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Unlike established companies, startups often face the challenge of building a solid presence from the ground up. It’s especially tough in the digital space, where countless others are competing with a variety of web and mobile solutions. Just in the mobile space alone, there are over 4.3 million apps available across the App and Play Store! In such a crowded market, developing, launching, and ensuring users stick with your app is no small feat. (Source)
If you’re a startup owner feeling overwhelmed, know you’re not alone—almost every entrepreneur feels the same before diving in. To make things easier, we’ve put together a list of expert-backed mobile app development tips to help you succeed.
Developing a successful mobile app is an intricate process. Before you start building it, it’s important to lay a solid foundation as users are becoming increasingly particular about their needs and preferences. Moreover, with such a vast pool of applications available, you need a solid differentiating factor to make your app stand out.
A successful mobile app should focus on a real problem or user need. For instance, if you’re working on an app that helps boost productivity, think as a user to understand where you may struggle and design a solution around it. Knowing the exact problem will help you not only select the right features but also develop an app cost-effectively.
Before you start mobile app development for startups, ask yourself if the market needs your product. Are there any similar products that exist? What issues are they not solving? Asking such questions will help you custom-fit a perfect mobile app that fills existing gaps. Also, try seeking early validation from real end users to avoid costly mistakes, ensuring that you're creating something users actually want to download and use.
A successful app doesn’t just solve problems, it also brings a return on your investment. Before starting development, consider how your mobile app will generate revenue. Look for monetization strategies that your target audience prefers. Whether it’s through in-app purchases, ads, or subscriptions, the key to success is to aim for both: value to users and profitability for you.
Following these expert-backed mobile app development tips will equip you to get a strong headstart in your mobile app development process.
Almost one-third of all startups fail because there’s no market need for their product/service. Wondering how they end up reaching this stage? Lack of proper market research and product-market fit are major reasons. Almost 99.5% of consumer-facing mobile apps fail to impress users for the same reason— there was no need or they didn’t solve any of their challenges.
Market research is the foundation of a successful mobile application. It helps you understand who your end users are, what they need, and what your competitors have been doing. This knowledge can help you bridge the gaps by allowing you to add more features and functionalities.
A clear funding plan ensures your app’s growth and stability. Whether you’re bootstrapping or securing external funding, aligning your financial resources to cover all mobile app startup costs—like development, marketing, and scaling- is important. Anticipating these costs allows you to manage your cash flows effectively. By keeping track of where and when funds are needed, you can also avoid unexpected financial setbacks and ensure your project stays on track, ultimately maximizing ROI.
Deciding on the right development approach is also crucial to maximizing ROI. Once you have a mobile app idea and a funding plan, decide whether you want to work it with your in-house mobile app developers, outsource the project, or hire dedicated app developers.
The success of your mobile app also hinges on the technologies and frameworks you utilize. For iOS-specific development, Swift is a highly recommended choice, while Kotlin is often preferred for Android apps. Deciding where to launch, whether on the Apple App Store for iOS or Google Play Store for Android, is just as important. For maximum reach and ROI, it's advisable to hire app developers for startups who specialize in cross-platform development. Opting for scalable and cross-platform development technologies like React Native, Flutter, or Xamarin allows you to cut down on costs (by up to 40%) and time (by 50%). (Source)
Did you know that almost half of the Android apps installed are uninstalled within a day? As per the App Uninstall Report by AppsFlyer, poor UX and a lack of privacy were two of the main reasons why people deleted a mobile application. To prevent your app from failing to meet user expectations, prioritize user-centric designs— ensure your app is intuitive, easy to navigate, and enjoyable to use. Also, focus on making it inclusive and accessible for people with varying abilities. This maximizes user adoption.
Offering one too many features or trying to solve multiple problems with a single app may not be a good idea for startups. Trying to do so can dilute your core value even before your mobile app becomes stable over some time. Instead, prioritize one key USP that sets your app apart and focus on perfecting it. Whether it’s seamless usability, personalized experiences, or cutting-edge tech like AR/VR, building around a single USP can make your app more impactful. In mobile app development for startups, this focused approach not only simplifies development but also helps you attract a dedicated user base
An aesthetic visual appeal is crucial to creating a good first impression, but it should not come at a hefty price, especially concerning usability and functionality. Overloading your mobile app with complex visuals without optimizing navigation can lead to slow performance, adding to user frustration. In mobile app design for startups, it’s important to strike a balance between focusing on clear layouts, fast load times, and responsiveness across devices so that users stay engaged and interested over the long haul. Additionally, apps with intuitive UIs savor a wider audience across various age groups.
