Do so many successful apps around you tempt you? Do you want to build a great app by following the examples of any of these apps? Are you serious or laugh at the mere thought of building an app on your own? Wait, there's nothing to laugh about. You can create a great app without spending a fortune.
Let's assume that you are a developer and at least have some idea to work on an app development project. In that case, your job gets a bit easier. But even if you don't know about coding, there are several Do-It-Yourself (DIY) app builder tools to help you build an app without writing a single line of code.
Here we provide a step by step guide to building a mobile app.
Your app development project must have clearly defined objectives, and it must begin with an app idea based on a particular solution to a problem. Since every app appears as a solution to one or several user problems, you need to develop an app solution for some problems users face in real life.
At the next step, you need to look for other apps offering similar solutions to these user problems and accordingly decide how your idea can be tweaked to deliver a better solution for the user problems. When you have come with a clear app idea validated by the users and competitive market research, you can go ahead with the idea and shape your app.
When it comes to validating the app idea through audience and market research, you need to take the help of established pathways and validation methods. Remember, however revolutionary the app idea appears to you, there must be a market that needs the app.
If the app is rolled out for the existing customers of your business, you can talk to the customers and seek their opinion. It is always better to come with some basic app wireframes or mock-ups to peruse a selected group of customers.
Apart from reaching out to existing customers, you can always conduct surveys, interviews of people who are likely to interest in your app and the industry influencers who can give valuable opinions based on their experience with similar apps. Hiring a market survey company specialised in the identical survey can also do justice to the validation process.
Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is the app development approach that only incorporates basic and elementary app features defining the essential app function and intended purpose while removing all additional features, UX design attributes and content.
This approach aims to roll out a neat and relevant app version in the beginning and then, based upon user feedback making further value additions through features and additional app content. The approach is popular because it can reduce the initial development cost while dealing with the risk of faulty development and course correction.
It is understandable that the MVP approach suits any new app project, whether on the iOS or Android platform. Android app developers mainly prefer this approach as they need to address a diverse ecosystem of smartphone devices. MVP approach helps to take a very meticulous development approach measured through steps and minimises risks.
Now that you have outlined the entire app product with the core app idea and essential features for the MVP app, it is time to create design mock-ups for the app project. For design mock-ups either you can make rough sketches of the app screens. There are also several wireframe design tools to help you glide through this step quickly.
When designing the app screens, always give attention to the typical user interface differences between iOS and Android platforms. Consider the app flow and navigation involving several buttons, menu items and actionable elements. Ensure easy single-handed scrolling and access to on-screen content and controls with the thumb, as most users habit of holding the device single-handedly.
After the design mock-ups are complete, it's time to get into the development stage and build the app through steps. It is always great if you can hire expert developers for the project and can afford the cost. If local hiring is expensive, you can always opt for outsourcing development companies from other parts of the world where development cost is low and affordable.
Alternatively, you can always hire freelance developers who are likely to offer a highly competitive cost. But freelancers have their risks and vulnerabilities for hiring, and you need to use the appropriate safeguards to stay clear of these risks.
The last credible option for a new app project is to use an app builder that involves no coding. Many of these ready to use development tools allow you to build apps with simple drag and drop commands and come with a whole array of design templates to suit the design requirements of your app.
While the basic versions of most of these tools come as free, for advanced features and full support, you need to go for premium versions. The premium and paid tools generally charge a monthly subscription fee for building and running the app on the platform.
Conclusion
So, as you have seen in the above explanation, building an app is not rocket science if you know the tested and tried steps and the processes. There is a lot to learn as you go through the app project, and this learning will help you manage the app further and come with value-added updates.
