulfill the primary business purpose while providing excellent user experience can go a long way in improving your business.
- Poor Communication in the Development Stage. While misunderstandings may seem inevitable in the development process, you can minimize them by initiating to explain briefly and concisely with the aid of visuals laying down the process flow and features you want to see in the app. Flowcharts, diagrams, and sample sketches come in handy in this stage. An elaborate explanation of each element found in the sketch, what happens when you click it, etc is the core of what the developers need to grasp in this stage. This will also help you in setting up a realistic budget as the developers know exactly what needs to be accomplished and how much time it would take.
- Not Developing a Cross-Platform Strategy. Nowadays, with the help of advanced cross-platform mobile app development tools, developers can simultaneously build apps for both Android and iOS. Developers can use single source code to deploy on multiple platforms. Hence, taking advantage of this development, you should integrate your mobile app to be both available on Android and iOS. This way, you’re not limiting the potential growth of your app since you can cater to both markets.
- Having Too Many Features and Functionalities. Oftentimes, business owners forget the idea that every big thing came from starting small. The common mistake is going all out without having weighed all pros and cons. This is what we’re trying to avoid here. Remember that every new feature is going to add up to the cost and time of development. The budget for developing an app with multiple functions is going to cost more than that of a simple app. The ideal thing to do is to launch the app first with its basic and primary functionalities because you’re not precluded from introducing upgraded features which can be gleaned from customer feedback when using your app.
- Failing to Develop a Marketing Strategy. Getting an app built is one, but reaching out to the right people for app downloads is a whole different game. As mentioned earlier in this article, there are thousands of apps being launched every day. Hence, it is incumbent upon you to prepare your marketing strategy to ensure that your app sells. To achieve this, strong market research, optimization of your app storage, utilization of social media marketing and influences can be helpful to sell your app in the market.
Like any big project, developing an app entails smart considerations from planning to execution. It is imperative to start small by ensuring your app really serves its purpose. Whether you’re building an app on your own, looking to hire a developer, or interested in becoming a mobile app reseller, avoiding the mobile app development mistakes in this guide will save you time, money, resources, and headaches in the long run.