Remember These Things While Developing an Mobile App for Your SME

Mobile app development services are in huge demand, as the smartphone application market continues to flourish with thousands of developer firms, big or small, joining the fray. It was in 2015 that smartphones even overtook the laptops as an internet user’s device of choice. The massive growth of mobile devices have led to the rise of apps for meeting a vast range of needs. Studies show humans check their smartphones 2617 times per day on an average.

Now consumers are turning to smartphone apps for every business service. According to recent research, small businesses can save up to 800-million man-hours per day by developing mobile business apps. Such apps also conserve vital resources. They are an indispensable part of how one manages a business. Building an app is a tedious and multi-stage process that requires a lot of planning and for a small or medium enterprise, there’s a lot of important steps to consider. 

Remember These Things While Developing an Mobile App for Your SME

·         Work on Functionality

The first step in developing a mobile application is to work on functionality, by creating clarity about how the app will solve problems for your business and your clients/employees. Users will only install apps if these solve problems and fulfill expectations. With over 2 million apps available in the iTunes app store itself, one is unlikely to develop a unique app sans counterparts. To create an app delivering better user experience and performance, similar apps need to be analyzed and tested to find what to expect from the app.

·         Mapping the Target Audience

Your small or medium-sized business needs to tap insights and come up with a target audience for the app by asking important questions such as whether one is likely to be an Android or iOS user. What are the mobile habits and what are the type of apps that would resonate with consumers? These are just some aspects you need to consider while putting the project across in the right way. Targeting the right audience can make a massive difference to the final outcome.

·         Choosing the Right Platform

While there are millions of different platforms out there, you need to choose from the best, not simply port what is there to other platforms. This includes iOS to Android, Web to iOS and Android to Blackberry. Before deciding if one can launch in iOS, Android or Blackberry platforms, choosing the right framework is important. For example, one may not want to use AngularJS for apps where React may be better suited. Opt for open source products and generic codes if budget is a consideration. This is because proprietary products are costlier.

Open source offers a lot more protection because proprietary firms can easily go out of business. Use open source platforms like Go by Google and Bootstrap by Twitter. Launching the app on Android and iOS at the same time is never a good idea. What is required is to choose a platform that can be launched first. If the launch is not focused on one platform, but multiple platforms, one can extend the development time, raise costs and delay app store launches. So, always consider the requirements and the timeline before stepping in. If the aim is to reach cross-platform for additional visibility, adjusting the app designed as per OS and varied platforms is the key.

·         Know Your User

Another important point is to know your user thoroughly before making the decision to create a mobile app. Identifying this at initial stages is the key to discovering preferences and making a decision that is well-informed. Some questions that need to be asked are whether the application is being build for a certain demographic, or does the app have a global appeal. Getting the demographic right is crucial because mobile apps need to be funded through ads and the app should fit the demographic to make marketing work. Moreover, the app serves to meet the issues the target demographics have when deploying similar apps. Discovering how and in what ways the target is using the app through various devices means you can get really creative. Recruit a focus group to send probes to. Create online communities for developing user journals. Organize workshops so the users can experience the design and functionality live.

·         App UI Must be Emphasized

For your app to get instant recognition, there should be an emphasis on user experience. The app should be aligned with the brand, whether one is getting the app designed or doing it their own way. The first screen the user sees on opening the app is the tagline and brand name. It should be a neat app based on a workable philosophy with a minimalistic design. The app needs to fall in line with design elements. The buttons as well as links should be in line with the app’s layout. An eCommerce website selling clothes looks awesome with material design, while a tech app will use color and titles more creatively. When it comes to mobile design, less is more. White space needs to be effectively used, and buttons or links should be clearly visible.

·         Have Clarity About the Design

Study what the key feature is. The attributes of the app should be easily understandable; the user must not be confused. Clients need to focus on intuitive, simple functionality rather than trying to bring in additional features. Overwhelming mobile users can be a real problem. Apps need to have 1-3 main functions. Once these are in place, and the user base is defined, additional functionalities can be added. Menus, related options and categories are just some of the navigation features that should be easy to comprehend for the first time user. While terms and conditions or usage should be succinct but clear, showcasing your features should make it a value-added experience for users.

·         Try Split Testing

Another way to study what works and what does not is to use an app that is split tested or A/B tested and designed so it is well liked by users. Prior to launching, split testing is a must. Observe which actions work best, which buttons are necessary and redundant, which elements work and which animations are better suited. Micro testing is a method that enables marketing elements to be tested such as icon, description, price etc. Then, findings can be applied to the app store. Creating an A/B landing page, sending traffic to test pages and analyzing results is key here. Additionally, no matter how awesome your app appears, usability testing is a must.

