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Table of Content
Table of Content
Blog Summary: In this blog, we have a detailed discussion on how the entire mobile app development lifecycle takes place. From exploring your mobile app startup idea to releasing and marketing the app in the right way, we have covered it all. Continue reading to learn how Moon Technolabs assists you in developing modern mobile apps.
In recent years, mobile technologies have grabbed the attention of smartphone and tablet users as it is an easily accessible and affordable option. Since the increased use of mobile apps is expected to grow in the near future, startup investors are considering this latest trend for mobile apps as a big opportunity.
Remember the introduction of generative AI in early 2023? Right after that, startup investment rose to nearly the $50 billion mark in 2023, as per Crunchbase data. The figure itself says there is no better time to come up with your innovative idea than now.
However, it would be best if you did homework to create a mobile app for startups, or else it can be a risky move because of the highly competitive mobile app market. This blog will be the best companion on your journey in mobile app development, helping you get insights into the development lifecycle of mobile apps.
Mobile app development usually consists of these 13 steps, which we have explained here in detail. It is advisable to reach out to skilled developers before you go off the mark. By doing so, you can have the exact app that you were looking for. Here are 13 steps that you need to follow for mobile app development:
First of all, you need to elaborate on the idea to your app development team. Explain to them how you are going to attract mobile app users, what core functionalities you will add, and most importantly, how you will get a competitive edge in the market.
Remember, two things can be done at this stage. One is to build a unique mobile app that has never been on the Play Store or App Store before. The second is to give a completely new makeover to the already existing mobile app.
In both cases, you must ask a question that will solve the user’s long-lasting problems. If not, you may need to rework the app idea.
Also, while involved in further discussion with your team, ensure that your mobile app has a unique selling point (USP). If all things are good to go, then validate it from industry experts to know their views as well.
Usually, this can be done when you are finding it difficult to move forward with your app idea. Also, if you lack clarity of idea in building the mobile app from scratch, then approaching an experienced developer can make things easier in the developing stages.
Finalizing your app idea, the next and most important thing is to be involved in market research and analysis. Otherwise, having no clarity about an app idea and current market situations can lead to a major failure.
Eventually, your team might not give life to your app regardless of how strong your idea is. That’s why it is recommended to have in-depth market research right after you finalize the innovative idea.
In this stage, figure out what the mobile app users’ demands are and which features actually interest them. This step also outlines on setting up the target audience and conducting a survey on user engagement to discover unique selling propositions.
This maneuver can reap benefits in the form of a competitive edge. If you don’t have prior experience in researching, then hiring a business analyst can help you with this. It will be a lot easier to find the right market value for your idea and reach prospective clients.
Mostly, entrepreneurs fail to decide on platform compatibility, which may further negatively impact the development process in the later stages. This is a crucial step once you are ready to implement the idea and the app functionalities are defined.
Finalize your choice among these three platforms – native, web, or hybrid app after concluding your market research. Opting for native apps could be an expensive platform that also needs approvals from the Google Play Store or App Store.
Whether you build a native app on Android, iOS, or Windows operating system, ensure it aligns well with your business idea. If you are choosing a web app as an ideal platform, then there is no need to get approval from the store, as users can’t download it.
Also, it is a cost-effective option that reduces the time taken for startup app development. Besides, if you choose a hybrid app, then it can run on multiple platforms like Android or iOS because of the shared code base. Developers can utilize the same code along with a single programming language across multiple platforms.
Be it Android or iOS, we build apps with complete dedication and in a timely manner.
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Next, get the right tech stack carefully with the help of your developing team. The technology stack is a core element for building any mobile app. Therefore, you need to pick the right one that is suitable for your project.
It plays a vital role throughout the development stages and functionalities and in managing the development cost. At this point, you need to keep in mind that you don’t just include programming languages because of their popularity.
Double-check what your requirements are and which one will drive you the best results. Also, it should be compatible with your chosen software, like a mobile app or web app.
Generally, Node.js or Python are preferred for backend development of complex and large-scale web applications. Django, a Python-based mobile app development framework, is also widely used because of its ease of configuration and adaptability.
