You’ve already created a responsive website to meet the demands of your mobile visitors, so what else could you possibly need?

The answer – you need to create an app to match your website. Mobile users aren’t content with a mobile friendly site alone. For some tasks, they’d prefer a native app.

The good thing is you don’t have to start from scratch. The idea is to match your app to your existing site so it’s familiar to users, yet even easier to use than your site.

Focus On Most Used Areas

Every area and feature of your website isn’t used equally. For instance, your About Us page probably doesn’t see as many visitors as your Contact Us page. Your mobile app should be a pared down version of your website that focuses on the most used areas and features.

Start by looking at your analytics data. This shows you which pages and features you users might want and need in app form.

Make Conversions Easier

You want to increase conversions, so why not make that a central part of your app? For instance, ecommerce stores should make it quick and easy to search for products, view larger images and make purchases. A mobile site might show 10 products per page, but a mobile app might only show five and allow maximising images with a single tap. Out of the top 500 merchants, 42% of sales came from a mobile app. This is in part because it’s quicker and easier.

Consider how your app could help boost conversions. Is social sharing important? Add a social feature to your app. Want more emails subscribers? Ask for signups during the checkout process or after viewing a blog post.

Incorporate Your Brand

When you create an app to match your website, you shouldn’t lose your brand identity. When a consumer is already interested in your brand, they’re likely to search for an app to make it easier to interact with your brand. An overwhelming 52% of mobile users worldwide are more likely to make a purchase from branded or store apps.

As long as the app accurately reflects the brand and even website your visitors are accustomed to, they’ll feel right at home using it. The idea is to make it easier for visitors to interact with your brand on the go while still having a website for when they want to dig deeper into your site.

Condense Navigation

On your website, you might have a list of links or linked tabs that serve as your main navigation. While this layout works well on a desktop or even the responsive version of your site, it’s not ideal for your app. Think of how you can condense your navigation. Is every page necessary? Would drop down menus work best to condense options? Figuring out the best way to streamline navigation without losing the same flow as your website usually requires talking to your developer.

Integrate With Device Features

The best part of having an app is you’re able to take advantage of all the features on the user’s phone or tablet. For instance, a fitness site might have an app that allows users to take pictures and share them straight from the app. It’s not something you’d likely have on your website, but it’s a feature that would increase brand awareness and even conversions.

Your app doesn’t have to match your site exactly. Focus on core features and then integrate device features to make users see your app as something slightly unique from your site. This makes your app a must have for anyone who loves your site and brand.

Most sites can benefit, even if it’s only by having interactive contact information that allows users to call with a click or bring up directions directly from the app.

Create An App To Match Your Website

Even five years ago, a responsive design seemed liked something only certain sites needed. Now, Google’s made it an important part of a site’s success. If having a mobile app to match your website seems crazy, imagine how different users will be in another five years. Apps are becoming more popular and work as the ideal alternative and even compliment to your website.

Want to create the perfect compliment to your own website? Contact StuartMedia today to discuss a matching app for your site. 

Image: Alejandro Escamilla

Many businesses spend the majority of their marketing budgets on innovative marketing strategies that don’t yield favorable results.

The problem is an app’s target audience likely still prefers more traditional strategies. Of course, it helps to put a unique twist on the old, but older methods still work quite well.

When it comes to marketing your new app, look to the methods that have worked for years. They’re effective for a reason. Mobile users are used to these methods and connect better with them.

1. Social Media

Social media might not seem traditional, but social media marketing has been around for over a decade. Targeted ads, promoted posts and social only discounts allow you to market an app to millions. Think of it as the digital version of placing an ad in a newspaper. Come up with creative looking ads and headlines to make this strategy more effective.

2. Ask For Reviews

Mobile users are more likely to trust a new app if they see an unbiased review for it. It’s difficult to gain reviews in an app marketplace if no one knows about your app yet. Many high authority sites focus on reviewing the latest mobile devices and apps. Some focus on strictly Android or iOS. Ask the site owners if they’ll review your app. Try to schedule a review as early as possible to build buzz about your app.

Alternately, offer a free download of your app to a set number of users on social media. Ask for an honest review in exchange for the app.

