How to Create a Mobile App – Complete Guide in Only 3 Steps
Last update: 20 June 2023 at 03:47 pm
3.67/5Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you have a great idea in mind but then are stuck because you don’t know how to make it happen? What if you’ve come up with a great idea for a mobile application but don’t know how to create it? Then you’ve come to the right place!
Do you want to offer extra service to your customers and users by creating a mobile application? Congratulations because having the idea was certainly the most complicated step!
Now, you are about to embark on the process of creating your application. There are three important phases to keep in mind :
1️⃣ Reflection: lead the reflection internally, with your teams;
2️⃣ Development: you will be accompanied by the web development agency that you will have recruited based on our advice;
3️⃣ Launching: all your company’s departments must be on alert.
In this article, we detail the steps to follow in order to make your project a success at all levels: financial, marketing, and communication!
Let’s get going on how to create a mobile app!
The 1st step – Brainstorming
Developing a mobile application is not something that can be improvised overnight! This phase is undoubtedly the most important. It is now that you will define your project in order to bring it to the 2nd phase, that of development.
Your objective: to produce detailed specifications with precise budgeting of your project.
What do you wish to do with your mobile application?
The answers can be multiple: bring additional service to users, increase the number of users, and improve the quality of the service. You need to define your objectives and your audience.
The objectives are numerous, it’s up to you to list them all in order to understand why you wish to make an application. Also, think about the option of monetizing your application as soon as it is downloaded, would this fit your strategy?
Who will be the primary users of your application? They can be your existing customers and/or new prospects that you want to conquer. Maybe both. Their ages and socio-professional categories will have to be as detailed because you don’t build the same application for young people as you would for seniors for example.
Who are your competitors?
Who are your competitors who already have a mobile application and, more importantly, what do they offer? Monitoring the competition is an obligation no matter what your business is. Here, you need to dissect their offer and know what works, what is interesting to take over, and what you need to improve to make yours more efficient.
Native or web application?
What will be the best option for your business? In our article “Differences between a progressive web app and a mobile app”, you will understand the differences between these two types of applications. You will then just have to decide.
Both can be considered: the Facebook application, for example, has been developed to run on web browsers, like a mobile site, and be available on all smartphones and tablets, via their “app store”.
What will my app look like?
What shall I name my application? Which graphic charter? Which functionalities? Which tone of voice? etc. You need to brainstorm! Here, these brainstorming sessions will be the opportunity for your internal team to answer a lot of questions about your future application, from colour, to logo, push notifications, menus, etc. When this step is over, you should already have a very precise draft of your application, which you will use to fill in the specifications.
What is the exact budget for my app?
What is the maximum budget you can allocate to this project? What will the ROI be? What will the expenses that will follow the launch of the app, such as communication for example, or reference in the App Store or updates be? Here, it will be necessary to determine what the company has as a means to develop the best possible application. Always keep in mind that in the end, your application should bring you money, directly or indirectly, but it is still an end in itself.
What are the specifications?
So, as your reflection phase comes to an end, the specifications can be finalized. This one must be complete. If you wish, we can help you find mobile and app development agencies and determine together the one that best suits your needs.
The 2nd step – The development phase
Unless you are a web development expert, specializing in mobile applications, we do not advise you to develop your application yourself. You want your application to reflect the professionalism that your company shows. The result must be of superior quality.
That’s why our number 1 piece of advice is: outsource the development phase to a professional agency.
Your goal: find the right web development agency for you and work together to get the perfect mobile application.
Choosing your partner
Which web development agency best suits your needs? Where should it be physically located? You will probably have additional questions about your future partner. Know that we will accompany you in this selection process. Indeed, we already work with the most successful agencies, we will just have to put you in touch.
Once the partner has been selected, you will come back with him/her on the specifications so that both parties agree on the terms. The partner will specify important points such as the programming language that should be used to develop the app.
Prototyping
Is it important for you to visualize on paper what your mobile application can do? In our opinion, this step is not mandatory but can give you a first glimpse of what your mobile application will look like. Therefore, if you don’t like something, you can easily modify it before the application is coded.
Development follow-up
The agency you are going to work with will present you with the development schedule that includes the objectives to be achieved in terms of design. For example, the agency will be able to work according to the AGILE method. At each key date, the agency will present you with progress reports. This will give you the opportunity to verify that the mobile application meets your needs. You will also be able to make changes if necessary.
Beta testing
Once the application has been developed and is working, it will need to be tested. You will have composed a group of beta testers who can be company employees, VIP customers, selected prospects, etc. The objective is to identify all errors and malfunctions in order to correct or improve them. Feedback from the first users is therefore essential to deliver a perfect mobile application to your customers.
The end of this series of tests announces the delivery of your mobile application by the web development agency you will have collaborated with.
The 3rd step – The launch phase
It’s the big day! You can finally launch your mobile application. There are several crucial steps to follow to make it a success.
Your goal: To make your mobile application known to your customers, users, and prospects, so that your app is downloaded/used to the maximum.
Referencing on download platforms
If you have chosen to build your own app that is native, you will have to reference it on the different mobile application download places. You need to start with the two most important ones which are the Google Play Store for Android and the iOS App Store for Apple.
Android and iOS are the two systems you should focus on first as they represent more than 90% of the users.
In order to really understand the issues of SEO for apps on “stores”, called ASO (App Store Optimization), but also to learn more about the strategies to use to succeed in this SEO, check out our SEO category.
Promotion of your application
No matter what type of mobile application you decide to develop, promotion is one of the steps you can’t afford to miss.
The goal here is to let everyone know that your application is available in a few days and that your audience can’t miss this unique moment.
You will have a lot of techniques at your disposal to make a successful launch, such as newsletters to warn your existing customers, email campaigns, social events whether online or in-person such as a launch party for example.
Constant updates
The work is never finished, it is a reality. In the case of a native application, when the OSes evolve, it doesn’t matter if it’s for Google or Apple, you’ll have to update your application every time.
With the new functionalities that smartphones and tablets offer, it’s interesting to update your progressive web app so that it integrates them.
Clearly, your application must always evolve in order to offer the richest, most enjoyable, and interesting experience to your user.
As you know, it’s time for you to develop your mobile application. Contact our specialists so that together we can define your project!
