Has it ever happened that you woke up one day with an idea that could prove to be helpful in solving or assisting with day to day problems?An idea that is so original that you can’t wait to share with the world.
The next thought would certainly have been to materialise it into a mobile app useful for the world and in doing so you join the league of entrepreneurs too. While conceiving and building up on the idea require hard-work,implementing that idea is where the real challenge begins. To help you out with this,here is a step by step guide on how to create a mobile app.
Step 1: Define your idea
The foremost and most important step is to clearly state the idea of the app. This includes stating the purpose , limitations , target audience and usability of the app. Also make sure to check if there aren’t any apps in the market with a similar goal and if yes then you need to define how your app is better or different from those.
Step 2: Start Sketching
The next step is to draw. Sketch the interface design of your app by defining the features , positions of the buttons and the navigation. This will give you a visual idea of the layout and features of the app.
Step 3: Research
Now that the layout is in place , you need to do some research. Your research should be able to answer the following questions:
- Are there similar apps in the market? If yes then why and how is your app different from them?
- What is your customer base?
- What are the technical requirements of your app?
- Have you found the developer with the required technical skills and experience?
- And finally how will you be marketing and monetising your app?
Step 4: Create Wireframes
Now that you have clarity on the features and functionalities of the app,its time to put the details into action by creating a mock or prototype of your app. There are a number of tools available for this online. You can review your menus and navigation from the prototype and build storyboards. This will give you a clear picture in form of a roadmap. Make
Step 5: Test the prototype
Once you have defined the flow and features,it is now time to test it. Get your app reviewed by friends , colleagues and peers to see it. This will give you a first hand review of any features or functionalities you would’ve missed out or any features which would improvise the app.
Step 6: Design the skins and test again
It is finally time to design the app based on the wireframes and recommendations received during the prototype testing. This is a critical step since this will be the working model of your app. Once the design and development is completed, it is time to test it again.
Step 7: Create developer accounts
To be able to sell your app,you need to register on the respective app stores. With a nominal charge , you can create developer accounts on Google play, apple store and other platforms.
Step 8: Integrate analytics
Analytics help to track the traffic flow to your app. It helps to track number of downloads, usage and retention of your app.
Step 8: Publish
It is now time to finally release your app to the app stores. While some stores have approval process , you can release your app to others without any further review.
Step 9: Market and Socialise
Once the app is out in the market it is important to let people know about your app. Have a social media presence and with PPC, PPV and blogs you can drive traffic to your app.
Step 10: Maintenance and Enhancements
App once published , needs to b e monitored for feedback from the users. Implement the recommendations if suitable and make sure you introduce regular enhancements to maintain the usability of the app for your users.
Read more about how to create a mobile app on huffingtonpost.com
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