By | Craig Middleton
Whatever industry you’re in, apps are a great way to connect your product and services to your clients, to partners, or even to employees. Creating your own application is a great way to set your business a cut above the rest, and will help create your brand. If this is your first time making an app, however, there are a few key things you should know before you get started. Here are four tips that will help you create an app experience that is safe, efficient, and will help grow your business.
- Security First
When you imagine the ideal client experience, you’re probably thinking about the speed of your app and how smoothly it performs. After all, the more quickly a client can get what they want from your app, the sooner you’ll be able to gain revenue. But the most important aspect of your app creation is making sure it has air tight security.
If your clients are inputting personal information, from email addresses to social security numbers, it’s vital that information stays completely private and secure. Tightening API security should be the first item on your list to secure each layer of the application’s process, and to fix problems as soon as they come up. Having a safe, reliable experience will help boost your app to the top of the app store in no time.
- Constant Feedback
You may believe that you’re the best judge of your own app’s functionality, but experts know that the best apps have been passed through peer review and will end up with fewer quirks and problems that get in the way of top performance. At each step of designing your app, it’s important that your app can be honestly evaluated and that you are aware of what improvements need to be made.
Gather a group of people who you know will give honest feedback, whether they’re your closest friends or people from work, and have them go through your app step by step. They will be able to tell you where the sticky areas of the app are, and if everything is as intuitive as it needs to be for your clients. Avoid letting your feathers get ruffled by feedback, even if it seems harsh. You’ll be glad you listened.
- Maintain Control
Maybe you’ve decided to outsource the creation of your app, and that’s a valid option. While there are amazing app developers out there who can deliver a product that fits all your desired criteria, it’s important that you maintain some control over its creation. Particularly if you’re making an app for clients to use, it’s vital that you are there every step of the way, because only you will know what your specific audience will need. Some developers will resent your input and will see it as micromanagement, so it’s important to choose someone who will be open to suggestions and critiques without being frustrated.
- Continue Improvement
Once your app is out in the world, being used and helping your business grow, it might be easy to just let it go and never check in again. But it’s important to keep constant tabs on the app to make sure it’s still running smoothly. If your app is available from app stores, your clients may be leaving reviews, and that’s an easy way to know if it’s working well.
Also, your client base may change over the course of a few years, and might need or want different things than the original clients you had in mind when creating the app. Checking in with their needs, as well as the app’s performance, will make sure that it remains relevant and functional throughout its existence.
Whatever your desired outcome, creating an app can be an exciting and profitable experience. Use these tips to give your clients a functional and enjoyable way to interact with your services, and you’ll be profiting from your hard work in no time.
