A lot of guys come to me asking me about the ‘know-how ‘for building mobile apps. Some even want an app of their own out of the idea they have got last night! I am sure you have got an idea of yours too.
It really seems that we are moving toward an ‘app economy. With a billion-plus population having an android phone in their hands, the world seems to be heading towards an ‘app revolution’.
The internet too is flooded with lengthy articles telling you all about the latest emerging technologies in the mobile app industry.
However, what they miss is the wisdom to tell the factors to consider when opting for those technologies. They surely do have the answer to ‘why’ but not to the ‘how’.
And it is the ‘How’ thing that troubles us most instead of ‘why’ and ‘what’ even outside the technological sphere.
Most of you reading this blog I assume are budding startup entrepreneurs or individuals who are planning to launch their own applications on the mobile phone. Well, I shall first wish you good luck with your entrepreneurial journey.
I have written this blog for that non-technical guy who wants to start an online business or scale his existing physical business through a mobile application.
Hope this piece of information somehow helps him in whatever path he chooses for himself.
Now when it comes to building a mobile application, there are some non-technological factors that must be given due consideration before even jumping to the actual app development process.
Table of Contents
I am highlighting these factors by posing a few questions before you:
What Does Your App offer To Customers?
The question can also be put like this – Which I Am Making This App For?
Yes! This should be the first thing that demands your attention even before the ‘budget thing’. You should figure out what your app offers to the public if brought on their mobile phones.
Whether a similar app is already in the market?
Am I offering something new?
Is my app a solution to a problem which is not yet solved successfully?
What changes will it bring to the life of people who uses my app?
These are some of the questions which you must put to rest before launching your own mobile application. In short, you must be clear in your mind about the app’s utility.
Who Is My Target Audience?
After deciding on the feasibility of the app, the next thing you must figure out is your app’s target audience. Remember your app must target a specific section of a population by providing something niche.
By section I mean not just a particular age group but it can be a particular population segment that is associated with common behavioral or interest patterns.
Providing something niche to them will help your app stand out from your competitors.
Who Are The Competitors?
Knowing your competitors on the ground is very important. You must know how many players are there who are in a similar business. Then you must consider your idea’s cost-benefit ratio by pitting it against the competitors on the ground.
At the same time, you must compare what your competitors are offering to the public and how you (app) can be different from your competitors in terms of offering something different.
You can’t afford to lose your hard-earned money or find yourself in a debt trap by ignoring these basic details.
NOW THE TECHNOLOGY PART: REACT NATIVE Vs NATIVE APPS (iOS & Android)
The technology part involves making many crucial decisions and ensuring the app’s smooth functionality in the days ahead. Some of the important things which are related to the actual app development process which you come across are as follows:
- Decide How To Build Your App:
It is said these days that you can develop your own app even if you don’t know to code.
Yes, this is true but not complete. Because even after somehow building your own app you will need the services of mobile developers to ensure your app’s smooth functionality in the long run.
Therefore to remain in the game it is sensible to join hands with a budget-friendly mobile app development team to make your app a commercial app and to be seen as a serious player in the market.
- Choose Platform For Your App:
People use different mobile phones supported by different platforms such as Android, iPhone, and windows. Now in the present scenario, there isn’t much market scope for the windows operating system.
This left you to choose between Android and iPhone. The best way to choose the mobile platform for your app is to see which platform is more popular in your market area.
If people are using android phones, then go with Android. If they are using both then read the next point.
- Choose between Native App Development or Cross-Platform App Development:
This is the most important decision you will take in your app journey. Mobile applications built for specific platforms (Android, iPhone) are known as native mobile app development.
This way of developing mobile apps is a little costly but gives a fast user experience.
On the other hand, you have the option of choosing cross-platform frameworks for making your app. In cross-platform app development, developers can run your app on multiple platforms giving the same user experience to all mobile users.
This method of building apps is currently more popular as it is less costly and takes little time in developing an app. On the quality front too, it is getting thumbs up from all corners.
The rise of react native framework is making cross-platform app development the best option for individuals who are tight on budget.
- Never Miss The Small Details:
The small details are often neglected by app owners once their apps go live but they at times become the reason for the success and failure of an app.
These details include:
- Content is written on your app and play store
- App’s visibility in the app store
- User feedback and taking action on user feedback
- being in touch with your hired developers if any technical fault arises in your app
- Stay updated on your app’s performance
Most importantly do not forget to create a developer account with Google and Apple by registering through their websites.
After creating a developer account, your developers will then be able to upload your app to respective play stores. Currently, Google charge $25, and Apple charges $99 as annual fees for this registration.
- Marketing Your App:
Now you have your app but to make it successful, marketing is necessary.
You are well aware that there are thousands of apps available on the Play Store and to make your app stand out from those apps you have to do something extra.
Your React Native mobile app development team will be there to help you in this regard but you can also do your part like blog writing for app promotion, asking users to share the app, creating social media accounts with your app’s name, etc.
Conclusion
It is a common misconception that all great app ideas come from individuals who are of technical backgrounds.
Yes, they are certainly at the forefront of understanding the nuances of the present technology and thus leveraging it for their own use.
However, recent experiences in the mobile world have shown that some of the best business ideas are the product of non-technical minds. Therefore if you got an idea don’t let it remain just an idea.
Make it run. Most importantly in all this hustle and bustle do not forget to have the terms of the agreement clearly written if you seek funds from ‘outside sources.
I could have written this blog in a typical sophisticated technical language but I don’t want to remind you of that old school teacher who thinks that all his students are born Einstein and hence they don’t need to be explained in layman’s terms.
Recommended Reading:
- Android Image Cropper Library Tutorial – React Native
- Barcode Scanner Library Tutorial (Only iOS) – React Native
- Document Scanner Library Tutorial – React Native
- Firebase Integration React Native Tutorial
