HOW TO MAKE AN APP (CONT)

Step 4. Analyze your app idea’s market fit

If your app idea makes it through the validation stage, it's time to find out if it will resonate with the users you have in mind. This is also known as analyzing your app's market fit. In short, you'll need to make sure that the app's features and monetization method will appeal to your users and make them want to choose your app over any competitors with a similar offering. So how do you start? 

Compare features

Dust off your Excel of pages skills and open a spreadsheet. Then, you'll want to list your app and about five competitors in the first column. Then, create a column for each of the features present in any of the apps. Also, add a column for the monetization methods. Then, go through and fill in the boxes to show whether each app has the said feature or not and, when necessary, add details about the feature. For example, if the feature is "Storage," you would list the amount of storage an app allows per month. 

Compare monetization models

As for monetization, list the models that each app uses to make money. The main methods are often paid downloads, ads, in-app purchases, e-commerce, or affiliate earnings. Keep in mind that ads aren't typically a great source of revenue until you have a very popular app so are better for the later stages. 

Identify differentiators and feature gaps

Once your spreadsheet is filled out, it will be easy to analyze all of the apps and see how yours stacks up. A few key things to notice are features that you have that others don't (differentiators) and features that others have and you don't (gap features). Ideally, you'll have at least one differentiator to give you a competitive advantage and will close as many gaps as possible. Remember, you have to give users some reason to choose you over the rest. 

However, it's important to remain clear on the primary problem you set out to solve. Don't get too lost in all of the features, causing you to lose sight of your main initiative. Ensure your app does its primary function very well. The rest will be icing on the cake.

Step 5. Decide which app type is best for your business

1. Web apps

A web-based app is a computer program that uses web technology to deliver content and perform tasks. All of the "brain" behind the app lives on a remote server. For this reason, only a tiny amount of code is required on the smartphone on which these apps are installed. 

These apps work similarly to a standard website. When a user launches the app on their phone, the app uses the internet to deliver content. The only significant difference between a web app and a website is in their respective functions. If the online code provides some kind of tool or service, it's generally referred to as a web app. If the code is purely informational, it's more likely to be referred to as a website. Both operate through an internet browser. 

When you open a web app it downloads data from the internet. This kind of app won’t work without an internet connection. Nor will it use a smartphone’s more advanced hardware features like GPS.

So why are they useful? On the plus side, web apps need far fewer resources to run, and are “platform-independent,” meaning they run on any kind of smartphone. Their versatile nature means they can be configured to run on a wide range of devices with minimal additional coding. 

Here are a few examples in action.

- Netflix: The film streaming giant distributes its video content via a web app. It’s perfect because the large amount of data needed to watch a movie aren't stored on your device. If it was, you'd run out of space in no time. However, without an Internet connection, the Netflix app won't work. One interesting feature of the Netflix web app is that it's designed to work well on a host of devices, from smartphones to desktop computers to smart TVs. Owing to their versatility, web apps are excellent for providing cross-device functionality. 

- Mailchimp: Mailchimp helps people manage their email lists and email campaigns. Marketers and communicators can use this app to check how well their campaigns are doing, manage and segment their email audience, and even craft marketing emails from their portable devices. From a coding perspective, all this app does is send data back and forth between the user and a central server. The reason it's defined as an app and not a website gets back to the fact that Mailchimp is more an interactive tool than a static source of information.

2. Native mobile apps

Think of a continuum. On one end, you have web apps. These apps work on any kind of mobile device, but they can't perform sophisticated functions. They're versatile, but they're not very powerful. Native apps occupy the opposite end of this spectrum. They can be equipped with sophisticated features. However, a native app must be programmed for one operating system only. They're powerful, but lack the versatility of a web app to work across many platforms. 

Native apps work in a very similar way to desktop software. The app is installed directly to a user's mobile device. All the core functions of the app exist on the device's hard drive and will function properly with or without an internet connection. 

