Do you have a brilliant idea for a mobile app that you want to turn into reality? If so, you are not alone. Millions of people worldwide have great ideas for apps that can solve problems, entertain users, or provide value in some way. But how do you go from having a view to having a successful app?
The first step is to define your mobile app idea and goals. This will help you clarify what your app is about, who it is for, and what it will achieve. It will also help you plan your app development process and measure your progress and success.
This article will guide you through defining your mobile app idea and goals and give you some tips and best practices.
Step 1: Define the App Idea and the Features You Want
The first step is to write down your app idea clearly and concisely. What is the primary purpose of your app? What problem does it solve, or what need does it fulfill? What are the main features or functionalities that your app will offer?
For example, let's say you want to create a fitness app that helps users track their workouts and calories. Your app idea could be something like this:
"My app is a fitness tracker that allows users to log their exercises and calories, set goals, view progress, and get personalized feedback and tips."
Next, you need to list down the features that your app will have. These are the specific functionalities that your app will provide to users. For example, some parts of your fitness app could be:
A user profile where users can enter their personal information, preferences, and goals
A workout log where users can record their exercises, duration, intensity, and calories burned
A calorie tracker where users can scan barcodes or enter food items and see their calorie intake
A dashboard where users can view their daily, weekly, and monthly progress and statistics
A feedback system where users can get personalized suggestions and tips based on their performance and goals
A social feature where users can share their achievements, challenges, and ends with other users or friends
You don't need to list every feature your app will have. Just focus on the core features of your app's functionality and value proposition. You can always add more features later as you develop your app.
Step 2: Research the Market Trends (and Update Your Feature List)
The next step is to research the market trends and see what other apps are doing in your niche or category. This will help you understand what users expect from your type of app, what features are popular or in demand, and what gaps or opportunities exist in the market.
You can use various tools and methods to conduct market research, such as:
Searching for similar apps on the app stores and reading their descriptions, reviews, ratings, screenshots, etc.
Using keyword tools like Google Trends or App Annie to see what keywords or phrases people are searching for related to your app idea
Using analytics tools like Sensor Tower or Appfigures to see how other apps perform regarding downloads, revenue, retention, etc.
They use survey tools like SurveyMonkey or Typeform to ask potential users about their needs, preferences, pain points, etc.
Using social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter to see what people are talking about or asking for related to your app idea
Based on your market research, you may need to update your feature list accordingly. You may discover some features are more important or desirable than others, or some parts are missing or redundant. You may also find new features or ideas you hadn't thought of before.
For example, based on your market research for your fitness app, you may decide to:
Add a feature that allows users to sync their data with other devices or apps like Fitbit or Apple Health
Remove a feature that allows users to scan barcodes because there are already many apps that do that
Add a feature that allows users to create custom workouts or choose from predefined ones
Add a feature that will enable users to join challenges or competitions with other users
Step 3: Identify the Users/Audience for Your App
The third step is to identify the users or audience for your app. Who are the people who will use your app? What are their characteristics, behaviors, motivations, goals, etc.? How will they benefit from using your app?
To answer these questions, you must create user personas or profiles representing your ideal users. User personas are fictional characters embody your target users' traits, goals, needs, and behaviors. They help you empathize with your users and design your app accordingly.
To create user personas, you can use various sources of data, such as:
Your market research data
Your existing user data (if you have any)
Your competitor analysis data
Your user feedback or reviews
Your user interviews or surveys
You can use tools like Xtensio or HubSpot to create user personas easily and visually. It would be best if you aimed to make at least 3-5 user personas that cover your target users' different segments or groups.
For example, for your fitness app, you may create user personas like:
Anna is a 25-year-old college student who wants to lose weight and tone her body. She is busy with her studies and a part-time job, so she needs a flexible and convenient app that can help her track her workouts and calories anytime, anywhere. She likes to get feedback and encouragement from her friends and other users.
