You might have an idea for an app but you don’t know how to develop it, you’re even thinking about hiring a developer to make it happen. But you still do not know the steps to follow, the specifications to define a good mobile application project.in addition to being experts in app development outsourcing, we help you make your mobile app project as complete and correct as possible. Thus, with this preliminary and essential step, you will define the key points of your application, you will be able to receive tighter budgets and it will be easier for you to find a suitable developer to carry out your application. In this guide, we’ll take you step by step through how to create an app, starting with defining your mobile application development project.
How to create an application? Step 1: Define the basics
First of all, you need to validate that the mobile app you want to launch is really a good idea and that it is not going to be abandoned in the market. The first thing to do is to perform an analysis to define the following bases:
Target audience and location
The first thing you need to do is define your target audience for your app. Determine the type of devices they are using: Android, iOS, tablet, or smartphone. To do this, it can be useful to know when they will be using your app. It is not the same if the user uses it on the move or from their sofa. This can for example define the direction of the use of the device (horizontal or vertical). The place of use is essential. Developing a mobile app for use at home, where the target audience usually has wifi, won’t be the same as using it in the mountains, where they will likely need to work offline.
The budget
Above all, the budget is crucial: how much are you willing to spend on the development of the mobile application? In most cases, it usually depends on the type of user or the type of need that the application fulfills.
Request for an opinion
To determine if your mobile app project can be successful and become an app, you need to ask people if it really needs to be created. Be really critical about whether the product or service in the form of a mobile app that you want to launch meets a need. The best way to find out is to ask people who are your mobile app’s target audience if there is an app that meets that need and if they would be willing to pay for mobile apps that meet that need. Either way, you can consider launching an app to complement another business. In this case, you have your own clients to answer these questions. First of all, have you really looked into whether there are any mobile apps that already do what you want to do? There might be some competition out there, but that doesn’t put you off. You can improve it, make it cheaper, or make it faster and more efficient.
The functionality of the application
How many different screens will there be in the mobile application, what can be done in each of them? And most importantly, what should the application itself or the user do within the mobile application? The ideal would be to draw the prototype (even on paper) and even use a tool to create a prototype application and establish the flow between the screens. The prototyping stage is essential. If you include this in your mobile app development project, their idea for your app will be much more complete.
Reference application
Is there a benchmark app that can serve as an example? A similar app, even if it is from another industry or the same competition, can tell the developer a lot about how to develop your mobile app. It can be based on a model identical to another but with different functionalities, a different price, in another language, or for another market.
Registration Form
Will app users need to register? Do you want to register on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn? If you need to capture a user to store their data, you must have them register. More and more social networks are used to register, especially since you can also get additional information from these networks, useful for registration: will you need the user to have a profile in the application? In this case, it will be particularly useful.
Social networks
Would you like to share on social media? If your app is potentially social, take advantage of the fact that your users can be your best ad and give them the chance to share it. The game in the mobile application has very good results in terms of the number of shares.
Phone features
Will you need to use mobile functions? Camera, relocation, sharing, multimedia, push notifications, accelerometer, calendar … Try to get the most out of the device. Keep in mind that apps that require a lot of data connection or consume a lot of battery in the device are not pleasant to use. Define very well the features you need because some programming tools do not allow their use.
Payment methods
Do you need to implement payment methods? If the user will need to pay through the app, consider making it as easy as possible. Use known and normally used Maven Digital app development costs that the user has enough confidence to spend the money on your mobile application.
Platform type
For which platforms do you want the app, whether native or cross-platform? Analyze which platforms it is convenient for you to have the application. The most used are android, iOS, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry. Plan if you will need a mobile web that is to say that all types of devices (responsive or adaptive web) will be suitable. Or if you need it to be native, that is, developed in the language of each operating system or that it can be used for cross-platform development. There are tools (called frameworks) that allow development at the same time in several operating systems. In some cases, their functionality, design, or speed of execution is limited. But they are very useful for prototypes because they are much cheaper and allow testing of the market.
Design
Design is very important for the user. Depending on the level of design quality, you will need to call in more or less expert design teams. The importance of usability and user experience should be taken into account as in many cases a poorly designed or poorly targeted mobile application on the user loses all of its strength and ends up no longer being used.
Web service
Will you need a web service that stores the data? Does your app need to store data in the cloud or on the same mobile device? It will be necessary to take this into account when defining the size of the server that will store them. You will also need to consider the monthly cost and request monthly maintenance service for this server.
Admin panel
Would you like an admin panel that manages data and communication with the user? In general, most apps will need the app developer to include a panel where you can manage user information. You will need usage statistics and will be able to communicate with users (via notifications, SMS, or mailing). With this feature, you will be able to manage user payments.
How to create an application? Step 3: Mobile Marketing
Have you thought about how you want to promote your mobile app through ASO and SEO and how are you going to get downloads and position it in the markets? Keep in mind that you can make a significant investment to build a mobile app and bring it to market. However, if you don’t bring it to your audience, you will be wasting your time and money. Therefore, do not invest everything in the development of your application. Consider that you will need to allocate some of it to App Marketing campaigns before launching the application; you must have perfectly defined your App Marketing strategy. We are going to give you very briefly the keys to defining your marketing strategy.
Natural positioning
In search engines (ASO): there are a series of parameters to follow in order to optimize your positioning in search engines. The title, keywords, description, as well as ratings, user comments, or number of downloads is the most important points of ASO. And the elements that will help you face the user to find out what the app offers at a glance: Icon, app screenshots, and an overview video
Download purchase
You can also opt for the direct purchase of downloads. There are many recommendation and payment tools that allow you to drive app downloads among highly segmented audiences and thereby increase the number of downloads of an app.
Your home page
The home page is also essential. If your mobile app project is just an app, you will also need to consider that you will need a custom web design. Even if it’s a static page or a template with download links. This will allow you to have a page on which to present the product, position it on the web, etc.
Press releases/media presence
Generate and send press releases to specialized media. Find specialized media where your audience meets and try to post an article showcasing your mobile app and indicating where to download it. It will also allow you to improve the positioning of your mobile app and get downloads from your target audience. If there are any bloggers or pages that make comments or reviews after testing the app, describe how it works. It will help you in your App Marketing campaign. This type of article in specialized media is shared through social networks and will be read by potential users of your application.
Exploit social networks
Take advantage of the potential of social networks. The social component makes social networks the key to the dissemination and virtualization of an application. Use networks to convey the values ​​of your application, troubleshoot problems, have your users interact with you, and more. Youtube and other networks like Pinterest, Instagram, and Vimeo are networks that provide more and more interesting content. If you also create a blog where you can generate interesting and useful content for your users. This will help you build a community around your app.