3. Television Ads

Television ads are still a highly effective way to market your new app. While many apps haven’t tried this approach yet, the ones who have are seeing a higher number of initial installs and an increased number of sessions per user. For instance, Ucool’s Heroes Charge boosted their install numbers by over 4% right after their ad. Though the number of active users dropped not long after, the number of sessions per user increased by 69%.

Some apps have taken a slightly different approach by paying to have their app mentioned in a TV show. The key is to make sure the app mention fits into the show itself without seeming like a blatant product placement.

An alternative to standard TV ads is to place ads on YouTube videos. This is one way to make sure your ad is seen and not skipped over or ignored while your audience gets up during commercial breaks.

4. Offer Coupons

Old fashioned coupons and discounts are yet to lose steam when it comes to marketing. For instance, an app for locating restaurants might offer a 50% off coupon to specific restaurants for all new users. If the app allows the user to shop, a loyalty program for purchasing within the app or entering details about the purchase also works.

Starbucks uses the loyalty method to increase how many users pay via the app. Thanks to the rewards program, the mobile payment app accounts for over 16% of the company’s weekly sales.

5. Market At Events

Large mobile conferences across the world give app developers a chance to promote themselves in front of potential users and reviewers. It does require a more traditional approach of actually meeting with users face to face. For apps targeting a wider audience, especially games or innovative news, weather or shopping apps, might find this strategy more effective than smaller, more targeted apps, such as a local news app.

6. Print Ads

Despite what you might read online, print isn’t dead. Print magazines and newspapers are still read by millions, especially the generations that grew up with print media as their main source of information. Placing ads in highly circulated magazines and newspapers boosts awareness of your app. Offering a way for users to enter a code to get a discounted download or in-app purchase could further boost your number of downloads.

7. Partner With Other Apps

Businesses have been partnering with other businesses for centuries. The same strategy is still useful today for app marketing. Games are one of the more prominent examples of this approach. For instance, a developer with a new game might partner with another developer to advertise their app. When users click on the ad, they receive a special offer such as free in-app currency or exclusive features.

For other types of apps, simply advertising within other apps works well. Another strategy is to exchange recommendations with complimentary apps. By recommending each other, both apps benefit.

Conclusion

App marketing doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Putting your own unique spin on traditional marketing is all you really need to do. Focus on creating a more traditional marketing strategy as your app is being developed. Then, you’re ready to tell the world about it as soon as it’s released.

Want to make sure you have a high quality app to market? Contact StuartMedia for professional app development that your audience will love.

Image: Jason Howie

Creating a great app isn’t the only thing app creators have to think about.

If the app never makes it into an app store, users might never get to experience the benefits of the creator’s hard work.

Looking at all the other steps beyond development is vital to helping an app reach the hands of potentially millions. It also helps create a realistic timeline of when an app is truly ready for the public.

App Store Listings

The App Store and Play Store both have their own unique policies for listing an app. If the quality isn’t right or there’s obvious compatibility issues, the app will be denied. Reading through all the rules before submitting an app helps reduce the time between development and final approval.

Another thing to consider is how to list the app itself. Include the most relevant keywords to ensure the app shows up in the store listings. For the description, focus on the first three lines as these are what users see first in the listing. Also make sure to add both a primary and secondary category to make the app easier to find.

Approval Times

An app creator might give you a set timeline for when your app will be live. What they might forget is how long it takes for the app to be reviewed. Depending on the marketplace and how many other apps have been submitted recently, it could take as little as a day to over a week.

AppReviewTimes lists the latest wait time for iOS apps which at the time of publication was eight days. Even though Google switched to manual reviews for the Play Store, review times are still performed within hours. During busy times, it could still be just over a day.

Update Schedule

Development isn’t complete after the initial release. An app still needs to be updated on a regular basis to take care of any bugs and to add new features. As new devices are released, compatibility updates might be necessary as well. Deciding on an update schedule and how bug reports are handled is important to consider before an app is released.

If possible, an app creator could interact with reviewers in the app marketplaces to find out what issues they’ve encountered or what features they’d like added. Responding to comments improves user satisfaction and keeps them using the app.

App Size

It’s easy to get carried away and create a massive app. The problem with that is users don’t have room for larger apps. Even the APK size is important. For instance, Google only allows a 50 MB APK unless you use an expansion file.

