There are over 2.9 million apps on the Google PlayStore alone and 2.2 million apps on the Apple Store. This shows that the rivalry in the mobile app business is very tense, and you should be ready for tough competition.
To thrive in the industry, it’s best to do certain things before creating your mobile app. This article discusses the top 10 things to do before making an application.
1. Will an App Add Value to Your Business?
It’s a common misconception for many businesses that launching a mobile app will help ease many of their businesses’ pain points. Although true in some instances, it sometimes shouldn’t be necessary for your business. Ask yourself the following: will it improve my business’s revenue? How does owning an app now help my business in the long term?
Ensure you clearly outline your answers to these questions before creating an app. If you don’t really need an application, perhaps you just need a website for an online presence.
2. Decide If you need an Android app, an iOS app, or both
Before you start building an app, you must first know which operating system your target audience uses and create a perfect fit mobile application. Let’s educate you on the consequence of choosing each option:
- Android: there are more android operating system users than iOS, primarily due to its use amongst cheap smartphones and its region-specific dominance.
- This option is popular amongst developers who want as many app store downloads as possible but are not really keen on online sales. It’s also an overly dominant operating system in Africa, China, India, and most third-world countries.
- iOS: This choice is preferred for those looking to sell products online. Why? According to statistics from Comscore, iOS users earn 40% more than Android users. As such, the purchasing power of iOS users favors app development for sales.
- Cross-platform: These are applications created for use on both Android and iOS. Thanks to the advent of languages like React Native, Flutter, etc., a single codebase works for both operating systems.
React Native and Flutter are two distinct stacks with different syntaxes but are tailored to achieve the same aim. Want to learn more about these two stacks? Read this article to compare Flutter and React Native.
3. Allocate Enough Time to Design, Build and Test It
A lot of unpredictable events happen when creating an app–from last-minute modifications and add-ons, timeline glitches, third-party delays, and more. There’s no direct answer to how much time you’ll have to allocate for the app creation process. While some apps might be fully ready in 3 months, others might take a year.
Generally, the timeline for creating an application is affected by a host of factors, chief among which are the type of app, the location of the development team, and the team’s experience.
To know how much time to allocate, it’s best to meet your development team and ask for a suitable timeline for project completion. The timeline should include the time for inculcating feedback.
4. Have you Allocated Enough Time to Register your Mobile App on App Stores?
Both Apple and Google review apps submitted by developers per their guidelines that primarily buttresses on design, functionality, content, and security of their platform users. Apple, for example, performs extra reviews for improved user experience and to free the app store from clutter.
Generally, 50% of approvals happen within 24 hours, and over 90% within 48 hours. However, you should allocate enough time in-case you’d have to file for appeals.
Read Blog: How to Choose the Best Mobile App Development Company in the USA?
5. Analyze your Competitors
Before you start, identify prospective competitors in your niche, and analyze them to identify their drawbacks and strengths. Check out reviews of your competitors and see popular complaints about their service or product and highlight them. Go through the list and pick the best ones that’ll make your application unique.
6. Do you Want to Build In-house or Outsource to a Software Development Agency?
Another thing to consider prior to development is your preferred team type.
In-house developers are a set of programmers working full-time as members of your internal workforce. They’re paid directly by your company and receive daily instructions from team members.
A software development agency is a firm that specializes in helping organizations create software based on a specific requirement.
If you lack the in-house talent to create your product, then it’s best to outsource to a software development agency. They’re also more cost-effective, and they introduce a workforce with an experienced skill set to your development process.
7. Is there a Need for a Tablet Version?
What devices does your target audience use most? You must create the most used platform.
Over 53% of Americans own a tablet as of 2021. As such, owning a tablet version might be a great option if you want to reach all and sundry. You can use Google Analytics to determine the operating system your target users use most.
8. Have a Scalable Strategy
If you’re launching a new product with a small user base, it’s imperative to curate a scalable strategy based on market response to your app. Many apps remain un-downloaded, while others are only used once.
Depending on how well your app is used, you should be ready to modify your product marketing strategy as the occasion demands.
9. Can your Business Model Afford Apple’s 30% Commission?
Apple charges 30% on every sale done via its platform. Thus, you’ll have to consider if there’ll be any profit left after paying your workforce, Apple’s commission, and providing requisite equipment and tools.
10. What’s Your Monetization Strategy?
A monetization strategy is a plan detailing how you aim to generate revenue from platform audiences or users. There are many options for monetizing your mobile app, with the most common being subscription-based, pay-per-use, freemium, or in-app purchases.
Summary
The competition in the mobile app market is fierce–from large corporations to investment-backed startups and even one-man businesses. As such, it’s imperative to equip yourself with enough knowledge to thrive in the sector.
