What Do You Need to Know Before Investing in a Mobile App?

You might find this surprising, but more than 218 billion apps were downloaded in 2020. And if the forecast is to be believed, the figure may cross 285 billion by 2022 (financesonline.com).

It does not take a genius to guess the current explosion in the app market. While you are excited to make the best use of this opportunity, let us remind you that it is not going to be so easy. With the market being so competitive, it is getting harder for businesses to cut through the clutter and stand out. You can’t dive into mobile app development without preparations and a proper strategy. To get that competitive edge, you have to look into facts and prepare the groundwork.

Understand Your Market

In-depth market research is what guarantees a solid foundation for your mobile app development strategy. Whether you want to launch an e-commerce app or an app-specific to your business, you should research your niche market very thoroughly. It is a must that you find answers to questions like – Where is my target audience? Who are my key competitors, and how are they performing? What are their strengths and weaknesses? What is the reaction of their customers?

The information you derive from these points will help you create the right user persona, avoid the mistakes your competitors have made, upgrade your strategy, and raise the bar for the industry. To get a clear picture of the market trends, you may want to talk to the experts and have a detailed discussion. Further, when you engage mobile app development services or Web development company, the professionals will research your brand thoroughly to create a successful app with a unique identity in the market.

Pick between a Native or Hybrid App

Next, you need to decide whether to get a native app or a hybrid one. So, native apps are basically written in platform-specific languages, while the hybrid ones are a blend of native elements and web apps, boasting of cross-platform compatibility. To choose between these two is a real deal. If you want your app to run on a specific operating system, like say iOS or Android, opting for native app development can be your best bet. However, should you want your app to be developed within a limited budget and yet to run on all platforms, a hybrid app can serve your purpose?

For making an informed selection, we suggest you analyze your market. Do you cater to a market where Android OS is prevalent? Or is iOS more popular in your target market? Or do you want to reach more audiences with a hybrid app? Remember, a native app can deliver a fast and superior user experience, even though its development process is costly and time-consuming. On the other hand, a hybrid app is easy to build and maintain, but the user experience might not be as smooth as in a native app. So, you see, there is this win-lose aspect in both the options.

Hence, it is important that you analyze your needs and budget and then choose between a native and hybrid app.

Select the Right Company

Clearly speaking, your choice of service provider will determine the success of your mobile app development. After all, you can expect high-quality professional services only from a reputable company and not a rookie agency. Isn’t it? Before you seal the deal, make sure you have gone through the website and portfolio of a particular company. Proceed only if you are impressed, otherwise don’t.

When discussing requirements, confirm what features the company is going to incorporate in your app. Push notifications, feedback systems, social media integration, and advanced analytics are some important features that make a high-quality app delivering a great user experience. To avoid problems later, you must check the reviews, ratings, and testimonials. As a client, it is your right to ensure that you are putting your money in the right place.

Sort out Your Resources

Let us make it clear from the start that experience does not come cheap. If you want an expert team to take charge of the project, you should be ready to spend generously. Moreover, if your app requirement is a complex one with advanced features like predictive search engines, live maps, social media integrations, multiple payment gateways, and so on, you may have to pay more. Thus, we suggest you set a budget but add some flexibility to it.

Also, you should be aware of the development timeframe because it will help you estimate the cost. Usually, a simple app with basic features can be built within two to four months, while an advanced app might need you to invest six to nine months. A reputable app development company will never hesitate to answer your queries. Most importantly, don’t miss the opportunity of partnering with a reliable brand to avoid paying some extra pennies. Additionally, it’s important to consider your monetization model early on in the mobile app development process. Will you offer your app for free and generate revenue through in-app ads? Or will you create a tiered model, or charge users to download your app? By exploring various monetization models and determining the best fit for your app, you can make informed decisions throughout development.

Check Agile Methodology

According to the mobile app development experts, taking a holistic and detailed approach is essential for building a robust and secure app. So, before you hire a team, check with the experts if their app development process includes the strategy, analysis, design, development, testing, and deployment & support phases. Do they follow an Agile methodology of app development? Even better! Since Agile methodology facilitates the development, testing, and reviewing of an app in an iterative process, it ensures quicker deployment of a flawless mobile app through collaborations across teams.

Irrespective of the scope and size of your project, your professionals should be ready to go through it all without skipping a single step. Should you see them not being clear about their working strategy, waste no more time and look for alternatives. No matter who you choose to work with, remember that a precisely cultivated app development process is a compulsory requirement for your app to succeed.

Optimize for the App Stores

Once your app is launched, you simply can’t sit back and rest. To make your app discoverable and bring it to the fingertips of your audience, you will now have to delve into app store optimization. Just as it was in the preceding steps, the professionals can help out by implementing the optimization best practices specific to every app store, the prominent examples being Google Play Store and Apple Store.

Think you can dodge this step? To compete against other players in the market, there is no way you can overlook it. And, if you have finally decided to hire a top mobile app development company, ask if it offers app optimization services as well. Right from writing the description to displaying the preview videos, screenshots, and icons – the professionals can take care of it all thereby enhancing the visibility of your app.

Final Words

Investing in mobile app development is a big decision that can lead to a variety of repercussions. And if you want things to work in your favor, you can’t help but follow the steps we discussed above. It is no joke to stand out amongst the vast ocean of mobile apps, you see. You need to go the extra mile, seize the opportunities, and take on the challenges, to be successful in building a high-quality mobile app. Have any thoughts that you would like to share with us? Feel free to do so in the comment section below.