Programmers build native apps with a software development kit (SDK), or a standardized set of coding tools. This kit communicates closely with the device's operating system, meaning these apps can directly access a device's hardware. Native apps can therefore use a phone's GPS data, its camera, its microphone, and any other built-in sensors or hardware the smartphone comes equipped with.

Instantly, native apps gain a few big advantages over web apps. 

Because a native app is built to work perfectly on one kind of phone, it’ll typically be faster and more reliable than other kinds of app. Native apps can also use device-specific hardware. This means they can deliver more features.

Finally, these apps usually “feel” like they belong on the device. Native apps have a natural flow to them because the SDK they’re built around makes sure they use logic with which the user is probably already familiar.

These apps only work on one kind of mobile platform, so if you want to develop an app for both iPhone and Android, you're looking at a separate development process for each platform you want to reach. And, as operating systems evolve, the codebase of native apps will need to be updated accordingly so they continue to function properly. They’re usually higher maintenance and more costly than other kinds of apps. 

Here are some examples of native apps:

Pokemon Go: With its deep reliance on GPS, camera, and accelerometer, this game could only be developed as a native app. It may be a fun way to make a neighborhood walk an adventure, but it’s also a sophisticated piece of software.

Waze: Waze is an interesting example of a native app because while its codebase exists in its entirety on the hosting portable device, it still downloads map data via a cellular data connection. Waze is a good example of how native apps can perform complicated and challenging tasks combining multiple sensors and data sources.  

3. Hybrid mobile apps

Just like a progressive app, a hybrid mobile app combines web and native app design. These apps are built with a single codebase, most of which the app accesses via a remote server. 

However, they can also directly access a portable device's operating system, potentially incorporating a much wider array of sophisticated functions than a simple web app. Hybrid apps are therefore very similar to progressive apps, but like a native app, hybrid apps are distributed through a mobile platform's built-in app store.

Hybrid apps can generally be developed in considerably less time than a native app. They’re easier to develop than native apps, and significantly fewer resources are required to separately program an app across multiple platforms. Developers with a limited budget frequently choose to create a hybrid app because it offers excellent value for investment. 

Also, because they're distributed through a mobile device's built-in app store, they're easier to market and distribute than a progressive app. 

Here are a few examples of hybrid apps:

Marketwatch: This app gives investors a steady stream of market news and analysis. While the app's main goal is to give users a carefully curated library of investment articles, Marketwatch also incorporates a limited collection of more tool-like functions, including a stock watchlist and real-time data streams. It's available within both the Android and Apple app stores, making the product extremely easy to find and install. 

Sworkit: This fitness app allows users to set their goals and participate in a wide variety of exercises. The interface is slick, resembling a cross between a fitness wearable dashboard and a streaming fitness service. Sworkit's marketing strategy is built around directing prospects to the Apple or Android app stores to purchase the product.

So, what should you choose?

If you plan to sell your app, native apps are a clear winner because they're built to be sold directly through a mobile platform's app store. However, a hybrid app is also a viable option here because it can be developed to be sold in a similar way.

On the other hand, if your goal is to build an app that extends your website visibility—perhaps, for example, you want a part of your website to be available offline on a portable device—a progressive app is great because your target audience can grab it seamlessly directly from your webpage. 

If your purposes are purely informational—for example, imagine an app that delivers newsletter-style content in an easy-to-read format—a web app can deliver this functionality with relatively small development cost and makes sense as an option.

Step 6. Create a wireframe

Once you have your goals, market, and positioning defined, it's time to create the app's wireframe — the plan for your app, a rough draft. You want to map out the structure and flow of the pages. Show what a user will see when they open the app. What options will they have? What comes next, and next? You don't have to worry about aesthetics here, it's about the core functionality. 

This can help stakeholders gain a strong understanding of the app and enable them to provide input on how it should work. Plus, it creates the blueprint for development. You can create wireframes in a variety of ways: sketch them out, use software, create them on your computer.

Step 7. Find an app developer

A key in the developer-vetting process is ensuring that the app developer has the skills needed to take on your project. To find out, you can share your wireframes with them. They will assess the technical challenges you need them to overcome and, assuming they can solve them, can provide you with a tech spec that outlines the details of what needs to be done behind the scenes in order to bring your wireframes to life. They can often give you a quote after this step, enabling you to weigh your options and make a choice.

