Ask any developer about ios app development, and they will say that every project they have worked on has been like a black box, especially when it comes to coding.
If you are building a mobile app for your business, you must know what it will take to execute the app. According to studies in 2016, one in five SMBs (small to medium-sized businesses) has developed a mobile app and launched it within a year.
1. Your Mobile App Development Blueprint
You might have a few concrete ideas for your mobile app project to develop something for your business. It is a sound place to start. However, before jumping into the design and development stage, you should first research and learn more about your business’s objectives and target market or audience. It would be best if you also considered your competitors. Use the following questions to help you figure things out:
• What should the mobile app accomplish; how and where does it fit in your mobile marketing campaign?
• Who is your target market or audience?
• How will the target audience use the app?
• What platforms will you use for developing and running the app?
• Which development language and framework do you intend to use?
• What are your competitors focussing on? Do they have apps, and what features do the apps offer?
• Have you set a budget for your mobile app development project?
• Have you set a timeline for the project and when you will launch the app?
• What are your plans for marketing and promoting the app?
2. Establishing Mobile App Goals and Objectives
It will be a vital stage in your mobile app’s planning phase. After determining the app you want, the next thing is to set objectives, mapping out how the app will be a tool that gets your business to where you want. For this, you must answer the following questions:
• What problems will the app solve for your clients or customers?
• What are its key features?
• What is the app’s core appeal?
Determining your mobile app’s core features and overall benefits is more of a balancing act. You will be juggling your in-house capabilities and the overall app development budget. Functionality is a vital component in how the app will work, but the design should be centred around customer engagement.
3. Defining Your Mobile App’s Backend
The framework and storyboard will guide when structuring the app’s backend that supports its functions. You will think of data integration and diagrams, servers, push notification services and APIs. In most situations, backend as a service (BaaS) platform is the sensible option for most SMEs when choosing a mobile backend when striving to solve challenges like the lack of in-house talent and scalability.
4. Developing the App
Developing the mobile app entails many processes, and you cannot jump one step. You or your developer must set up a storage solution, APIs, databases, and servers for the app’s backend if you do not use a mobile BaaS provider or app development platform.
The developer accounts are essential for the app stores you will use for distributing it. It is a crucial step that can be easily overlooked but can take a couple of days to complete. Take the time to read through the store guidelines to ensure your app is approved once reviewed for distribution on the platform.
5. Conduct Several Tests
Once you have a complete app with explicit texts and exciting graphics, the next phase is to test your concept to ensure its practicality. Conduct rigorous tests taking your mobile app through various real-world scenarios to identify any technical flaws that you must correct.
6. Official Release
You should determine a release date for your creation, and it should be the climax of your mobile app marketing efforts. For this, you must create some buzz by announcing to everyone who showed interest in the app before launching. Your message will state the official release date, and it can be through articles promoted by influential journalists and bloggers.