Trimming down apps without sacrificing quality can help boost how popular the app becomes. With more downloads, an app is listed higher when users search for specific keywords. Taking out unnecessary features or using simpler graphics helps reduce the overall size, making users more likely to download an app to begin with.

Free Or Lite Version

Many app creators never think about creating a secondary version of a paid app. Those creating free apps usually only have to worry about adding in a place for adds or in-app purchasing content. Users look at the price of apps and may not try an app that costs $4. Add in a free lite version of the paid app and it’s a kind of try before you buy deal.

These lite versions are free and give users a chance to test drive the app to see if it’s right for them. These could be limited time demos or versions with a few less features. They might seem unnecessary at first, but a quick free trial boosts downloads of the paid app by showing users exactly what you’re offering.

Conclusion

Give your app the best possible chance at success by considering things such as approval time, app store rules and even how updates are handled. Though all easy to overlook, the best app creators take all of these into consideration. Ask your own app creator about these before starting any project to ensure these don’t become issues later on.

Tired of app that fall short of what you want? Trust your next Android or iOS app development project to StuartMedia.

Image: PhotoAtelier

Many people feel they either need a mobile app or a website, but it’s best to have both.

A website is a must have companion for any app. Users find much of their information about an app from an app’s website.

If you research some of the most popular and successful apps, you’ll find the majority of them have a website. If you want to please your users, creating a site is just as important as the app’s functionality.

Easier To Discover

As of 2014, Google and Apple’s app marketplaces were receiving over 10,000 new app submissions every month. Simply submitting your app and hoping for the best isn’t enough. App users do more than just use apps. They use search engines to find details about the newest apps. If you have a website, you increase your chances of being found through an organic search. If your site is mobile friendly, your chances are even better. A site makes it easier for users to discover your app.

Takeaway: Create a website to launch before or on the same day as your app. This increases visibility and helps you stand out among all the new app submissions each month.

Build Buzz Before Launch

Why wait to start marketing after your app has launched? A website is the perfect way to build buzz for the app. Use the site along with your social media following to spread the word. A few site elements to include are:

• Bulleted list of app features
• Suggestion form
• Email sign-up to provide updates
• Launch countdown
• Blog with recent updates

Obviously, you keep using the site to promote the mobile app long after the launch. Having the website ready at least a few months before the app releases gives you ample time to build a following and increase your number of downloads when the app first launches.

Takeaway: A website is a vital element of mobile marketing. Consider hiring a professional to create a simple, yet effective site with all of the above features.

Provide Support

If users don’t have an easy way to ask for support, they’ll leave a bad review in the app marketplace and uninstall your app. Some apps rely solely upon the marketplace reviews to see what users want while others add a support feature to the app. Overall, a website with a simple contact form or forum is much easier to use. Plus, users look for a website first. You can even have a live chat feature for one on one support to make your users feel even more valued.

Takeaway: Use your website to provide valuable support and advice to users. They’ll appreciate it. A professional developer can help you create the site and even ensure your app links to the support area of the site.

Keep Users Up To Date

Are you planning on added limited time features to your app? What about planning a major upgrade in the next month? Your users want to know. Adding all of this information into the mobile app itself is difficult. Users don’t want to be bothered with numerous pop-ups or long blocks of text in their app. Add a simple News or About link to the app that links to your site’s blog. Or, use this section of your app to list blog titles with links to the posts themselves.

Takeaway: Build excitement for new features with a website with all the app’s latest changes. A developer can easily link your site and app so your users always stay updated.

Gain Valuable Feedback

Trying to figure out what your users want can seem impossible. Create a website with a suggestion form. Users love being able to influence an app’s features and design. Give them the chance and finally find out what your users want most. While you don’t have to use every idea, the submissions you receive will help you see if there’s anything you need to change or add.

Takeaway: Use your website as a valuable tool for improving your app. If you’re working with an app developer, you can show the developer the submissions so they better understand your target audience’s needs.

Conclusion

It’s not a question of why should you have an app website. The real question is why don’t you already have a website? Your app and website work hand in hand with each other to market, provide support and gather feedback for your app.

Are you ready to create a companion site for your app? Contact StuartMedia today to find out how to get started. 

