11 Mistakes to Avoid When You Develop an App

Can you remember the last time you opened a news website to read the news?

Are your purchase decisions made on a brand’s eCommerce app or a website?

When was the last time you ordered food by not using your app?

If you replied in the affirmative to each of the above three questions, you cannot live without Apps! Thankfully, you are not alone.

According to Forbes, the global App market is worth nearly $100 Billion USD in 2019. The two biggest players in the App market, Google Play and Apple Store boast of having nearly 3 million apps on their platform each.

The advent of smartphones and internet technology, especially in developing countries has been seen as a major reason for the growth and popularity of apps. In this article, we will look at some of the most common mistakes to avoid when developing a Mobile App for your business.

Advantages of Apps

Apps provide several advantages over regular browsing and surfing. In addition to communicating information easier and in a more user-friendly way, apps are actionable. This means that unlike regular websites, they always process requests with amazing alacrity.

Apps also aid businesses in streamlining the user journey in a big way. From discovery to purchase, the experience is pleasant, fast and highly satisfactory in nature. With 70% of all searches being made on mobile phones, the rise of Apps is all but too understandable.

If you are a business, having an App also establishes your credibility in the industry. Any business, who is looking to establish itself as an industry authority voice, needs to have an App.

11 Mistakes to avoid when you develop an App: The List

1. Do not cram too much information into the App-

Most developers forget that an App serves a single purpose. It cannot be similar to your brand website. The purpose of an App and a website is entirely different. By stuffing too much information into an App, you reduce its effectiveness and operability.

Apps are supposed to streamline information and arrive at a purpose quickly. That is their USP. If you are putting more information than required, you are compromising on the UI and the UX of the App.

2. Decide on the purpose of your App-

Every app has to serve an intended purpose. It needs to push that as its single most important cause to exist. You cannot expect your app to deliver on multiple fronts. One app cannot serve to disseminate information, order products, generate leads and ensure sales conversions.

If you are trying to integrate everything, you will not end up being successful at anything. This is why the best developers decide on one point of delivery for an App. If there are other intentions, they are usually very subtle in nature.

3. Prioritize Retention rather than Downloads-

Every brand wants to run App Download Campaigns. Their sole focus is ensuring the maximum number of downloads. They fail to understand that retention is far more important than downloads. You might get the initial bump because of the download. However, if people are not using the app, then it does not serve any purpose.

This is why brands should invest in promoting the features and services of the App. By investing in discounts, offers, and promotions, you can ensure that you will get people to use the app. The intention should always be to integrate the app as a habit or lifestyle.

4. Do not ignore Consumer Feedback-

Have you ever wondered why Google and Apple have ratings for Apps on their store? This is because they want to know which apps are great, and which ones are not. The best brands care to reply to user comments on such platforms. They also extend to replying to users on Quora and Reddit.

Always remember that building your community and reputation management contributes to the success of your app. The better you are at responding to criticism; the better will be your image in front of users.

5. Don’t forget to Invest in the App from a Marketing standpoint-

Even if your app is great, it would need exposure. It is only when people start discovering your product, will they understand, how good it is or not. This is where most brands and agencies fail to market their app.

They tend to spend most of their money in developing the app and running download campaigns. A good strategy would be to work with Social Media Influencers and popularise the app. While this may involve some additional marketing spends, the returns will be significantly higher.

6. Don’t make an app just for the sake of it-

No matter how cool creating an app for your brand sounds like, if it does not solve a purpose, there is no need for it. There are millions of apps on Google and Apple stores. People are only downloading apps, which they feel are good.

Figure out how your app will help improve a particular problem or situation of a user. How can you stand apart from your competitors, or how you can streamline someone’s schedule? If you feel that your app can do that, go ahead and create one. If not, please go back to the drawing board.

7. Don’t get impatient-

An app, which has millions of download, did not reach there overnight. The makers invested a lot of time, effort and money to make it useful for their audiences. If you get a slow start, do not worry.

Try to improve on the product and think of innovative ways of marketing it. If you follow the right strategy, you will start seeing some traction with your app. The key is to give it some time before you think of pulling the plug.

Conclusion

No matter how great app development sounds, it does not come without its due share of problems. Overcoming the problems and avoiding the seven above mistakes will ensure that your app development process is successful and productive.

Author Bio

Mashum Mollahis an entrepreneur, founder, and CEO at Viacon, a digital marketing agency that drive visibility, engagement, and proven results. He is a passionate blogger and blogs at MashumMollah.com.