Do any of your friends, family, or co-workers don't have a smartphone? Most probably, no one. It proves the significance of mobile devices in common people's daily lives.
Statista reported that in 2020, global mobile app revenue was a record 581.9 billion dollars. And experts predict that 2022 will see mobile applications generating a revenue of 808.7 billion dollars which will be a new milestone.
Unsurprisingly, small and medium-sized businesses as well as new ventures have joined the race to build mobile apps for business promotion. Mobile applications are self-contained small software built to run on mobile devices.
If you want to transform your vague app idea into a smashing success, you need to do thorough research before you begin. You can start from here.
This blog post is the sum and substance of all you need to know to build an effective mobile application.
Fundamental Steps to Create a Mobile App
Over 3.5 billion mobile phone users tell businesses to start investing in a full-fledged mobile application. As they say, always start with the basics. So, here are the four basic things that will decide whether your app will succeed or fail.
1- Your Unique Value Proposition
There are millions of apps in the market then why should users download your app? You have to give them a reason — your unique value proposition.
Many app developers make the mistake of starting the app building process without defining their UVP. Make a clear, understandable, and concise unique value proposition.
Ask yourself what problem your product will solve or how it will enhance the life of a user. In this way, you will determine the value your application will provide to consumers.
2- Create Objectives and Performance Metrics
Your work doesn't end after creating and launching an app solution. You must set objectives that your brand wants to achieve and keep tracking them.
They could be reaching new audiences, increasing customer engagement, or earning revenue. Also, establish clear key performance metrics such as crash reports, load speed, retention rate, etc.
3- Create a User Persona
Clarify your intended user, their pain points, requirements, and the major problem your app will solve. Determine the value you want to deliver with your solution and why you think consumers will appreciate your effort.
4- Determine the Feature Set
Try to limit your app to as few features as possible. Users often get confused with too many functionalities. Just add the necessary ones that will solve your users’ major pain point and other side features revolving around that same pain point.
5- Ensure Data Protection
Your mobile application will contain important customer data. If a hacker breaks into your app and steals this information, customers will never trust your business again.
In simple words, don't compromise on your app’s cyber defense. Clearly, define the actions you will take to make your app impenetrable.
6- Determine Data Usage
You will gain loads of information about users with your application. Think about the ways to make the most of that data to help your company grow.
Startups often use gathered user information to obtain market insights, set behavioral trends, market new products, and interact with customers.
7- Select a Monetization Method
Monetization refers to converting an asset into an income. If your mobile app doesn't generate more revenue than the expenses, it will fail. On the flip side, if your user base generates more value than your app spending, your app will be a success.
Monetization Methods for Mobile Apps
You should figure out a monetization method for your application otherwise, your app will go bankrupt. Here are some of the top ways in which businesses generally monetize their app products.
1- Subscription
Software-as-a-service or SaaS companies often opt for a subscription model for app monetization. You can gather users and attract them to use the app for the long term with a subscription plan.
In a subscription model, you charge customers for only the features they pick to use and pay monthly or yearly.
2- Freemium
In this method, app owners offer their products for free and charge only for additional features.
Many gaming apps follow this model and offer a free episode to users and charge them for all the other episodes. Some gaming apps are totally free of cost and only charge for extra features.
3- Advertising
In the advertising model, you offer users two options and both will bring in revenue. Either you will charge customers and provide them with an ad-free experience. Or you allow them to download the free version but they will see pop-ups while using it.
4- Transaction Fees
Organizations such as Paypal and Airbnb offer a platform for users to make specific transactions. For each money transfer, the company gathers fees and makes money from them.
5- Create Strong Code
Developers can sell their app’s code for repurposing if the code is robust enough. So, hire a top-notch app development company whose team can create solid code. Then, you can make money from it by reskinning and selling it to other organizations.
Imangi is the founder of the famous game Temple Run. It re-skin its code and sold it to Disney.
6- Affiliate Marketing
An affiliate marketer promotes someone else’s services/products and takes a commission for that.
Suppose you develop a health or financial application. You can collaborate with a life insurance company that wishes to promote specific insurance policies to your app users.
7- Lead Generation
Lead generation involves gathering prospective consumers through online content like articles, coupons, job applications, and surveys, to turn them into paying customers.
What to Consider When Selecting a Tool for Mobile App Development in UAE
If you have researched the tools and technologies related to application development, you know how vast the market is. It is a good thing but so many options often make deciding overwhelming for users.
Usability
App development is a tedious and mind-boggling task and you don't want to add to your hassles with a not-so-intuitive development tool. Make sure that your tool’s interface is easy to use and can function efficiently in line with your expectations.
Also, if you are part of an app development agency’s team, you would be working on extensive mobile applications. Your chosen tool should allow your team to collaborate effectively.
