In today’s digital world, there are more and more people hungry for their own slice of the World Wide Web every day. Online and mobile technologies have opened up a completely new frontier for consumers, businesses and product developers. With the all of the ease and convenience that iPhones, Google searches and other technological developments have brought, it’s easy to see why they’re so popular.
One of the biggest industries right now within digital technology is app development. Nearly everyone has had an idea for an app before, but many people don’t even realize how valuable their idea is. To put it into perspective, there were 178.1 billion app downloads made in 2017. By 2020, mobile apps are projected to bring in a whopping 189 billion U.S. dollars of revenue. An app with a strong idea and good development can be a big break for its creators. In short, inventing an app can be just as rewarding as inventing a physical product.
So – once you have your million dollar idea, what do you do next?
Just like with physical products, there’s a process to developing apps. Check out the step-by-step process below.
Do Your Research
Just like with traditional products, you have to make sure that no one out there has already created your idea. Once you’ve solidified your app’s concept, start scouring app stores and webpages to ensure that you still have a unique invention. Ask friends and family for their opinions on your idea. You can even choose to enlist a product innovation company like us at Source Direct Inc. to perform more intensive research.
In addition to researching the market, you should also research and determine your target audience, the best platforms and devices for your app and how your app is going to gain revenue.
Start to Design
A well-designed app is everything. No one wants to use an app that crashes, has bugs or just doesn’t flow well. If you are inexperienced in app design, have no fear! Plenty of designers and developers are fluent in user experience and user interface (UX/UI) and can assist you in making the app you want. If you don’t know where to start when it comes to finding a designer, companies like us at Source Direct Inc. can assist in outsourcing a developer for your project.
Get a Prototype
Whether you’re creating the app yourself or using another designer as a resource, you’re going to want to create working prototypes along the way. These prototypes can be used in fundraising campaigns, preliminary marketing tactics, market research and testing, investor pitches and so much more.
Utilize Beta-Testers
Beta-testers are like the guinea pigs of the digital age. They can test your app before it goes public and give valuable feedback about functionality, bugs, appearance and anything else you may need. In order to have relevant comments, make sure to enlist beta-testers who fall within your target audience. After you get their notes, fix any bugs and make any necessary tweaks. Not only will this feedback help you work out the kinks, beta-testers can make you more visible within app stores.
Launch Your App
Now that you have a working product, it’s time to release it to the public! However, deploying the app onto the App Store or Google Play Store isn’t as simple as that. When you launch your app, don’t forget to market it. This will allow you to bring in more downloads and reach people that would otherwise have no idea about your app. Not sure where to start? Talk to us at Source Direct Inc. about creating a marketing plan to best reach your target audience.
And just like that, you have an app!
Okay, so perhaps it is more easily said than done. However, if you’ve got a solid idea, don’t let the process deter you. Anything worth your while is going to take some work. And remember – you don’t have to do it alone! If you’ve got an app you’re looking to develop and need support, give us a call at Source Direct Inc. at 888-373-3876!
Libby Jourdan is the social media expert and writer for Source Direct, an Invention Company based in Oldsmar, Fl. If you have any additional invention tips, comments or want to get started with an idea, feel free to email her at marketing2@thesourcedirect.net. If you absolutely dread using email, you can comment below!
