FAQs for App Development Beginners

If you are creating a mobile app for the very first time, you may have a few questions about the process. 

Here are some the most frequently asked questions:

The idea

Most people come up with one idea that they want to pursue, but if you have many ideas, then you should not limit yourself. Many successful businesses have succeeded by following multiple ideas.

Prototyping 

Start by putting your idea down on paper as soon as possible. Search for good prototyping tools on the web and create an in depth, screen by screen prototype of your app. One of the most popular prototyping tools for app designers is inVISION, but there are many others available too.

App Development

Once you are clear about all the requirements, decide whether you want to develop the app yourself or outsource the work. If you are developing the app yourself, you need to learn app development. 

Outsourcing vs In-house development

If you are not developing the app yourself, then you will need to also think about whether you want to make the app in-house or outsource and in case of outsourcing, you need to find choose a company that can do the design and development. A few of the most popular products out there were outsources in their preliminary stage and then brought in house. Examples include fab.com, Alibaba, Digg and Skype. 

Go to market

The best way to know if the customers will like your app is to get to the marketplace fast with a prototype. Don't wait around to make a complete app with all the current features.

Native or Hybrid app

Next you will need to decide if you want to develop a native or hybrid app. Native apps offer the best performance and use the native capabilities of your device. Their cost of development is also higher because of the specialised skills required. In the every app is different and you will need to weigh the pros and cons of each approach and see which works best for you.

Milestones

Make sure you have a milestone and try and keep the cost down initially. Your aim should be to get your product in the hands of the customers as soon as possible. Once there is traction and continuos demand for your product, you can bring the development and maintenance in house. 

Monetisation Strategy

Decide early on how you are going to monetise your app. Will your app be free or paid? Alternatively you may monetise through advertising or in-app purchases. Subscription is also an option and is recommended for news, books and music apps.

App Submission

If you are submitting your app to the Apple App Store, then you need to register as a developer and pay a $99 annual fee. To submit Android apps, you need to pay $25, which  allows you to submit unlimited number of apps for life.

App Marketing

While the app store search engine will help people find your app, it certainly is not enough.

Here are some other things you can do to market your app: 

Get third party endorsements. Reviews from technology bloggers also help spread the news about your app. You must also try and secure press coverage.

Feedback

Once your app has been submitted, you will need to gather feedback from the users and improve your app accordingly. This is made possible by using analytics tools such Flurry and 

Once your app is in the hands of your customers, you will need to get their feedback and improve the app features accordingly. When developing the app, ensure app analytics such a Flurry and Google Analytics for Mobile apps.

Getting started with small business app development

Developing a mobile app has turned from an option into a requirement. Especially in this day and age where everyone is constantly on their phones, mobile apps are necessary for any business. However with the millions of apps standing out is tough. Understanding the crowded marketplace and creating a massive following is a challenge and here are some general tips, guides, and suggestions on creating and maintaining a successful mobile app.

1. Find the right mobile app developer and designer

Creating an app isn't as hard as it was 6-7 years ago. There are many trained and experience app designer and developers who are up for the task. In addition to them, there are tons of Youtube videos that you can use to your advantage to successfully create the app you want. Additionally, you will find many blogs posts and forums such as Reddit, that will give you helpful advice. Depending on the route you decide to take, this can range between $200-$2000USD: stated by pcmag.com. Speaking of money, here is the second tip you should know.

2. Know your budget

When deciding to create their first mobile app, small businesses don't know the correct budget. Most small business owners don't have a clue on how much certain features cost or how much money should be charged depending on complexity. Consequently, most are overcharged and never know; it's a priority to do research on how much certain features should cost so you won't be scammed out of your money.  A lack of knowledge of the technical aspects of app development is the gravest mistake a small business can make. Software developers and designers will take advantage of this faux pas and overcharge you for some of the simplest features to input. 

3. Know your requirements

Having a well-constructed idea of what you want and most importantly what you need, will not only help you but communicate with designers so they can create your perfect application. This is why it is important to know and research the cost of making an app and the various features it might have.   the idea of doing research on the expenses of creating an app. This can save you both time and money.

4. Know how to maintain the app.

Knowing the basics of maintaining a functional server is important, in the unfortunate case of a server crash or an unexpected hack. You don't have to be a database expert to know how to reconnect your SQL servers but it does require some knowledge. Knowing how to govern your app, and keep it running smoothly, will have to be solved by you sometimes. It isn't for certain that your app team will be available and sometimes you will have to solve problems for yourself. This is why having some in house technical knowledge is important.

5. Make a Profit.

Most apps don't break even, believe it or not and small business apps have a hard time generating a profit. Considering this, knowing your targeted market and why they will find your app useful is important. Do your research and be sure that people will find a real use for your app. In addition, make sure they will pay money for the operation of your app that is connected to your small business. Even if you can't sell something on your app, be certain that the app will generate buzz around your small business.

6. Choose the right platform

Choosing between iOS or Android depends on your targeted demographic. Android applications users are more global but there is more fragmentation and a large range of devices at different costs while iOS devices are all expensive. While you might get more engagement with an Android app, iOS users tend to pay more for apps. It's pretty safe to say that iOS generate s more revenue than Android. If that does not convince you, creating an iOS app is cheaper than developing for Android. Obviously, developing on the iOS platform is 10x smarter and more economical than Android. So when is it smart to use Android? Only develop on Android if you want to target more users as it has a much larger global market share. 

One great article to better understand which to choose from is http://savvyapps.com/blog/android-vs-ios-which-platform-to-build-for-first. 

Conclusion

Creating an app that will generate you a profit for your small business isn't easy, but following these steps will guarantee you success in your business venture. Good luck brave entrepreneur and enjoy the journey!