Node.js is also an ideal for developing a cross-platform app. On frontend development, opt for Angular if you are looking for scalability for your multifaceted application. Or else, React can also be used for cross-platform solutions, especially for small-scale projects.
However, you should seek advice from web developers before adding any framework to your technology stack.
Now that you know what’s in your tech stack, it’s time to gauge the development costs for a mobile app. Narrow down the features that are actually going to be used along with the number of extra features you decided to add on.
This process will assist you in figuring out the exact cost. Also, list out the preferred platform, such as iOS, Android, or web app, to analyze if the projected cost falls within your financial bracket.
Selection of UI/UX design elements like customized user interface and wireframes also add significant value to your overall budget. Moreover, the cost factor also relies on whether you have hired an in-house development team or any freelancer to handle your project.
Outsourcing the development work may charge you on an hourly basis, which may vary as per the developer’s experience. If possible, you can create a well-structured financial plan to eliminate the need for unexpected expenses.
It saves a lot of money that you might overspend in case the need arises for extra features in the middle of the development process. Such factors can help you estimate the actual cost of creating a mobile app for a startup.
When it comes to choosing the development partner, always ensure the developer’s experience and credibility. At this point, you need to look out for professional developers who make a difference in your journey to develop an innovative app. Either you can approach freelancers or partner with a startup app development company.
For instance, if your startup idea is related to developing digital wallets like Amazon Pay or Google Pay, then determine freelance developers who possess vast experience in creating functional eWallets apps.
Check how much experience they have in building mobile apps. You can even seek their portfolios to know whether the chosen developer is the perfect fit for your project.
Approaching freelance developers won’t be a bad idea, but you can’t hand over the entire project to them. Although it is a cheaper option, there could be an increased risk to the app functionalities or possible delay in release.
In such scenarios, going with a second option is the right choice. Contact an app development company to get the ideal solution, as they provide a team of highly skilled developers to build your mobile in a minimum time.
Remember, if you are a non-tech savvy person or possess less programming skills, then it is necessary to bring app developers on board. All in all, you need well-skilled developers to work on your app idea without expanding your budget plan.
Application design plays a vital role in building your mobile app. It is not just about giving a makeover to the application but also enhancing the user experience. Your app design will work as a medium of connecting users and developers by representing the ideas and functionalities of the app most satisfyingly.
Startups usually fail to impress their target audience because they lack an intuitive design. If you are an entrepreneur seeking an ordinary architecture design for a mobile app, then user engagement might disappoint you following the app release.
That’s why you need Facebook or Instagram-like designs to capture user attention at first glance. Now, the question is how to work on the app designing part; here are some tips:
Creating an appealing UI/UX design is not enough; you need to check if the mobile app is running smoothly.
Once you have assembled all the resources, go ahead with your mobile app development process. Begin your work by building MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to assess user’s interest by analyzing the core value of your business idea.
Young entrepreneurs rely heavily on MVP to double-check if the app is exactly what they are looking for or needs rework on the development side. It is an efficient way to find pain points and fix the issues in the app functionality by creating a road map of a mobile app on paper.
This process solves many problems at the early stage and helps developers to get a clear picture in mind. Following that, help developers create their accounts on your preferred platform, such as Android or iOS.
You can also register as a new company to sell the mobile app on Google or Apple’s platform. This development process may continue for around 7 to 8 months.
Once the app is ready, move into the testing stage to ensure it doesn’t consist of any bugs. After that, when you are confident everything is running smoothly, plan for a launch date. Soon after the launch, you will receive feedback from actual users if there are areas of improvement.
After that comes a significant question: Who should you contact to generate funds for your mobile app startup? This stage not only highlights analyzing the development cost for your mobile app but also aids you in finding the right time to raise funds.
A higher amount of funds means the availability of hefty resources that can lead to the business’s success. No matter how much time you spend on researching and validating an app idea, it would be best if you spent time managing the cost of mobile app development.
In this process, you can raise funds by three methods – bootstrapping, seed funding, and crowdfunding. Bootstrapping is raising funds through personal finances or from friends and family.
Seed funds refer to money raised from a large group of investors who consider your mobile app as an opportunity for a higher return on investment (ROI). To achieve this, you must present a mobile app idea that investors can not ignore.
