The mobile app industry has already passed the critical sum of one million dollars. Furthermore, smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices represent a significant percentage of internet users. The determining factor for the success of an app is the quality and the user experience.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Preparing the Basics: Design
Step 1. Consider the user as the basis for the design
The design must be simple enough for new users to use the app with ease. Ask some friends or even better a group of people not used to using their cell phones a lot to try your application. Notice what experience they have, what difficulties they face and if they find the program intuitive, attractive and fun? Change the design based on this information.
You have to appreciate that uneducated people and young users (children) are a big market. The design must be intuitive enough for these categories to use the app without problems
Step 2. Consider different operating systems
The mobile market is divided into various operating systems. Evaluate the differences before designing the app. Use responsive design, so your application looks the way you want it across all platforms and systems.
To build an Android app you need Android Studio, for iOS you can use XCode Development Kit.
Step 3. Make sure the app works smoothly on all platforms
Use responsive design to create a flexible and customizable schedule on all devices. Responsive design refers to the idea that the app or website changes layouts, fonts, and graphics based on the device on which it is viewed. Don't go into the strategy of creating a stripped-down version of your mobile site. Instead, start by designing the site for small screens and then enlarge it for larger monitors.
Step 4. Don't ignore the grids
The grid is an excellent tool for keeping your app design consistent and the same across all pages. Always adopting the same style for graphics, fonts and icons gives the product a professional look. It also reflects your brand image.
Step 5. Don't forget the offline experience
Not all areas have network coverage. Decide how many features of your app should be available offline. Make sure most of them stay active. In some parts of the world, blackouts are the order of the day, so it's important that you can use your program even without an internet connection.
To ensure a good offline experience, you need to learn serverless programming. Those techniques will help you create an offline application
Part 2 of 5: Deepening the Idea: Planning
Step 1. Decide what your goal is
Your app must have a clear goal, such as finding motorway service stations in a particular state or country.
Step 2. Plan in black and white
See how the app will look on the screen. Draw a rough diagram of screens or graphics. What are the functions and everything in between?
Step 3. Do some market research
Find out if your idea is already being exploited. What are users looking for? How can you monetize your market? Create a draft marketing plan. This step is not the last you should go through, on the contrary, it should accompany you for all the design phases (pre-production, production and post-production).
Step 4. Create a storyboard
This process helps you get an idea of the app's functionality. As with movies, the more elaborate the storyboard is, the clearer the process becomes.
Step 5. Create a prototype
Prototype tools allow you to view and test your app in real time. You can check and make changes accordingly. Ask friends and family to test the program and tell you their opinion. Consider their comments in your edits.
Step 6. Develop the backend
Once you've tested the prototype, start working on the backend, the developer side of the application, which includes storage, API, configuration server, and database.
Step 7. Register
App stores require developer registration. You don't have to be a programming expert, but an expense is required. Check the related sites for more information.
Step 8. Create app graphics and screenshots
Users will use the interface you create at this stage.
Part 3 of 5: Creating Your App
Step 1. Consider using an app development service
Creating a program usually requires effort and money, so not everyone can afford it. Fortunately, there is a solution. You can use one of the many development platforms available on the internet. Some are free, others require a monthly or annual subscription. With this method, you don't even have to write the code, because you can use a graphical interface. Just drag, upload images, tick boxes and your app will be complete. Hurray!
Step 2. Search the internet for an app builder
There are many sites that offer this service. Look at some, read the content and reviews. Consider the ones with the simplest and most intuitive interface. Some are free, others for a fee.
Step 3. Sign up
Make sure you've read the previous section on planning. Make drafts and visualize the final look of your app before you start. Create a storyboard with screenshots and features.
Step 4. Start building your app
Most of the sites are very simple to use. Anyone with basic notions of computer science and the internet can use them without problems.
Step 5. Apply design recommendations
Read the first section of the article and remember that your app should have a lot of features available offline. Create an intuitive design that doesn't put new users in trouble.
Step 6. Consider the visuals
Evaluate texts, fonts, colors, icons, tabs, etc. in advance to give your app a consistent look.
Part 4 of 5: Do it yourself
Step 1. If you have the right knowledge, you can do it all by yourself
The most successful websites and apps are the result of programmers' blood, sweat and tears. The creation programs, in fact, do not offer all the features. If you have a really brilliant idea for an app, learning to code isn't a bad choice. Below you will find the steps required to create an application.
Step 2. Learn to code
The languages that a programmer should know are: C, C ++, Objective-C, JavaScript, HTML5, CSS, C #, Swift, ReactJS, PHP, Node.js and Ruby, but there are many others that knowing will be useful for you. However, you should only master some of them and know the basics of others. Enroll in college or learn on the internet with guides and videos.
Step 3. Choose a system
Do a market research to understand which system is best suited to your product.
Step 4. Apply the advice mentioned above
Read the sections on design and planning. In the first you will find tips from top developers, in the second the basics on how to create a successful app.
Step 5. Create the environment
Configure the app development environment, installing it on your system according to your needs.
Step 6. Create the app
Once you have completed the conceptual part, in which you have clearly outlined the appearance and functions of the program using the advice in this article, start programming. Create the project source code, resource files and manifest files.
Step 7. Take care of debugging and testing
At this stage, you develop your app into a package that allows for debugging. Use SDK Tools to create an app to test.
Step 8. Publish and test your app
You will have to check the application again, in the version available to the public.
Part 5 of 5: Publishing the App
Step 1. Double check
Now the actual app is ready. Check it out using a testing app.
Step 2. Publish the app
You can do this directly with your developer account on iTunes or Google Play, or send it to the site you used to develop it. Now, you just have to wait and advertise your product.
Step 3. Advertise your app
The marketing operation you started in pre-production with research and continued on blogs and social media now has to reach a climax. Create a microsite for your app, post promotional videos, advertise on social media, run contests or other marketing strategies to grab attention. You should also devise a monetization model.
Advice
- Analyze the most useful and popular apps to find inspiration.
- Get to know your audience's psyche. Children like bright colors, men like dark shades, while women like light ones.
- Use a group of testers to test your app.
- Use visual communication to give your app a neat and interesting look.
- The field of user experience is vast, so learn the basics.
- Don't expect your app to sell itself. Engage in marketing to promote it.
