Did you know that there was an estimated 250 million daily apps downloaded between 2019 and 2020? That is a lot of apps being downloaded on a daily basis.
If you are interested in developing an app, the market is there, whether you are creating an app for a business or for fun! Keep reading for a step-by-step guide on how to develop an app.
Develop Your Strategy
Developing mobile apps can take thousands of dollars and several months. Your strategy is going to be important because it will help your focus.
A well-developed strategy will also help in app development by guiding you when questions come up about what direction to move in. That is because your strategy will essentially define your app.
Developing a strategy will involve asking yourself the following questions.
Who Are Your App Users?
Who are you developing your app for? This is going to be a huge part of your strategy.
If you do not know who, then it will be hard to know how to market or build an app that speaks to your audience.
Who Is Your Competition?
Who is your competition? What kind of apps do they have out there? Knowing this will help you in making sure that your app stands out.
You will want to develop your app in such a way that it is not just a carbon copy of something everyone else already has. Your users need a reason to want to use your app over your competitors’ apps.
A great place to look is at reviews. From reviews, you can see what people using your competitor’s app like and dislike.
What Are Your Objectives and Goals?
What problem will your app solve and how will it appeal to users? What functions do you want your app to perform?
You cannot begin developing your app until you answer these questions. If you are struggling to answer them, have a brainstorming session with your team.
What Mobile Platform?
Are you developing your app for Android or iOS? This question is essential to answer when it comes to app development.
iOS and Android use different development technology stacks, you will need a developer who is familiar with the mobile platform you want to use.
If you want your app to be on both platforms then you will need developers for both platforms.
Create a Plan
At this step, it is time to start creating a product roadmap. When you create a product roadmap it will outline the stages of your app development.
It will show your vision and prioritize your steps. You want your roadmap to be easy to understand and clear. There is cloud-based software available that can help with laying out your roadmap.
Design or UX/UI
Now you are getting to the fun part, design. Here is where UI and UX come in. UX and UI go hand in hand and are essential to development. During this phase you will want to consider at a minimum the following:
- Make sure your app is easy to navigate
- Be mindful of colors and fonts
- Design your app for simplicity
You can choose to hire a company or hire a person for this part. A UX/UI designer is going to be essential to creating the design of your app.
UX
UX is user experience. User experience is any interaction a person has with a service or product. A UX designer is going to consider how different elements shape your user’s experience.
So how does it make the user feel and how easy is it for your users to accomplish what they set out to do when using your app.
The ultimate goal of a UX designer is to help you create a product that is relevant, efficient, easy to use, and a pleasant experience for users.
UI
While UX looks at how your product makes your user feel, UI looks at the user interface. This means ensuring that the interface is usable and as intuitive as it can be.
Your UI designer is going to look at things such as the font, color schemes, spacing, icons and buttons, imagery, and a design that is responsive.
App Development
After all of the above steps, it is finally time for your app to get developed. If you want to complete your app with an in-house team then you will need to hire a developer because this is where things get even more technical.
You may also want to consider outsourcing. Your developer is going to code your app so that it is functional. A good developer will be able to work with you and your designer and adjust different aspects to make sure your app works smoothly.
App Testing
Now that your app has been developed, it is time to test it. There are five things you should be sure to look at when testing your app:
- User Experience
- Functionality
- Performance
- Security
- Device and Platform
Now that you are here at the testing stage you can use a company that specializes in QA for mobile apps. You can also release a beta version and solicit feedback from your users.
You could also create a focus group that tests your app and gives feedback. You may want to consider using all of these options for testing to make sure when you get to the launch stage you have looked at multiple angles.
Launch
It is now time to launch your app! Keep in mind that iOS and Android have different processes for your app getting added to the App store.
Android apps are not required to be reviewed. This means you can upload your app to the store and people can download it immediately.
However, iOS requires that your app be reviewed. This means it may take a little longer before your app can hit the shelves in the iOS App Store.
The Journey Continues
Your app journey does not end when your app launches. The journey now becomes about support and ensuring your app stays functional. You can also update your app to add new features and keep it relevant.
Now You Know How to Develop an App
Now that you know how to develop an app, it is time to get started. It is not an easy process, but with time, you can develop an app that your users love.
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