Bob is a 35-year-old office worker who wants to improve his health and fitness. He likes to challenge himself and compete with others. He is sedentary and has a poor diet, so he needs an app to help him set realistic goals, monitor his progress, and get personalized tips and suggestions.
Claire is a 45-year-old stay-at-home mom who wants to stay fit and active. She likes to learn new things and discover unique exercises. She has a busy schedule with her kids and household chores, so she needs an app to help her create custom workouts or choose from predefined ones that suit her preferences and availability.
Step 4: Pick a Platform
The fourth step is to pick a platform for your app. Which operating system or device will your app run on? Will it be iOS, Android, Windows, or cross-platform? Will it be a smartphone app, a tablet app, a wearable app, or a web app?
The choice of platform depends on various factors, such as:
Your target users' preferences and behaviors
Your app's features and functionalities
Your app's performance and quality requirements
Your app's development time and cost
Your app's maintenance and update needs
You can use tools like Statista or App Annie to see different platforms and devices' market share and trends. You can also use DeviceAtlas or Google Analytics to see your potential users' devices.
For example, for your fitness app, you may decide to:
Choose iOS as your primary platform because most of your target users are using iPhones or iPads
Choose Android as your secondary platform because it has a large and growing market share globally
Choose cross-platform development tools like Flutter or React Native because they allow you to create apps for both iOS and Android with one codebase.
Choose a smartphone as your primary device because most target users use their phones to track their workouts and calories.
Choose wearable as an optional device because some target users may have smartwatches or fitness trackers that can sync with your app.
Step 5: Define Your App Goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The final step is to define your app goals and key performance indicators (KPIs). What are the specific outcomes that you want to achieve with your app? How will you measure your app's success and progress?
Your app goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. They should align with your app's purpose, value proposition, and business objectives.
Your app KPIs are the metrics you will use to track and evaluate your app goals. They should be relevant, quantifiable, actionable, and realistic. They should help you understand how well your app performs regarding user acquisition, retention, engagement, satisfaction, revenue, etc.
Tools like Firebase or Mixpanel can collect and analyze your app KPIs. You can also use tools like Google Optimize or Optimizely to run experiments and optimize your app KPIs.
For example, for your fitness app, you may define your app goals and KPIs like:
- Goal: Increase the number of downloads by 50% in the first six months
- KPI: Number of downloads per day/week/month
- Goal: Increase the user retention rate by 20% in the first three months
- KPI: Percentage of users who return to the app after a certain period
- Goal: Increase the user engagement rate by 30% in the first three months
- KPI: Average session duration, frequency, and depth per user
- Goal: Increase the user satisfaction rate by 40% in the first three months
- KPI: App rating, review, and feedback score
- Goal: Increase the revenue by 100% in the first year
- KPI: Average revenue per user, conversion rate, and lifetime value
Conclusion
Defining your mobile app idea and goals is crucial in creating a successful app. It will help you focus on what matters most, communicate your vision clearly, and measure your results effectively.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you can define your mobile app idea and goals in a structured and comprehensive way. You will also be able to use various tools and methods to support your process and make it easier and faster.
However, defining your mobile app idea and goals is not a one-time task. You should revisit and revise them regularly as you develop your app further and learn more about your users and the market.
Suppose you need help defining your mobile app idea and goals or developing your app in general. In that case, you can always turn to Appabrik, a no-code mobile app development & management platform that allows you to create stunning apps without coding. Appabrik offers a range of features and services that can help you turn your app idea into reality, such as:
A drag-and-drop interface that lets you design your app's layout and functionality with ease
A library of templates and components that you can customize and reuse for your app
A cloud-based backend that handles your app's data, security, and scalability
A dashboard that lets you manage your app's settings, analytics, updates, and more
A publishing service that lets you launch your app on the app stores with a few clicks
With Appabrik, you can create your app in minutes without any coding or technical skills. You can also save time and money on hiring developers or agencies. And you can focus on what you do best: creating amazing apps that delight your users.
So what are you waiting for? Start defining your mobile app idea and goals today, and get ready to launch your app with Appabrik!