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What is the one thing that connects every successful app? At the very beginning, they were nothing more than a vision. You must first create a solid base if you want to move forward. After that, there are many different paths you can follow, but still there are some general guidelines that you need to stick to. Here are 7 steps you need to account for when developing a mobile application:

Clarify your goals

This is the first step in every successful project. Don’t jump into it thinking you’ll learn everything on the go. Define your mission and the exact steps you need to take in order to accomplish it. Begin by determining your targeted group. When this is completed, make a plan of action on how to impress those particular individuals. At the very beginning, you want to target smaller groups, and you can step out of your comfort zone later on, as the app develops. Gather all the info on your competition, paying attention to their positive and negative sides, as this will help you forge out a plan how to surpass them.

Visualize your concept

Or to put it more clearly, if you have an idea, grab some paper and a pen and draw it. It doesn’t have to be a work of art, but just a basic copy of how it would look like. Even if you get what you wanted out of your first try, don’t settle for this. Be creative and think of a few ideas. Assemble a team of designers and developers to help you along the way, and once the foundation is made, leave the job to professionals. This is why it is important to have a good team of people around you, as they will teach you what to do and what not to do from their previous experience. However, be there along the way, and have some input in designing process. It is your app at the end of the day.

Choose a path to follow

You probably noticed we have mentioned research in the step 1 of this guide. That was more of a general testing ground, but now you need to focus on specific things. After the initial visualization of your app is completed, you can put it up against the competition and see first hand what are the positive sides, and what might be the drawbacks of your product. At that point in time, it is crucial to establish a path that you’ll follow. One path leads you towards improving your app in every general area, making a competitive product that’s polished as much as possible. The other path is totally different and way more radical. If you choose this, you will focus on the positive sides of your app, looking to improve them as much as possible in order to separate you from the competition, and deal with minor problems along the way. Both paths have their positive and negative sides, so choose wisely.

Develop a complete background to your app

Wireframing is very important as it determines how your app will function. A good connection between different screens within the app lets the user have a smoother experience. Eliminate all of the dead ends as much as possible. In this step it is crucial to acquire a quality developer who will select a proper server for your app, create databases for future instalments, as well as deal with storage solutions. At this stage, you will also need to contact the app marketplace in which you plan to showcase your product. It may take some time for it to be approved, so don’t leave this for the last minute.

Develop a beta version

The day has finally come when you’ll see your product come to life. This is a rough product in the making so don’t be completely disappointed if it’s not working perfectly from the start. Some minor kinks will always pop out to bother you at this stage. Focus on making the design as good as possible. In that way you’ll be in a position to receive more feedback in the functionality department. Try to present your product to a diverse group of people, as their different view of the app will possibly come in hand. This stage is extremely important, as it presents a first feedback from your possible clients. Take into account all of the gathered information and work on your product before the final release.

Show your app to the world

After all of the minor errors form the beta version have been revised, it is time to hit the big market. Don’t rush things and jump in if you think that your app still isn’t good enough! The market is very competitive, and first impression is very important for your future. Before the release, test the app once again with a larger number of people. If everything goes right, the time has come. Create a detailed business plan to make sure your app gets to the people in the most efficient way possible. Hire some analysts to track your success, and maybe point out some problematic areas. You are very close to the end, so don’t skip any of these steps.

Marketing is the key to success

Even if you create the best app possible, chances are you’ll get nowhere fast if you don’t develop a reliable marketing program. Every dollar spent on marketing is money well spent, especially at this stage, where you need to push your competition out of the way. Fortunately, there are a lot of experts now that can help you with that. Work with them even before you release the final version of your app, and construct a plan of action. Once you break the ice, everything will be much easier.

Key points: Every app is different in its own way, yet they all have a lot of common ground. There is no one guaranteed formula that can lead you to stardom, but if you follow some basic rules, you will put yourself in the best possible position to succeed. The rest is up to you.