Image: Jason Howie

Businesses used to use Facebook tabs to customise their pages and link to information on their website.

When Facebook changed to tab apps, many businesses stopped using them because they weren’t sure how or how to benefit.

The benefits are still there. Facebook tab apps are the perfect way to engage fans on the site while tying your website to Facebook. With a few custom tab apps, you can increase visitors on Facebook and your site.

Tab Apps Explained

These aren’t tabs in the traditional sense. Instead, they’re either links or apps using an iframe system. This means business pages now have far more control over what they use their tabs for. Facebook allows pages to have up to five tabs under the cover photo and three along the left side of the page. This is prime real estate to add new features to a page or link the page to the business’s website.

Takeaway: Facebook tab apps are more powerful than the original Facebook tabs. Utilise them to make more engaging pages.

Creating Tabs

Facebook offers some tab apps for businesses to implement without needing any coding knowledge. These let businesses basically fill in the blanks to create a static page or link back to their site. For more advanced or custom tabs, businesses must use the Facebook Developers system.  It does require a little coding expertise and configuration to make the tab app work.

Takeaway: Use custom created tab apps to give a business page a more personalised look and feel. Consider using a professional developer to ensure the apps function correctly.

Drive Traffic To A Website

One of the main purposes of a Facebook page is to drive traffic to a business’s website. This leads to more site visitors and conversions. For most businesses, Facebook is just a way to attract new customers and interact. Their main website is where they sell products and services. Tab apps can link to specially created pages on a business’s website. They can even be linked to update the tab as information is updated on the website, such as listing most recent blog posts on a Blog tab.

Takeaway: Businesses often link their tabs to landing pages, email sign-ups, special promotions and blogs. Tie at least a few of your tabs to the most important pages on your site. Use an experienced developer to ensure all pages link correctly.

Create Microsites

A tab can serve as its own microsite. This could be a condensed version of a business’s site, a landing page, highlights from the main site or anything other type of content. These microsite tabs usually resemble the business’s website to create a uniform look when the visitor goes between the two. It’s a good way to create an extra website for a business via Facebook.

Takeaway: Create a secondary microsite to represent your brand on Facebook. Consider hiring a developer to make the site easy to use and uniform with your main website.

Hold Competitions

One of the more popular uses for tabs is competitions. These engage visitors and get them to share your page with friends and family. The tab app includes all details about the competition along with a way for visitors to enter.  It should also include a way for anyone entering to share the contest. For instance, a page may load in place of the entry form with share links.

Takeaway: Add in a competition tab to give away a product, service or discount. They’re fun for visitors and increase traffic to the page. Professional developers know how to create custom competition tabs to ensure it’s easy to enter and share.

Placement Is Everything

Choosing where to place tabs is important. Visitors are drawn to the tabs under the cover photo first. Businesses have space for five tabs. Some of the default ones can be deleted to make room for more important ones. Place the most valuable tabs in this location, such as links to a store or newsletter sign-up page to build a contact list. Other tabs should be placed on the left side of the page. These may not get as many clicks, but they’re still visible to visitors.

Takeaway: Experiment with the placement of tabs to see how visitors react. You can change the placement at any time to improve results. You can test performance with Facebook analytics. Consult a professional developer about placement.

Conclusion

Facebook tab apps are a powerful way to customise a Facebook business page and give more to visitors. Think of them as an extension of your website. It does take some technical knowledge to make them work properly. Most businesses opt for a mixture of Facebook and custom tab apps to give their fans the best experience possible.

Thinking of using Facebook tab apps yourself? Contact StuartMedia today for professional apps to take your Facebook page to the next level.

Image: CTSI-Global

It takes the right combination of app features and marketing to boost user numbers and increase the app’s popularity.

Every business wants their app to be a success. Until users actually find the app, it might struggle along with only a handful of devoted users.

Be Unique

While there are numerous weather apps available, every user has their favorite. The reason – each app is presented in a new and unique way. One of the best ways to market an app is through organic marketing. Trying something new or making the information in the app easier to access than any of the competing apps will get users talking. The more they recommend the app, the more new users the app will receive.

Takeaway: The key is to look closely at the competition. Determine how your new mobile app could improve upon these existing apps. Work with a professional mobile developer to make your app unique and appealing.

