There are several things you should consider when developing a mobile app. Take a minute and think about some of your favorite apps or even just some of the most popular ones in recent years. Apps like Candy Crush, Google Maps, Facebook, Walmart, and more. Think of how often you have apps like these running on your phone. Now, think of what all these apps can do. What these apps look like. How they interact with you. How you interact with them. Developing a mobile app requires a comprehensive strategy in order for it to be user-friendly and give both your customer and your business the experience and information you both are looking for. But, don’t worry, we will spearhead this process and will include you in it for the best results. When developing your mobile app, here are some things that should be considered:
Market Research
Market research is a great starting point for your app development. And really, it is a great starting point for any major project you will be doing, such as marketing. It can serve as a base for the other decisions you make. Market research will help you better understand who your audience is, who your competition is, the likes and dislikes of your use, and just generally what your market looks like.
Budget
Once you know who you are trying to reach and how it is best to reach them, it is important to take a step back and see how much you can really afford to invest in your app. This will ultimately determine what features you decide to incorporate into your app. There is a wide margin of the final sticker price of an app, so don’t get discouraged – we can help you find something to fit your budget.
Native vs. Hybrid Apps
Did you know there are different types of apps? Native apps are smartphone apps that are built specifically for an operating system using a programming language. Hybrid apps are web-based apps that are configured to work on smartphone platforms your choice of which type of app to go with will depend on your end goal and your budget. There are definitely perks and challenges with both.
Monetization Options
Ideally, you will make money off your app to help monetize your business decision – this will be part of your return on investment (ROI). And when it comes to monetizing your app, there are several different options:
- Freemium – The download of the app is free, but certain features cost money to unlock.
- Paid – The download of the app cost money.
- In-app purchases – This model uses the app to sell digital or physical products, as opposed to features like in freemium.
- In-app ads – This is simply incorporating some advertising space in your app and selling the space to advertisers.
- Sponsorships – This involves partnering with other brands and advertisers, and is similar to the in-app ads model.
Security Measures
You will need to include a privacy policy in your app since it will collect information from users. This policy needs to cover what information is being collected from them and how this will be used. In the early stages of your app development, consider consulting with legal counsel to give yourself plenty of time to get this aspect fleshed out. Ready to take your business to the next level with app development? We’re ready to help!
