The mobile app industry is heating up, and there’s no shortage of users. With over 3 billion smartphone users spread all over the globe, app usage is growing at a breakneck pace, and the market is always hungry for new and innovative mobile apps. Add to that the 1 billion tablet users, and it’s no surprise that many brands are investing in their own app.
Mobile has become one of the top platforms for customer engagement. To survive in an increasingly digital world, business owners from a wide range of industries such as food, fashion, and electronics now turn to mobile apps to add value to their brand and streamline their processes. Some even invest in augmented reality to improve functionality.
Even small businesses can develop an app. If you want to build a successful mobile app, here are a few things to remember:
1. Know your market
The first step in mobile app development is identifying your target user. That one crucial piece of information will help you study the feasibility of the app and determine the market size. Once you’ve developed a few user personas, you can also start crafting the marketing strategy for pushing the app to market.
If you’re designing for an established brand, then you already have a pool of users for the mobile app. However, if you’re starting from scratch, you’ll have to collect demographic data such as gender, age, location, and interests to build user personas.
2. Solve a problem
All successful apps share one trait in common: they’re designed to solve a specific problem. For instance, Netflix and Candy Crush help alleviate boredom, while WhatsApp and Messenger allow us to communicate with people all over the world. You need to give your target users a reason to download the app.
Value is created when the app imparts a benefit to users. It could be through competitive pricing, fast processes, or improved mobility and access to unique services that aren’t available on other channels. When designing the mobile app, you need to think about your business objectives, the needs of the user, and the solutions that are available to you.
3. Choose a business model
Not every mobile app has to be monetized. Some apps, especially those designed for enterprise use, work better as a free or complimentary service. It all depends on the purpose of the mobile application.
Most apps, however, are designed to generate profits. There are many ways to monetize a mobile app, primarily through one or more advertising-based models such as banner ads, text ads, video ads, and rewarded videos. Another common business model is the in-app purchase, which allows users to buy a service or good directly from the developer, rather than through an intermediary.
4. Focus on the user experience
Even if you’ve invested a lot of time and effort into the app’s functionality, it won’t be a success if the user experience isn’t intuitive. The app should look good and be easy to use. Keep the design simple, sleek, and snappy.
Mobile apps aren’t just for big brands anymore. Even small businesses can join in on the fun. If you know your target market and what problem you’re trying to solve, you can build an app that will prove valuable for lots of users.