Add Useful Features

The more useful an app, the quicker it’ll gain traction in the marketplaces. Even with the best marketing techniques, users won’t download an app if it’s not something they feel is useful. For instance, an app that’s just a marketing pitch for a business isn’t going to attract many users. If the app allows the user to make purchases, compare prices, find locations, access exclusive deals and more, they’ll not only want to download it, but use it regularly. This helps the app rank higher in mobile marketplaces which leads to more new users.

Takeaway: In addition to marketing, focus on the app itself. Talk to potential users and ask what features they’d find most useful. Incorporate the ideas which best fit in with your vision of the app to make it a must have app. Consider hiring a developer who can easily work all these features into an easy to use and attractive app.

Use Social Media

Advertise your new mobile app on all the social media channels you use. Since followers and fans are already interested in your business, they’ll want to know about the app. Use fun campaigns leading up to the app release that tease about features and show screenshots. Incorporate polls or quick questions to see which features users like or want most. Not only do these posts inform potential users about the new app, but interested users are likely to share at least a few posts with their own friends and family.

Takeaway: Even a simple social marketing campaign helps spread the word about a new app. After all, user numbers won’t increase if no one knows about the app to begin with. Consider adding social sharing to the app itself to further boost your social marketing.

Offer Incentives

Everyone loves to get a discount or something for free, including mobile users. Advertise incentives on the company blog, website, social media channels and email newsletter. If users believe they’ll get something useful in return for at least trying the new app, they’re far more likely to download and explore the app. A simple discount, a unique feature if they enter a special code, a useful free ebook or any other small incentive is all it takes to get people talking and more users trying an app.

Takeaway: Instead of just marketing the app itself, market the incentives a user receives for downloading the app. You can even offer additional incentives if they share a link to the app on their on social media accounts. It helps you market to more users and people are more likely to download apps if they’re recommended by someone they know.

Try Ad Networks

Basic advertising is still a classic, yet effective option for marketing a new mobile app. Using ad networks with a targeting option will help you get your app in front of more eyes who might actually be interested. With millions using social media, social sites are great for targeted ad marketing. Mix this with the incentive method and user numbers will jump. Plus, an increase in downloads helps boost the app’s marketplace ranking, leading to more organic marketing.

Takeaway: Try using a few ad campaigns through different ad networks before and after the app launch. This builds hype and continues to spread the word after the app is live.

Conclusion

With a solid set of useful features and a great marketing strategy, gaining new users isn’t a problem. Work closely with a professional app developer to make the app look beautiful and function as smoothly as possible. After that, spread the word on your site, blog and social media channels.

Need help creating a must have new mobile app? Contact StuartMedia today to get the design and functionality your users’ crave and you need.

An app idea isn’t enough to build a successful app on. Before launching a finished product, ensure the app is viable.

If it’s not, tweak it until it is. Only viable apps succeed in the marketplaces.

Build A Minimum Viable Product

One of the quickest ways to determine if your idea is viable is to create a MVP. Think of this as a prototype. The MVP could be a very basic version of the app, a landing page, a slide show or anything else that demonstrates the core concept and function of the app. The purpose is to have something to show potential users, industry experts and even developers to determine if the idea is well received and possible to execute.

Takeaway: Don’t spend more than a few days to a week on the MVP. Hire a developer to build a simple prototype and test with the target user base. Take any feedback and use the ideas that best fit your vision of the app.

Use Keyword Research

Quickly test the general viability of an app through basic keyword research. Use free or premium keyword research tools such as those listed on WordStream and iAcquire to see how popular the app concept is. This will also show how much competition currently exists in the niche. While not the best indicator, it does give an idea of general demand and can be narrowed down based on country.

Takeaway: Start the initial research with simple keyword research. It’s cheap and helps you know immediately if any demand exists for the idea.

Solve A Problem

One simple question many businesses fail to ask is whether the app will solve a problem. App users download apps for two reasons – solving problems and entertainment. Does the idea solve a problem a user would have? If so, how much competition is there? How will this app be different? The better the app is at solving a common problem, the more viable and popular it is.

Takeaway: Interview the target audience and introduce the concept to them. Ask if it solves their problem and if not, how it could be better. Collaborating with professional developers is also helpful in determining if the app solves problems effectively or not.

