The Secret Sauce of Making a Successful mobile app

Different mobile apps offer different services and have had various success stories. But almost all successful mobile apps have something in common — a unique idea or new perspective on already existing solutions.

For example – both WhatsApp and Signal are communication apps, yet they take different views on privacy and build their solutions accordingly. Similar is the case with DuckDuckGo. They are competing with Google by taking a more ethical view of data privacy and advertising.

Do you know there are nearly 2.2 million on Apple App Store and 2.7 billion apps on Google Play Store? But how many apps made their way into your routine life? Only a handful.

So, how do you make a successful mobile application with over 5 million apps in the market? (One of the ways: Partnering with a mobile app development company that will ensure solid technical architecture)

We bring you a secret sauce for cooking a successful mobile app. Follow the recipe, and you’ll be able to launch a successful app that’ll hit the charts.

1. Research the Market

If you intend to build an app, it’s important to do your research first. There’s no point in creating something that nobody wants or needs. Spend some time looking into your target market. See what sort of apps they’re using and what problems they’re trying to solve. Once you understand your audience, you can map out what kind of app would be beneficial for them.

Who are they? What do they need? What are their pain points? What are they looking for in an app?

Once you have concrete data, you can start developing your app idea.

2. Research Your Buyers

The next step is to get to know your buyer. By understanding your target market, you can tailor your app to their specific needs and wants. To accomplish this, you’ll need to research your target market and segment them into groups. Once you’ve done this, you can create personas for each group.

These personas should include detailed information about their demographics, interests, and needs. It should also include the features that the current solutions lack that are most requested by the users. Once you understand your target market well, you can start building your app with them in mind. It will help ensure that your app is undoubtedly what they’re looking for and that they’ll be able to use it easily.

3. Finding An App Development Partner

The most crucial step is finding the right partner for app development because development aspects require expertise. It can be challenging for entrepreneurs without a technical background to develop an app.

Even though many no-code platforms exist (which are fine if you want to build a simple app). It’s better to hire an app development partner that understands your requirements and takes care of your project professionally.

You can choose between:

• Freelancers: You can easily find freelancers from platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer who fit your budget. However, freelancers can forge their experience or might have limited exposure. But if you are on a budget, then finding a freelance developer is the best bet for you.
• In-House Development: If you have a long-term requirement, you can hire an in-house development team. However, hiring an in-house team is a major investment, including employee benefits, operational costs for the team, recruitment costs, and more. Although, you’ll have better control over in-house teams in terms of deadlines, delivery, and updates.
• App Development Agencies: App development agencies have diverse portfolios and years of experience working on various technologies. Agencies have expert developers, project managers, designers, creative artists, and data scientists to solve large-scale and complex projects.A good technology partner is thoroughly experienced in the MVP process. Investing in testable prototypes will save you thousands of dollars when the projects are complex.

4. Focus on User Experience

We can’t stress enough the importance of focusing on user experience. You need to ensure that your app is easy to navigate and provides a positive user experience. If your app is difficult to use or doesn’t look great, users will quickly lose interest and move on to something else. So if you’re considering developing a mobile app, here are some of the core features that’ll help to elevate user experience:

Keep Your Design Simple

A simple design means that the app is easy to use and understand. It’s not cluttered with too much information or too many features. Everything should be in its rightful place, and your customers should be able to find what they need quickly and easily.

A clean mobile design is also essential for user engagement. If an app is challenging to use, users are much less likely to use it regularly. But if it’s well-designed and fulfills the user’s basic requirements, they’ll keep returning to it.

Interesting Loading Screen

Creating a successful mobile application is all about retaining users. To create a great user experience, developers must focus on creating an eye-catching loading screen. One way to make a loading screen more fascinating is to add animation. It can help to engage users and make the wait more bearable. Another way to make a loading screen more appealing is to add interactive elements to keep users entertained while waiting for the app to load.

Impressive Onboarding Experience

One of the key ingredients of a successful mobile app is to create an impressive onboarding experience. The signing-up process will introduce new users to your app and help them get started.

A great onboarding experience should be easy to understand while providing some value or incentive for the user. It can be anything from a helpful tutorial to a rewards system. Another way to create a successful onboarding experience is to use gamification by incorporating some gameplay elements into the app to make it more engaging and fun.

