In the past ten years, apps have become an increasingly larger part of our day-to-day lives, to the point where we rely on several of them just to get through the day. And as the demand and expectations for these apps increase, so does the demand for custom app development.
Let’s face it, with thousands of new apps being created every day, people have become rather hard to impress, which is why cheap, out-of-the-box app development solutions are rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
So with that in mind, we decided to guide you through some vital things you need to remember and take into account as you develop your very first app.
1. Prep and Polish Your Vision
The more detailed your plan for this app is, the easier it will be for the developers to create something that fits your vision. Aside from identifying the basic things you want your app to do (e.g. deliver food, measure steps, etc.), you also need to set some realistic, yet encouraging, goals for yourself and your team. These goals will drive you forward through a very grueling and time-consuming development and marketing process.
A clear vision might also help you get funding for your app, so you need to have it set in stone (because if you’re none too sure what you want, how will your sponsors be able to trust you?).
2. Development and Testing
Another issue that you’ll need to take into account is planning in just such a way so as to allow your team to properly develop and test through each new bit of code, as it comes along. You wouldn’t believe how often this becomes a problem for people developing their first app, simply because they assume it will take less time than it actually does. This, in turn, leads to shoddy development, improper testing, and subsequently, to a sub-par app.
3. Deployment Options
As you wait for your app to be ready, you should definitely take your main market options into account. You have Google Play Store, or the Apple App Store, which are the two main markets for most apps. Of course, you can also consider other options, but once you’ve decided where you want to deploy your app, you need to make sure it meets all regulations of the said market. If you don’t, that can halt deployment and cost you even more time and effort in the long run.
4. Keep Your Analytics Game Strong
Yet another important aspect to consider when developing your first app is what analytics you’re going to employ. This is something you need to discuss with your development and marketing departments because analytics track user behavior and help drive user conversion and retention.
5. Marketing
The last thing you want to keep in mind when planning for your first app is how you plan on doing your marketing. With thousands of apps coming out every day, it will be very hard for yours to reach actual store browsers. So while your app is being developed, you need to plan a clever and efficient marketing campaign and put it to work!