Meet With Experts

Even before an MVP is created, talk to experts who specialise in the idea’s subject matter. They’re able to immediately determine if the app delivers what customers want and need from an app. This could be app developers in a particular niche, subject matter experts in the industry or consumer analysts. A quick presentation is all that’s needed to give the expert an overview of the idea.

Takeaway: Let experts help guide the idea from basic to viable. It doesn’t take long and usually it’s free. Meeting with several experts gives you a more well-rounded view of what’s necessary to make the app idea better.

Test Demand

While a MVP and keyword research are useful for testing demand, a simple landing page mixed with an ad campaign are ideal for testing consumer demand. It costs far less than an unsuccessful app launch and gives a clear idea of how users feel about the potential app. If your social media accounts or website are popular, place polls, basic presentations or other marketing material and see how users interact. Even checking app stores such as the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for search terms related to your idea are perfect for testing demand.

Takeaway: Without demand, an app isn’t viable. Test the demand thoroughly before proceeding with development. Consider discussing this with an app developer as well as they understand market trends and general demand for specific app types.

Conclusion

Every idea isn’t going to be viable, but many are with the right amount of research and tweaking. A little testing before hand helps save thousands later.

Not sure if your idea is viable? Contact StuartMedia for guidance from idea through development.

Choosing the right smartphone app design is crucial to an app’s success.

Users immediately judge an app within the first few minutes of use based on several design rules.

If the app falls short in one or more areas, the users might not return to the app. These rules are easy to implement and encourage users come back again and again.

1. Choose The Right Topography

Fonts might not seem that important, but if users can’t easily read the text within an app, they’ll uninstall it and opt for a better designed app. It’s important to choose the right font type and size for the platform the app’s designed for. For instance, a smaller font might be easier to see if the app is for tablets only. If it’s for smartphones, a tiny font might be impossible to see. To keep fonts easier to read, try to limit text or provide an option for users to change the font size if the app is text heavy.

Takeaway: Users shy away from apps with text that’s difficult or impossible to read. Ensure your app’s text is easily visible on all screen sizes and doesn’t blend into the app.

2. Keep Colours Simple

A beautiful colour scheme catches a user’s attention. However, using too many colours or colours that obscure app features only hurts the app. Keep the overall colour scheme simple and uniform throughout the app. All of the apps buttons and text should be easily visible against the background colours or images. When an app’s colours are too loud or chaotic, it simply distracts the user.

Takeaway: Colours aren’t the most important aspect of smartphone app design. Create a simple, yet elegant colour scheme. A professional app designer knows how to incorporate the right blend of colours to ensure elements stand out without seeming overwhelming.

3. Create An Intuitive Interface

The UI is the first thing a user sees. The UI  must be clutter free and intuitive. The user shouldn’t need a manual just to figure out how to go from one screen to the next. Since smartphones have smaller screen sizes, it’s vital to keep the UI as uncluttered as possible. This makes it easier to see functional elements. If the functions aren’t immediately obvious, the user will download another app instead.

Takeaway: The most important app design element is the user interface. Focus strictly on adding necessary elements only and leave out any fluff. If an element doesn’t have an obvious purpose, leave it out. App designers help you determine which elements should stay and go in your UI.

4. Make Navigation Obvious

Most smartphone users are accustomed to certain navigational elements such as swiping, slide out menus, icons on buttons and tilt controls. Navigation isn’t the time to be extremely innovative. Let the features be the innovative part. For navigation, keep it simple and obvious. For instance, users know a gear on a button means Settings while a question mark means Help. Many apps have a brief tutorial when the app’s first opened to guide users.

Takeaway: If users can’t navigate through an app quickly and easily, they’ll lose interest. Keep navigational elements to a minimum to avoid cluttering the screen while providing the same type of buttons, menus and touch gestures users are familiar with. App developers understand the importance of navigation in smartphone apps and know how to keep it simple, yet effective.

5. Incorporate Social Elements

Incorporating social elements is important for spreading the word about an app. From sharing a recent purchase to updating game scores, users expect some social features worked into the design. The key to making this work is keeping the social aspect as inconspicuous as possible. A small social share button on each screen with options to share on different networks is best. A simple pop-up after completing an action is also appropriate as long as the user has a way to turn off the notifications.