To make that magic happen they will perform any (and most likely all) of the following tasks:

- Work with you to refine the initial app concept

- Write accurate and efficient code in the app’s target programming language

- Liaise with graphic design artists, software experts, IT managers, and marketing people to ensure the app meets all design criteria

- Test the code for accuracy

- Ensure the app continues to work across operating system updates. 

Once the app is finalized, their role transitions into maintenance — creating patches and upgrades that keep the app current and fully functional. 

Step 8. Create an MVP - minimum viable product 

The initial milestone in app development is creating an MVP — a minimum viable product. An MVP is the most basic version of your app that demonstrates its most essential features. The bells and whistles can come later. Initially, you only need the bare-bones pieces that your app needs to function. 

For example, if you were building a food delivery app, it would have the ability for users to log in, select a restaurant, view a menu, and order an item. If you wanted to add in a special perks section, rewards, and driver tracking, that could all come later. Once you've created the MVP, you have the core functionality and can build from there. 

Step 9. Mobile app quality assurance 

Before launching an app, you want to make sure all the bugs are out. That is where quality assurance (QA) comes in. The QA specialist you hire will test your app on multiple mobile platforms (when applicable), multiple devices, and multiple software versions to ensure all issues are resolved before going to market.

Step 10. Deploy 

Once all the bugs are worked out, you are ready to deploy your app! The deployment process varies depending on the development method you chose. However, most mobile apps require a server back-end to function. Then, you will need to submit your app for review by the various app stores. To do so, review their requirements and ensure your app meets them all to avoid rejection and delays.

Step 11. Market your app

While it would be great if launching an app was enough to drive downloads, the truth is, you need to do some work to get the word out. People need to know about your app and see the value it can provide to them. Here are a few ideas to market your app:

- Reach your target audience by building a digital presence across the social media platforms where your audience spends time. This can include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and YouTube. Post on a regular basis and build your following to generate interest. Think of creative ways to show how your app works, who needs it, and how it solves problems. 

- Optimize your app for the app stores. By understanding how the various app stores work, you can optimize your app so it has the greatest chance of being found organically. 

- Run paid ads on search engines and social platforms to reach a large targeted audience fast and direct them to download the app. 

- Create blogs that are optimized for search engines so that your content shows up high in search results and drives traffic to your app organically.

- Create a press release to announce the app and publish it across multiple outlets that are relevant to your target audience. 

All of these marketing steps can help to generate interest and drive traffic to your app, which is key to its success. 

Step 12. Gather feedback and make improvements

Making an app is not a set-it-and-forget-it type of deal. It should be more like a living thing that grows over time and needs consistent attention, and feedback is key to your app's success. Listen to your users to understand what they love and what needs improvement. Then, you can further tailor the app to their needs over time. Most customers like giving their opinions and it can help them become more invested in your app. You can get direct feedback via questionnaires and pop-up boxes in-app or on social media. Plus, always check the reviews left publicly in the app stores. 

As you track your KPIs and gather feedback, you should be continuously making improvements to the app to better meet the needs of the market. This is why most apps release updates every couple of weeks. It's a competitive, fast-moving world, and your app needs to keep up!

But as you make improvements, you will be going back into development meaning you go through the whole process again, including quality assurance. Always make sure that you thoroughly test the app before releasing a new updated version. If you don't, you risk losing the hard-earned users you have gained so far. 

The bottom line: you don’t need to be a programmer to build an app

What you do need is a firm understanding of your business case for making an app, and how you plan to measure your success. Equipped with this information, you're in a great position to build up an informed idea of what kind of app you want, what it needs to look like, and how you intend to get your audience using it. When you can look down at your desk and see all that information ready to go, you'll know it's time to find that ace programmer and turn your great app idea into a reality.

If you take your time with these steps and make sure you have clarity every step of the way, you too can develop a killer app.