You’ve got an app idea. You’re pumped and ready to get started on development. But before you start coding or hiring a development team, there are a million things to think about. It’s easy to get lost in the details, but don’t worry; we’re here to help!
To help you out, we’ve put together this mobile app development checklist of everything you need to do before launching your new app. Use it as a guide to ensure you haven’t missed any important steps in the process.
So let’s get started!
1. Define your app’s purpose
Sporting a successful app in today’s tech world isn’t as easy as pie, so don’t jump into the competition without thorough preparation. That’s why the first in our mobile app checklist is defining the purpose of your app.
Setting a distinct purpose is essential for your app’s success. It will become the cornerstone of all development choices, whether for a mobile application, a Web SaaS application, or an enterprise solution you make along the way.
To give you a structure on how you can clearly define the purpose of your app to yourself and your team, consider these three questions:
What problem does your app solve?
Start by asking yourself why the app exists in the first place. Remember that your app could enter the mobile app market or be used for your internal purposes.
Who is your target audience?
Knowing who your potential users are will help you tailor the app experience to them. This includes demographics such as age, gender, and geographic area.
What app features do you want to include?
Think of the most important features to help you achieve your app’s goals. The most common app features are a user login system, a search functionality, and social share buttons.
Now that you’ve got an idea of what you want to include in your app, you can move on to the next step.
2. Research the competition and find a niche for your app
Researching the competition and discovering a niche for your app is sure to be an intimidating prospect—but it doesn’t have to be! After all, this essential information holds the key to success.
To get your adventure off on the right foot, start by checking app store ratings: Are there any trends in terms of the top apps or particular types that seem to dominate?
Next is checking the reviews: What do users say they particularly wish an app had? This can help you identify gaps and opportunities.
Finally, look at analytics: What features draw target users in and keep them engaged? With this data collected, you’ll have everything you need to refine and define your own market niche—so get researching!
3. Come up with a catchy name and create an eye-catching icon
Creating an eye-catching app name and icon is key to making your product stand out from the competition. Consider coming up with something that will spark curiosity among users and make them take notice.
We know that it’s easy to say that your app name should be witty and memorable, but how do you actually come up with it? The key is brainstorming!
Brainstorming a list of words associated with the service your app provides can be incredibly helpful for writing captivating names. Asking your family and friends for feedback never hurts either, so start to put together a list of potential names and see which one sticks.
Once you’ve narrowed down possible title choices, focus on fine-tuning an eye-catching icon design to accompany it. Remember that behind every successful app is a remarkable logo.
For instance, the app logo of Canva, an Australian graphic design platform introduced in 2013, is composed of a solid turquoise circle with white script lettering on it. The app’s emblem is a simple yet elegant example of style and sophistication.
Choosing a font, color, and shape is part of the app development process, which aims to attract attention and spark interest. If you want to have your own memorable logo, you don’t have to overthink it. Sometimes, going simple is the best route!
4. Choose the technology to create your app
Next in our mobile app development checklist is choosing the technology that will be best suited for your app.
When considering which technology to choose, there are three factors you have to know first: app platform, programming language, and mobile app framework.
App Platforms
The most popular app platforms today are iOS (Apple) and Android (Google). Each platform has its own development environment, and you have to choose which one is best for your app. Windows Mobile and Blackberry OS are also available options.
Programming Languages
The programming languages for iOS and Android apps are Objective-C (the latest is Swift) and Java, respectively. If you want your app to work on both platforms, you’ll have to use a hybrid language such as HTML5 or JavaScript.
Mobile App Framework
A mobile app development framework is a set of tools that provides all the components and features you need to create an app. Some of the most popular frameworks include React Native, Ionic, and Flutter.
After determining how your own mobile app corresponds with the crucial elements, it’s time to select the technology that will bring your app to life. However, building an app is a learning process, and missteps can’t be avoided on this journey.
As time goes on, your mobile app technology will continue to evolve, and it takes some effort, but it’s worth understanding each option to pick the tech stack that best fits your mobile project.
5. Estimate your budget
Clutch’s app development cost survey in 2017 found that the typical cost to build a meaningful app will likely be more than $5,000 – $10,000 and can get up to more than $30,000.
Despite these surveyed costs, the complexities of your app will greatly impact your budget, whether it is higher or lower. Simply put, if you want to include more features, expect a higher cost. So we recommend that you start researching the prices of different development services to get a better idea of how much your app will cost.
To get into the technical specifics of the app development process, here’s a quick rundown of what you should discuss with your prospective mobile application team in your app budget:
– Development costs
– Design expenses
– App hosting fees
– Third-party API integration costs
– Quality assurance testing fees
– App store submission charges
Once you’ve set a budget for your app and the development process, it’s time to start the search for the right app development team.
