What Makes a Good App? 5 Tips for App Development
What makes a good app? While there’s no denying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, there are some universal strategies that drastically increase the chances of a project’s success. You won’t find a one-size-fits-all approach that guarantees ideal results, but following these basic tips for app development will go a long way in tipping the odds in your favor. Here are five vital factors that can make or break a product to consider before you start the development process.
1. Stellar UX/UI Design
An attractive, functional UX/UI design isn’t just preferable—it’s absolutely critical. Many would argue that first impressions are everything, and part of what makes a good app is its return users. Excellent UX/UI isn’t just about good looks, although the visual element is very important.
Your app’s design should showcase and elevate the company’s branding. It should be intuitive so anyone can use it immediately without any confusion. It should be catered directly to its typical audience to encourage regular use.
Your app’s design can also directly affect its overall performance. More often than not, simplicity is the way to go—not only to keep users engaged, but to prevent long loading times, crashes, glitches, and other performance-related issues. Even a second or two of wait time will increase your bounce rate. What makes a good app isn’t just what you create—it’s also what you leave out.
As you develop your app, regular testing is the key to preventing unforeseen hiccups after launch. That means you need to test it on multiple devices to make sure it’s cross-compatible with web, Android, and iOS. One of the most essential tips for app development is that you must remember that many customers aren’t using the latest technology, so pull out those outdated phones, laptops, and tablets to check the performance. You don’t want to lose potential business because you overlooked your casual user base.
The specifics of what makes a good app are naturally going to vary based on your target market. However, a simple, intuitive interface, a consistent color scheme, and optimized images will make a tremendous difference regardless of your end goal. Spend some time using popular apps (especially those of your competition), and make a list of commonalities. While you don’t want to copy them, those successful apps are successful for a reason. Pull influence from the big names while still putting your own twist on your product.
2. Outstanding Security and Customer Support
Reputation is everything. Even just one negative review can have severe consequences. That’s why a major component of what makes a good app is providing dependable security and accessible customer support. One of the more important tips for app development is to keep in mind that old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In other words, eliminate all vulnerabilities so you don’t have to mitigate a bad situation later on.
Unfortunately, even robust security systems are susceptible, as cyber threats are always evolving and it can be difficult to keep up. Artificial intelligence and machine learning can effectively detect and stop new threats in real-time. Don’t just implement security features and hope for the best. Part of what makes a good app is providing ongoing security updates to meet the latest challenges head-on.
No matter how slim the chances may be, there’s always a possibility that a customer fall victim to cybercrime. Even if it’s no fault of your app, you’ll have to respond quickly and effectively. That’s where your customer support strategies come into play. 24/7 live support is ideal, although not always feasible.
Regardless of how you choose to approach customer service, make it a priority. Poor customer service leads to a poor reputation, and at the end of the day, what makes a good app is really up to the end-user. That goes beyond security. If a user has a question, they need to be able to find an answer. Otherwise, you risk them moving to the competition, not to mention the negative feedback that can spread far and wide from just one dissatisfied customer.
3. It Fills a Niche
One of the crucial tips for app development to keep in mind is that if your idea is generic, there’s probably a better and more established version already out there. While it’s true that some basic apps are simply a means to an end, what makes a good app is when people remember it (and return to it) because it satisfies a specific need.
For example, there are plenty of sports training apps already on the market, but one of our projects, Armcare, fulfills a very specific need: helping baseball players build a stronger throwing arm. This kind of focused approach may not attract as large of an audience as the bigger fitness apps, but it carves out its own place in the market. Even a small percentage of the sports and fitness market is still a massive amount of people!
As you consider what makes a good app, you don’t necessarily need to change your goals if those goals are broad in scope. However, trying to find a way to stand out from the crowd can boost your potential success. Even a basic marketing strategy like offering a discount for app purchases can get people on board, especially in the early stages of the app.
4. Collaboration
Teamwork makes the dream work! During the planning stages, excellent communication is an absolute must. One of the most essential tips for app development is that even the most skilled developer in the world is only limited to one brain. Input from multiple sources is a huge part of what makes a good app. Talk with your core team—that includes both the developers and the client—to ensure that everyone’s on the same page and that all ideas are heard.
All too often, developers create what they believe to be an incredible product only to find that the client had a completely different vision in mind. Naturally, the project ends up getting either scrapped or reworked, and both outcomes waste time and budget, not to mention the hit to the developer’s reputation.
It’s up to developers to portray their ideas so the client knows what’s possible while still remembering that that client knows their target audience best. Communicate during all phases of the project, and make sure you receive the green light before making any drastic changes.
5. Ongoing Updates
As you consider tips for app development, be sure to think about the big picture. An application is never truly finished. Once you have a solid product up and running, it’s almost guaranteed that you will need to make adjustments based on unforeseen problems, customer and client feedback, shifting trends, and new technologies.
A big part of what makes a good app is relevancy. If a better option comes along, your user base is going to start dwindling. It’s true that users appreciate familiarity, but they also want the greatest possible experience. Pay attention to what’s working, and keep making changes as needed to continue refining your app. Over time, you’ll find that this continued maintenance leads to customer trust, and in turn, organic growth.
At Soluntech, our business model is heavily focused on building meaningful, lasting relationships with our clients. We’ve formed mutually beneficial partnerships with hundreds of clients from all over the world spanning countless industries. You can browse our case studies for some examples. We don’t just know what makes a good app—we know how to keep our clients happy during all phases of the project, and that includes providing updates and maintenance for as long as the client requires.
Let’s Talk
Hopefully, these tips for app development can bring value to your next project. If your organization requires an application, we invite you to schedule a free pre-consultation meeting so we can discuss your needs and determine if we’re the right fit for the job. As an award-winning, full-stack, end-to-end agency, we have the skills, experience, and resources to provide cutting-edge solutions that boost your bottom line. What makes a good app? The right team. Brainstorm with an expert today.