Part One of features, advantages and benefits.
With 76% of adults now owning smartphones, Britain has become a distracted society. As smartphones become ever more embedded in our lives, we see new opportunities and challenges for the mobile sector, retailers, advertisers and beyond. This series will look at the features, advantages and benefits of mobile Apps and why they are important for your business. Finding an expert mobile app developer like Internet Creation who can create the unique features you require is paramount for your next marketing campaign.
1. Feedback System
Seth Kravitz expresses the critical importance of having some way for users to provide feedback on apps. Whether it is a button or a link to open an email it doesn’t matter; the important part is that you give your users a quick way to report bugs, and provide suggestions or criticisms. Users will appreciate knowing that you are open to their feedback and that their input can shape the future of your app.
2. Usability
Aaron Schwartz identifies the need for app usability. A compelling mobile application must feature an interface that focuses on usability. The best way to do this is to follow the general application hierarchy of widely used apps like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. User experience bonus points are awarded if it is also beautiful and (pleasantly) surprising!
3. Customise
Luke Burgis insists you make sure that there is a clear way to adjust settings for your app such as colours, font sizes and most importantly privacy settings if it happens to be a social app. The more opportunities the user has to tailor the app to their own taste, the less chance you will get something wrong. And, if you do, it will simply be adjusted by the user.
4. Keep It Simple
Jesse Davis identifies that it gets tempting to throw in a million small, frivolous features into your mobile app because you think they’re “cool” or good looking, but don’t. Figure out the few basic things users want and build those features, and nothing else. It’s better to use an app that lets you do what you want in 15 seconds than encourages you to do things I have no interest in actually doing.
5. Social Media Log In
Lauren Perkins suggests using Facebook Connect or another single sign on technology solution to allow your customers to use their social media logins to sign into the mobile app (and keep them signed in). And always give them a way to retrieve their username/password or remind them which social network they used when setting up the app.
6. Maintaining Relevancy
Robby Hill believes that app content must be something that cannot be gained from a website. To focus on pushing relevant information and delivering a richer experience that is beyond what your mobile website can do.
7. Eliminate Clicks
Emerson Spartz suggests being zealous about eliminating every possible click or tap from the design such as asking users to register, sign up or fill out forms. Conversion rates fall sharply when extra work is required to sign up. You only have a short window to hook them, and if they have a bad experience they won’t try again.
8. Include Analytics
George Mavromaras promotes incorporating analytics into mobile apps. A small business must be able to track and identify their users experience and actions. Most users do not enjoy giving up their location, which is understandable. Tracking a user’s location is different to tracking and analysing their experience. The data gathered will only help encourage better updates.
9. Offline Capabilities
Doreen Bloch states how frustrating it can be for users when an app is entirely unusable just because they have a weak signal. Consider how you can build in content or interactivity that doesn’t rely on a wireless signal. It will make for a positive user experience while your users are on-the-go, online or off.
10. Prioritise Speed
Ben Lang promotes the importance of app speed. People used to despise Facebook because of how slow the mobile app is. It is crucial that your app doesn’t make people wait around while it loads.
If you want to read more on mobile App features, click here.
Internet Creation Ltd. specialises in Web Design & Development, Graphics Design and Digital Marketing (SEO & PPC). For more information on how we can help your business, email [email protected].
