5 Tips for Creating and Launching A Mobile App

5 Tips for Creating and Launching A Mobile App

The mobile app market has been experiencing explosive growth since its inception. The competition is high, but so is the opportunity. With literally billions of people with smartphones–and more to come–the market promises to offer rewards well into the next decade.

It’s only natural for a business to explore the possibilities of iOS mobile app development.

App creation can be as simple or sophisticated as your business demands. All apps, however, benefit from applying a good design and research process. Here are our top 5 tips for building your mobile app:

1. Explore Before Creating

A mobile app is a product. As such, development should be approached with the same best practices for any product creation.

Market research your ideas and study the available data during your idea incubation stage. With over 5 million apps on the market, your app will face stiff competition no matter what, but positioning your idea to be better than others will give you a leg up on your competitors.

Consider micro-testing your idea. Create a simplified, visual representation of your app and offer it on your webpage. Include some form of web analytics tracking to understand if visitors are interested, what they are clicking, and what they are willing to pay for.

2. Pick A Platform for Your App

Mobile apps run on two main platforms: Android by Google and iOS by Apple. By far, developers and marketers advise going with iOS first. While Android runs on more devices than iOS, several factors favor iOS in the app world.

Developers for iOS report that Apple makes development easier, the UX design tools for development are perceived as easier to use, and software updates are more frequent with higher adoption rates.

From a business point of view, iOS tends to offer higher ROI since Apple users frequently spend more on apps than Android users. From a strategy point of view, designing for one platform first saves initial budget outlays and serves as a learning foundation for the next platform launch.

3. Create Mock-Ups and Prototypes

Brainstorm your idea vigorously. If you are a small business, think about tossing ideas to your existing clients for feedback via email surveys. Harness the power of social media by asking for feedback on concepts. You don’t have to reveal you’re doing app research, but ask questions that will inform your decisions.

Once you’ve refined your idea, move on to prototyping. Start a rough draft on a whiteboard or good, old-fashioned paper. When you have a handle on a design, explore online software for creating wireframes and app prototypes.

Wireframes are plain-looking structural plans for your app, much like an outline is to a report. App prototypes are the next step to visualization that can incorporate design ideas like fonts, colors, links and buttons.

4. Work With A Professional Developer

Unless you’re an app developer yourself, working with a professional development agency will ensure you have a quality product to release. Approach hiring a designer as you would any other staff hire: Seek out solid portfolios that hold promise for your own brand identity, client references for similar type of work, and a working relationship that reflects the way you prefer to do business.

App developers will be able to take your ideas to the next level. They can advise you on best practices, novel approaches to your own app, and provide crucial back-end programming savvy often lacked in-house by businesses.

5. Always Optimize Your Mobile App

Promoting your mobile app is crucial to attracting downloads. Apple’s App Store offers 2.2 million apps!

You need to stand out, and the way to stand out is through search optimization. Just as SEO works for internet search engines, apps need to be optimized in the app stores with keywords so that users can find you. Studies estimate that 63% of app users find their apps through search.

Once you have followed the process, published your app, and experience downloads, you have a gold mine for new market research. Monitor your users’ interactions with the app through analytics, solicit feedback from your users, and continually refine what your app has to offer.

These Tunes Will Kill Your Workday Blues

These Tunes Will Kill Your Workday Blues

                                                                   by Dylan Chadwick

Some days are longer than others. At times, you’re in and out of the office in quick bursts, a living, breathing embodiment of “productivity” that spins those clock hands from 9 to 5 lickety split. Then there’s those other days, the ones that trundle along with a veritable eternity standing between you and your homeward commute. Once your afternoon coffee kick has worn off and your best office buds have retreated to their cubicles, you need that extra special kick to help power through your workday...but how?  

Good music is a natural energizer that can get your blood flowing as you tap your toes and dance at your desk. The best work songs have high energy, upbeat lyrics and all-encompassing sounds. They charge forward at a tempo above 80 beats per minute with lyrics that are catchy and easy to sing along to and though I don’t always recommend in office singalongs, they can certainly boost workplace morale on those extra slow days. Believe it, the right song will crank your day to 11 and have you back on your way back to homebound relaxation in no time flat.

Here’s a few that’ll get you cruising through your workday with ease. Party on, 9-5 style!

Kanye West - “Blood on the Leaves”

Kanye West’s Yeezus sent ripples through the music industry with an unorthodox method of distribution, his decision to forego cover art and promotional tour more akin to an opera than a hip-hop stadium event. Beyond the subversive marketing tactics, West’s minimalistic approach to sampling and percussion added another innovative piece to his award-winning catalog of music. “Blood on the Leaves” is a stand out track that features an eerie vocal sample of the Billie Holiday’s standard  “Strange Fruit” deftly layered atop powerful kicks, snares and bass. It’s a cut that will definitely rejuvenate your spirits, a feeling you’ll love almost as much as Mr. West loves himself.

N.E.R.D - “Killjoy”

Your parents may know Pharrell Williams as the “Happy” guy with that gigantic hat, but his career of hit began decades ago via with critically heralded, chart-topping hip hop production as one half of the Neptunes. In the new millenium, Pharrell and a few of his friends in the industry released a number of albums as the band N.E.R.D (a memorable acronym for ‘No-one Ever Really Dies). Their 2008 album, Seeing Sounds, sold 80,000 copies in its first week, and was widely acclaimed for its high energy and kaleidoscopic scope. Videos of fans crowdsurfing and forming mosh pits to the album cut, “Killjoy”, flooded Youtube, and the song became a certifiable cult classic. While your boss may not approve your in-office crowdsurfing routine, you can likely get away with some hearty air guitar at your desk while the song breaks down.

Justice - “D.A.N.C.E”

Electronic music has engulfed the music industry with a spate of Electro producers like Daft Punk and David Guetta selling millions of records and packing arenas. American fans now appreciate the composition and arrangements of this popular music more than in recent years allowing groups like Justice, some much-deserved stateside acclaim. It helps that they exist in an unorthodox realm, one that combines disco, hip hop, funk and shades of rock and their effectively titled hit song “D.A.N.C.E” will have you doing just that. An irresistible beat, infectious lyrics and an effervescent medley of beats and melody ensure you can’t stop at just one play. Desk dance party, population: you.

Music soothes more than the savage beast. When done right, it’ll banish those workday blues as well!