Eye-Pleasing Colors

While many factors contribute to an app’s success, one crucial element is its visual appeal. After all, first impressions are everything. Studies have shown that people make snap judgments about products and services based on their visual appearance. And in the world of mobile apps, where users have thousands of options to choose from, you need to make sure your app stands out from the rest.

A matching color scheme can help your app communicate its message and company branding to users. It can also make your app more visually appealing, which can help to increase user retention.

Minimum User Input to quickly introduce them to the real experience.

Some people believe that the less user input required, the better. Others believe a certain amount of user input is necessary to create a successful app. So, which is it? As with most things in life, the answer is a bit of both. The minimum user input required for a successful mobile app depends on the type of app you are developing.

If you are developing a utility app, such as a calculator or a flashlight, then the minimum user input required is low. You may not need any user input at all. The user should be able to launch the app and immediately start using it without having to enter any information.

On the other hand, if you are developing a game or a social media app, the minimum user input required is much higher. The user needs to be able to input their name, age, and other personal information to create an account. Still, users should be allowed to experience products as guests without forcing them to sign-up first.

Use Thumb-Zone Design

Thumb-zone design is an approach that considers the fact that users will often be interacting with your app using their thumbs. It means that you have to ensure the most critical elements of your app are within easy reach of the thumb. Why is this significant? Because if your app is not thumb-friendly, users will likely find it frustrating to use and quickly give up on it.

So, how can you make sure your app has a thumb-zone-friendly design? Here are a few tips:

• Make sure the most influential elements are within easy reach of the thumb, including buttons, links, and primary navigation.
• Use large, easily clickable buttons
• Use icons and other visual elements to help users quickly understand what they need to do.
• Group related elements together, so users can easily find what they’re looking for.
• Make sure your design is responsive so it works well on different screen sizes.

5. Beta Testing Your App

Beta testing is an excellent option if you want to get user feedback on your app before releasing it to the public. By offering your app to a group of real users for testing, you can get valuable user feedback and ensure everything works properly before making it available on the market.

Beta testing is an iterative process, so be open to changing your app based on what your testers have to say.

Complement with: Why Agile software development process is a game changer?

6. Planning a Marketing and Promotion Strategy

Assuming you have an app ready to be marketed and promoted, there are a few key strategies to consider when planning your marketing and promotion strategy.

First, consider your target audience. Who do you want to download and use your app? What are their needs, and how can your app address them? If you have done your market and user research properly and meticulously, you will have objective answers to almost every question.

There are many ways to reach your target audience, so consider all of your options. Social media, online advertising, and word-of-mouth are all effective ways to promote your app. Select the channels that will work best for your target audience and start sharing your app with the world!

Finally, don’t forget to track your results. Keep an eye on your download numbers and user feedback to see how your marketing and promotion efforts are paying off. With some planning and effort, you can develop a strategy to help you reach your goals and grow your app’s user base.

7. Monetization Methods

There are several ways to monetize your app. The most common method is to offer in-app purchases, which allows users to buy virtual items or unlock premium features within the app. Other popular methods include ads (both banner and interstitial), paid subscriptions, and pay-per-download. Which monetization method is right for your app depends on numerous factors, including your target audience, app features, and more.

In-App Advertisements

When done right, in-app ads can be a great way to generate income and help your app succeed. But how do you make sure they’re successful? Research shows that the total ad revenue from mobile apps reached $581.9 billion in 2020.

First, you need to make sure you’re targeting the right audience. Not every app is appropriate for every advertiser. Make sure you choose advertisers that are a good fit for your app and your target audience.

Second, you need to have a good idea for your ad campaign. What will your ads look like? What kind of message will they convey? What call to action (CTAs) will you include?

Third, you must ensure your ads are placed in strategic locations. They should be visible but not intrusive.

Finally, you must track your results. Make sure you measure how many people see and click on your ads.

In-App Purchases

When it comes to making money from your app, in-app purchases can be a great option. In-app purchases are any type of purchase you can make within an app—anything from buying extra features or virtual goods to subscribing to a service. Customers are spending $380 billion worldwide on in-app purchases.

