Written by Liz Rogers
In several of our recent posts we’ve shared our opinions on the features that we think will take your app to the top, making it an engaging app for users and a profitable venture for your company. As important as it is to remember features to incorporate into the app, there are elements to avoid during the design process that are just as important. After creating numerous apps for our clients we’ve seen what works and where there is room for improvement. We have compiled a list of the top five things that we think should be avoided while creating a mobile app:1. Don’t Copy and Paste Your Website Into Your App
The purpose of an app is to assist a user with a simple process in a timely manner. Using an app on your phone is convenient, but it also makes for a smaller viewing window with less task options. Thus, it’s unrealistic to develop an app that is identical to your website. We suggest that you use your website as an inspiration for the app. Choose new images that are easy an the mobile eye and create a main screen that will get the user to the information they need in less than three clicks.
2. Don’t Take Your Audience to Too Many Screens
Have you ever gone to a website for an answer to a simple question and five pages later you end up in the right place, only to forget what brought you to the website to begin with? It’s frustrating and it happens much too often. When creating an app, the most important thing to remember is user-friendliness. Convince your audience that your app is not only helpful at providing information or a specific service, but that it does so in a timely and efficient manner. Present your app in a simple form, avoiding the mess of having to click on multiple screens to arrive at the correct page.
3. Don’t Create All Devices as Equals
The user experience varies depending on the device that it is used on. Be prepared knowing that an app on an Android phone will be a different experience than using the same app on an iPhone or Blackberry. Making these adjustments for each unique mobile market is a worthwhile investment, allowing audiences using multiple devices to get the universal experience that is expected from your app.
4. Don’t Neglect the Small Details
When an app is nearing its completion it usually means that the main feature sets, architecture and graphics are finished. All that is left is to make sure that all of the bugs are fixed. The best way to ensure that you won’t get tons of customer complaints once the app launches is to implement a checklist that guarantees the final phase of completion is a success. This means testing out the apps features to the fullest. For example, does the app know how to handle push notification operations when the user decides to turn push notifications off? Making sure all of the small details are finalized will separate your app from the thousands of other apps that came before it, and make it more likely that users will share the good news with their friends.
5. Don’t Rely on the App to Sell Itself
Let’s assume that you’ve followed all of the steps to create a great app. Unfortunately, if you make it, doesn’t necessarily mean that your audience will come. It takes a good marketing strategy and PR team to ensure that your app gets the attention it deserves. First, it is imperative that you determine your target audience. Reaching out to thousands of people about your app means nothing if none of the people reached have a use for the app. Once you’ve determined what your target audience is pick the top 10 media outlets or blogs that you want your app to be featured on. Additionally, find another 30 writers that you think would be able to get your app in the spotlight of at least five thousand people. At this point you should pitch a story to the media that gives them a reason to share your app with their unique audience. Relate the app to your target audience, show what it can offer, and start making those connections.
