Writing the best app in the world that solves people’s problems and makes them happy won’t make you any money if no one can find your app or they don’t understand how to use it. A good app development agency will make sure that your app is easy to use, works on all devices, has a compelling design and loads quickly so you can get right to business and start making money! Don’t put all your time and energy into creating an awesome app only to have it fail because of simple mistakes like these.
1) Not Defining Project Scope
One of our biggest project failures was when a client didn’t clearly define their scope. They told us they had a mobile app idea, but they didn’t describe it in any detail. We didn’t ask questions that we should have, so when they presented a detailed and expensive wireframe proposal, we were caught off guard. If you don’t know exactly what it is you need or want, talk to your app development agency about how to break down your project into smaller milestones. Establishing clear goals early on will make sure everyone’s expectations are aligned throughout the process.
2) Not Incorporating Realistic Deadlines
Unrealistic deadlines are probably some of biggest issues that can come up when working with a new app development agency in London. Having unrealistic expectations and requirements will only create more problems in your project; make sure that you establish realistic timelines for your project so that you don’t overburden your team.
3) Attempting to do it all Yourself
Though you may be tempted to do it all yourself, keep in mind that if you’re not an expert on something (e.g., social media, graphic design), it’s okay to seek out help. Hiring a professional can save you time and energy—and will likely lead to a more professional finished product.
4) Failing to Keep Stakeholders Informed
Good communication is key to a successful development project. Leaving your team in the dark about what’s happening or failing to meet regularly with stakeholders can lead to miscommunication, misunderstandings, and unnecessary delays. At a bare minimum, you should have weekly meetings with all relevant parties to ensure that everyone stays on track and knows their role in project success.
5) Lack of Communication with Developers
If you’re launching a new app, chances are it’s because you have some lofty goals for its future. And that’s all well and good…but you can run into problems if you fail to keep your stakeholders up to date on how things are going. Stakeholders will have higher expectations of your product if they feel like they were involved in every step of development. You might even consider providing them with weekly updates or bi-weekly conference calls where they can ask questions and provide feedback. Remember: a happy stakeholder is a happy app, so take the time to make sure that everyone is happy before moving forward with development.
6) Skipping Usability Testing
Having a good product is only half of the battle; you need to be able to effectively sell it too. Getting feedback from users on how to improve your product is essential for growth, and usability testing is one way to get that feedback. This process should be very early on in your app’s development, as you want plenty of time to tweak things before launching.
7) Ignoring User Feedback After Launch
You’ve just launched your new app with a bang! Congratulations! Well done! But now it’s time to go back to work. Sure, launching an app is a huge achievement, but that doesn’t mean you can sit back on your laurels. In fact, you should be more diligent than ever about understanding how customers use your product and what changes might make it even better for them.
8) Giving Up Too Early on Your Application
Giving up too early on your app is a common mistake. While building an app might seem like a very difficult and complicated task, it’s really not. Once you know what needs to be done, things tend to go much smoother.
9) Failing to Update Your Application Regularly
One of your app’s biggest challenges is staying relevant to your users. According to Forbes, app users delete an average of 24 apps per month, and most will not re-download them once they’ve done so. If you don’t ensure your application is updated regularly—fixing bugs, adding new features and updating content—users are going to quickly lose interest and delete it. Making sure that you update your app at least once a month will keep users coming back for more.
10) Not Embracing User-Generated Content (UGC)
UGC is a great way to get your customers or employees talking about your brand. It’s also a great tool for social media monitoring, as you can scan conversations and blogs to identify trends, gather feedback and learn what people think of your app development company UK. Just be sure you’re in control of your messaging (even if it’s someone else’s) by ensuring you provide official statements via your own website, Twitter account or Facebook page.
