Are you a startup freak who looks at all the successful startups and ponder how they made it? Do you constantly think about your startup idea and look for the moment to turn it into a reality?
If you have got your light bulb moment and are now facing challenges as to how to put your idea into action then you have come to the right page!
I will break down the process into important steps to help you understand how you can run a successful startup in the mobile app market!
In this digital world, we all know pretty well that app stores are full of countless apps but it is also important to realize that only a few apps become popular.
Studies have indicated that only a few startups become successful and the majority of app entrepreneurs commit some common mistakes.
Here is the step by step process to help you avoid such mistakes:
Process To Create A Successful Mobile App For Your Startup
Step 1: Idea Validation
It is very tempting to let your creativity flow but it is equally important to analyze all possibilities before jumping in straight away.
Prepare an exhaustive list of all your ideas to help you get an insight as well as clarity on which idea to work on.
If you are not sure whether your idea is worth giving a shot then it is better to get it validated by the leading experts of your respective field and test if your idea captures their interest.
One more suggestion I have for you is to never ignore other ideas. Always understand that there is a place for improvement and sometimes the process of idea validation may lead to newer unexpected outcomes so keep yourself open-minded.
Once you finalize the idea you want to work on, you should then develop a complete understanding of the pain point of your target audience and also how your startup is going to solve this problem for them.
To know this you need to do detailed market research, which brings us to the next step.
Step 2 : In-Depth Market Research
It will not matter how life-changing your idea is and how it can transform the Mobile App Industry if you do not do in-depth research of your market and are unable to define your target audience, your idea will not be a success!
It is important to understand your market and find a product-market fit to make your startup succeed. The main part is to make sure your business is solving real user problems and though your startup may be doing something really unique, you will have to find the right place for your business in this competitive market.
You can do a competitor audit. Install some apps that address similar pain points as your business, use them, and look for the scope for improvement.
Conduct research on apps similar to your niche that failed and find out the reasons for their fall. This will help you eliminate any possible chances of failure as learning from the failure of others is a common and important practice in the startup ecosystem.
In-depth research of your market can also help you find the Unique Selling Points (USP) of your business and will make sure that you stay ahead of the competition.
You should also conduct a few surveys to understand the user demographic and engagement. Understanding what your target audience likes helps build a product that they really want.
User Engagement is highly important and you should always keep your niche audience in mind to gain success.
Step 3: Deciding The Platform
Determining the suitable platform for your app is the next step in the app development journey for your startup.
There are many factors you need to consider to decide whether your app will cater to only Android, iOS, or both. The key factor is to identify which platform is ideal for your startup and matches your business idea.
To decide on a platform you should analyze factors such as market share and revenue for both available platforms. You will find it hard to arrive at a decision if you do not have complete knowledge of both the play stores so carefully analyze the number of downloads and revenue models for both.
Step 4 : Concentrate On Designing A Smooth UI/UX
The most common similarity seen in the most successful startups is the smooth and sleek designs that their mobile applications are made with. You can look at successful apps like Canva, Instagram, or Telegram and you will see the impeccable design which they possess.
The importance of UI/UX design does not just end at being eye-catching. The app needs to be functional and easily usable as well. Also, it should adhere to the standards set by Google Material Design and Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines.
Step 5 : Development Of Your Product
The next step in your journey is kick-starting the development process and to do that, you will need a good and reliable app development team.
There are many ways to choose the right app development team to see your months of planning and strategizing come to life.
To make sure that your idea takes form into a successful app or product, it is important to do a lot of research before you decide who your tech partner will be.
You basically have two options: Hire an in-house team or partner with a tech company through outsourcing.
Make a decision on the basis of what aligns with your business requirements.
Both these options have their own pros and cons. An in-house team helps in faster communication and a deeper understanding of the product idea while outsourcing will let you work with highly skilled designers and developers at a comparatively lower cost.
Before you hire an app development company, make a list of all the potential tech partners, ask the right questions and check out their portfolios and case studies. This will give you a clear idea if the company is the right fit for you.
Also, make sure that you sign a Non- Disclosure Agreement with the company.
Do not get lost in the numerous features you can include in your app. First, focus on creating an MVP for your app which addresses the core pain points and then slowly move towards improved features after receiving feedback from your customers.
A wireframe would be very helpful in solving your problems as it will outline the layout of your app and also give you insights on how the users may engage with your app to help you figure out the core problem areas.
Step 6: Look For Funding
Once you have spent a considerable amount of time building your app, you need to figure out how you can raise funding for your app startup.
If you can generate a good amount of funds, it means greater availability of resources and a higher probability of success.
There are many ways to raise funds, you need to decide which method would work best for your business model. There is Seed Funding, Bootstrapping, Crowdfunding, ICO, and other such methods.
Design an elevator pitch and look out for potential investors for your business. Now is the time to get ambitious and ensure you have a product that investors will chase!
Step 7 Develop A Strategic Marketing Plan
Having a marketing strategy is important for the success of any business or startup. Through effective marketing strategies, you can ensure that your app creates a buzz in the market!
Use methods like social media and PR to gain more market visibility and rapid user acquisition. Leverage the power of App Store SEO and effective app marketing strategies to make your app go viral.
Step 8 : Monetization Plan
To create a successful startup, it is important to have the best monetization plan for your app.
There are a number of methods for monetization to choose from like Advertising, Sponsorship, In-app purchases, subscription, etc. are some of the options you can choose from.
Research the pros and cons of each method to know which one would best suit your business model.
Step 9 : Regularly Update Your Application
If you think you are sorted when you launch your app into the market, you are wrong. The mobile app development cycle does not end at just launching the app. Regular updating to improve your app visibility and improve user experience is also important.
So, for long-term success, you need to keep improving your app with help of user feedback. Maintenance and regular updates are a constant process. You need to make sure to have maximum user retention with a stable revenue model in place.
Step 10 : Develop A User Retention Strategy
There are many reasons behind app uninstallation. Keeping your users engaged in the presence of numerous similar apps is a hard task. There are many methods you can use to retain your users like planning your push notifications timing properly, being transparent about how you are going to use your user data, and updating your application only when required. Though the last one will be taken care of by your partner app development company.
Wrapping Up
Hope this article will help you in your startup journey. I believe ideas are not what makes a perfect entrepreneur but the way they execute an idea is what shows their skills. So work hard and research harder to perfectly execute your idea and bring your dream startup to life!
