8 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Building Your First App

There are as many applications on the Internet as there are stars in the sky, and their number multiplies every day, if not minute. It is a true blessing for online users — you can find many apps to your liking, be it entertainment, education, commerce, or lifestyle.

For developers and business people, however, this abundance of applications means only one thing — you either rise above the competition in this fierce world of web application development or fade into oblivion.?

To avoid falling into the second scenario, here are the most common mistakes businesses make when creating their applications. After all, learning from the mistakes of others is much more pleasant than making them yourself, so get ready to gain insights!

Eight serious mistakes that can drag your application down?

1. Lack of communication or miscommunication??

Well-communicated objectives ensure that everyone on your team, from developers to marketers and designers, understands the vision for the app and works towards a common purpose. Through communication, team members can share their ideas, concerns, and feedback constructively and collaboratively.?

On the other hand, if communication is ineffective or lacking, it can lead to misunderstandings, confusion, and even conflict between team members. This tension can cause delays in the project timeline, reduce productivity, and ultimately lead to a poor end product. Some ways to smoothen communication include:?

• Documentation — Keep a record of project requirements, decisions, and discussions. This will help ensure that everyone involved is in agreement and minimize the possibility of misunderstandings.?
• Meetings — Have regular meetings on a daily or weekly basis, where team members can update each other on their progress, as well as any roadblocks they may have encountered.?
• Feedback — Provide constructive feedback through one-on-one meetings or anonymous feedback surveys.
• Role distribution — Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each team member for the project. This will help prevent misunderstandings and ensure that tasks are distributed efficiently.

2. Mimicking your desktop application (if you have one)?

Many businesses understand that introducing mobile applications is an excellent way to bring awareness to their brand and boost revenue. But sometimes, developers choose the most straightforward way and replicate the desktop version of their app. It might become a big turn-off for the users.?

When designing a mobile app, it is essential to consider customers’ different usage patterns on mobile devices versus desktop computers. While people may spend more time on their desktops, they use their mobile phones for quick and frequent interactions. As a result, mobile app design should prioritize simplicity, ease of use, and fast access to information.

Therefore, focus on providing your customers with additional functionalities and a new user experience. It can include features such as push notifications, location-based services, and mobile-exclusive content they cannot access on the website.

3. Not adjusting to platforms’ requirements?

Most people believe getting into big platforms like the App Store or Google Play Market is not a big deal. In reality, the application must go through an approval stage from the platform's side, where it will be decided if it has met all of the privacy, performance, and design requirements.?

If the app fails to meet any of these requirements, it will not be approved, and the developers will be asked to make the necessary changes, which can be time-consuming and costly. Therefore, to avoid any potential headaches, developers should thoroughly review the platform's guidelines and regulations before submitting their application for approval.

4. Implementing too many features and functionalities?

As they say, less is more. This is especially true for applications in the initial stages of development. Stuffing a brand-new app with multiple features is counterintuitive. You still have no idea how your app will perform on the market, but you have already spent a lot of money and effort on creating those details.?

Most successful companies started their business journey with an MVP, or Minimum Viable Product. An MVP is a product with only the most basic core features available to users. It is a proven way to test your business idea, collect feedback, identify potential risks, and see what other functions would be sensible to add. Another plus of launching an MVP is increasing the product’s visibility on the market, thus luring potential investors.?

5. Poor UI/UX design?

Many companies and start-ups underestimate User Interface (UI) and User experience (UX) designs. According to statistics, poor UI/UX ranks as the fourth leading cause of users' uninstallation of mobile apps, surpassed only by compulsory social media logins, concerns over privacy, and aggressive advertisements.?

UI/UX is not just about design. The first thing that UI/UX designers do is research the customer base and trends. Based on this knowledge, they create a design appealing to customers. People love straightforward and bug-free interfaces. The design should be intuitive, with clear instructions and actions that users can understand and follow. Additionally, the design should be consistent across different devices and platforms, ensuring users can easily switch between them without issues. Hence, investing and focusing on UI/UX design is a proven way to success and prosperity.??

