Is there some aspect of your life that could be easier if there was an app for it? Well, you could be the one to create an app solution for your problem!
There are apps for literally everything. Need to know the weather in a country 2 continents away? There’s an app for that.
Do you need the best recommendations for places to eat? Again, there’s an app for that.
If you’re wondering how to make a successful app, you’ll be happy to learn it’s not terribly difficult! As long as you have a great idea, a splash of creativity, and a twist of perseverance, you can create your very own app. The best part is you can help more people than just yourself.
So, if you have an idea for an app and are new to the world of app design, this guide is here to help. Here are the top 10 tips about how to make a successful app.
1. Make it Unique
One of the most important tips about making a successful app is to make it unique. There are already millions of apps in existence, and chances are your app idea already exists. However, you have the opportunity to create an even better app.
Think of ways to make your app more efficient. What innovative features can you add to your app idea? Could this app help with more than one aspect of life?
The more unique you can make your original idea, the better and more successful your app will be.
2. How to Make a Successful App with Research
Once you have a unique idea in mind, start researching existing apps that are similar to your idea. Take note of their layout, what they include, and what issues you run into. Do you notice anything missing?
From there, you can check to see if there’s an audience for your app. There’s a good chance there are many others facing your same problems. With all that in mind, you can start brainstorming solutions and more unique ideas.
3. User-Friendly Design
Learning how to make a successful app requires learning about user experience. No matter how impressive your app might be, it’ll be useless if users can’t figure out how to use it.
To make your app user-friendly, keep the user interface simple and focus only on the features that are essential to your app’s purpose. The goal of every app is to help simplify some aspects of the users’ lives.
Your app’s goal is to make life easier for your users. You don’t want your users to have to work hard to learn how to use your app. Ease-of-use is the key to a successful app.
4. Keep It Simple
Another way to make your app more successful and user-friendly is to keep it simple. Too many features and options will overwhelm your users and cause them to stop using the app or delete it altogether.
To keep your app simple, keep your focus on the primary goal of your app. If there are any features that don’t help accomplish the app’s goal, then they’re probably unnecessary.
Try creating a minimalist design and only include the features that are necessary to accomplish the app's goal. Doing so will make the app approachable and easy-to-use.
5. Sketch Your Idea
Before you can start the development of your app, you need to sketch out its layout and infrastructure. This is where you can visually develop the elements and pages you’ll need in your app.
You can also experiment with the interface layout by positioning elements on each screen. Your sketches are also a great reference for the rest of the app’s development.
6. Emotional Connections
Some of the most popular and successful apps are the ones that create an emotional connection with their users. In most cases, this is by offering a way to personalize the experience for each user.
One way to do this is to add the option for a user-profile where users can save app information. Another way is to allow users to connect with and follow other users. Your users are people and people love to connect and learn with others.
7. Prototypes & Testing
Prototyping is the process of creating a mockup of an app and testing it with users. This is a valuable step in ensuring your app is easy-to-use and makes sense.
Some users may have issues with the layout or can’t accomplish their goals. Testing allows you to find these problems and fix them in the early stages of your app.
8. App Name
Would you download an app called the Network with People in Your City App or one named Exploring Your Neighborhood? Your app’s name needs to make a great first impression to attract users.
Get creative with your name and try not to make it similar to other existing apps. App names that are easy to read, simple, and catchy are the most successful.
9. How to Make a Successful App During Development
To code or not to code. Do you hire a developer to create your app or do you develop it yourself? Fortunately, there are many resources and platforms that can combine both.
However, these platforms probably won’t leave your app looking highly professional. If you want a very professional-looking app you may want to work with a developer or learn to code.
10. App Onboarding & Feedback
During development, you’ll want to integrate a form of mobile app onboarding. This is the process where users acquaint themselves with the app and learn how to use it.
Onboarding is crucial to creating a great first impression and encourages users to return again. You can also use onboarding to collect user data to make the app more personalized and more efficient in later updates.
No app is perfect from the start. But you can collect feedback to make improvements later. Feedback is a valuable way to learn about what needs improvement and what is working well. The most successful apps value user feedback and make updates based on that feedback.
Make Your Own App Today!
Learning how to make a successful app takes time and practice. By following these 10 beginner tips, you’re sure to create a successful app.
Check out our latest Tech articles to learn more great tips for mobile app and software design.