·         Check Performance

A clear objective in mind permits expectations to be set accordingly and feelings of disappointment or frustration to be removed. Wanting to provide a better customer experience, establish your brand or foster conversions,  whatever the goal,  performance testing is essential for devising the best monetization strategy.

·         Keep It Simple

Remember that users don’t always understand complex apps with plenty of features and animation. At the time of the app development process, concentrate on end products, especially how users interact with apps. With only 10 seconds to capture the attention of the user, apps need to provide obvious and immediate value. The user’s attitude for the app needs to be considered too, after all.

·         Focus on App Speed

A key feature that influences app installation likelihood is load time. It should not take more than 5 seconds to download the app. Always study the time taken to download an app. If the website loads faster than the app, it does not reflect well on your application, does it?

Once the final app version is approved, it needs to be tested in numerous conditions and environments. Beta testing offers a clear understanding of how users interact with the product. Including beta testing in the development contract is essential. 

·         Launching the App

For an SME, there are so many stores where the application can be published. An iOS app is published only in the app store. Before adding the app to the store, Apple checks and reviews it manually and if bugs are detected, it needs to be fixed. Google Play is second to none, when it comes to Android apps and the site directly adds apps to this store. 

·         Consider App Monetization Strategies

A free app holds value for users, but it does not work well for the business. If you’ve spent money on app development, the first thing you need to ensure is that the app can be monetized. For this, you need ads, paid downloads or additional features. Finding the right users is essential through plan acquisition campaigns. App users can be acquired through organic as well as paid ads, and a successful campaign is the result of effective targeting. The backend is the first priority from the perspective of clients, investors and business owners. Developers need to go beyond UI and wireframes to understand what is needed to run a business. Getting on to the back end, marketing tools and admin dashboards is essential.

For paid methods, Facebook is essential as it is currently the most popular online channel. Using search engine marketing and mobile ad platforms for paid acquisition is also a viable option. For organically acquiring users, it is essential to consider app store optimization. App store optimization is essential, as over 63+ percent of downloads are from general browsing in app stores.

Always design the app keeping the user in mind. Respond to user actions such as tap, click or swipe with animated special effects. This makes users feel they have been acknowledged and the process is executed. Using a moving symbol like a slide, bounce or glow is essential whenever users refresh a page. Apart from that, one also needs to be communicative. For example, if the app takes time to load or encounters a bug, users must be notified.

·         Customizability of the App

To provide users a sense of ownership, apps should be customizable and flexible as per the taste. This includes being able to customize app color, fonts and privacy settings for social apps. The customization choice needs to be compelling but not exceed the usability of the app.  Developers need to work on making apps with custom dashboards to eliminate clutter and make the changes so apps auto adjust. There should also always be an exit option so apps are not always running in the background. 

·         Social Sharing and Media Integration

The latest buzz is that social influence has overtaken brand value. To make your app unique and popular, you need to have social sharing buttons and social media integration. This makes it possible for your app to reach out to a wider audience, as users may share the app with others on social media.

·         Conduct App Reviews

To gain an unbiased view of applications, the app needs to be reviewed by anonymous users who are aware of what the app concerns. When it is reviewed by users with different mindsets, the answers to doubts can be sorted out. Too many times, app marketing is based only on ideas, instead of focusing on execution and implementation.

You need to consider the purpose of the app to start with. Develop clarity on how the app will solve business problems. Stay up to date on mobile app development best practices, long term trends and platforms. The look and UI of the theme needs to be coherent. The app needs to be easy to engage with even if it is used the whole day. 

·         Plan Promotion Strategies

Formulating an app is just the start. Don’t think your app would be rated as the top one in the market, unless it brings something truly valuable to the table. The strategy needs to consider the target audience, and have a better understanding of what is required and the process outcome. Making ideas a reality is far easier in this context.

Once the app is launched, feedback-gathering is essential to see what works and what could be improved. The app should be continually revised and upgraded to add value to businesses and customers alike.

Conclusion

Apps are a perfect way for SMEs to tap a whole new ecosystem of users and develop solutions for problems out there. Clearly a reputed and professional mobile app development company in Pune, Sankalp offers mobile app development services every SME needs. Small or medium sized enterprises can only benefit from apps that are user-friendly and intuitive. Sankalp’s mobile app development team specializes in applications to meet the unique needs of your growing business and help it to thrive, following these key steps essential to building a distinctive and well-structured app.