Mobile apps have taken the world by storm in recent years, with more and more people using smartphones to access their favorite online resources, wherever they are. For business professionals, this trend means it’s more important than ever to create an app that will connect with your target audience and keep them coming back for more. Even if you don’t have coding skills yourself, you can still make your mobile app by following these simple steps.
Whether you’re a business looking for exposure or want your own branded app, creating an app is no small task. The first question most developers ask is why they should bother with developing an app in the first place. Keep in mind that not all reasons apply to every business; it depends on your company’s goals.
Understand the Components Of An App
To make an app, you’ll need three main components: design, development, and marketing. Start by defining your target audience, ideally, it will be a general everyone, then decide on either a native or web-based app. A native app is downloaded from an app store, while a website is accessed through a browser and lives in one place. It entirely depends on your industry on what you choose. If you want to market your app beyond social media sharing, consider how you can integrate advertisements into its design.
Choose A Platform
Of course, it’s essential to have some idea of what you want your app to do before you design and develop it. Once you have an idea in mind, check out each of these platforms, which offer software development kits (SDKs) for mobile apps. You can also take inspiration from existing popular apps and make improvements to them. In other words, there are no hard-and-fast rules about where to start when building an app; use common sense and explore all of your options: You might even consider taking multiple approaches or having more than one version of your app at first if it makes sense.
Choose the Right Development Tools
Before you even think about developing your mobile app, you need to choose which software development kit to use. With more than a dozen tools available, including some new frameworks from companies like Google, there are plenty of factors that go into making your decision. Consider your existing skills, what kind of functionality you want in your app, and whether you plan on releasing an Android or an Apple version down the road.
Create A Mock-Up
If you’re going to bring your idea to life, it might as well look nice. A mock-up is an important step in creating a prototype, but it can also help your audience visualize your product or app before they see it with their own eyes. It may seem unnecessary at first—why would someone invest time and energy into something that isn’t real?
Find An App Designer
If you don’t have design skills, your next step is to find a good graphic designer. There are many freelance sites out there for finding talented designers. You can also check out local colleges and universities for their student-run advertising programs. These students usually know how to work with startups on a budget, as well as provide real-world experience in app development.
Get Feedback From Potential Users
Not every app will be for everyone. Before you spend months—and potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars—working on an app, it’s smart to get some feedback from people who might use it. This can be done informally by asking around among friends or formally with focus groups or user testing.
Hire Developers
Getting an app built requires more than just coding skills. Once you’ve defined what your app needs to do, it’s time to start looking for developers who can build it. Don’t just hire any coder—find someone with experience in native mobile app development. Make sure your developers are well versed in iOS or Android if you want to create an app for those devices; other platforms may require different tools altogether.
Market and Launch It
If you’re going to design and develop your app, you have to launch it. While there’s no substitute for creativity, learning how you can make your product stand out in a crowded market is key when it comes time to release your app into an increasingly competitive mobile market. A successful app needs more than just an attention-grabbing name—it also needs effective marketing strategies.
You’re now equipped with what you need to launch your very own professional application. If you have resources on hand that can help you get started today, don’t let insecurity or doubt stop you from taking action.