20 essential tips for building a mobile app

Mobile app development is one of the fastest-growing segments in technology. It’s an industry that has exploded and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. As mobile continues to take over, every startup wants a piece of the mobile pie, but how do you begin? Here are twenty tips on what steps should be taken before beginning mobile app development so your startup can get its mobile product out quickly without sacrificing quality.

Don’t reinvent the wheel Stay on top of the latest news

Mobile app development is a fast-moving industry, and it’s important to keep up. One of the best ways to stay on top of mobile trends is by reading blogs that report on mobile news daily, or even hourly. With many tech bloggers reporting every change in the mobile world, there’s no reason to not see innovation coming!

Create an MVP (minimum viable product)

You don’t need all the bells and whistles at first – you simply need your core features so users can get a feel for what your mobile app will offer them. This way, if changes needs to be made based on user feedback during testing phases later on, they won’t break more than one thing at once.

Test out web app development

Mobile apps are incredibly popular, but not every mobile user uses an iOS or Android device. There’s a huge market of mobile users on Windows phones, Blackberries and other mobile platforms so make sure your startup’s mobile app works across all devices before investing in native mobile applications.

Create mockups to show investors early on

Showing investors what the final product will look like is important to give them an idea of where you want to go with it once coding begins. If possible avoid using too many colors as this can slow down programming time; stick to grayscale unless absolutely necessary.

Distribute responsibilities amongst team members with complementary skillsets

While one person might be great at marketing mobile apps, they might not have the programming skills to bring mobile app ideas to life. So it’s better to break the work up so everyone is working to their strengths. Not only does this help cut down on development time since multiple people are working simultaneously, but it also helps create a more well-rounded mobile product in the end.

Use wireframes

Mobile app development is a collaboration between a mobile developer and a mobile designer. While mobile designers are responsible for how the final product looks, mobile developers have to make sure the app will work across different platforms. This means programming time can take longer than expected. A wireframe allows both parties to brainstorm ideas together without wasting time going back and forth.

Create user stories

Testing your mobile application with users as early as possible is essential because it lets you know whether they understand what your product is trying to accomplish right away. User-centered design helps solve problems during the beginning stages of coding, saving your startup precious hours down the line when bugs and glitches need fixing.

Rely on analytics data when developing your mobile product’s MVP

You need to know what works if you want your startup to succeed in an ever-changing industry like mobile technology. Analytics provide invaluable information about how users interact with certain mobile features and what mobile app designs they prefer.

Don’t forget the small details

While the mobile app industry is fast-paced, don’t let that rush you into overlooking important product details like good aesthetics or adding a polished touch to your startup’s mobile product prior to launch. You only get one chance at making a solid first impression so you don’t want to lose potential users due to lackluster usability or appearance.

Start mobile application coding as early on in the startup process

Mobile apps can take anywhere from a few weeks to even years depending on how many mobile features and functionalities you want your mobile product to have. The key is keeping an open dialogue among all team members so everyone knows what needs to be done when for maximum efficiency regarding mobile programming time.

Create high-fidelity prototypes

While low-fi prototyping might help reduce mobile development costs, it’s actually better overall if you create more polished mobile applications that look like they’re ready for market. This means fewer bugs and glitches will occur during beta testing which saves both time and money down the line.

Don’t lose sight of your goals

Startups are constantly changing and mobile app development is no exception. If you want your mobile product to succeed, it’s crucial that everyone on the team knows what they’re working towards at every step of the way in addition to when mobile programming needs to be completed. This will save both money and valuable time during beta testing.

Prioritize design

While mobile products still need to work well regardless of how they look, having an aesthetically-pleasing mobile application can attract more users who might not have downloaded your app otherwise. Good design helps potential customers connect with the goal of your startup, right off the bat.

Test thoroughly before launching commercially

Remember those user stories you created earlier? Now’s the time you see their value as they should have helped prepare you for beta testing. Thorough beta testing is essential before launching products, especially if your startup is targeting the mobile market. This can help ensure that no bugs or glitches make their way into production.

Plan for updates

Mobile applications function like living entities, much like startups themselves. Apps need to develop and grow and be continuously updated with new features, so always leave room for improvement when developing a mobile product from scratch. This helps keep customers remain interested as anything that doesn’t change in tech becomes stagnant, fast.

Consider the mobile app lifecycle

It’s important to consider mobile product maintenance and continuing support after launch. This means identifying potential pain points for users before launching your startup’s mobile product, as well as having a plan in place for responding to and fixing functionality issues as fast as possible. You definitely want to avoid an attitude of “set and forget” when it comes to running a successful mobile startup.

Mobile apps need marketing too

Even though you’re busy programming, it’s important not to neglect your marketing strategy. Many people will be using the same channels to sell their product (such as social media or word of mouth) so you need to have a solid plan in place to break through the noise. Explore alternative marketing avenues such as influencers who can help you reach a wider audience and increase downloads by promoting your new mobile app on their profiles.

Don’t skimp on mobile programming time

We’ve already mentioned this but it’s worth repeating. It’s actually better to invest more mobile development time upfront to create a high-fidelity product that can compete with other startups and established companies launching similar mobile apps. The added time and spend at the start could end up saving you a lot of money in the long run, and be the difference between success and failure.

Use agile methodologies

Instead of traditional waterfall models, mobile application development can be better served using agile methodologies. This development model is iterative, which means that your mobile product is constantly being built based on feedback from users and developers alike. This helps ensure continuous mobile improvements and fewer production-time roadblocks.

Use mobile app development tools

For more complex mobile apps, you can use mobile application development tools to help automate certain processes such as mobile testing or conversion optimization. These kinds of automated services are extremely helpful when building Android and iOS applications since they can take care of the “boring stuff” that needs to be done in order to get your startup’s mobile product ready for launch.

A few final words…

Mobile apps are changing the programming world and startups have to keep up with current mobile trends to stay relevant in their market. The tips above can help your startup dive into mobile app development faster while ensuring that you’re getting the most out of this new, fast-paced mobile environment!