Key Factors to Consider Before Building a Mobile App

We’re now in an era where almost everything can be done online through our smart mobile devices- shopping, banking, searching for products or services, medical consultation, getting an education, working, entertainment, communication, gaming, getting legal services, and more. You can do all these activities using a smartphone and with the help of different mobile applications. 

With the availability of mobile app development tools, building a simple mobile application has become pretty easy. If you simply want an app that you can use to present your services or products to your target users, you may choose to build a simple business app. However, if your goal is to create an app you can leverage to advance your business further, you must develop a better plan and more robust strategies. 

This post will focus on the key factors you need to consider before building a mobile app. Knowing these key factors can help you create a better plan and more powerful strategies for your next mobile app development project.

But does your business really need to have a mobile app? Let’s find out below.

Do You Really Need a Mobile Application?

As the number of mobile applications and app users continues to multiply exponentially over the past years, it has become imperative for all companies aiming to stay relevant in today’s highly competitive market to build their own mobile applications. 

Mobile apps have become an invaluable tool for many companies. But will it serve the same purpose for your business as well? Does your business need a mobile app right now, or are you just building one because your competitors are doing so?

Creating a mobile business app is a serious endeavor and a significant investment, especially for startups and small enterprises. That is why before you even start creating the plan, make sure to know first if your business really needs an app. Here are a few helpful questions you may ask yourself to know whether or not your business needs a mobile application.

• Are your competitors also using an app?
• Will the app solve the current problems your business is facing?
• Will having an app make your business more competitive?
• Does your business depend heavily on brand?
• Can your app help extend your selling workflow?
• How do you mainly interact with your clients or customers (via online portals, phone, or face-to-face)?

If your answer to the first five questions is yes, then creating an app may be relevant to your business.

Not sure about your decision yet? Knowing the benefits of creating a mobile business app might help make things more apparent to you.

Benefits of building a mobile app

Building a mobile app for your business offers many benefits- below are some of them.

• A mobile app allows you direct engagement and communication with your customers.
• It helps improve brand awareness.
• It is a brilliant marketing tool you can use as a channel where you can easily promote your services or products.
• It helps boost customer engagement.
• It allows you to create compelling customer loyalty programs.
• It provides your customers with a great mobile experience.
• It helps your business expand its customer base.
• It allows you to extend your selling workflow.
• It gives your business a more competitive edge.

Let us say you have already decided to push through your mobile app development project; the next factor you need to consider is picking a platform.

Will You Build an App for iOS, Android, or Both?

Picking the platform is critical to the success of your mobile app project. You can create a mobile app for iOS, Android, or both. However, if this is your first time developing an app, it would be best to start and focus on one platform first. When picking a platform, consider important things like app features and functionalities, pricing strategy, target users, and app purpose. 

You may take a quick look at the comparison table below to give you an idea of which between iOS and Android is best suited for your app.

We hope this comparison table has helped you decide whether you will develop an app for iOS, Android, or both. Now, let’s move on to the cost of developing a mobile application.

The Cost of Developing a Mobile App

Another critical consideration you need to determine when creating a mobile app is the development cost. The app development cost depends on a few factors, including:

The type and complexity of the app you want to build (including features, functionalities, design, coding or code reuse, and more)

• The time needed to develop the app
• App platform
• Your location
• The location of the development team
• Size of the development team
• Whether you are hiring an in-house team, partnering with a dedicated app development company, or outsourcing the project to professional mobile app developers.

The time needed to develop the app

On average, the time needed to develop a mobile app is:

• Simple mobile application – 300 hours
• Medium complexity mobile application – 600 hours
• Complex mobile application – 800 hours

Cost of hiring a developer

The cost of hiring a developer varies greatly depending on the development team’s size, location, pricing models, and expertise. Here at APPWRK, we offer pricing options:

• Hourly – starts at $18/hour
• Full-time – starts at $2800/month
• Part-time – starts at $2000/month

App development cost and maintenance cost

Please note that the development cost does not end with the app’s development only. Maintaining the app can also add to the total development cost. The app maintenance cost includes but is not limited to design changes and app bug fixes.

