Are you an entrepreneur or startup looking to launch the perfect app? If you want to build better apps, this post is for you!
In a competitive digital marketplace, creating an impressive and impactful app is key. But how do you determine what features your users need to make it successful?
Building better apps requires more than just programming. It takes forethought and strategy in order to craft one that truly engages its users.
With the right approach, you can learn how to successfully create a user-friendly experience that meets customer demands while helping your business succeed.
Read on for our best tips on developing better apps!
Know Your User
Think of an app as another kind of business. In any kind of business or when selling any kind of product, understandinf the market is key.
It’s important to know who your users are to build better apps.
Understanding your users’ needs, wants, and habits can help you create an app that they will love to use. It’s not just about making a functional app but also designing an app that is intuitive and accessible to them.
Knowing your user means you can empathize with them and create a user-centered design that prioritizes their needs.
By putting yourself in their shoes, you can gain insights into how they use their devices and what they enjoy doing on them.
In fact, market research to understand your users is one of the first things you should invest in.
So, make an effort to understand your users before you start writing code – it will pay off in the long run.
Choose Your Approach
Thinking about developing an app? Deciding on the right approach can make all the difference when it comes to creating a successful product.
There are a few options to consider, each with its own pros and cons. If you have the talent and resources available, in-house development may be the way to go.
In-House Development
In-house development gives you control of every last person who works on your app. However, this can be incredibly expensive in the long run.
Also, if you don’t have much experience in this arena, you may not even know how to go about building the team for your needs.
Think about it, we all know someone who tried to tackle a home renovation project themselves and ended up paying for their own work, and then the work of whoever they hired later to fix it.
When it comes to apps, these delays can really add up.
Again, this may be the right choice for you. It all depends on how hands-on you want to be and the resources available to you.
DIY with Low-Code and No Code Platforms
DIY development tools can provide a fast and affordable option for some. Low and no-code app development tools have become incredibly popular for those with no app development experience who want an app now.
However, this type of development has some big drawbacks.
For example, you do not have any control over the base code of your app. If the platform you use changes its pricing, capabilities, degrades in quality over time, or has a lot of bugs, there is nothing you can do at all.
Also, if your business changes over time, and you need your app to do something that the development platform doesn’t offer, what do you do?
However, if you want a very simple app quickly, this might be the ideal solution for you.
Working with an App Development Agency
For those who need extra support and expertise, working with an agency can help you build better apps and bring your vision to life.
When it comes to agencies, you have the benefit of not having to spend time and resources building a team, using a low-code platform that removes your control and ownership, or learning to code yourself.
You can also look at their portfolios and get a solid idea of exactly what kind of work they do beforehand.
If you are truly a non-technical entrepreneur, you can go to an agency with information on your branding and a description of what you want your app to do, and they can make it for you.
If you want more info on how to present your app idea to developers, check out our blog post on the topic!
This option is great for non-technical entrepreneurs who don’t have the time to learn how to code and those who want an app as a secondary part of their business.
For example, if you are a business owner, you are likely already wearing 10 hats and doing the work of multiple people. Do you want to add the work of a full-time app development and design team to your plate?
However, if you go this route, doing your research is critical. There are many unscrupulous actors out there.
These developers offer super low prices and impossibly fast turnaround times to entice clients. They often produce incredibly low-quality apps, and sometimes nothing at all.
Thinking Longterm Is Key To Building Better Apps
In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, mobile apps have become a critical element for businesses to stay connected with their customers.
However, it is not enough to just build an app, but rather maintain it over the long term. A stable and well-maintained app keeps customers engaged and helps build brand loyalty.
Remember, while apps can have artistic value, they are not works of art that are completed and can sit happily on a shelf or hang on a wall forever.
Apps are tools. All tools, from the most complex to the most simple, require maintenance. For example, imagine if you got an incredible knife, but you never cleaned or sharpened it and just kept using it.
You would not have an incredible knife for long.
Regular updates and bug fixes ensure that the app runs smoothly and delivers a positive user experience. By investing in the long-term maintenance of their apps, businesses can build better relationships with their customers and stay ahead of their competition.
So, the key takeaway here is that keeping your mobile app up-to-date and running smoothly is not a one-time task, but an ongoing process that requires attention and investment over time.
If you build your own team to create your app, as long as that app is functional, you will need tech staff to manage it.
If you use a low-code or no-code platform for DIY app development, management of it is basically out of your hands. This can be a positive, as it is one less thing for you to worry about. However, if the platform has bugs or goes down, so does your app. There is nothing you can do about it.
If you work with an agency, make sure they offer some sort of long-term support or bug-fix warranty. If they want to build your app and disappear immediately, that is a huge red flag.
Always Consider Accessibility
Unfortunately, some creators who want to be ‘innovative’ or ‘on the cutting edge’ roll their eyes when it comes to talking about accessibility. They act like making things that more people can use is an imposition or an inconvenience.
This is an incredibly strange perspective, especially when it comes to apps. Your app only can succeed if people can use it. Making apps that people can use is the point of app development.
Even without ethical concerns, from a pure business perspective, making something that is hard or impossible for many people to use just does not make sense.
While many people look at disability as something that only happens to a small group of people, this is simply not the case.
In fact, loss of mobility, hearing loss, and vision loss are simply parts of the natural aging process for many people.
In 2020, 1.1 billion people had distance vision impairment. People are living longer, there is a huge aging population, and over the years more and more of them will continue to use apps.
Especially if you are making a utility app, you want to make one that people can use long-term, regardless of their stage of life.
This is not only ethical and can help to give all people the access and quality of life they deserve, but is smart business.
Final Thoughts on How to Build Better Apps
In summary, developing an app takes time and effort. Your apps’ success depends on you! However, the results can be worth every step if you take the proper resources and steps.
By relying on the right approach that works with your skills and abilities, considering accessibility to reach a larger audience, understanding who is using your product and their needs, and keeping the maintenance process in mind long-term, you can create a successful app that serves its purpose.
Whether you build from the ground up in-house, use a template as a base to build from, or outsource the whole process, creating an app requires planning.
Preparing for success now could lead to even greater successes down the line, so why not take control of your own journey and make sure you reach those desired goals?
Don’t wait any longer – start preparing to bring your dream app to life today!
What do you think? Comment below.
Since 2009, we have helped create 350+ next-generation apps for startups, Fortune 500s, growing businesses, and non-profits from around the globe. Think Partner, Not Agency.
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