6. Find a developer who can turn your vision into reality
Now that you’ve established your budget and crossed out essentials in your mobile app development checklist, it’s time to start looking for a reliable team of Android or iOS app developers who can create your dream app.
You have several options when finding developers, from freelancers to app development agencies. The key is to find the right team for your project who can help you build an app that meets your expectations.
How would you do that? Consider these tips:
– Check out their portfolio and see if they have experience building similar apps.
– Make sure that they’re using the latest technology and frameworks that you’ve decided on.
– Read customer reviews to get the most accurate assessment of their work and customer service.
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions about their mobile app development process. After all, they’re the ones who will help you bring your app to life, so it pays to be picky!
7. Design the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX)
The design phase is integral to creating a successful mobile app. During this stage, your designers will create the look, feel, and flow of your app.
When doing the app’s design, your development team will work on creating the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). The UI is the visual representation of your app, its layout, and its design, while the UX is about how users interact with it.
Therefore, it’s important to ensure that your UX is intuitive, simple, and user-friendly. This means that users should be able to figure out each task quickly and easily. Working with a UI/UX designer to build wireframes and prototypes will help create a smooth user interface.
8. Build a prototype
All mobile apps start with a prototype, which will serve as the first version of your app. It’s used to showcase the basic design and functionality of your app. This will include a few features, but not all of them.
In this part of the app development process, it’s essential to test the prototype with real users and get their feedback. This will help you identify any bugs or areas of improvement.
A prototype will help you see how users interact with your app, so it’s important to get it right. Once your app prototype is ready, you can then start building the actual version of the app.
9. Develop the app’s code
Once you’ve created the UI/UX design, it’s time to move on to the development phase. This is when your team will begin writing the code for your app.
Who should be on your team? Ensure you have talented:
– Front-end developers will create the app’s interface.
– Back-end developers to manage data transfer and develop server-side logic.
– Mobile app developers to write code and integrate APIs.
The code is what makes everything work, so you’ll want to ensure that it’s done properly. This process will take some time, but the end result should be a product that is reliable and runs without issues.
10. Test, test, test! Make sure everything works
It can be a real headache dealing with app crashes even when you ticked all of the right boxes, but with the right testing phase plan in place, you’re quite literally set up for success.
With an API testing strategy, it verifies that the system within your web application or mobile app is working correctly and as advertised—no more sweat or tears! You can divide API tests into different sections so that it’s easy to track your progress. It includes:
– Functional tests: this focuses on the logic of the application and makes sure it stands up to rigorous scenarios
– Performance tests: ensures any user data is processed quickly and efficiently
– Security tests: concentrate on security risks, such as protecting user data from malicious attempts
– Compliance tests: this ensures everything follows set industry regulations
Testing your app can be the longest and most tedious part of developing an app, but it’s essential in determining that everything works as expected. With these tactics in place, you’ll have a comprehensive approach to ensure the quality of your app is up to par!
11. Make a solid marketing plan
Often left out in the app development process, building a solid marketing plan is key to bringing success to your app.
You’ll need to establish who your target market is, which platforms you plan on leveraging, and what content will be most effective for your campaign. You’ll also want to consider advertising, as well as other forms of promotion, such as influencer outreach and email campaigns.
Make sure to track the progress of your efforts, so you can make adjustments as needed. Doing this will enable you to create an effective strategy that will ensure success for your mobile app.
12. Launch and monitor everything closely
Finally, it’s time to launch your app! But before you do, it’s important to ensure everything is ready and functioning properly.
Tweaks in your app don’t end after its launch day. It’s important to monitor it closely. This may involve tracking customer feedback, performance analytics, and user engagement—all of which will provide invaluable insights.
This data will help you determine what changes to make if any. It’s also important to keep up on bug fixes and updates to ensure the app remains stable and secure.
And that’s it! You now have a good idea of what it takes to create and launch a successful mobile app. With the right strategy and an eye for detail, you’ll be able to achieve your goals and have a product that users love.
Develop Your Mobile Apps with Us!
Apps are amazing. They can make our lives easier, help us stay connected with friends and family, entertain us when we’re bored, and so much more. But before you can start using or selling your app, you need to create it!
Besides this mobile app development checklist, we also offer app development services!
At StarTechUP, we can help you create a mobile app that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations. Our team of expert developers will work with you to design, develop, and launch your app. We also offer ongoing support, so you can be sure your app is always up and running.
Send us a message so we can get started on your app today!
