Create A Killer Brief For Your Mobile App Development Idea |
Posted: May 17, 2017 |
When innovative ideas are born, there has to be a practical follow-up strategy or the idea could die before it is even born. Some startups and business owner fail at producing their ground-breaking mobile apps because they could not find a way to articulate what they want the application to do or look like. Developing a great mobile application is not as easy as planning for, and developing a website. Both mobile app developers and mobile app owners struggle to understand the different aspects of mobile app development and their confusion can range from the type of framework to the type of platform. Many times, mobile app customers are unable to provide the app developers with a detailed brief of what they want, and this lack of understanding is the first misstep that could result in several problems and multiple test releases of the mobile app. I have a great app idea but don't know where to start?This is a very common question in the app development company. Developers find themselves consulting with clients who do not know how to communicate their ideas. This dilemma is often times resolved with a mobile development brief. Some customers are laymen to the mobile development world, while others are not. However, remember that a lot can get lost in translation if not properly documented. Before approaching a mobile design or development company, you need to have a clear understanding of your needs, because only then can you provide a killer brief that outlines all your needs. Below are some tips that can help you get started on your journey toward creating the next big mobile application. Find your market shareBefore spending all that money and time developing a mobile app, do a little feasibility study. Launch your product for free, give out trial access on a website, or test it out on social media. The aim of this exercise is to know how viable the product will be and if it grabs the attention of your market share, then you have nothing to lose as you will have gotten a head start on development. Understanding the needs of your users should be your main concern when carrying out your research. It is a good idea to get in the heads of your prospective users so you can understand what they expect from your mobile app. All mobile applications are created to solve a problem or bridge a gap, so if you already know what problem your app will tackle, then you need to focus on who your app will help, and how the user will want this help. Decide on your apps' functionalitiesObviously, your app must be functional, but the question is how users will want to receive these functionalities? For instance an instant messenger (IM) mobile application offers speed of communication, easy file transfers and more. The ease of use is what users want, so will a long-winded registration process appeal to your users? If your business model is dependent on the data you gather at registration, this is the point when you may want to tweak your app design to make it useful for your organization and app users. A good rule of thumb is to run a beta test with basic functionalities. This will help you narrow down to the needs of your users and eliminate useless features from your app. Of course, you can only do this when your app has been built and tested by your users, so the best way to move forward with your app at this stage is to focus only on the important features that you want to launch the app with. Remember that great apps add new features frequently. This doesn't mean that your business model has to be modified, it simply means that all your great ideas will have to be kept on a back burner until you can test them out. Mobile app users love simplicity and ease of use. So beta testing your app is one step you should not miss out on. It will reveal a lot about your application and give you an opportunity to hear first-hand from those who will use the application. Create a storyboard for all activitiesSo now that you know what your app will do and how it will do it, you will also want to take this knowledge on a test drive. Create a storyboard for major activities on the app, and as you progress, you will see the gaps in your plan. For example, the process of logging on to the application — or the registration process — may reveal that your app needs a walk-through rather than a one-page login or registration page. Your storyboard will also help the app designer understand your needs and suggest better alternatives. With this storyboard, a scope of work is created that will be part of your mobile development brief. Now it’s time to sketch out the app and create wireframes or prototypes. Convert your storyboard to wireframes or prototypesYour storyboard will be as detailed as possible and will lead you in different directions within your apps' infrastructure. These different directions might overlap and create a navigational hell for your users. Creating a mobile wire frame for your app will show the visual flow of your apps' activities. Navigating the app will become clearer; as well as all the features envisioned. This wire frame will help your developer clearly understand your expectations. Wire frames can be professionally done or hand-drawn, whatever the case, just make sure it is clear and can be easily understood by your mobile development team. There are many online tools available for wire framing, the key here is to create a very clear mobile development brief. Time for Agile developmentAfter taking all the steps above, you'll be ready for Agile mobile development. Agile is the preferred approach for mobile apps development because it follows all the best practices like collaboration, transparency, and rapid iterations. These best practices will mean that your app development can adapt to change, which is critical to achieving success in an ever-evolving mobile development world. Once you hire a mobile developer, the fun starts. As you watch your project come to life, feel free to make changes as development unfolds. However, note that you may be charged an extra fee by some mobile app developers if your changes exceed an agreed number, while some developers will work with your from the start to reduce re-work. Contact us if you need a mobile development experience that is stress-free from start to finish.
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