The mobile app industry exploded recently into what is practically a new gold rush. Everyone is scrambling to get a piece of the pie, so to speak. Mobile apps have the benefits of relatively short turn over and low cost for initial investment, prompting many amateurs and veterans alike to try their hand at programming.
Your app could even be the next big craze, and even if you don’t strike it rich overnight there is still the potential to turn a healthy profit. Of course, you’ll need to avoid common pitfalls in mobile app design and development to ensure quality returns for the time and effort you invested.
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Mobile App Design: Top 5mistakes to Avoid
1. Going in Naked
If this is your first foray into the world of app development, try to get some experience under your belt before you dive headfirst into the app market. Try designing a mobile website first, to get your first taste of the problems and limitations you will face when it comes time to develop an app for the marketplace. You can even incorporate elements of your app-to-be in a mobile website, and update it as you go to debug and clean things up.
2. Overcomplicating
Many new app developers have a tendency to get too ambitious with their early projects. It’s natural, of course; you have a head full of ideas and you want to get them all out at once. However, beware of making your app too complicated and busy. The most successful apps focus on one simple concept and do it better than competitors. Keeping things simple will have the additional benefit of keeping development time and coding issues to a minimum.
3. Flying Solo
For experienced programmers, developing an app all alone may be an option, but for most it would be a major mistake. If you’re not already acquainted with the various languages and limitations of programming you will find yourself toiling away for countless hours without producing results. If you intend to develop this app on your own, educate yourself as much as possible about programming and start with baby steps. Otherwise, hire a professional developer.
4. Ignoring the Platform
Remember that you’re not creating just any program here. Mobile apps are a whole different animal from usual programming fare. They’re operated by touch screens, they’re meant for short bursts of interaction, and they need to be simple and engaging in order not to be overlooked. Consider every possible complication of the platform. Will cell phone screen protectors inhibit usability? Will users be able to utilize your app while multitasking? Will your app be understandable right off the bat?
5. Inadequate Marketing
Apps don’t get popular on their own. If you expect your app to hit it big and start bringing in profits, you’ll need to raise awareness. This could mean setting up a website where the public can find more information about your mobile app, it could mean creating and promoting Facebook and Twitter pages, or even going viral with your marketing. The particular solution will depend on your particular app, so think long and hard about ideal marketing strategies.
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