Every day lots of mobile apps are launched to the Google Play store and Apple App Store. Some of these mobile apps are, for instance, games, social networks, and e-commerce apps. Each of these apps should serve a related mobile app development process before the App launch.
Individually all apps are different and the methods used are always growing, even though there is a standard process when developing mobile apps. The mobile app development process usually includes an idea, strategy, design, development, deployment, and launch phases. Let’s see the major areas to concentrate before a successful mobile app launch.
Choose a platform
If you have excellent and unlimited resources, you can launch on both Android and iOS at the corresponding time with an entirely featured native app. Mostly that is unworkable. In reality, you’ll have to consider which platform is good for your mobile app to launch. Android is now the market leader in terms of adoption and maintenance. But iOS apps are more successful, so if your business strategy is reliant on paid-for apps or in-app purchases, then iOS might be your safest bet.
You can always pick to develop on more than one platform to neutralise a lot of these concerns. But, that will increase your development time, costs, and delay your entry to the App Store. Therefore, it’s crucial to think about your preferences before adopting a platform.
Research, set your aims, and target your public
The first action of your mobile app launch should be market research. Getting to know your audience before any other steps will save time and money. Understanding what your audience needs and what they hate about the apps that are previously in the market will help you to fully know their pain-points.
It’s important to uncover the underlying reasons for your user’s responses and reactions. If you start your mobile app launch without knowing all these points, you won’t be able to predict any immediate perils. Financing in your market research will guarantee that you have a consistent justification for the rest of your mobile app launch.
Before using your precious time building and refining your idea, confirm that your output App is unique and unprecedented. As we stated earlier there are numerous apps in the market now and winning over these rivals is one big task to finish.
Analyse your App Competitors
Survey within the stores and study similar apps. Check them out and find out their defects and strengths. This will give a real picture of your product as well. You may still have the time to change features or functionalities. Have a look at their reviews and ratings and also discover the functionalities that bother people the most. Try to get rid of them. This is not about imitating other apps but improving your app for the public.
After all the market research, you need to turn it into a deliverable outcome, knowing your mobile App’s strengths and weaknesses and sharing your message with your internal team and key stakeholders will add up advantages.
Once you have settled about your target, you need to determine what makes your app better than your competitors. This is known as the Unique Value Proposition which explains why your App is relevant to your customer and why they should purchase or download it. Your message may be sunk if you just explain what your app does. Rather, concentrate on why it’s different.
Strong in-house discussions are an essential part of a mobile launch because if you aren’t able to interact effectively to your internal team, you won’t be able to do it with the external stakeholders and as a result, you will not be able to bring in the expected downloads and purchases.
Acquisition Campaigns and App Store Optimization
Moving on, the next big step after you’ve finished your app is finding users. Every app is running to have organic acquisition, only a few are going to have paid acquisition. Facebook’s platform is now the commonly-used marketing place. Utilising search engine marketing and other mobile ad platforms should be counted in the preparation phase.
Mobile ads manage well to kick users because they’re already in the mobile background. Moreover, when ads are given to the appropriate audience by aiming definite interests, you’re introducing your app to the perfect users.
While planning for an organic acquisition, you should make sure you have optimized your App Store listing. Like the search engine optimization (SEO) App Store Optimization (ASO) includes combining the right keywords into your store listing so that it outranks higher in search results and is quickly seen. More traffic from these searches to your listing usually expect more downloads and eventually, users. ASO also identifies the right category for your app.
It is beneficial to put the right app screenshots in your listing to help communicate the value, ratings and reviews, which help users in the decision to download. Finally, the more downloads you can get, the better your App Store ranking will be, giving you a better appearance.
Another piece of organic acquisition is online publicity. Your app needs to live a life outside of the app store as users usually carry out research. The more appropriate information there is online about your app, the more reliability it presents. Also, it increases your reach to potential users, who are most surely online. Further, becoming viral is a lucky situation.
