In 2020, there are over 218 billion app downloads which shows how much we rely on them daily.
Building an app is a fantastic way to capitalize on your passion, flex your innovation, and help consumers. Perhaps you’ve got an idea for an app, but you’re not sure how to move forward with it.
Sounds familiar? Luckily, we’ve got your back. Here are 11 things to do.
1. Know Your Market
Before you figure out how to protect an app idea, it’s important to know your ideal market.
Consider the type of app you want to create and match it with your competitors to see how it holds up. For instance, consider your app’s strengths, unique selling points, and whether there are any glitches.
You should also figure out who your target audience is. Decide their demographic, interests, needs, and location so you can brainstorm the best app ideas for them. This will help you understand their problems and identify how your app can solve these pain points.
2. Outline a Business Plan
One of the best practices for designing an app is creating an ironclad business plan.
Detail the app’s goals and list all of the features, ranging from the basic to ones you can add on afterward. In your business plan, highlight the most important features as they will encourage users to spend longer on the app.
Further, cover the estimated cost of developing and creating a prototype of your app. You should also outline a marketing strategy and figure out how you’ll measure success, whether it’s attracting new users or boosting repeat in-app purchases.
3. Find Investors
You know how to make an app, but what about funding it?
If you can, raise a large portion of the funds yourself so you have complete control over the app. Don’t worry if you don’t have enough, you could also crowdfund your app and send the link to loved ones so they can raise awareness and make a small donation.
Also, contact an accelerator and they’ll show you how to make your app profitable. Or meet with an angel investor, a successful individual who funds noteworthy startups. But it’s important to note, they will ask for around 10% of the shares in your business, so only choose this if that’s viable.
4. Build an MVP Model
While creating an app, it’s important to create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) where you bring your concept to life. You needn’t spend a fortune adding nifty features, simply create the bones of your app so you can adjust to your target audience’s preference.
You should then send a survey to users to see what they liked and didn’t like, then make the necessary amendments.
5. Choose Your Monetization Strategy
One of the most important steps is figuring out how to profit from your app.
You needn’t charge users a fortune to sign up, instead use another method so you ease them into it. For instance, you could create a freemium app. This is where you offer a free limited version but if the user wants to access extra features, they must pay.
Or you could create a subscription service where users pay a small monthly or annual fee. And if you don’t want any upfront payments, then create an app with ad revenue so you earn money from the ad’s impressions.
6. Find the Perfect Developer
Hiring a reputable software developer will be the most expensive part of your app development.
But avoid choosing the cheapest option as they may cut corners or produce a cheap-looking app. Plus, when you work with a reliable developer then you’re guaranteed solid code and an app that can grow alongside your business.
7. Brand Your App
Branding is a key element of app development as it lets you convey your software’s goals and features. Work with a graphic designer to create an eye-catching icon so users click on it. Note, you mustn’t rush this process, otherwise, your app may be lost in the store.
8. Publish the Final Product
Once you’ve rigorously beta tested the app, and you’re happy with everything, then share it. You should upload it onto Google or Apple stores, depending on the software, so potential users can easily search for it.
If you’re unsure how to do this, ask the software developer to do this for you. You should try this free online estimate generator.
9. Create a Market Strategy
Like with any business venture, you want to reach a large audience to secure leads. As a general rule, dedicate 10% of your budget to marketing so you can experiment with several marketing strategies.
One useful way to raise awareness is by creating a content marketing strategy. Several months before launching, talk about the app’s features, show screenshots, and generate a buzz with videos. This will solidify you as an industry expert while driving traffic to your site, making it a win-win.
10. Analyze the App
After the launch, use mobile app metrics to analyze how well it’s performing. Don’t be disheartened if you haven’t had many downloads yet, as it takes time to secure a large following. But eventually, you’ll gain regular users who will pay to use it.
11. Keep Improving Your App
Apps are never fully completed. In fact, you’ve only just begun, so stay atop of industry trends and see what competitors are doing. You should also find innovative ways to improve your app, such as adding a new feature, so users stay interested.
Our Idea for an App Tips
Hopefully, you now know what to do with your idea for an app.
Start by creating a detailed business plan, tailor the software to your target audience, and find funding for your project. You should also constantly track its performance and create a market strategy to further your reach. Good luck!
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