6. No marketing strategy

Your app might be great, but it will only sell itself with robust marketing strategies. As usual, it all starts with research — will your product become a breakthrough on the market? If your product's idea is not new, can you introduce features your competitors do not have? And who is your target audience??

Then, pre-launch marketing should follow. The key idea is to create a buzz around your product long before it comes out. This will excite people and make them spread the word to their friends and family. When the app is out, you can already have a decent influx of users, and so long as other aspects of service work wonderfully, you will likely retain them.?

Here are some pre-launch marketing methods you can apply to your business:?

• Take advantage of social media platforms and popular influencers — Social media buzz does wonders and can guarantee a significant customer base.?
• Work on the landing page — This is where users go after they click on the ad, and your main goal here at the pre-launce stage is to gather customers' emails. Create a lucrative offer for users and make them reciprocate by sharing their contact details with you.?
• Implement SEO strategy — Search engine optimization can increase the visibility and ranking of your product in search engine results pages.?
• Prepare an email marketing campaign — Reaching out to your customers before the product launch will definitely make them feel special. Such emails also inform registered members about the characteristics, cost, and accessibility of your product and can offer exclusive discounts or subscriptions to lure more users.?

Even if your product launch is successful, marketing does not stop there. Now, you should gather feedback, monitor in-app user behavior, analyze the KPIs that were met, and polish the marketing strategies you already have.?

7. The lack of testing?

Some companies limit their testing only to developers' reviews. But that is not enough and can lead to severe consequences — any bugs, glitches, or crashes appearing after the launch will negatively influence the user experience. For this reason, it is recommended to conduct a thorough testing process, which might include:?

• Compatibility testing involves testing an application across different devices, platforms, operating systems, and web browsers.
• Functional testing is all about testing the application's main features and functionalities to ensure it performs according to all requirements.?
• Usability testing determines how user-friendly and intuitive the interface of the application is. In this scenario, testers approach the app as users.?
• Installation testing ensures that users can effortlessly install and uninstall the application.?
• Low-level resource testing focuses explicitly on assessing the performance of an application in relation to its use of system resources, such as memory, CPU, and network bandwidth.?

Some might think testing is a waste of time and money, but that is a very dangerous preconception — testing results in a smooth, reliable, and user-friendly application, which will attract more customers. In the long run, investing in quality testing will pay off, as it can help you establish a high reputation and gain the trust of your users.

8. Poor budgeting?

When it comes to building an application, thorough financial planning is always a good idea, and it should never be neglected. It is particularly important if this is your first time developing an app, as it can help you avoid unexpected costs and ensure that you have enough resources to complete your project successfully. Here are the main aspects you should consider when planning your budget:?

• App development costs — The cost of developing an app may fluctuate based on multiple factors, including the app's complexity, the features implemented, the targeted platform, the approach to development, and the location of the development team.
• Licensing fees —? These are the charges paid to obtain permission to access the platforms. They are essential for distributing apps, namely in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. These licensing fees are typically paid on an annual basis, and the costs associated with them vary depending on the platform, the number of apps being distributed, and the region in which the developer is based.?
• Server infrastructure costs — Marketing costs — As mentioned before, marketing is paramount for the business. Marketing campaigns, such as social media ads and search engine marketing, will take a significant share of your budget.?
• Maintenance costs — To keep the apps running smoothly and efficiently, developers must regularly update them to address any bugs or glitches that may arise, as well as to introduce new features or functionality.?
• Other costs —? These might include third-party services such as payment gateways, analytics, and push notifications. Another essential aspect is working on security measures.?

It is essential to consider all the different factors and elements related to your project and use them to create a well-planned budget. It is equally important to ensure that your budget plan is thorough, detailed, and flexible enough to accommodate unexpected expenses. Once you have established your budget plan, stick to it consistently and throughout the entire app development phase.

Wrapping up?

Remember that user demand sets the rules on the market, so let it rule over your application. Learn the trends and common patterns on the Internet to keep your ear close to the ground — and it will make you the most flexible and adaptable player in the market. Invest in good marketing and UI/UX design, which will build up your application's excellent reputation. By providing a positive user experience, you can establish a loyal user base and attract new users to your application. Take advantage of the user feedback, and it will ensure you always cater to the customers' needs.?