If you’re thinking of creating a mobile app, there’s no time like the present. The mobile app industry is booming and it’s a great time to get in on the action. But just because the timing is right, doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.
The good news is that with a little bit of research and a lot of hard work, you can create an app that people actually want to use. In this post, we’re going to show you how to take your app from idea to launch and beyond.
1. Build an MVP
It’s tempting to want to create the perfect app from the start. But a full-scale app is expensive and time-consuming.building
It’s not just the initial cost that can be off-putting. It’s also the amount of money you would need to secure from investors. The more money they invest, the more control they have over your business.
To avoid this, you should build a minimum viable product (MVP) first. An MVP is a simple version of your app with just enough features to attract your first customers, including essential functions like international business payments if you plan to operate across borders It’s the fastest way to get something into your customers’ hands, so you can see how they use it and what they think.
If you’re a solopreneur, you can build an MVP yourself if you have the skills. Otherwise, look for a developer who can help you. If you’re a startup with a team, you might want to outsource your MVP to a third-party development agency.
How long it takes to build an MVP depends on the complexity of your app. But, as a rough guide, it could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
2. Define your target audience
Once you have a good idea of what your app will do, the next step is to figure out who it’s for.
This is where a lot of people go wrong. They might have a great idea for an app, but they don’t spend enough time figuring out who will actually use it. Or they think their app will be for everyone and anyone, which is almost never the case.
You need to be able to clearly define who your target audience is. This is the group of people who will benefit the most from your app and who are most likely to use it.
Here are a few questions you can ask to help define your target audience:
• What problem does your app solve and who has that problem?
• What are the characteristics of your ideal user?
• What other apps do your potential users currently use and why?
• What are the potential challenges and objections your target audience might have about your app?
3. Create a user journey map
The next step in defining your app is to create a user journey map.
A user journey map is a visual representation of the process a user goes through to accomplish a goal with your app. It is a tool that helps you identify the steps your users take, the decisions they make, and the emotions they feel along the way.
User journey maps are an essential part of the design process and can help you identify any potential issues or pain points your users may encounter.
To create a user journey map, you will need to:
• Define your user personas
• Identify the steps your users will take to accomplish a goal
• Identify any potential pain points or issues your users may encounter
• Define the emotions your users may feel along the way
• Identify any potential opportunities to delight your users
4. Choose the right development partner
There are a few different ways to build an app, from hiring a team of developers to build it in-house to working with a software development agency or a freelance developer. Each has its own pros and cons, but when you’re just getting started, your best bet is usually to work with a development partner.
Development partners, like software development agencies, have teams of experienced developers, designers, and product managers who can help you build and launch your app. They can also help you navigate the complexities of app development, like working with the app stores, and help you avoid common pitfalls.
When choosing a development partner, look for a team that has experience working with startups and building products similar to yours. You’ll also want to make sure they have a good track record and that you feel comfortable working with them.
5. Build a great user interface
The user interface (UI) is the space where interactions between humans and machines occur. The goal of this interaction is to allow effective operation and control of the machine from the human end, while the machine simultaneously feeds back information that aids the operators’ decision-making process.
In the case of a mobile app, this means creating a visually attractive user interface that’s easy to navigate. The user interface design is the part of the app that users see and interact with directly, so it’s important to get it right.
When designing your app’s user interface, focus on simplicity. Your design should be intuitive, easy to use, and attractive. Avoid cramming too much information onto one screen, and use white space to guide users’ eyes to the most important elements on the page.
One way to ensure your user interface design is up to snuff is to get feedback from potential users. You can do this by creating wireframes of your app and sharing them with people in your target market. Wireframes are a visual guide that represent the skeletal framework of your app. You can create wireframes using design software like Sketch or Adobe XD, or you can use a wireframing tool like Balsamiq or InVision.
Sharing your wireframes with potential users will give you a good idea of how they’ll respond to your app’s user interface design. If they have a hard time navigating the app or understanding how to use it, you may need to go back to the drawing board.
Once you’ve created your wireframes and received feedback, you can move on to creating your app’s user interface design. Use the feedback you received to make improvements, and then create a high-fidelity version of your design. You can use design tools like Sketch, Adobe XD, or Figma to create high-fidelity designs for your mobile app.
6. Get feedback and iterate
Once you have a working prototype and a few beta testers who are excited to give you feedback, it’s time to get your app in the hands of your target audience.
The goal of this phase is to figure out what people like and don’t like about your app. You’ll want to ask questions like:
• What problem does this app solve for you?
• What do you like best about the app?
• What do you like least about the app?
• How can we make the app more valuable for you?
• How likely are you to recommend this app to a friend?
You can use a tool like Typeform, SurveyMonkey or CultureMonkey or even Agentic AI conversational assistance to create a simple survey, or you can hop on the phone with your beta testers and ask them these questions directly. AI agents can autonomously reach out to beta users, collect feedback through natural conversations, and summarize the insights for your team. The most important thing is to have a conversation and really understand what your customers are thinking. Sometimes even using channels like WhatsApp CRM to collect instant, more personalized feedback.
After you’ve collected feedback from your beta testers, it’s time to go back to the drawing board and make any necessary changes to your app. This is called the iteration process, and it’s something that you’ll be doing over and over again as you continue to grow your business.
7. Make sure your app is actually useful
This might seem obvious, but it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of building an app and forget about the most important thing: making sure your app is actually useful.
Before you start building, ask yourself: what problem does my app solve? If you can’t answer that question, you might want to go back to the drawing board.
Your app doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, but it should offer something of value to your target audience. If your app doesn’t solve a problem, make someone’s life easier, or entertain them, you might want to reconsider your idea.
8. Plan your launch and growth strategy
Building the app is only half the journey — getting people to actually use it is the other half. Before launch, create a go-to-market plan that covers how you’ll attract your first users and keep them engaged. This could include press outreach, social media campaigns, app store optimization, and paid ads.All of these campaigns will need a central destination, so creating a high-converting website with an AI landing page generator is a critical step to capture downloads and interest.
Don’t overlook the power of word-of-mouth either. Referral programs can be one of the most cost-effective ways to grow, since you’re rewarding users for spreading the word instead of spending heavily on ads. Tools like ReferralCandy make it simple to set up a referral system directly from launch, helping you turn your first wave of users into your most effective marketing channel.
Conclusion
Building an app is a massive undertaking, but if you follow the advice above, you’ll be on the right path to creating a product that people love and use.