They may start funding money once the trial version of the app is up and running. In case both options work, go with crowdfunding, where you can raise money from people via online platforms.
Making your app live on the Play Store or App Store is not just enough; you need a robust marketing strategy to reach out to global clients. A marketing plan comes into effect for every mobile user when your app is working fine.
At this point, make sure you have a compelling strategy that generates buzz within the mobile community. The result of the hard work done by your developers, designers, and testers depends on how you market your product.
If done correctly, you will receive global recognition and boost brand awareness. Engage in online or offline marketing activities like sending newsletters via email marketing or distributing brochures in your locality.
Additionally, give a boost to your marketing efforts with SEO and SMM to reach your target audience easily. By deploying SEO methods, you can identify users’ likes, dislikes, and what truly captures their interest.
However, if you never had such marketing experience previously, then leave it to freelance marketers or reach a digital marketing agency. This way, you can get close to the actual users who are looking for apps like yours.
The secret of creating successful startups lies in your mobile app monetization plan. While many apps satisfy users’ needs with resource availability, you can turn a newly built app into a money-making app.
When you had an idea. Here, the app you rolled out recently can help you earn money by using monetization models. This can have significant effects on your business’s bottom line. Some of the monetization models you may consider in your plan:
Free apps are for users to use without paying a single penny, as they only consist of basic features. In-app purchases are usually for selling products within the app.
A paid app refers to a user purchasing through the app store by paying a specific amount. On the other hand, at the same time, subscription-based apps collect data from users at regular intervals, boosting your revenue generation.
Sponsored apps are the result of collaborating with specific brands to earn money on actions taken by users. Having a clear understanding of each model can help you reap the rewards and achieve the business goals.
Since your app is available on the store and can be accessible by millions of users, it also needs a timely update. This is because if you don’t come up with extra features or updates, your users may switch to other similar apps.
To make it simple, your journey does not end by completing the development cycle. Post-release, you must provide maintenance, testing, and improvement of in-app functionality.
For that, you can ask the team to collect user feedback to find the loopholes for delivering an excellent user experience. As a result, you will see significant improvements in customer satisfaction rate, which means fewer chances of customers churning out.
Coming to this post-launching phase, you also need to track app performance metrics that give you a better insight into the engagement ratio. The best thing you can do is to develop a unit economics approach to ensure you continue to make progress on the right track.
Use this approach in the initial stages of startup to drive business growth. Such an efficient approach helps you achieve a stronghold in the market’s competitive landscape. Hence, it would be best if you had frequent improvements and updates to make sure the app keeps working at an efficient level.
Since there are hundreds of similar apps available in the market, you must keep users engaged for a long time. Or else they might uninstall your app instantly because of many reasons. To avoid such things, you need a well-developed retention strategy to retain your existing clients rather than finding new ones.
Here are a few steps in which you can retain your old users and stop them from making a switch:
Following these steps can help you increase your customer retention rate, which may generate desired revenue and build a strong brand reputation. Remember, if app users have reasons to continue using your app, they not only avoid switching but also engage in word-of-mouth marketing.
Join hands with our skilled developers to create high-quality mobile apps for startups.
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Developing a mobile app is easier said than done. That’s why you need a reliable app development company like Moon Technolabs to assist you in launching the app on the Play Store or App Store.
It has a variety of professional developers who understand your business needs and develop a robust mobile app using the latest technologies.
With a decade of experience in developing custom mobile apps for startups, it provides reliable mobile app solutions to create a loyal customer base and achieve desired business goals.
Our app developers know the value of time and money, regardless of how small or large your project is. They create a strategic plan for the mobile app development lifecycle, discuss it with you periodically, and release the app as quickly as possible. Our job is not done after the project completion. We also offer post-development support to keep your app in good health.
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Jayanti Katariya is the CEO of Moon Technolabs, a fast-growing IT solutions provider, with 18+ years of experience in the industry. Passionate about developing creative apps from a young age, he pursued an engineering degree to further this interest. Under his leadership, Moon Technolabs has helped numerous brands establish their online presence and he has also launched an invoicing software that assists businesses to streamline their financial operations.
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