Have you come up with a profound idea for a unique mobile app?
During the first quarter of 2023, more than 90 thousand Android apps were released on average per month. The chances are that a portion of those apps follows similar concepts, has the same target group, and fulfills a similar purpose to the app that you want to create.
The mobile app market is fierce, and only adaptable applications can continuously intrigue users into spending time on them. And it's not that users don't want to spend time on apps, last year revealed that 92 percent of time users spend on their Androids was within apps.
It's not enough to have a brilliant idea today. Preparation for the development stage is crucial, and here is what you can do to master it:
- Research the market and competition
- Understand your target group
- Establish your budget and costs
- Determine how to make money from your product
- Decide the platform you want to use
- Create a marketing strategy
- Invest in security
Skipping the pre-development stage can result in costly and time-consuming errors that could put the project in jeopardy. So, let's dig in.
The current market conditions and competition
Determining what is out there is the first step toward creating an efficient app. The good and the bad news is that your competition already exists, which is why it's important that you analyze both their successes and failures.
After researching the market and pinpointing who your competitors are, you may begin digging into their apps. The reason is simple - you will see what works and what does not. You can save both time and money by analyzing the mistakes that your competition has created over the years.
The app that you want to develop should stay unique, but it will inevitably have similar elements to other apps serving a similar purpose. Understanding how your competition communicates with users, their most popular features, and how they sell the product is a step towards creating a better app.
Your target audience
Who will be using your app and why? The answers to these questions will not only reveal your target group but will also affect the app development path.
You may seek the answers within your competition, but the final solution should be your own. Based on that, you can decide what feature is the most important and what problems your app will solve.
Knowing your users goes beyond functionality. Many apps are functional but they lack something else like an appealing design, adequate marketing strategy, or healthy relationship with their users.
Presenting your concept to potential users may provide insight into which direction you develop your mobile app. At the core of your app are the user's needs and requirements that you should strive to fulfill.
Budget planning and costs
How much money are you willing to spend before making a profit? Financial planning plays an important role in mobile app development because it units different business aspects.
Here are some major mobile app development costs:
- Research
- Putting together the team
- Salaries
- Technical expenses (subscriptions, licenses, equipment, material)
- Working space
- Marketing
- Sales
The time that your team needs to create the app affects your budget, which is why it is essential to consult with your developers. Delays are not a thing of the past, and you ought to make sure that you have enough funds if they occur.
In case your financial situation isn't aligned with your costs, you may pitch the idea to potential investors. If an investor recognizes the potential of your app, you will gain a valuable business partner.
Profits
After spending time and money on creating your app, it's time to generate profit. However, even that stage should be planned out before developing the app. You need to come up with a way in which your mobile app becomes profitable.
Here are some options:
Freemium - Users may download the app for free, but some features become available after they make a purchase. This model uses in-app purchases and download rates to yield profit.
Paid - Users may use the app only if they purchase the entire app. It can be combined with in-app purchases, but most options are available after users buy the app.
In-app ads - Many free apps use this model because it does not require users to spend money to use your app. Finding the balance between a few apps and an abundance is the key to achieving customer satisfaction.
Sponsorships - You can partner up with other companies that are not your competitors for mutual benefit. This method usually requires a larger user pool.
The platform
Assuming that you do not have any programming background, your IT team should be in charge of presenting the possible options for your app. Many popular apps are compatible both with Android and iOS because it brings in more users than opting for a single operating system.
You should consult your developers to hear their opinion on whether your app should be native or hybrid. This is a technical element, but it can be pivotal in keeping your app running.
An app is considered a hybrid if users can access your app on their mobile phones or via a web browser. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are hybrid apps.
Native apps can run only on mobile phones because they use specific programming languages that only mobiles recognize. Some of them are Pokemon GO, Waze, and SoundCloud.
Marketing and sales
Creating an effective marketing strategy is among the most important aspects of business today and the same stands for your app. You may develop a fantastic app, but it might not be able to reach its full potential without proper marketing.
Marketing is based on your target audience, the market, and your unique selling point. Explain to your users how your mobile app will make their life simpler.
Marketing strategy can be short-term or long-term, and each has benefits and downfalls. Advertising should be considered a science, so make sure to consult marketing experts to understand how to advertise and sell your app.
Security
A privacy policy is a must for mobile apps today. Mobile apps collect information from users, some of which might be sensitive, and you need to protect that data.
Creating an outline of your privacy policy and data collection before you develop an app is imperial in giving your users a sense of safe space.
Proper processes will keep the data out of reach of other parties, which is beneficial for you and your users.
Planning ahead
The pre-development stage provides the structure that will keep your app on the right track.
Having everything planned out before creating an app brings you one step closer to executing the development stage without any obstacles.
Entrepreneurs that plan ahead save both money and time, and they have a higher chance of creating a profitable app.