Nobody intends to make a mistake during the app development process. 99% of the mistakes I\u2019ve seen on a daily basis could have easily been avoided if the developer knew about them ahead of time. That\u2019s what inspired me to write this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you start a new development project, you need to review these common 11 mobile app mistakes. By avoiding app development mistakes, you\u2019ll endure less frustration and increase your chances of building a successful app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mistake 01: Neglecting Research and Due Diligence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Overseeing app development has taught me that people are impatient by nature. They want to dive in and start creating immediately, without taking the proper steps ahead of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If this sounds like you, I admire your enthusiasm. But you need to slow down and conduct your due diligence before you proceed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taking the time to find the best platform and solution for app development now will save you months or even years of frustration down the road. The app creation tool you choose can make or break the success of your project, so don\u2019t rush this decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are so many different ways to build an app:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The list goes on and on. Plus, there are different subsections within each option. For example, there are small local agencies, large international agencies, and everything in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can\u2019t make this decision in ten minutes while browsing the web at a local coffee shop. It takes time to find the perfect app development solution for your needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This process can be compared to buying a car. You don\u2019t just show up to the dealership one day on a whim and leave with a car an hour later. You\u2019ll read consumer reports, customer reviews, take test drives, and shop around different dealerships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The same process can be applied here. Read\u00a0customer stories and case studies\u00a0before you choose a development company. Subscribe to their newsletter. Request a consultation. Try a demo or free trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the only way to truly find the best development platform for your re-seller agency or business app.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blowing through a budget is another\u00a0common developer mistake\u00a0that I see on a regular basis. There are a few main reasons why this happens:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important that you have a rough idea of how much your app will cost from the beginning. You can use tools like a\u00a0mobile app cost calculator\u00a0to help get an accurate estimate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the initial development isn\u2019t the only thing you need to plan for. Other phases need to be taken into consideration when you\u2019re\u00a0creating a budget<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your budget should also allocate funds for unexpected costs that could arise along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you decide that you want to add new features or make changes to your initial plan, your project won\u2019t go over-budget if that was built into the estimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important that you set realistic budget expectations from the beginning. Lots of developers have a number in mind that they think will be sufficient to build an app, based on something they read or a conversation they had with a friend. But so many factors must be taken into consideration here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you keep up with the latest\u00a0mobile app development trends, you\u2019ll learn that technology is constantly evolving. Features like AI<\/strong>, AR<\/strong>, and other integrations will impact your budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those of you interested in becoming a mobile app re-seller, you need to have an accurate budget to estimate your profit margins correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diving right into the final build is another common mistake made by app developers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An MVP (minimum viable product) will help you test the app and evaluate its performance. During the MVP stages of development, the app will only be comprised of essential features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s an analogy. Let\u2019s say you were building a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The final product will have a radio, a GPS system, leather seats, automatic windows, and a new paint job. But an MVP of that car just needs to have four wheels, a frame, steering wheel, and an engine. As long as the car does what it\u2019s supposed to, it\u2019s an acceptable minimum viable product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An MVP is\u00a0not<\/em>\u00a0an experiment for your app. This is another common app mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back to the car analogy. You wouldn\u2019t build a motorcycle or a helicopter as your MVP if the final product is supposed to be a four-door sedan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So if you\u2019re building an\u00a0HR mobile app to improve employee efficiencies, a social media app isn\u2019t a viable MVP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, you\u2019d want to focus on the core components of the app. Such as building individual employee log-in capabilities and the ability to send push notifications for announcements. As development continues, you can add features like access to payroll information and benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes we get so lost in development that we forget about how the app will actually be used. Neglecting the user interface of an app is a mistake that needs to be avoided at all costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A poor UI\/UX design is one of the top reasons why people uninstall apps<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n People have certain expectations when they open an app. Follow the lead of the most successful and popular apps on the market today as an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of these apps have simple navigation, a search function, and the home menu that can be easily accessed from any screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes developers make the mistake of trying to get too creative with the UI, which ultimately hinders the user experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s an analogy. When you visit a website, you\u2019re expecting the main menu to be at the top of the screen, right? That\u2019s how you\u2019ll navigate to different pages and find your way around the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, what if you went to a website, and the main menu was in a grid at the bottom right side of your screen? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Technically, that\u2019s not incorrect. People can design a website however they want to. But the users will be frustrated with this design since it\u2019s not what they\u2019ve grown accustomed to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The same concept can be applied to your mobile app. Don\u2019t try to reinvent the wheel and win the most innovative homepage design in the history of app development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stick to what works. If the user is forced to make three or four clicks just to return to a home screen or navigate to another screen in the app, they will not enjoy the app experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Prioritize UI, or else you\u2019ll have lots of unhappy app users. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I briefly mentioned testing earlier when we discussed MVP’s. But to have a successful mobile app, you need to take your testing to the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing is an ongoing process and needs to be performed throughout the entire development process. Not only will it improve the user experience, but it\u2019s the only way to work out any bugs or problems with the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s an overview of the most common challenges<\/a> in mobile app testing over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see from the graph, the vast majority of developers test their apps. That\u2019s no longer a problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But several challenges still remain, which hinders the testing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To combat some of the most common testing mistakes and barriers, follow these tips and best practices:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using in-house and outsourced experts to test your app is crucial. A developer or team of developers working on an app every day will have a bias. They know how the app works and what it\u2019s supposed to do. An in-house tester may not think the UI needs improvement if they were involved with the design process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But a third-party expert who is impartial and has never seen the app before will be able to provide much better feedback. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the purpose of your app, you might be tempted to make it available for as many users as possible. While this obviously has its upsides for\u00a0mobile app marketing, it can create challenges from a development standpoint.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re going to build a traditional native mobile app, creating an iOS and Android app will likely double your budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both projects will be treated as two separate development ventures. So if you\u2019ve never built an app before, taking on two builds at the same time is a daunting task. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rather than accelerating your initial development costs and starting something that\u2019s too much for you to handle, stick to just one platform if you\u2019re building a native app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternatively, you can build for iOS and Android simultaneously using an app builder. These platforms reduce your development costs and timeline while giving you the ability to create an app without writing a single line of code. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to learn how to code or work with a partner that will code a native app from scratch, that\u2019s fine. I\u2019d just focus on one platform if you go that route. Otherwise, using an app builder will be the best way to avoid these problems altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The majority of mobile app failures can be traced back to poor communication during the development process. <\/p>\n\n\n\nMistake 02: Poor Budget Management<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/App-Development-Budget.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMistake 03: Not Creating an MVP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mistake 04: Poor UI\/UX Build<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mobile-App-UI_UX.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMistake 05: Failing to Test Properly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/App-Testing-Mistakes.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMistake 06: Building For Too Many Platforms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mistake 07: Poor Communication During Development<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Communication-Mistakes.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mobile-App-Features.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/azoora.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Mobile-App-Update-Mistakes.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n