Budget
App development in UAE consists of many components like building the backend, licensing, and launching the app. You would have to spend a lot of money on all these aspects.
So, you have two solutions. The first solution is to hire app developers and pay their hefty charges. If your budget doesn't allow that, try finding an affordable app development agency that has worked in your niche.
The second solution is to create an app on an app builder/no-code platform as they are easy enough for non-technical people too.
This will be cheaper and quicker. This method will allow you to reduce both short and long-term costs for your project.
Data Protection and Integration
A trustworthy development software should include security features to make sure your app remains protected from cyber attacks during the development and after going live.
Luckily, there are loads of development tools for Android and iOS which provide foolproof security as per the expectations of modern-day developers.
Moreover, your development tool should be able to integrate with other services and systems. This feature will enable an intuitive frontend and a safe backend. Fast and seamless integration is a must-have feature for development tools to make the process of app building smooth for developers.
Deployment
Your chosen tool should be accessible, functional, and scalable enough to allow for seamless deployment. First, understand how it enables users to upkeep the application and implement updates that usually need substantial resources.
Remember that an effective app-building tool will help you create a customized product but it can impact deployment, affecting the app’s functionality.
So, you should elaborate on the extent of control you wish to have over your application. Also, determine the extent to which you could tailor the deployment process.
How to Make Mobile App Development in UAE Effective?
Outsourcing to Companies Who Charge Affordable Prices
App development asks for a hefty amount of money which is mostly out of budget for small and medium-sized businesses. This is why we see many startups taking the services of an app development company based in Asia and eastern Europe.
These countries are cheaper for living which is why they work at affordable prices. On top of that, outsourcing agencies have brilliant minds with specializations in various fields.
Furthermore, when you hand over your app-building project to a company, they will handle all its aspects from A to Z. And you will get plenty of time for doing what you are good at — focusing on your business.
Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is Key to Success
Prototypes, Proof of concept, and MVPs help a mobile app to succeed. By reducing the worry of bad app building, a minimum viable product makes the design process much more efficient.
An MVP lets an application development company only focus on the top functionalities to release an MVP. It also stops excess features to distract developers.
When developers create and launch small app products each cycle, they are able to spot issues and solve them immediately.
As we have already discussed, the chances are very high for a new app to fail. So, the trick is to first experiment with the technical possibility of your app’s concept, acquire consumer suggestions, and learn from the feedback.
Security Testing
As for any tech product, security is crucial for mobile applications. Cybercriminals are constantly improving their skills so, never make the mistake of thinking they can’t breach your application.
But don't worry, there are plenty of effective mobile app security tools that can safeguard your product at each cycle and after it is launched. Try to find security tools that can be easily installed, don't mess with the structure, and act almost independently.
It's crucial to deliver the most robust apps regarding security to your customers. Users like apps that provide a real-time cyber defense to avoid bugging, malware, delays, and data breach.
Some Tips for Businesses Who Want to Build Their App
Testing is the Key
Don't make the mistake of underestimating the significance of testing. As a small business trying hard to keep costs under the budget, testing can help you in lowering costs. The sooner you spot a bug, the low cost it will be to solve.
Try to Provide Offline Support
Don't think that your users will always have internet access. Users are frustrated if an application doesn't work without an internet connection.
There are various usable apps in the market that provide offline experience and people love the ease they offer.
Incorporate Modern Features
Mobile devices now often have GPS, cameras, Bluetooth support, and accelerometers. Use these things in your product to make it more attractive for users.
Simplicity Is the Best Policy
Computers have become highly advanced therefore, developers are creating sophisticated applications for them. However, mobile phones and tablets often don't have the resources allocated to laptops and desktops. Easy user interface,
Also, smartphones often function on slower networks. Thus, you should use simple screens and an easy to use interface in your app. Also incorporate grid like formats that allows users to tap rather than scrolling.
Build for smaller devices
If you first develop and design an app for laptops first, it becomes very complicated to shrink it to fit to smaller screens. On the other hand, if you first build an app solution exclusively for smartphones, you can always build up from there to make your app also look good on desktops/laptops.
Bottom Line
Nothing beneficial in this world comes at an easy price. You will have to work hard and take risks to create a mobile app for your business. Though the journey can be intimidating and tedious, you should not drop the idea of building an app.
A functional and user friendly application can boost your brand awareness, increase your customer engagement, help you find new target markets and earn revenue. In a nutshell, a mobile app can reward you in multiple ways.
If we try to summarize, a successful mobile app depends on these four core aspects:
- A full grown concept that can be elaborated in a sentence
- Regular communication with prospective app consumers
- Experienced and talented designers and app developers who team up to optimize user experience and design.
- Regular upgrades and advancements to avoid app staleness
As a business, you would need to create an app sooner or later as the number of smartphone users is skyrocketing. It's better that you take action today to confirm your solid online presence.
