Watch this video to learn how to build mobile apps:-
The number of mobile and smartphone users is increasing exponentially all across the globe. According to reports, there are more than 250 million smartphone users in the USA. With technological advancements, using mobile as a means of marketing has even become more critical. You can be a construction company or a saloon, but the mobile application has emerged as a powerful tool for business growth and expansion to reach customers. Mobile app development helps to reach a wider audience and create new revenue means and streams. In this blog, we will learn how to build a mobile app for your business?
But, it is not as easy it seems. Developing a mobile app for your business can be a challenge. You can come to ask the question- how to build a mobile app for your business? Well, we have provided a comprehensive guide for you. Thus, read along to find out the best ways to develop a budget-friendly mobile app.
The cost and price of developing a mobile application depend upon many factors. Some of them have been provided in great detail. But before you start proceeding with your mobile app development make sure, the cost of it remains within the budget. Set up your business goals first to make the most optimized mobile application for the customers.
Before you get started, here is a list of some questions that you should be answering:
- Who is going to use the app?
- What is the target audience?
- Why should the customer use the app?
- How is the app going to help the customers?
- What specific problem is the app going to solve for the customers?
- What are the long-term and short-term returns?
- Who are the competitors?
- What are the unique features of your mobile application?
Upon asking the questions, you will get answers to some tough questions that will further help target the audience and figure out the competition in the market. Based on the above solutions, you can also draw your monetization plan. Furthermore, you also need the details to develop the app according to the customer’s requirements.
Here are some key steps that you can adopt before start with the process of mobile app development:
- Define your elevator pitch and target audience.
- Deeply research your market.
- Plan for app store optimization.
- Know your monetization options.
- Build your marketing strategy and pre-launch buzz.
- Choose between native, hybrid, and web apps.
Determine The Pricing Model
Mobile app building is a long-term process and needs constant up-gradation and management. Before the developer starts with app building, the budget for the entire process must be fixed. Fixing a pricing model is necessary. Study the market properly before you begin the process. In a fixed-pricing model, you must decide everything before because if you want any changes in the app after, that can lead to extra charging from the developers. Make sure while you develop the app, make it customer-friendly. Check on their reviews and ping on the reviews on top to get positive customer feedback.
Choose The Right Mobile Platform
But before you start building your mobile application, you must decide on your mobile platform. Decide whether you want to develop the app for iPhones or Android phones. The android mobile app and the ios mobile app are different from each other. Depending upon your budget, it would be wise to choose whether you want an iOS or Android. You can get the questions solved easily by analyzing the trends. Perform competitive analysis to figure out which platform is the best. For example, if the customers use the iPhone more than the androids, develop the iOs mobile app first and then create the mobile app.
Prioritize The Features Of The App
Developing some features of the mobile application may need more budget and time. Therefore, while developing the mobile application, make sure that you prioritize the elements while making. For example, developing a mobile app for online buyers can be time-consuming if you create a payment structure. Whatsoever, you can not ditch the process. But what you can do is prioritize your mobile application features. You can create a low-cost, high-functioning app with all the essential elements to make your e-commerce app successful.
For example, you can add the listed critical features in your app first:
- Secure payment gateway
- Product catalog and product sharing
- Registration using social media or email
- Digital wallets integration
- Custom search function, filters
- Advanced profile settings
- Gift options
- Multiple payment options
- Send notifications on mobile
While developing an app, you can add as many features as you want to make your application user-friendly and engaging.
Try Avoiding Hybrid Apps
Developing hybrid apps can be faster and cheaper. They are also a better alternative to MVP. But the developer should not rush to create a hybrid app. Because a hybrid has limited features and is not the perfect solution for taking your business far, build your mobile app that is easy to use. Incorporating advanced functions into a hybrid app can be challenging. Also, when it comes to improvement and modifications in an existing app, doing it in a hybrid app can be difficult because there is hardly any room for improvement. Hybrid apps may require low investment, but it is not a viable option for the long run. Therefore, it would be wise for you to invest in native apps. Investing in a hybrid app now would not be the best option for you.
Get an MVP or Minimum Viable Product
Minimum Viable Product or MVP can be a great option if you incorporate essential features in the mobile application. It is a launch product with existing features, which is available for the users to download. Through MVP, one can collect valuable data and feedback from early adopters. This data will help you save time and money while reducing the risk of high investment into the actual product.
Here are some tools that you can use to develop your mobile application more effectively:
- Sketch
- Marvel
- Adobe Experience Design
- BuildFire
- Axure RP
- Proto.io
- OmniGraffle
- Origami Studio
Thus, without giving a second thought and further delay, take all preparations necessary to build the mobile app. Having a mobile application will therefore help your business to grow. It is needless to say that through mobile apps, one can engage with the customers and generate more revenue and earn more profits. If you face problems developing the app yourself you can always hire a professional to develop the mobile application for your business.