Build your own app that mirrors your unique vision, no external help is needed! Elevate your skills with the art of Android app development. Turn your ideas into reality as the app universe expands, with over 4 million apps on stores like Apple App Store and Google Play. New to coding? Fear not, this guide takes you through every step, empowering you to design and develop apps from scratch. Say goodbye to mere downloads, now you can be the creator!
Read also: Best 15+ Android App Development Companies
How To Make Your App?
To build an app you can follow the given steps. These steps will help you to create an app, basically a successful app.
Define Your Objectives
The first step in how to make your app is to clearly define your objectives. You need to identify the main problem. Defining the goals is a very important step as it will affect the whole development process. Your app idea must be strong otherwise you will face difficulties during the process. Also remember to set measurable goals, not the ones that can’t be achieved.
Your goals should have clear key performance indicators (KPIs). You need to know the difference between goals and objectives. Goals are related to the outcome however objectives are the steps taken to achieve your goals. Remember that your objectives must be:
- Specific
- Realistic
- Timely
- Achievable
- Measurable
Market Research
Once you decide what you want your app to do, the next step in how to make your app is to conduct market research. You need to know whether the users want your app or not. Although your idea might be the best but still what if the users aren’t interested? There is also a chance that there is no market need for your app.
Apple users have about 2.20 million apps whereas Android users have more than 3.40 million apps available. With this increased number there is a chance that the app is already available. That is why you need to know your competitors and market needs. It’s easy to create a mobile app but the goal is to develop an app that stands out in the market. Creating an app without proper research can waste your time and resources.
Core Features
In the process of how to make your own, the next step is to finalize the core features. Now you know about your competitors and have done market research. You know what your audience wants and what’s missing from the market. With the help of this, you can core features that your competitors have missed. Some of the important core features that you can add to your app are as follows:
- Should have GPS capabilities
- Push notifications
- Menu ordering system
- The app should be intuitive, easy to navigate and personalise
- Community wall
- Can also add a facial recognition system for login capabilities
- Video, image, and audio hubs
- Adding a search option is also a great idea
- Cross-platform functionality
- Calendar integrations
- Consider user experience and user interface
- E-commerce carts
- Good Image resolution
- Customer loyalty
- User directory
Develop a Wireframe
A wireframe is like a basic sketch of your mobile app. The wireframe does not have to be formal or perfect. It should include the basic features and layout of your application. At this stage, you don’t have to consider the graphics.
It could even be drawn on white paper. Just focus on where things will be placed and how they’ll connect. Wireframes help your team understand how the app will work. The main focus of a wireframe is to let the users know what things will be included and how they will connect.
Choose The Development Method
In the process of how to make your app, different ways are present through which users can develop an app that is iOS and Android. But to create an app you need to choose the method that is best for your application. Considering the budget, app type, time limit and technical skills is very important when choosing the development method. There are five different ways to build a mobile app which are as follows:
- BuildFire: This is a tool that lets non-tech people make apps easily. It has many features and templates. You can even add new features using the BuildFire SDK. No coding skills are needed, and you can make both iPhone and Android apps.
- Native Development: If you want full control and have money, you can hire developers to code your app from scratch. It’s best for complex apps, but it’s expensive and takes time. You’ll need different developers for iOS and Android. It’s best for gaming apps or augmented reality apps as coding is done from scratch.
- Hybrid App Development: This is a cheaper option. You use a coding language called Javascript. One code works on both platforms Android and iOS apps. It’s not as powerful as native, but the method is faster. Although it saves time and money, the performance of apps can be affected.
- Rapid App Development (RAD): Users don’t need to do coding but a basic level of technical ability is required to make the app. It’s a popular choice for non-technical users. But it restricts the app builders to whatever platform they are using.
Technical Specifications
After choosing the development method the next step is to create tech specs using the wireframe. In the process of how to make your app, tech specs are essential. A tech spec is like the hidden instructions for making an app. It’s the stuff behind the scenes that no one sees but is essential. Think of it like making a recipe for cooking.
The app maker looks at the sketches you made and thinks about the tricky parts, not just how it looks. This planning can help find better ways to do things. This can save you months of work and money if you figure them out now. The process will help to get all the essential details, the planning process is very important. It’s best to do planning at the start, doing it now can save you a ton of time later.
