10 Things to Consider Before Developing an iOS App

Posted by Davzo Inc

Posted in Development

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Mobile applications open doors wide to bigger opportunities in business and, no surprise, people strive to make the most use of this marvelous tool. If you have already made up your mind to develop an iOS app for your business, consider the following 10 tips to ensure long-term results.

  1. Find out what’s missing on the market

With an infinite number of applications in present-day iOS app market, it is tough to come up with innovation and novelty. However, technology is transforming nearly all the spheres of human life, and new areas of use cases are emerging constantly. As a businessman, you hold the responsibility of watching the market and finding out the gaps to be filled in with the perfect idea. Remember that research is also essential not to waste time by repeating others. You don’t want to reinvent the wheel, don’t you?

  1. Create an app that adds value to app market

The temptation of creating an iOS application can be irresistible, but you should not step into the trap of developing an app just for the sake of having it. Do people truly need the app you are going to develop? Do you see it as a valuable asset to your business? It goes without saying that your customers should get valuable information, support or services through the application; otherwise, they will not waste time downloading and using it on their devices.

  1. Keep the app focused

If you can describe what your app is meant for clearly and succinctly, you have most probably found an effective tool for your business. In case your description is vague and insufficient, keep on refining and polishing it. Ideally, pick one main function you would like your app to perform; always being at hand, mobile apps have better performance when focused on a specific task or service they are accomplishing.

  1. Set a realistic timeframe

When you are done with researching the market and clarifying your goals, it’s high time to get down to planning! One of the most important steps is to create an objective timeline for app development. The amount of time an iOS app development may take depends on many factors: complexity of the app, your budget, the team of developers you are working with, etc. Break down the whole project into smaller tasks to determine the turnaround for each step and set approximately 10% of extra time for unseen circumstances.

  1. Decide your minimum and maximum budget

Budget plays a decisive role in answering a number of essential questions: how many features the app will have, how soon you will have it ready, etc. Setting your lowest and highest budget limits will prevent stressful situations in the process of development. Keep in mind that app development does not refer to the code development only: post-launch activities should also be considered. From marketing to promotion activities, you will have to set a certain amount of money aside to make your way into the app market and to reach users’ iPhones and iPads.

  1. What is the complexity of your app?

The importance of sharpening your focus will prove to be very helpful at this stage, when you start clarifying the complexity of the product: what are the key features of the app; will it have social media integration; will you use animations, etc? Though this process can be time-consuming, in the long run it will save you huge amount of resources (there will be no need for huge reconsiderations and revisions in the process of development, which usually cost additional money and time). Besides, clear understanding of your final product facilitates negotiations with potential app developers, marketing specialists and investors.

  1. Who is to develop the app?

If you already have a straightforward answer to this question, you have done a good job! However, a vague reply means you should keep on researching and arrive at a final decision. Practice shows that app development companies and freelancers are the most frequent choices. Consider getting in touch with different developers both online and off in order to find the best solution for you. The list of things to prioritize in the process of negotiations includes, but is not limited to: time to accomplish the project, quality of the product, guarantees for final results, and budget of the overall project.

  1. Consider having a beta version

Testing is an essential part of app development. With a beta version at your hand, you can regularly and continuously check every single feature and function of the app. More importantly, your clients and partners can use it to share their feedback and reviews. In other words, beta version of an iOS app will enable to prevent major and minor bugs and, eventually, will ensure better user experience and satisfaction as soon as the app is launched on the market.

  1. Plan post-launch activities

Never ignore the importance of customer acquisition campaigns, follow-up updates, and customer care activities. Rare are cases when applications do not need any bug fixing or information updates. Depending on the type of the iOS app, clarify which aspects will need further revisions and plan them beforehand. Customer acquisition strategies should be developed in the initial stage, because even if your iOS app idea is a great one, it may end up with an unsatisfactory number of downloads, if you have not dedicated enough time to plan how to reach your potential users. Last but not least, prior planning will prevent going over budget and facing failures at the final stage of the app development.

  1. Don’t aim to plan every single revision

The perfect iOS application is upgraded continuously in order to meet its customers’ needs and expectations. No secret, you cannot predict and plan every aspect of a product to be used by hundreds, thousands and even millions of people. That’s why, users should be provided with the opportunity to share their comments, suggestions and experiences. Let them prompt you the minor improvements you need to ascend the stairway to success.

In the words of Roman philosopher Seneca, “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Get prepared to hit the market with your iOS app, by creating a checklist according to the tips we have provided. Keep in mind that receiving kudos for your newly-created application is a challenging, yet realistic task. For the app to be front and center, you will need to conduct thorough research to find out demands of the market, create a realistic and detailed roadmap of what kind of app you want to develop, determine the timeframe and budget of your project, as well as think about paths of reaching your users’ devices. Let holistic planning ensure your success before you start the actual process of your iOS app development!

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