If you have a good idea to build a new app, then you can develop anything!
The best thing needed to develop an app is to have a unique idea. Once you have sorted it out, your next step is to do proper research on the topic. Before you build it you need to understand the need for it. Once you identify the need, see if your potential users will pay for it. If it is a free app, you are still asking users to pay attention, time, etc.
When you are identifying the users, be specific as possible. If you explain that anyone can use the app, you need to work on the customer persona again. There is a startup fallacy called the Chinese soda fallacy. A lot of people assume getting 1% of a huge market. but it’s incredibly hard. It is much easier to get 50% of a small niche market than getting 1% of a huge market.
After analyzing the results, you could find the features to be included and excluded, the nature of the audience, additional requirements to consider, etc. Later, launch the app after fixing bugs and issues in each stage.
The last part is how to get potential users to use your new app. Don’t assume once you build it, your users will come automatically. It rarely works out. You have to do cold calls, paid ad campaigns, joint ventures, channel partners, many more. But find how you would get it in their hands.
Let’s explore the steps involved in a successful launch and what you can do to retain users:
Market Research
At the beginning of January 2020, it was estimated that there are 1 million 800 thousand apps available for download. And, mind it, it is a rough estimate and may not include all android and iOS apps. So, what does this indicate? It simply means that there is a ton of competition ahead. Therefore, it becomes obvious that you need to conduct thorough market research to differentiate your app from the rest that already exists.
See, you must know about the leading apps, especially those that are in your niche. You need to check where it may fall short of something. Accordingly, those insights can help you make a few changes to understand the app better than the rest. Building an app nobody wants or needs is useless. Figure out the market demand by doing online research and talking to potential users. Be sure if the potential audience has this new app, will it improve their life?
Based on your budget, you may want to go for primary research to cover only the prospective users. After that, you may decide to go for secondary research that can give you many insights. You may also consider researching your competitors’ apps and checking out the blogs and youtube reviews to understand what users have to say specifically about the concept and the idea.
Defining Success
If you are looking to launch a successful mobile app, you will first need to be clear about your success. First of all, acquire some measurable goals. The one that you can start with could be the rate of active install. It would give a precise retention rate since it indicates the number of people who may have installed the app and did not uninstall it.
Regarding benchmarks, note that most free mobile apps will have a higher install rate during the first month, usually around 50 percent. Then, after some time, it slides down to 30 percent. It is also worth noting that an average rating of 3 or 4 (out of 5) is what you should aim for at least. However, the higher the rate, the easier it will be for you to maintain an active rate.
Cross-Platform And Browser Version
There is no need to stick with a single platform. These days it is essential that an app is available across multiple platforms. It dramatically expands the reach. According to a survey done in early 2020, Android is the leading platform for apps in the world, followed by iOS.
The cross-platform approach is not just the way for more reach. It is cost-effective in the long run and particularly beneficial in terms of IDE software. Most IDE software allows the creation of a web browser version of a mobile app. Therefore, more ways are available for using the app across various devices. Here are some ways to find developers to work for equity.
Social Media Account
Before the launch of the app, ensure that you claim accounts on social media. Then use those apps pro-actively for generating interest or initial sign-ups. In addition, you may use social media accounts for showcasing the app during the development phase and solicit comments and feedback. It will give you an authentic review as you progress with the app development. Such information can give you vital ideas for the future.
When the app is ready for launch, ensure that you change the link in the social media bio so that traffic is directed to the app store for download. You need to be clear that your ultimate goal is not traffic. It’s the download of your app.
Be careful not to discount upcoming social platforms for the promotion and launch of the app. Pick the one with a high visual to be visible to other mobile app developers who may suggest useful improvements. You may skip this in case you are planning for a surprise or trying to beat a competitor.
It would help if you can come up with some pre-launch buzz like a page or something where people can sign up for receiving an alert when the app is launched.
Content
It would really help if you can create some content clearly explaining the use of the mobile app.
Build the App
Now the easy part. Build the app. If you are not a technical person, it will be better to connect with a technical partner for more technical support. You can also try the traditional route of a development agency if you have a decent budget. Typically hiring one developer doesn’t work well for first-time product managers.
At some point, you might not identify the minor mistakes of your app. But a technical partner could easily find and resolve it. Connecting with a technical partner or a Startup Studio that is compatible with your startup might be a better solution for long-term projects.
Just follow the above steps and be assured that you will successfully keep users for the long haul.