The Apple App Store currently offers 1.96 million apps available for download while the Google Play Store offers a staggering 2.89 million apps. If these numbers weren’t baffling enough, mobile apps alone are expected to generate over $935 billion in revenue by 2023. With this tech progression in full swing and the number of startups going up by the second, the right time and technology are of the essence to make your mark in this app revolution. If your big idea is something that can be brought to life with an app, then these are a few common app development mistakes that you can avoid.
Mistake #1: Not Doing Enough Research & Planning
When a brilliant idea strikes, our immediate urge is to start acting upon it. However, with an app, the plan should be to learn more before you create anything. There are many ways you can build an app; with or without a tech background. Once you have a clear goal for your app in mind, you must research a list of requirements. Based on those, research the options you have- from coding it on your own, hiring freelancers, to getting a team of experts from an agency on board. The right plan can not only save time and give you a first mover’s advantage but also save you a lot of money that might have been spent in undoing errors along the way.
Mistake #2: Shortsighted Budget Management
Planning an app’s budget should not just account for its developmental stage. The developmental stage or the first stage is going to be the most time & cost-intensive but it’s not going to be the only cost incurred. A single conversation with a friend or an estimate based on some data available to you, usually won’t be fully accurate. This can lead to one of the most crucial app development mistakes to avoid- incorrect budgeting.
The budgets must account for all the components of app development:
- Business analysis for development
- UI/UX design
- App coding
- Project management
- Cost of customised/added features
- Optimisation costs (For iOS, Android and/or Tablet UI)
- Login, profile, social media linkings & payment integrations
- Integration of latest technology like AI, AR, etc (If relevant)
- Maintenance & development of app post-launch, etc
The list can seem exhaustive and intimidating, but with the right estimates and plans, it’s manageable and achievable. A good place to start is to use an App Development Cost Calculator which gives you an estimate keeping a host of variables in mind.
Mistake #3: Not Creating A Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Your product has some additional features that make it unique or animations & graphics that give it a better recall. But unless your product’s essential functioning and framework are properly in place, no matter how fancy it looks, its usability is pretty low. Any app that seems glitchy or confusing is one that gets uninstalled rather quickly. Starting with your MVP and ensuring that it’s seamless for your entire audience is number one on the list of mobile app mistakes to avoid. This includes checking if the UI/UX flows well, any bugs are taken care of, essential features work without a hitch, etc. Once you are sure that the MVP is ready and then well received, you can start working on upgrades for your app.
Mistake #4: Poor UI/UX Execution
A common app development mistake is that many teams start working on a basic framework and its coding. UI/UX build is mostly derived from existing apps but isn’t custom-built for your needs. As the app comes into form and is put to the test, you might realise that it’s not resonating with the audience, which brings you back to the very initial stage of App Development Planning. At this stage, a UX designer might have to rework the framework and a UI designer would then create a custom design over which the coding will have to be done all over again. Time & money both get consumed in the reworking which is something you can avoid by working on your UI/UX design before the coding process begins. If it’s something that you want to read up about, here’s what UI & UX designers can do for you.
Mistake #5: Not Testing Enough
While developing an app, testing needs to be a continuous process. It is not ideal to be the only test when checking major milestones. To understand this, think of the process as stacking layers. If layer number twelve has a bug and we only test after layer fifteen, we will have to go back and find out at which layer the problem occurred. Then not only do we have to identify and fix the bug on layer twelve but also redo the following layers again. Testing after every step helps keep the process linear and seamless. Bugs and glitches can be removed as they come and user experience can be enhanced quickly & more effectively.
Mistake #6: Building Too Many Features & For Too Many Platforms
The idea needs to be to ensure that the app completes its main functions well. Too many features and functions can not only make it a confusing user experience, but they can also discourage any user who is on it for a specific purpose. These features can also add to the storage space which is one of the major reasons why apps are uninstalled.
Another way you may be wasting time and resources is by building your app for too many platforms. Every platform requires a different set of design and optimisation, so it’s important to build it for where the majority of your audience exists. For example, if your app is something that people can use while on the go, the chances of them using a tab or desktop version of it is going to be highly unlikely. Thus, focusing on mobile versions might be the best bet. In another example, if your app already has competition in the iOS market but no presence in the Android market, you can actually focus on that vacuum and tap the Android market first. So, it’s important to focus on the findings you have from your Business Analysis and build accordingly.
Mistake #7: Replicating Your Mobile Website
If you exist in the digital space, chances are you already have a mobile version of your website. A common app development mistake that many make is that they use the mobile website and build the app exactly like it. What this means to a consumer is that your app provides no additional incentive for them to download and use it. The experience that they have on an app needs to be smoother and can easily be more conversion driven since their entire experience is in our hands versus on a mobile browser. Many companies offer app-only discounts, for example, for this very reason. If your app is exactly like your mobile website, then why will a customer download it and give up precious storage?
Of course, due to orientation and branding, there will be similarities but how the app interacts and adds to their experience is something that should definitely be looked into. Many phone users now use the ‘dark mode’ on their phones. Most of the apps can be optimised to auto-switch to dark mode for a more continuous experience. Whereas, a website can be manually toggled to a dark mode but will never be as seamless as an experience. These little details go a long way in making a customer spend a longer duration on the app and eventually convert at a much higher rate than a mobile website as illustrated by the figures above!
Like anyone starting out, the journey to building your own app will never be a straightforward or easy journey. App development mistakes are going to bump on the way but they aren’t impossible to avoid with the right kind of team and guidance. Whether you decide to embark on this journey alone, hire a team, get freelancers on board or get a team of experts to build you an app that brings your vision to life, avoiding these app development mistakes will keep the process smoother. At Valere, we take our process very seriously to save you hours, money and frustration and get you the app that you wished for. We understand your ideas and your vision in depth to come up with a detailed plan that’s suited to your needs. We lockdown on the most feasible way to bring your vision to life, start researching and then designing & planning the app. Once the framework is set and the design form is approved, the app is coded and tested at every step to ensure a seamless experience. Only once the app meets our rigorous benchmarks at every step, do we consider it ready to be launched to the end-user.
You can learn more about us and what we do on our website. If you wish to learn more about mobile app mistakes to avoid or any such topics, feel free to read through our blogs.
Valere is an award-winning software development agency that has built over 300 top-rated applications for startups and Fortune 500 companies in all verticals like healthcare, finance, sports, fitness, education, and more. Their apps have been featured by the New York Times, and have been consistently recognized as Apple App Store’s top featured apps, TechRadar, and Google Play Store’s top featured apps! Schedule a call with us today to learn how we can help your team create the perfect software or application that can Accelerate Your Business Goals!
