Building an app is a complicated process. You don’t want to rush through it, otherwise, you may not be happy with the finished product. Worse, you could end up wasting time and money you don’t have just to fix it. So, with that in mind, here are 6 things you should consider before you start any work on your next app.
The Goal
The first thing you’ll want to consider when building an app is the goal. Why are you building this app in the first place? Are you using it to promote a business? To make money? To provide entertainment? The goal of your app will influence the decisions you make for it going forward.
For example, if your app is there to improve the service experience for your customers, then you likely wouldn’t want to include ads within your app. Your app can have more than one goal, but you should identify the primary goal before considering anything else.
The Target Audience
Next, you’ll want to think about who this app is for. While you’ll likely want your app to be downloaded by as many people as possible, it will appeal more to some groups of people than others. For example, an app where users can buy beauty products will likely be more popular with young women than it would older men.
If you have an established business that your app will be a part of, then you likely know something about your target audience. If not, you should take some time to figure this out. Create a fictional profile of the person most likely to download your app. How old are they? What is their lifestyle like? What’s their income level? The more detail you can give this imaginary ideal customer, the better you’ll be able to gear your new app towards your audience.
Who Is Building It?
Now you can start thinking about who is going to build your app. You’ll need the right people working on it to ensure that it comes out the way you want it. There are a few paths you can follow to develop your app:
First, you could build the app yourself. If you have experience with coding or building apps, this may be a good route to go down. You could also use an app builder tool online to help you through the process. This option typically works best for people with experience in app development, who want to cut the cost to develop an app, and who are building a relatively simple app.
Another option is to hire a freelancer. Using freelancing websites you can find programmers who are willing to build the app for you. How much you have to spend on this option will be determined by how complicated the app is and where the freelancers are located.
Finally, you can work with an app development service. These are companies that specialize in developing apps, using teams of coders to deliver great apps in a short amount of time. If you want your app to do a lot, but you also want to get it quickly, hiring an app development company may be the way to go. Keep in mind, though, that this is typically the most expensive option.
Security
An important part of your app will be security. More than likely, you’ll have sensitive information within your app that you’ll want to protect from unfriendly eyes. It’s important to consider how you will protect your app during the development so that the app is secure from the moment you launch it.
If your app is going to have users log in as well, you should think about what policies you’ll put in place so that your users create strong passwords and that you avoid spam user registration. Protecting your app and your data now can save you a lot of headaches down the road.
Marketing
As your app is nearing completion, you then need to consider how you’re going to get the word out about it. Again, you have a few choices.
If you’re an established business, you can make use of your current marketing channels. For example, you can make use of a currently successful email marketing strategy or post about the upcoming app on your social media channels. If you’re just starting out, these options are available to you as well, but they can take a little longer to get started.
Another option you have is to run ads. By running ads on sites like Google, Facebook, and Twitter, you can directly target your ideal audience and let them know about your app. This is a great way to quickly get in front of the right people, but it can also be costly.
Tracking and Improvements
Finally, you’ll want a way to track the success of your app. You should have metrics installed that will tell you how many people are using the app, how they discovered your app, how much time they are spending on it, etc. The more you can learn about your customer base and how they are using your app, the better you can promote it going forward. You can also ask your users directly for feedback, which will allow you to improve your app and get rid of any issues.
Don’t Rush the App Development Process
When building an app, it’s much better to take your time. Go through each phase of the app development process and carefully think everything out. By going slow and considering all of the items above, you are much more likely to finish with an app that works well, and that both you and your audience enjoy.