Takeaway: Today’s smartphone app design needs social features. It makes the app more user friendly and helps boost the app’s popularity. Experienced developers will help you find the best ways to include this element without it taking up valuable design space.

Conclusion

Effective app design means catering to your users’ needs. Following these five rules is simple, especially with the help of an app designer. Apps don’t have to be complicated. They just need to fill a need and be easy to use.

Ready to create a stunning, effective smartphone app? Contact StuartMedia today to ensure these five crucial rules are followed.

Image: Sean MacEntee

Some apps seem to instantly go viral while others aren’t as well received.

Part of the success is marketing, but the other part, which is even more important, is how the app is designed.

Every successful mobile app is a chance to learn a valuable lesson for your own business app. These five apps showcase five of the most important lessons for app creators and businesses.

Waze – Easy To Use Interface

Waze is designed to make travel easier by involving the community to create real time traffic data. The app is full of information such as navigation, road work details, traffic accidents and more. Since users need quick access to the app on the go, an easy to use interface was crucial. Large icons and obvious navigation make it quick and easy for users to access the information they need and enter details for other users. Plus, it even has an introductory tutorial to answer any questions.

Takeaway: The app avoids looking cluttered while still giving users a powerful mobile app. Design mobile apps with a clear, concise UI. Great app developers strive to create the most user friendly interfaces possible for more successful apps.

Evernote – Seamless Integration

Evernote quickly became a must have note taking app due to it’s clean layout and seamless integration with different platforms. Whether the user was on their tablet, laptop or desktop, they could access the same notes anywhere. Plus, the app looks similar on every platform, making it easy for users to pick up and learn. What really makes this a truly successful mobile app is how well the app is designed to perfectly fit every screen size so users can easily see all their notes with no problems.

Takeaway: The more accessible an app is, the more successful it is. Businesses never know what platform their audience might use. Ensuring the app integrates well with other platforms while still being easy to use is important.

Candy Crush Saga – Social Integration And Spacing

Candy Crush Saga and the entire line of King games have proven highly successful. Part of the success lies in the social integration. Users love having apps that integrate with social media, especially games. They also like if the social aspect isn’t front and center. This app keeps the social aspect in the background without interfering with gameplay or valuable screen space.

The main lesson to learn from this app though is spacing. The app has graphics galore, but they’re spaced well with a pull out menu to make the most of even the tiniest screens. The app shows you can place a lot on the screen as long as it’s well laid out and easy to see.

Takeaway: The spacing of an app’s layout is crucial. If it’s too cluttered, users won’t go back to it. To make the most of an app’s screen space, hire a professional designer who fully understands the importance of spacing.

Pocket – Simple Navigation And Offline Access

Pocket combines two valuable app lessons into one app. The first is simple navigation. Users don’t want to scroll endlessly or search for buttons to go from one screen to the next. This app incorporates intuitive gesture controls that make it easy for users to navigate and learn to use the app. The second lesson is making the app useful offline as well. Many mobile apps require Internet access to load at all. Saved stories in Pocket are available offline, bringing users to the app all the time.

Takeaway: Keep navigation simple. Use clear icons, slide out menus or gesture controls to save space and provide easy navigation through the entire app. If possible, provide an offline element as well to encourage users to use the app more often.

Flipboard – Continual Updates

Flipboard showcases a myriad of lessons, but the most important is the app’s constant improvements. The developers listened to their users and paid attention to what other successful apps were doing. They’ve continued to incorporate new features into the magazine style app such as content curation, in-app sharing and a more stream-lined design. With every update, the app’s popularity increases.

Takeaway: Never stop developing the app. Always work with an app developer who provides regular updates. Users often tire of apps that never incorporate anything new. Updates help boost an app’s success rate.

Conclusion

If you want to create a more successful mobile app, look at other successful apps and learn from them. Take notes about design, navigation, colour schemes, update schedules and more. Mixing highly useful features with a great design is the first step towards creating the next must have app.

Are you ready to incorporate these lessons into your own app? Contact StuartMedia today for details on crafting successful app on multiple mobile platforms.

Image: Siddartha Thota