Pre-Development Factors in App Building

The mobile app market is highly competitive & as per reports, there are approximately 2.87 million apps on the Google Play Store and 1.96 million apps on the Apple App Store. Developing a unique app to meet specific goals is not enough anymore. It is getting harder for apps to stand out, while the investment in creating an app is getting more significant in terms of time and money.

Jumping into the mobile app development bandwagon without a preliminary survey and understanding the market can be costly and even a brand-damaging mistake.

Key Factors in the Pre-Development Atage of App Building:-

1. Ideation stage:- The app objective should be clear to ensure that the idea behind the app is worth pursuing and is worth the time, effort & investment. Whether the app is being developed from a consumer or an enterprise point of use, the objectives behind the app have to be identified.

• What is the objective of the app and what gap is it helping to fill?
• App target users?
• What results will the app help in achieving?
• USP or the core appeal of the app. What is the differentiating factor of the app?
• Competitor analysis. Is the app that is being developed better to use and does it solve issues that a competitor app may have

• Investment analysis.
• Marketing the app. What would be the promotional strategy?

2. Market research:- forms the second leg of the development journey. It helps identify the interest or need for the app. It gives an insight into the market requirement and modifications, if any, are needed. Some advantages of market research are -

• Identifying the target audience or customers.
• Get an market overview of competitor apps.
• Helps in app assessment prior to development and launch.
• Identifying business opportunities.
• Find the actual market requirements, needs and demands for the app.

3. Wireframe:- A wireframe is a type of blueprint for the application and provides a clear overview of page structure, layout, information architecture, user flow, functionality and intended behavior. Some of the steps in wireframing are -

• Mobile frame:- Helps ensure that the structure has the dimensions of the actual device. The frame acts as a natural constraint, helping to avoid too many elements in one screen.
• Design pattern - Familiarity of user interface design helps users interact with an app. iOS and Android have native design patterns that help simplify the design process.
• Ensuring that the content scales well - This helps ensure that the design looks and feels consistent across different models and platforms.

4. App type:- Some technical decisions have to be made early on and choosing between native, hybrid, or web app helps in the development and maintenance process. The ideation or core purpose and market research can help fix the app type.

Native apps are ideally suited to heavy-duty tasks like gaming, photos, and videos and are more expensive to develop. Web apps are suited for easy updates but don't require access to the device's native abilities and can be developed at lower costs.

Hybrid apps offer the best of both worlds and use the same code for both platforms. They can access device features and can also live in the app stores. These apps are the ideal choice for most app goals and purposes, including productivity, utility and enterprise apps.

5. Monetization:- An app represents the business and plays a role in the industry and revenue stream. Some apps may serve as a resource for the client base, while others may be used to generate revenue. App monetization can be done in various ways, like premium apps, paid apps, in-app purchases, subscriptions, in-app ads, and sponsorships.

Each path or type can have its advantages and disadvantages & it's essential to clearly understand the app's role in monetization and revenue generation. This understanding can help steer the app development in the right direction.

6. Pre-launch:- One element that affects an app's success is the preparation to market. A marketing campaign before app development can help create a buzz and anticipation in the target audience. It is a great way to generate and retain interest and excitement for the app before its official launch.

Some steps for the pre-launch can be -

Define branding; the name, colors, logo & tone of content can set the app apart from other apps.

Find the channels to which the target audience is tuned, like social media, emails, or videos.

The channels for targeting the audience can help decide the content that the audience craves.

Start outreach and use influencers to start selling the app.

7. App store optimization:- The market research, purpose and marketing strategy primarily affect the app store optimization strategy. App store optimization is the key to discoverability in the app store. It is imperative to respect the app store requirements and best practices and use them to show what the app offers using its visuals, features and distinct purpose.

Key elements for app store optimization are

• App names:- should be easy to spell and pronounce, unique & descriptive.
• Keywords:- apply only to Apple and Apple gives extra space to specify the search terms relevant to the app for the app metadata.
• Icon:- can be designed with a clear color palette with a simple clear concept.
• Screenshots:- should be used to leverage caption texts to tell the app story and its benefits.
• Description:- Should be clear and concise to convey the key points and highlight the benefits.
• Preview video:- should be short and to the point.

In conclusion, these are some steps that can be taken to ensure an app's success in the long run. Connecting with custom Android app development services can help create a roadmap for app development that can resonate with the app's needs and the company's values.