Monday 24 October 2016

15 Questions To Ask Before Getting An App Developed For Your Business

So, you have a brilliant idea for an app that can give your business the boost it requires. Well, you need to start hiring an app developer to create it for you. Is it really that simple? The answer is actually no. There are quite a few things that you have to take into account before the app is developed. Here are some of those questions that you should be asking yourself.

1. What kind of app do you want?
Now, there are various app categories in any app store. However, when you get right down to it, there are actually 7 app types. They are entertainment, productivity, news, games, utilities, networking and lifestyle. Each of these categories needs to be developed and marketed accordingly for best results.

2. What is the goal?
This defines the intentions of what your app is going to do. Here, you will also be outlining the aims that the app is meant to achieve.

3. Who are the target users?
Ultimately, your app is going to be used by somebody. Therefore, you need to understand who they are. Here, you are going to research the demographics as well such as whether they are mainly iOS users or Android users.

4. Is there a deadline and, if so, what is it?
It is possible that your mobile app is linked to other business activities such as a product or service launch. If that is the case, the deadline will determine the timeline of the project.

5. What are the requirements?
Your app will have certain core app functions. What are they?

6. Who will be the key stakeholders?
Identification of the key stakeholders is a must. You need to know who is paying the budget and who the project owner is. Who is responsible for taking the final decision?

7. What are the milestones?
There are stages in app development. You must have an idea of what kind of results will allow the development to proceed to the next stage. Milestones allow you to keep an eye on the progress of the project.

8. Who are the competitors?
You must find out what apps are out there in the different app platforms solving the problems that your app is meant to. This helps you understand what unique solution you can offer.

9. What is the USP?
You need a unique selling point to set yourself apart from the competition. It can be something as simple as a smoother app design or complicated like a new kind of admin portal.

10. What is the monetization strategy?
Here, you need to define how your app will be earning if you wish to monetize it.

11. Are there dependencies?
There can be things that need to do before the app can be done. Identify these dependencies and get them done.

12. What are the project risks?
There can be outside factors that can affect the development. Identify these risks so that the proper precautions can be undertaken.

13. Do you need APIs?
If APIs are required, you will have to research them and get them validated for use in your app.

14. Do you require after-launch support?
In that case, you will have to ask the developers if they can provide support and testing services after the app has been launched.

15. What is the budget?
Outlining the budget allows the developers to work within the limitations to implementing the app features you require.

Finding the answers to these questions should enable you to make the development process a smoother one. Of course, you also need to know where your app is going to get published. It might be the Google Play Store, the Windows Phone Store or iTunes for the iPhone. After all, you will certainly want the best results.

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