several thousands of mobile apps
Statista reports 2.7 million apps in Google Play and 1.82 million in Apple stores. These apps get billions of downloads yearly.
Businesses that create valuable mobile products gain an edge. Understanding the app development cycle is key. This includes creating, testing, launching, and maintaining apps. Let's explore this process.
1. Defining the idea
Successful apps solve real problems for users. The first step in mobile app development is to define the value proposition. This means bringing your idea to life and checking if it's possible.
Start with a Problem Statement. It's a short description of the gap between the current state and the desired one.
Ask yourself: What problem will your app solve? What needs will it meet? Make your answers brief, aiming for one or two sentences.
It's tempting to tackle many problems with new technology. But, each problem adds a feature, doubling complexity. Focus on the most valuable feature first.
Add more features later, after getting user feedback and understanding the market better.
Example: UBER
Problem: no communication between taxi drivers & their clients during the ride booking process; the ride booking process takes too much time & effort.
Solution: a mobile app connects drivers with people who need a ride from point A to point B, eliminating any unnecessary agents (call centers) & allowing for direct communication and tracking of ride status.
Further reading:
We've got 99 problems — does your app solve one? (The Next Web)
5 Business Problems That Mobile App Development Can Solve (Glance)
Don't Just Build a Mobile App, Solve an Important Problem (AllTopStartups)
2. Doing market research
After you think of a good product idea, spend time checking if it's worth it. Ask yourself, is a mobile app really needed? Is it the best way to solve the problem? This is a tough question.
Some apps, like games and social media, are obvious choices. But for apps that need complex tools, a website might be better.
When researching the market, talk to people who will use your app. This includes customers, middlemen, and businesses that offer related services.
Identify who your app is for. This means knowing their demographics, what motivates them, and their goals. This is your buyer persona.
Here are some questions to ask during this stage:
Who are the users? What do they like?
What do competitors do? Do they have apps? What features do they offer?
What's the business model of competitors' apps?
How do other apps get marketed and promoted?
Which platforms should we support first?
What's the timeline and budget for the app?
Example: Hailo
Hailo was a British alternative to Uber. They wanted to compete in NYC by offering cheaper rides. But, most yellow taxi drivers didn't use mobile phones, making it hard for Hailo users. A better understanding of their users could have saved them a lot of trouble.
3. Wireframing
A wireframe is a basic design of an app. It's a key step in app development. With wireframing, you can map out the user journey and decide what features to focus on.
The wireframe acts as a blueprint for your app's structure and functionality. It doesn't include design elements yet, which makes it easier to refine later.
Wireframes focus on the app's layout and usability. They help you understand how users will interact with your app.
This stage connects research and design. It often starts with simple sketches on a whiteboard or paper.
Changes are easy to make here. It's cheaper to erase a sketch than to rewrite code later.
4. Prototyping
You can use app builders to create an MVP and get feedback.
After you have wireframes and a storyboard, create an interactive prototype. This lets you test your idea before starting development.
Prototyping is vital in app development. It helps you test design, get feedback, and even pitch your idea. It also makes it easier for developers to understand your app later on.
5. User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design
Now that your app's basic structure is set, it's time to focus on the UI and UX design. The development team is key here, making sure the app works well and is easy for users. Think about how your app will look and feel to your target audience.
It's important to keep things consistent. All parts of the app should look and act the same. Use the same style throughout. If your app is mostly white, use white in many places.
Make sure the app is easy to use. Navigation should be simple and clear. Users should know where each button will take them.
When it comes to UX, think about animations and pop-ups carefully. Too many animations can be distracting. Too many pop-ups can disrupt the user's flow. Sometimes, it's better to just show a message instead of forcing users to close a pop-up.
Also, know the platform you're targeting and follow its guidelines. Use Google Material Design for Android and Human Interface for iOS to design your app correctly.
Use the agile method to break down the work into smaller steps. This way, you can build your app in stages. Each stage includes planning, development, testing, and review.
The development phase focuses on a few key areas:
The frontend is what users see. It includes the layout, how users interact, navigation, graphics, and data processing.
The backend is what users don't see. It handles data management, client-server communication, and cloud access.
Wireframes guide the backend structures, like APIs and servers. But for smaller apps, consider using a Mobile Backend as a Solution (mBaaS) like Firebase.
During development, software engineers might suggest changes. Removing unnecessary elements can save time and money.
Testing early and often is crucial for a good app. A Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist should join the team to ensure the app works well and is user-friendly.
7. Setting up goals and analytics
Understanding how users interact with your app is invaluable. Before you get this data, you're working in the dark.
With user analytics, you can fix problems, add features, and improve the app. This data helps you make your app better.
Finally, you can focus on engaging the right users and tracking your business goals.
Further reading:
8. Publishing
Don't rush to publish your app. Use your prototype to gather feedback. Workshops with stakeholders can help you understand market needs.
After testing your app, set up goals and analytics tools. Then, it's ready for launch. Before publishing, ensure your app meets App Store and Google Play policies. Apple's guidelines are especially important for a successful launch.
Write a compelling app description. It should highlight your app's value. Use high-quality images and descriptions for the app stores and marketing materials.
Be patient with store approval, especially on the App Store. Apple manually reviews apps, taking a few days to approve.
Apple might ask for changes to meet regulations. Google usually approves apps on the day of submission.
Further reading:
The mobile app market is very competitive. People spend almost three hours daily on their phones. Yet, attention is split among various apps.
You must stand out with your app's value proposition. Mobile app promotion requires investment and clear messaging.
Know your target audience well. Release most of your promotion budget after feedback. This helps verify your target group and fix critical issues.
Managing marketing becomes easier once your app gains traction. You can then measure the return on investment in ads and promotions.
10. Maintenance
Mobile app development doesn't stop after launch. It's a continuous process. Focus on fixing bugs, responding to user feedback, and adjusting infrastructure for growth.
The app must adapt to technology changes and new challenges. This includes meeting new app store requirements, like Sign in with Apple.
With user feedback, maintenance tasks never end. Use analytics to measure goals and optimize performance.
Revisit each step to boost growth and retention. Keep up with competition and monetize your app.
Your mobile app development
Mobile app development involves many steps and crucial decisions. It's vital to ensure your app functions well and offers a great user experience. To stand out, conduct deep research and have expertise to meet market needs.