Nowadays, the capabilities and availability of mobile applications are almost unlimited.
There’s an app for everything – in App Store and Google Play, you’ll find millions of apps to help you with all kinds of issues, but maybe not precisely the ones you’re dealing with. If you are considering investing in the development of a mobile application, it is necessary to think it through thoroughly, so that your app won’t get lost in the flood of dozens of other applications.
How to do it? In QBSW, we will be happy to help you.
1. Determine the purpose of your application
Before you take any specific steps, determine what problem should your application solve, and what is its purpose. Do you want to simplify the access to your services, increase brand awareness, or increase sales? Keep in mind that you also need to be able to explain the purpose of your app.
2. Define your target audience
Identify who are your target users. Are they teenagers, mothers on maternity leave or working-age adults? What platforms and technologies do they use? Will your app have added value to them, or will it solve any of their everyday problems?
If your app doesn’t have compelling added value for your target group or doesn’t help solve any serious problem, there will be no reason for your target users to download it.
3. Conduct market research
To be able to choose the best marketing strategy and help your app succeed, conducting in-depth market research is crucial. Whether you decide to do the research yourself or have it done by an external company, the results should answer at least the following questions:
Will there be sufficient interest in an app of this kind?
How many potential users are on the market?
Are there gaps in our target market that our app can fill?
What is our competition?
Can we profit in this market?
4. Know your competition
It is useful to have an overview of companies operating in same business field as you, but also the most popular apps of similar nature. Don’t let the fact that similar products already exist discourage you, take advantage of it. Find out what functionalities they have, what they lack and find their weaknesses. This way, you will know what to focus on while building your app, and you’ll be able to turn it into a competitive advantage.
5. Plan your budget
Determine what you want from the app and how much you are willing to pay for it. Should your application be an extension of the services that you offer on your website? Do you want to create an innovative platform that uses a range of new technologies or is your priority making an app that’s user friendly?
Also consider whether you can (and want) the app to earn you money, and if so, how. There are many possibilities – even if you don’t sell anything through the app, you can make money through in-app ads, additional paid services, or affiliate programs.
6. Don’t forget about marketing
Once the app is finished, you will need to promote it. Be sure to determine how you want to market it and don’t forget that you may have to invest not only in the app’s development but also in advertising. Another thing you don’t want to neglect is planning for further activities after the release of the app and for development and customization after it becomes available.
7. Don’t underestimate platform selection and system design
Do you need an app for both Android and iOS or just one of these mobile platforms? Or do you need a more complex system that includes a web application, for example, for content management and summaries? Will it be necessary to connect the app to other systems or gadgets such as notifications? Do you need a special version for smartphones and tablets, do you want to have multiple language versions?
Identify if you need anything else except the application itself based on the purpose of the app and its planned functionality. You will also need to allow for sufficient space for testing.
8. Set your goals
Set specific, quantifiable goals you want to achieve with the help of your app – how many new users or customers you want to attract, how much money you want to earn, or by how much you want to reduce your costs. These will be your success indicators.
9. Choose the right supplier
The right software company can significantly contribute to your future success. When selecting a supplier, be sure to look at the technologies each company uses, what projects they have worked on, and what their customers say about them. If the company is foreign, important factors you should take into account are cultural and legislative proximity or the time zone in which the company is located. Keep in mind that a successful app will require additional support, debugging, and improvement. Only a stable company with the necessary background can ensure this in the long term.
Developing a mobile app is a decision you need to think through, but we at QBSW will be happy to help you, answer all your questions, and let you know about the potential issues your might face based on our experience. Contact us, and together we’ll make sure your app isn’t just one in a million.
