In brief
Before developing an app, research the project and its users, prepare for promotion, build practical experience and identify what makes the product different. Popularity and an idea alone are insufficient preparation.
With the recent rise of smartphones, many people want to develop new apps, though some have only an idea or a demo. Most people, however, still have limited understanding of developing apps, and their main reason for creating apps is that apps are popular, and they believe they can make money from them. They act as soon as they have an idea, overlooking much of the preparatory work, including marketing.
1.Project Research
Many people who develop apps do little preliminary research into matters such as positioning and target audiences. Preliminary research is essential for every project. It should cover the market, competitors, technology, domestic and overseas conditions, and the history of development. Completing this research will make you an expert on the project.
Research can take many forms. Offering gifts to questionnaire respondents generally does not cost much, yet can be very helpful for gathering user feedback. Understanding users’ motivations, ideas and concerns during development helps you improve the product to meet their needs, increasing the app’s chances of success.
2.Strengthen Promotion
Many people pay little attention to promotion. Without sufficient understanding before development, and with numerous similar products already on the market, being overtaken is only a matter of time. Among similar apps, those that stand out are willing to promote themselves. Besides attracting potential users, promotion can also prevent users from abandoning an app because it no longer feels fresh.。
Promotion can attract potential partners. Companies seeking partners generally prefer recognised brands, because working with a well-known brand can effectively raise their own profile—a tangible and obvious benefit. Promotion can also put pressure on competitors, disrupt their efforts, attract customers’ attention and make it harder for competitors to sell. So avoid blind faith in yourself: doing more promotion offers many benefits.
3.Gain More Practical Experience; Spend Less Time on Success Stories
After achieving success, some people promote themselves. Media coverage can make their achievements seem almost miraculous, misleading those who are eager to succeed and giving their imaginations free rein. In reality, many successful people do not openly discuss the problems and difficulties they encountered during development.
Apple’s success lies in its willingness to invest time and money in promotion. Do not blindly trust what successful people say. Others will not reveal the experience and skills required for success; they will only tell you about the results.
4.Product Differentiation
The so-called Jewish golden rule says that, in a mature market, only 22% make money, while the remaining 78% do not. In the app market, among products with more than 5,000 × 10,000 users, apps number only twenty or thirty, accounting for 22%. Many people are driven by a passing enthusiasm and ultimately waste their time getting nowhere.
Success is difficult to achieve, and standing out requires differentiation. Simply creating an ordinary app now offers little prospect of success. The key is identifying what makes the product different and what can attract the media and users. Different target audiences and behavioural characteristics can provide the basis for product differentiation.