iPhone apps still dominate the app Marketplace in respect of revenue, user engagement, retention and a host of other factors. While like other platforms majority of apps built for iOS devices do not make enough to sustain as separate business channels, at least Apple app store accumulatively generate far better revenue compare to app marketplaces of other platforms. All these factors make iPhone and the iOS the most preferred platform for mobile app developers across the business niches. But just like that huge advantages of the platform, building an iOS app is equally challenging when you consider district App Store criteria and qualitative demands you need to fulfill to make your apps lucrative for the iPhone users.
For small businesses building a great iPhone app irrespective of the challenges involved in it can be rewarding thanks to the tremendous potential for revenue generation. A successful iPhone app is better positioned compared to the same for other platforms. But the whole opportunity goes waste if your app does not have the winning stuff. Let us now face the question. What can make your business app win iPhone users and get them engaged just like your regular customers? Let us have a look at the key elements iPhone app development companies need to consider now when developing apps for small businesses or startups.
Validating the idea and evaluating
You have an app idea that you consider truly revolutionary or maybe a breakthrough one, right? But, until you validate the idea with opinions and feedback you should not be so sure about its being welcome and become a success in the app store. Yes, way before iPhone app developers take the project in hand the app the app idea deserves to be evaluated. There are several things to consider. First of all, how unique the app is going to be in its niche and whether there is a better app to enhance features while delivering almost the same functionality? In any case, just look and feel will not make your app sale unless it can provide a real value not provided by others in that niche. Remember, there are thousands of apps in every business niche but keep on arriving without any evaluation of the app idea, and it is needless to say, most of them just add to the numbers in the app store. Here are some effective tips to validate your app idea before it gets into development.
- Take the opinion of your existing customers and professionals in your business. Seek advice from your friends, family, and neighbours.
- Ask every one of them what kind of features they would enjoy in an app like this.
- Ask them about the kind of features and design elements they detest while using a mobile app.
- Lastly, openly take their opinion about your new app idea and the pros and cons of the same.
Creating the app with user-centric principle
This is perhaps the biggest principle for any mobile app irrespective of the platform. From the app design and development to the marketing and promotions, every single aspect concerning your new iPhone app should be considered as per the preference of the user. Can you put yourself in the user’s position? If not, just leave the idea of building a new app. What does it take to make an app user-centric? Consider the following questions.
- Is the app instantly engaging? Can the user know about the usability of the app immediately after landing on it?
- Can the user easily navigate through the app?
- How fast the app is when it comes to loading a new page?
- Are the buttons and clickable links finger tap-friendly and bigger one?
- Are the app contents quickly scannable? Does the app involve too much reading?
- Is the app design visually pleasing? Is there enough white space around app contents or, does the app look full of clutter?
Adaptive design and layout
Adaptive design is no longer a design fad, but it is a necessity now. To allow your app screen fit into different screen sizes and landscape modes of latest large iPhone screens, app design layout should be adaptive. There are several tools like Xcode or Sketch Constraints that allow you to come with flexible screen sizes along with extra menu options. In larger screens, the menu may appear in the left navigation panel instead of the tab bar above.
3D Touch is the new element which is ruling the user experience in latest iPhone devices. Does your app take advantage of this new user interaction feature? Honestly, you cannot go wrong if you consider utilizing this function a smart move for your new app. Apple has promoted adaptive design to address the various screen sizes with new iPhones. For building iPhone apps you need to take adaptive design as a design standard for the platform.
In this post, we only tried to focus on the most important and most commonly misunderstood development and design principles that may play a vital role in building iPhone apps for small businesses and startups. With feeble financial capacity, small business takes a risk by venturing into the mobile arena with an iPhone app, and so, it cannot help but minding the steps at every juncture.
Juned Ghanchi
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