Set Milestones
Setting milestones means breaking your big app project into smaller parts with deadlines. By setting milestones it’s easy to know the progress of your app. Without the milestones, you can’t know how far you have come. This idea is a key part of the Agile framework, which is a popular way to develop mobile apps.
You make many small parts of the app, each finished in a certain time, like a few days or a few weeks. These times depend on how hard the task is. Setting milestones is very important in how to make your app. Milestones give you a better understanding of when you can go live with your app. By following these milestones, you can make sure that everything finishes on time.
MVP
When you think of how to make your app, focus on creating an MVP. It stands for Minimum Viable Product. This means building the most important parts of your app first. This is a crucial step to make your app successful. Think about what your app needs to work. Start by making those parts, and then worry about the other things. Building an app includes endless possibilities. It’s easy to get sidetracked and forget the main goals.
An MVP is like the basic foundation of your app. It’s the most essential part that lets your app do simple things. Don’t worry about adding extra things right now. As for a messaging app, the main goal should be that two people can send messages to each other. You wouldn’t start by adding video calls or changing fonts, colours, and other extra stuff. Remember, an MVP isn’t a finished app, but it’s more than just a test version.
Testing
After your basic app is done the next step in how to make your app is to test it before making it available to users. Testing means trying the app on real mobile devices. There are many ways people can use your app, so a quality assurance person needs to check it on different devices. The Quality Assurance specialist needs to check the app on iPhones, iPads, Android devices, and more. Also, consider using the app both online and offline. Different devices with various software or screen sizes might show problems that aren’t seen elsewhere. Don’t just test the app once on your phone and assume it’s okay. Developers often make mistakes. A quality assurance specialist finds problems with your app before it’s released. It’s better to find and fix these problems now, instead of users discovering them later. If customers find bugs, it will hurt your app’s success.
Deployment
The last step in how to make your app is the deployment process. This is the phase where your app gets live and is available for the users. Your primary focus should be that your app is fully functional. No bugs or issues should arise after the app is live. To make your app available for everyone submit it to different app stores. After going live, remember that you also need to maintain and update your app regularly. So don’t spend all the resourcing during the deployment phase. Promote your app on social media and different platforms. Along with this you also need to drive visitors to your app. As these visitors will install your app they will become paid members. Track and measure Key Performance Indexes based on how users are adapting to the application. Remember to ask for user feedback as well. Improve your app with time as well.
Can You Make Money From An App?
From the above discussion, you might have an idea of how to make your app. The next question is can you make money from an app? Certainly, it is possible to earn money from an app. You can charge people a small fee to download your app. But remember, folks might hesitate to pay upfront unless your app is really special. Inside your app, you can offer special features or virtual items that users can buy. This works well for games and useful apps.
You can offer a membership where users pay a monthly fee to access extra features in your app. By showing ads in your app you can earn money from companies who want to get the word out. Sometimes companies want to team up with your app. Also, If your app concerns something specific, you can make deals with other companies to sell their stuff. If your app collects data safely and privately, you might be able to sell general info about trends to curious businesses.
Cost to Create a Mobile App
The cost to create a mobile app is dependent on the functionalities and complexities of the app. An app with advanced features and complexity is more expensive than a simpler one. However, simple apps with basic functionality can cost from $10,000 to $40,000. Whereas, complex apps, such as social media or e-commerce apps cost more. They range between $30,000 to $500,000 or even more.
Conclusion
In conclusion, in the process of how to make your app careful planning, innovation, and dedication are required. The process starts with defining your objectives, and setting clear achievable goals, extensive market research comes next. The next step involves core features and the development method. A critical stage is the creation of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that emphasises essential functionalities.
After this testing is done to ensure the app’s reliability. Finally, the last step is deployment where the app is available for users. However, ongoing maintenance, user engagement, and updates are essential to keep the app competitive. Remember, your app can earn money in different ways, like subscriptions or ads. The cost depends on how complicated your app is. But if you make what users want, you could do well. So, when you create your app, keep it easy for users, make it good quality, and work hard to make it awesome.