One of the great things about in-app purchases is that they can be a great way to monetize your app without relying on advertising – beneficial if you have a successful app with a loyal following.

Another benefit of in-app purchases is that they can be a great way to upsell your users on additional features or content. If you have a great app idea but are struggling to get people to purchase it, offering in-app purchases can be a great way to boost your sales.

Freemium

The Freemium app monetization technique is one of the most popular monetization methods among app developers. It allows developers to offer their apps for free and generate revenue through in-app purchases or advertisements.

One advantage of this technique is that it allows developers to reach a large audience with their apps. However, one downside is that it’s challenging to generate revenue if users are not willing to make in-app purchases or click on advertisements.

8. Providing Robust Customer Care

As mobile apps continue to grow in popularity, so does the need for robust customer care. With so many people using mobile apps to conduct business, companies must provide excellent customer care to keep their customers happy.

Companies can do a few things to provide robust customer care in their mobile apps.

• Ensuring the customer service team is easily accessible via a chat feature in-app or via call.
• Make sure that their customer service team is responsive, so they should respond to customer inquiries promptly.
• Finally, the customer service team should be knowledgeable to answer customers’ questions.

9. Mistakes To Avoid When Building Mobile Apps

• Confusing users with too many features.
• Not putting faith in human-centered design.
• Not choosing the right technology.
• Building a native app when a hybrid approach would have proved more beneficial.
• Spending way too less time on creating a value proposition.
• Partnering with an inexperienced development company.

10. Examples of Successful Mobile Apps

Starbucks

Starbucks is a coffee chain that has become a global phenomenon. They have successfully created a mobile app that lets users order and pay for their coffee before arriving at the store. It has made the coffee-buying process much more efficient and increased sales for Starbucks.

Firstly, the app is very user-friendly, and it only takes a few clicks to order and pay for your coffee, which is a gigantic convenience for customers. Secondly, the app integrates with the existing Starbucks loyalty program, meaning that customers can easily earn and redeem rewards when they use the app. It helps build brand loyalty and encourages customers to use the app.

Uber

Undoubtedly, Uber has been a success story for mobile apps. The company has created a platform that is not only user-friendly but also incredibly efficient. Even more impressive is that Uber has replicated this success in multiple global markets.

Whether in the United States, Europe, or Asia, Uber has become the go-to option for many people to get around. They have created a seamless user experience where customers have quick information about available rides, fares, driver’s details, ride details, and the distance of their booked drive.

MakeMyTrip

MakeMyTrip is one of the most popular travel apps out there, and for a good reason. It’s packed with features that make booking travel easy, whether you’re looking for flights, hotels, or trains.

With MakeMyTrip, you can search quickly and easily. The app lets you filter your search results to find what you’re looking for. There are many great deals, and customers can often find discounts on flights, hotels, and trains. It also has beneficial customer service available 24/7 via phone, email, or chat. At last, the MakeMyTrip app is available for both iPhone and Android.

Pinterest

Pinterest is a powerhouse when it comes to social media mobile apps. The platform has over 200 million monthly active users and is one of the most popular apps in the world. So, what makes Pinterest so successful?

Pinterest is highly user-friendly. It’s easy to use and navigate, which makes it perfect for mobile users. It is an excellent platform for visual search. Users can find new products, ideas, and inspiration, which makes it ideal for anyone looking for something new.

With over 80% of users making purchases based on the content they’ve seen on Pinterest, it’s clear that the platform is a powerful marketing tool.

Spotify

One of the biggest reasons for Spotify’s success is its user-friendly interface. The app is designed to make it easy to navigate and find the music you’re looking for. Spotify offers an enormous selection of music, with over 30 million tracks available to stream. It means that there’s something for everyone.

It also offers an offline mode that allows you to continue listening to your favorite tracks even when you’re not connected to the internet – Perfect when you’re on the go and don’t want to use up your data allowance. Next, Spotify’s recommendations are based on your listening habits, so you always get tailored suggestions for new tracks and artists to check out. It helps music lovers find new artists and music keeping the listening experience novel and fun.

A unique app idea can hold up and become a success if you put in enough effort, even though it may seem like a lot. Start by getting to know your market and the specifics of your target group. Subsequently, you should go into initial preparations, find an app & web developer or web and app development company, and lay down the foundations.