Before getting started with full-scale development, work on perfecting an MVP. Launching an MVP allows you to bring your app to market quickly with just the core features. By focusing on these essential features first, you can iterate based on consumer feedback and gradually enhance the app. MVP mobile app development for startups also helps you prevent unnecessary spending on features users may not need, helping you maximize returns by refining your product over time.
Still not convinced? See how famous MVPs like UberCab have transitioned into full-scale, successful global products.
For maximum ROI, consider plausible revenue models that align with your app’s purpose. In-app monetization options, such as freemium, in-app purchases, subscriptions, or ads, can generate multiple revenue streams. In fact, mobile apps generated as much as US$171 billion in annual revenues in 2023. However, these models must be implemented carefully to avoid user frustration. When done correctly, mobile app developers for startups can help you create monetization strategies that boost consistent revenue without compromising user experience. A well-executed plan maximizes profits while keeping users engaged, driving long-term ROI.
While in-app ads and banners can generate revenue, overloading your app with them can frustrate users, leading to high churn rates. Instead, focus on non-intrusive ad placements, such as native ads that blend with the app's interface. Another alternative is offering an ad-free premium version (this can be a part of your freemium model). Following mobile app development best practices in ad placement will help you find the right balance in your monetizing approach.
Integrating analytics early on in your mobile app journey can help you gain more insights into users’ first impressions and interactions with your application. Tools like Firebase, when integrated with your MVP, give you a clear picture of how users navigate through and perceive your app—what features they love, where they drop off, and how engaged they are. With this data, you can focus on improving the elements that matter most to the majority of your users while doing away with those neglected.
To keep your app competitive, integrating advanced features like AI-driven recommendations, AR shopping experiences, or offline functionality can significantly help with user engagement.
Consider apps like Warby Parker and L’Oréal’s Virtual Try-On, these apps allow users to virtually try on glasses or makeup products, making the shopping experience more interactive. Similarly, Nike’s mobile app uses AR to help customers find the perfect shoe size by scanning their feet.
These kinds of features not only create a more personalized and immersive user experience but also boost engagement and retention. When planning app development for startups, implementing such technologies can set your app apart, driving higher user satisfaction and revenue.
Did you know that average mobile app retention rates drop from nearly 25% on the first day to just 4% by the 30th? This drastic decline often occurs due to issues that surface after prolonged usage, such as bugs, crashes, or performance lags. Conducting rigorous testing, both manually and using automated tools like Appium or Selenium, helps identify and resolve these problems early. You can also hire mobile app developers specifically for testing, ensuring proper functionality and results in each stage. Just be sure to focus on functional, performance, and stress testing to confirm that your app works fine on different devices and platforms, even with increasing user loads.
A significant number of startups fail because they focus on launching the app but overlook the importance of providing ongoing updates and support. Regular app updates help fix bugs, improve performance, and roll out new features, keeping your app relevant among the pool of millions of apps launched each year (for instance, in Feb 2024, 52,000+ apps were released through the Google Play Store alone). Additionally, providing continuous support, such as in-app customer service, AI chatbots, or live help allows you to quickly resolve user issues, thereby reducing churn. With this post-launch support, startups can easily extend their app’s lifecycle and aim for sustained revenue growth.
Not tracking the right KPIs will automatically position your mobile app for failure. To ensure growth and success as a startup, you must focus on metrics that truly reflect user engagement and app performance. KPIs like user retention rate, lifetime value (LTV), customer acquisition cost (CAC), and daily active users (DAU) can offer insights into how users interact with your app.
The journey of developing a mobile app as a startup can be challenging, but it's also rewarding when approached thoughtfully. Start small, validate your app idea, and focus on solving a real problem for your users. Be adaptable to their needs and continuously refine your strategy to incorporate innovation. If you need support, hire mobile app developers or outsource your project to mobile app development service providers. These experts can assess your requirements and deliver a custom solution. Remember that success lies in being adaptable and staying attuned to user needs.
Nathan Smith is a Technical Writer at TechnoScore with extensive knowledge in software documentation, API guides, and user experience. Mastering HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and tools like JIRA and Confluence, Nathan's expertise covers Application Development, Software Engineering, AI/ML, QA Testing, Cloud Management, DevOps, and Staff Augmentation (Hire mobile app developers, hire WordPress developers, and hire full stack developers etc.). Outside of work, he enjoys travelling and food blogging.
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