One wants to build a mobile app because one wants something out of it. It could be a social, business, financial, personal, or even political motive. The app development process is analogous to mining diamonds. While getting the diamonds out to the right buyers is what mobile app marketing is all about. The best mining is not worth it if the mined diamonds have no buyers, and having the best contacts to sell to is not going to help if you cannot mine diamonds in the first place!
Our clients come to us with specific concerns related to the development process. Some are unique concerns and others are common. Although the development process is a crucial step, it takes more than great development to launch a successful mobile app.
By avoiding the misconceptions outlined in this post, companies can feel more prepared and confident for the entire mobile app development process, from initial brainstorming to promoting the final product.
Misconception #1: One Platform Is Enough
There’s a popular belief in the app development world that you only need to make an app for one platform. But the fact is, only developing for one platform limits your market value and may sabotage the goals you set for your app.
According to a study by IDC, Android dominated the 2015 Q2 smartphone market with a share of 82.80 percent. But that doesn’t mean that you should ignore the other platforms. iOS is also a contender, with a 14 percent market share, followed by Windows and BlackBerry.
Therefore, it would be a mistake to devote yourself to one platform. Building versions of your app for multiple platforms not only help your app reach more mobile users but also saves you money. Thus, develop your app for different platforms.
Misconception #2: Mobile App Development Is A Simple Process:
This is not quite as true as you think. We’ve seen very talented teams crank out high-quality apps in months. We have seen developers spend anywhere from 4 to 12 months on more complex projects. Creating high-quality applications calls for expertise and time. Some apps, such as game applications demand rich graphics and more time for conceptualization and development. Just because a mobile app is smaller than a desktop application, does not mean that it is necessarily less expensive and less complicated to develop.
Misconception #3: Cool Features Make An App Great
Contrary to the opinion of some a bunch of great features does not make an app great. With new apps and great features coming out every day, it can be easy to get wrapped into feature hype. It is important to be able to differentiate between a feature and a benefit. No matter how cool some app features are, a mobile application is purpose-driven. If it does not offer the user a smoother and better experience, it will not be used. An app has to have a good experience and a great core function in order to be successful.
Misconception #4: Mobile App Development Is Cheap
Many businesses mistakenly think that app development is a one-time investment. According to mrc-productivity, these companies focus solely on development costs and ignore the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).
But creating an app is just the first step in a long journey. A simple iPhone app would cost between 1,000 and $4,000 to develop. Apps with enticing design cost around $10,000. According to Savvyapps, the full cost to develop even a simple app starts at around $25,000. The prices also vary from overseas developers to US-based mobile app developers.
Misconception #5: Assuming Mobile App Design Is An Easy Task
Creating high-quality mobile app design calls for expertise and time. Just because a mobile app is smaller than a desktop application, does not mean that it is necessarily less expensive and less complicated to develop. Some apps, such as game applications demand rich graphics and more time for conceptualization and development.
Tips For Approaching App Development
Now that you’ve learned to avoid these common misconceptions, we can look ahead to some additional strategies for developing a successful mobile app.
We encourage all of our clients to consider their monetization strategy from day one. Just as the discovery phase can yield valuable insights for marketing, including the monetization strategy from the beginning can ensure that the app design supports a client’s financial goals.
Additionally, clients should remember to take advantage of beta testing and a soft launch. Both of these strategies serve as an important way to collect user feedback, allowing our developers to make final tweaks to the design before going full throttle into the highly competitive market.
By discussing as many details as possible before beginning development, coming up with a strong and data-driven marketing plan, and testing a simple design before officially launching an app, QSS Technosoft is not only about converting ideas into reality, it helps clients launch their apps with purpose and confidence.
