Creating apps is one of the best things you can do to get started in business or grow a company. With mobile app usage growing — with 218 billion app downloads in 2020 alone — it’s a great way to get exposure for a new product.
But building an app is easier said than done, so understanding the common errors with app development is essential. Below are eight common errors people make during the app development process.
1. Not Getting User Feedback
It’s tempting to jump into app development straight away. You have what you believe is a great idea, so you do whatever is possible to start.
The problem is that other people may not feel the same way. You can offer a great solution or create an entertaining product, but if other people aren’t interested, you’ll end up with a failure.
Make sure to validate your idea with users before starting the process. Reach out to potential users to run your idea past them. They will tell you if they would use it and offer essential app features that will make it worth downloading.
2. Ignoring the User Experience
Having a great user experience for apps is necessary in today’s world. Companies invest a ton of time into creating those experiences. If you don’t offer the same, users will delete your product and move on to the next one.
Invest time into learning how to create good user interfaces. They should be easy to use, allow the users to do what they want, and avoid confusing people with options.
Doing this means app users can get the most from their time with your app and stick around to keep using it in the future.
3. Mimicking the Website App
In some cases, you may create a mobile app to replicate a website. You already have a proven concept on desktop devices, so you want to take advantage of the mobile market.
Unfortunately, some companies go the easy route and replicate what they already have. They try to make the experience as close to the desktop version as possible instead of accounting for the smaller screen.
You’ll need a unique design that accounts for screen size limitations. This means creating a new UI, adding features in new ways, and catering to the needs of mobile users.
4. Failing to Budget
Apps can become expensive to build without a plan. Simple projects don’t require much, but as your app grows in complexity, those costs can add up.
Make sure you create an app development budget before you start your next project. Contact your developer options to see what they charge and how much they believe your idea will cost.
This should give you an idea of how much you will pay. Look at the prices offered by each developer and what they offer for that price. Use that information to find the best value possible.
5. Going Too Big
Some companies try to do everything possible with their app. They can offer a lot of value to customers, so they work to include every feature imaginable in their application.
But this is usually the wrong choice. Large and complex applications take a long time to build. And once you finish, there’s no guarantee of success.
You’ll have better luck creating a minimum viable product (MVP). Launch your app with the most essential features and get feedback from users about the best next steps.
6. Avoiding App Testing
Testing mobile apps is something you shouldn’t skip before you deploy your product. Programming is a hard job; even if you hire great developers, there will likely be program bugs.
Finding as many of these as possible before your first deployment is essential. Either go through testing yourself or hire a company to do this for you.
It’s also smart to get real users to test your app. They will use it like an average user would — meaning you can get insight into how it works and how well it meets your users’ needs.
7. Neglecting Marketing
You can go through the entire app development process perfectly, but if you can’t get the attention of potential users, your app won’t see success. Marketing is something you should think about before you launch your product.
Look where your target users hang out and see what it will take to reach them. You can invest in paid ads, social media marketing, and cold outreach.
Try to build a list of people who are interested before you launch. This allows you to reach out on launch day to let them know they can sign up. This process will offer a significant initial boost that you can take advantage of.
- Sticking to One Platform
Many companies stick to one mobile platform at the early stage of the development process. It makes sense, too. It reduces the work you must do to finish your initial version.
But that doesn’t mean you should stick to one platform in the future. There isn’t one dominant player in the mobile market, so you’ll miss many users by doing this.
For instance, many people start with iPhone development before branching out. Start researching the best Android app development company soon after to get visibility on Android phones.
Avoid Errors With App Development
It takes a lot of work to build an app for consumers. Yes, you can likely get a simple app up and running in no time. But if you want something that competes with the other apps out there, you must invest in development to create the best application you can.
But that won’t happen if you make common errors with app development. Remember the issues above during the development process to ensure you create an app that sees success.
Do you want to learn more about development and launching new products? Learn more by checking out the other articles on the website.