Plan Your Launch Activities
You’ve done all of your market research and now it’s time to focus on the activities during the mobile app launch. To have a successful launch, there should be an organised marketing plan to guarantee that each step is done and performed properly in a suitable manner.
Elevating your content
Now is the right time to make a list of marketing activities which might include social media, early access for bloggers, advertising, website design, etc. Map out a timeline of happenings leading up to your mobile app launch, and set your launch date ahead of time.
Create a website (landing page)
Create a website and direct your target traffic into it. You can use this page to describe all features and values and at the same time, you can promote your app. You can create your landing page with WordPress, Wix or any other platform to develop website efficiently. It is not enough, broadcast your landing page on social media and make it viral!
Consider Content Marketing Strategy
You can make a community and invite people to it. Try to catch their attention with strong and attractive content! Raise interest in your app and maintain that interest with connected posts in your blogs linked to your upcoming app.
Now, you should be thinking of your target audience again. Along with writing your own blog you could also get in touch with some partnerships that already have some traffic that comes within your own target and exchange guest-posts. Highlight your brand value and functionalities and include links that will push users to your own website/page.
Utilize Social Media Channels
Begin by sharing your app’s features and functionalities in different social media channels. This will grip people’s interest and they will wait for your App’s launch date.
Do NOT promote your app in each and every channel as that will be a waste of time and also people may get bored by the promotion itself. Concentrate on the ones that your target audience handles the most and post new and inspiring content regularly.
Another option is to create more buzz by sending reminder emails highlighting your launching date. Conceive a curiosity as much as you can but do not spam them!
A Video Teaser can be influential
Creating a video is an obligation! People these days watch something rather than read it. Use a video that includes your app’s best features and make sure it is brief and straightforward. You must take your target users’ notice in the first 5 seconds and incorporate a call-to-action message in the end. Don’t compromise to be creative here.
Expand your Network
Start building a network of new supporters as soon as possible and reach out to media connections also. Inspirational speakers have a great influence on social media fans. They can promote your product amongst their followers which will help you to have more people waiting for your mobile app launch. Besides, establish a partnership with various publications and journalists.
Recognize your beta users and test repeatedly
You require feedback before launching your App. Until now, you have received reviews from your own team only but at this point, you need some external opinions. Let some of your target users beta-test your app and tell you what requires to be improved.
Consider rewarding them when you finally launch the product. You may grant them use some features for free or enjoy of some exclusive offers, or whatever feasible to you.
Beta users will labour as the ultimate test group and will be the most reliant and accurate critics of your new app preparing to launch, so getting the right team for this task is essential. You can also do a public beta launch, which is free to everyone to get more opinions or do a separate launch by inviting specific people.
Initially, think what your concept is for the app, and along with that consider your typical user. If it is meant to a large populace, then a public beta could be fine. If you favour more targeted beta insights, find the restricted possible version of your ideal user and invite them.
Attaining your beta users is always demanding. You can utilise a tool like TestFlight to serve streamline that process. Ahead of beta or real-world testers, you’ll also need to produce some load, scale, and network testing to carry on your app. You can prepare this manually. In the beginning, it might work but using a tool like AppPurify can help decrease the amount of time used in this phase of the project.
Program your launch date
You would love to launch your App on the same date that your developers finish their work but actually that is not practical. As we have been mentioning you in this blog that you need to gain a noise before your app is ready in the stores. Verify you have adequate time to promote your app and check that your launch date does not happen on the same day as some other major event in the industry, else you may get drowned in their news!
The mobile app development process and launch might seem hectic and complex. There are a lot of levels and challenging decisions required along the way. But, it is a notably worthwhile process too.
If you are searching an aid in building your first or next mobile app and want help with one or more stages, you’re lucky! NDZ welcomes you. Whether you are a start-up or a huge organisation, we have the team and expertise needed to deliver an excellent mobile app for you.