When we speak about mistakes that developers can make when developing an app, it is not so much
about the technical errors that they may make when they are coding, but more so concerns the practices that they might indulge in that prove to be an additional burden affecting the quality of their work.
We know the mobile app industry is competitive and saturated with 2.85 M apps in Google Play and 1.85 M in Apple’s App Store. So you get the idea that you really need to step up your game and not just rely on good idea alone.
Along with following a process, doing your adequate research, you need to understand that there are certain mistakes you should steer clear of when developing an app.
However, before diving into the details, what are the obvious reasons that lead the app to failure. Beware, when you are dealing with a mobile app, you simply cannot forget about users and their needs.
So, what are those common reasons of a mobile app failure?
- A terrible user experience.
- The app does not resolve users’ pain points.
- Poor or confusing visual design of the product.
Let’s explore the reasons why an app or most apps for that matter, completely fail to achieve the targets and objectives they were launched for. Much of it surrounds the user experience; which should be impeccable to win over the audience.
Anyhow, here are the mobile app development mistakes you can avoid.
1) Not investing much in user research
Since during the initial phases majority of the mobile app’s features and scope is assumed. This is why these assumptions are required to be tested and authenticated. Otherwise, you are creating an app based completely on non-factual data that can prove to be nowhere near the reality once the app is launched and fails.
This is why, it is imperative to make sure you do the adequate user research and interview 5-10 prospective users to know your target audience better along with their requirements.
Once you have the user data in your hand, you know which feature to maximize on and invest more in. So, make sure you are not skipping on user feedback and potential users. Moreover, once you have a prototype ready, you should include these users again for a usability test.
2) Copying other apps
As much as it is understandable to take the route that an app already took, it doesn’t mean that it will work for you. It is important to find your own niche and find your app’s individuality. If you want to do great as a product then you need to make sure what you are offering is A) hasn’t been offered yet by anyone, or B) is a much refined version of what is already out there in the market.
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You need to understand that as much as mobile apps have an outstanding number to show for their increasing demand in terms of downloads; you also need to understand that majority of the apps downloaded are abandoned or hardly used.
3) Too many animations
It’s great to have an interactive design that makes the user experience an enjoyable ride. However, too many of them will only make your app become heavy leading to app deletion because of limited storage. Not to mention too many animations is quite annoying and will leave users no choice but to delete the app entirely and look for other options.
4) Too many features or a lack of
Another thing that never pans out great is including too many features in the hopes of making your app ‘feature-rich’. As great as it may sound, the users end up being confused or distracted as to what to achieve in the first place.
Similarly, having very few features will make your app look lacking. So, strike a balance and depending on your business model, choose your core features and additional features. Then, decide which one will you include in the first launch and which ones will come after as the mobile app progresses.
For example, let’s assume you are following a freemium model. This model enables you to have a certain section of your app completely free while the premium features can be unlocked on a certain price that can be monthly or yearly plan. Next, you need to carefully select core features that you would include in your free version allowing everyone using it to achieve their goals. The more advanced features that refine the overall purpose can be sold on a premium price.
5) Not keeping up with the market changes
When you are developing an app, you need to do your research as a UI/UX developer. The market of mobile apps and consumer trends change with the growing technology and time. So, it is best to add functionalities that are in-use and enjoyed by the users.
Otherwise, your app will be left behind and discarded. So, developers need to stay alert and keep improving the user-experience bringing their audience with what is ‘hot’ and required.
Taking the example of a professional mobile app development company in Dallas, they take extra precaution when they are doing their user and market research. This phase of intense research makes them capable of curating apps that are in-line with not just their users’ demands but also with the market trends to keep their client’s mobile app on par with the competitors’.
Wrapping Up
So far, we have learned that following:
- Keep animations to a limit, even if you are having too much fun incorporating them into the app.
- Make sure your app isn’t crowded with features or completely lacking with good ones.
- Make sure you are aware of your users’ pain points, demands, and preferences.
- Do your market research so you would know which features to include in order to keep up with trends and changes.
Lastly, pay special attention to usability testing before launch. It is best to prioritize real user feedback regarding your app and make changes accordingly. This way you are saved from the additional cost of making the changes afterward when someone complains about it on the app store’s feedback section. So, good luck!