Apart from the costs mentioned above, the development cost also includes the cost for:

• Quality assurance
• App publishing
• Infrastructure
• App security
• IT support

By this time, you might already have an idea of how much you need to invest when building a mobile app. Let’s continue with picking the right platform.

Picking the Right Mobile App Development Platform

To help ensure the success of your mobile app, you must pick the right app development platform. Choosing a mobile app development platform depends significantly on your project’s goals and the type of app you will build. For instance, if your goal is to offer an app specific to one operating system only, the best route is to develop a native app. 

Below are the primary development platforms for mobile applications. 

• Native app development –  is used to develop mobile apps for one mobile OS only. If you choose this platform, you can build either an iOS or Android app. 
• Cross-platform app development- is used to build mobile apps that run on different platforms, operating systems, and mobile devices.
• Progressive web app development – is used to develop native mobile apps that can run on a browser. 
• Hybrid app development – is used to create an app that combines the features of a native and progressive app. It is based on UIWebView for iOS and WebView for Android.

So, we’ve already crossed out another key factor in our list. It’s time to check the next one – choosing the development company.

Partnering with the Right Mobile App Developers

Hiring the wrong mobile app developer can negatively impact the overall outcome of your app development project. It can likewise lead to unnecessary expenses, delays, and even failure. In order to move your mobile app project in a positive direction and ensure future success, it’s imperative to partner with the right mobile app development company. Here are a few handy tips for you.

• Be specific with your business needs
• Choose the location of the mobile app developer
• Know the expertise and specialty of the mobile app development company
• Check the company’s portfolio and case studies
• Read some reviews and feedback from the company’s actual previous clients posted on reliable review sites like Clutch.co
• Conduct interviews

If you want to know whether partnering with a mobile app development company is worth it or not, consider checking our more detailed post about hiring the right mobile app company.

We are down to the last key factors you must consider when building an app. Up next are the different ways to earn from your app.

Different Ways to Earn from a Mobile App

How can I earn from my mobile app? Can I still monetize my mobile application even if I offer it as a free app, not a paid one? These two are the most common questions we hear from companies looking to make some money through a mobile app. The great news is; it is still possible to earn from a mobile app even if you initially offered it for free.

You can use different monetization strategies to earn from a mobile application. Here are some of them:

• Affiliate advertising
• Offering subscriptions
• Selling brand merchandise
• In-app purchases
• Offering paid premium features (Freemium option)
• Transaction fees
• Offering paid ad-free version

The right question here is not about how to monetize your app but about finding the right monetization strategy suitable for your business. You must choose a way to monetize your app without compromising your goals and objectives.

For the final key factor, let’s talk about marketing an app.

Marketing an App

A mobile application, regardless of how great the features and services it offers, is almost useless if no one knows of its existence. Thus, it would be best to let your target users know about your app before launching it. This is where marketing comes in.

The right timing and a solid marketing plan are essential for successful marketing. Making a noise about your upcoming mobile app at least two weeks before launching is a great way to promote it and ensure that the news reaches your target users at the right time.

One of the primary reasons many mobile applications fail to thrive in the highly competitive mobile app market is the failure to plan and execute the right marketing strategies on time. To help you iron out the most suitable marketing strategies for your app and to ensure they are correctly implemented, you may need the help of a professional marketing team. If you don’t have an in-house team to handle your app’s promotions, you may choose to work with a reliable digital marketing agency.

Choose a digital marketing agency specializing in mobile app promotions for a higher success rate. Digital app marketing agencies are well-versed in the ins and outs of app marketing, the latest marketing trends, as well as the entire industry in general. They can help you define and analyze your potential user base and craft the right strategies to reach them.

Conclusion

This concludes our list of key factors to consider before building a mobile application. Creating a mobile app is a lucrative investment that can help you grow your business and earn money. Considering all these key factors will help you create a better plan and more robust strategies for your next mobile app development project. It will also guide you toward building a robust, high-performing, lucrative, and intuitive mobile application.

APPWRK IT Solutions has a pool of highly experienced professional mobile app developers who are experts in their field. We can help you build a robust, high-performing, lucrative, and intuitive mobile app that meets your business requirements. Contact APPWRK to hire dedicated mobile app developers, and convert your fantastic idea into an excellent mobile app!

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