Simple But Dangerous App Development Mistakes To Avoid

It is no longer news that most android apps fail to meet developers’ expectation. While it is true that the number of available apps is a thing here, little mistakes made by app developers also add to the problem. Although the number of apps is not within your control, avoiding common "app-killing" mistakes can be helpful. So, here are some serious app development mistakes to avoid when building your app.

Including too many unnecessary features

In the bid to impress users, some developers include many irrelevant features in their app. The app becomes clumsy and scares users away. The clumsier your app looks, the more difficult it is to understand and the harder it is to use.

Every app has a purpose. Focus on the features and functions that are relevant to only the purpose of the app. Do not add unnecessary functions. Chances are good that there are several other android apps for the other functions.

Remember, mobile apps are meant to streamline an experience so that users can complete certain tasks faster and more easily.

Not confirming the need for your app

Some developers just assumed that there is a particular need gap and they kicked off without confirming that there is real need for the app. This is like developing an app based on assumption. Even if you think you have discovered a need gap, it is necessary to carry out a survey to confirm that potential users will gladly download and use it.

Sometimes, in the course of your survey, you may find out that what you think is a need gap is actually not necessary and you may also discover the real need gap from the respondents of the survey. In summary, you must be sure that users will repeatedly use your app before setting out to build it.

If your study shows that your app will be useful, then you should set out immediately. If you don’t launch your app three months after the last survey, the survey may no longer be valid. You may have to conduct another one.

Insufficient testing

Another common mistake is insufficient testing. Developers are usually in a hurry to launch their app so they just test it for a couple of days if they do at all. It is unfortunate that most of the bugs that users discover would have been detected if the apps were well tested. You can’t be the judge in your own case. Let potential users test it and send feedback.

A lot of users will use the quality of your app to assess your brand as a whole. Secondly, your app should be tested by neutral testers that are non-tech savvy. Here is the catch, if an old woman who is not IT-oriented can find your app easy to use, then your app is really simple to understand. On the other hand, if a fellow app developer like you finds your app easy to understand, it may be because of his knowledge and expertise. So, you should get the app tested on different kinds of mobile devices by ordinary app users. After all, they are the ones that you developed the app for.

Focusing more on download and installation

Several developers focus more on making users download and install their apps. They don’t think of retention which is even more important. That is why they exaggerate the features of their apps only to have users disappointed and deflated. The success of any app is not only on the number of downloads and installations, it is also on number of active users. So, you should focus on features that will promote repeated usage in your app design and advertisement.

Isn’t the following statistics ridiculous?

• Number of download and installation: 502, 147
• Number of current users: 46,097

This is the kind of result you will get if you ignore retention and keep pushing download and installation.

Expecting quick financial gain

Some app developers project huge revenue within the first year of launch but they are often disappointed and frustrated. App development does not work like that. It will take some time before the returns begin to trickle in. If you expect anyone to pay a dime to download your app when there could be several free alternatives, then you are in for a big shock.

You should work towards wide usage first. In fact, work towards hitting a 50 million-user mark first. Once you get it right with usage, the figures will follow.

Ignoring negative feedback

Some developers ignore negative feedback or respond to it late. The problem with every negative feedback is that a lot of prospective users will get to see it. Ignoring such a feedback may be seen as either a sign of negligence or a sign of guilt. Either way, prospective users will be turned off.

It is also very bad to delay your response to negative feedback. The longer it stays there, the more the number of people that will get to see it. If you eventually address the feedback, only a fraction of those that saw it will eventually see your response. So, in an ideal situation, every negative feedback is addressed within 24 hours. In fact, big brands have online reputation managers that are permanently online to address any negative feedback if it comes up.

Taking the easy way out

Every app is unique and its code should be developed from scratch. However, this is not always the case. To save time and efforts, some app developers try to reuse some codes. When they do, they jeopardize uniqueness. It usually gets to a point that the old codes will make it difficult to implement what they designed so they will end up modifying the original app design to be able to use the old codes. They eventually launch low quality app that is different from the original design. So, don’t always plan to reuse your codes.

Failing to consider marketing/promotion cost

Some developers only consider the cost of development of their app, they forget to also include marketing cost from the beginning. They don’t realize that the number of apps on the net now makes it mandatory to "shout to be seen". In fact, you have not really launched your app until you begin to promote it.