Developing an App today in 10 Steps
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More than 3 billion people worldwide use a smartphone (Source: Statista/number-of-smartphone-users-worldwide). Smartphones have made our life so easy, that every service that we want is just an app away. With the growing use of smartphones, people have been coming up with many ideas for developing an app.
We are sure you must also have an app idea at one point in your life. But what did you do about it? Do you know, one good idea can become a great business opportunity and you can earn a lot of money. Then why waste your idea? You can find a lot of app building programs, but that is not enough. Developing an app is not a game; it requires a lot of planning and work.
So, let us discuss some steps which will guide you on how to develop your app and bring your idea into reality.
1. Set a clear objective
The first step is to set a clear objective as to what do you want to achieve, and how will you achieve it? In other words, you must plan out a blueprint mentioning the use of your app and how it is going to help people, the look of your app and finally making people aware of it. Well-defined goals and objectives will keep you focused on your work and you would not deviate from it.
2. Developing an app is about to plan and to process
It is not just about coding, but before that, there are a lot of things that need to be done. So, after you plan your objectives, the next step is to plan a flow-chart or a diagram based on your objectives. You can give words or pictures to your idea and plan it in a way that will ultimately lead you to your goal. Make a flowchart on how you’ll offer your app (free or paid), decide on the marketing of your app to the target audience.
3. Do you think that your idea is unique?
Do you really feel that you are the only one that came up with the idea? If you think this way, then you may be wrong. There are a lot of people who may have come up with the same idea, so before getting started with the working of your app you need to search for your competitors.
If the competitor has an app with the same idea, it is not necessary that you have to drop your idea, you can look for your competitor’s loopholes and shortcomings through app reviews and improve your app.
Next, you need to do market research for selecting your target market as mentioned above. And then lastly you can research your app designs. There are many websites available for doing that.
4. The flowcharts
This step is the most important one. The flowcharts that you prepared for your app, now need to take digital form. In other words, you need to prepare a skeleton for your app, in technical terms it is called a Wireframe. Research for some tools and create your wireframe with icons and functions.
5. App functionality
Once an outline of your app is digitalized, the next step now is to work on the functionality of your app. There are app developing programs that will help in creating data diagrams for you. It is very important that your data diagrams are relevant and give proper direction to your app development.
6. Data diagrams and Feedback
Once, data diagrams are prepared, the next important thing is for you to get feedback on your work. It does not have to be the users yet. You can take feedback from your mentor, family, or friends who you trust would give constructive feedback. It is important to double-check your app structure with people in your team before adding designs to it.
7. Set up Server and Database
Then comes the main step in developing an app, wherein the app developer set up the server and database. Once it is done make sure to test your app for any problems and resolve them then and there. Also, create Apple and Google accounts to list your app for people to see it.
While you work on the feedback received…
Many people download an app just because it looks attractive. So, the user interface needs to be made catchy and should be easy to use. Do remember the feedbacks you received and use them while working on the designs of your app. The more appealing your app looks, the more people would download it.
8. App Testing
App testing is very very important. Both the interface and functioning of the app needs to be tested. The app should look good enough to attract attention and should be easy to use so that even a technophobic person can use it.
Once you have tested the app thoroughly and seen the app functioning properly, then it is again time for some feedback. Now that the app has fully developed the same people who tested the app earlier will do the same. You have to prepare yourself to make some changes based on the feedback received.
9. Live Test
After you are satisfied with the changes made and the functioning of the app, the next big step is to see how it functions in the live world. Testing the app live requires you to upload it on the device and then you can monitor the progress of your app. But this can only happen if you are doing it on an android device. For doing it on an IOS device, a program called TestFlight is used, which provides a team of testers that review the app.
10. App release and launching
Now comes the most awaited step: Releasing or Launching the app. This is the final step for Developing an App. All your hard work has come to an end, and the world is going to experience it. Such an exciting feeling that must be! Right? You can add your application to App Store and Google Play for people to look for it and download it.
But your work is not done, just because you added your app, marketing the app is a must because the app would not give you any money if people do not know about it. Marketing can be done in many ways like, through digital media, television, or radio.
So, these are the steps that you need to keep in mind before you think of developing an app. Each step is equally important for the successful development of the app. As important it is to follow the steps, it is equally important to make people aware of the app that you created. Because the app would be available on the app store or google play for years and still would not generate any money if people do not even know about the app or its uses.
So, you need to research a lot on the marketing strategies and then your app development process will complete.
