Habits of Successful Mobile Developers

Mark Byrne | Digital Marketing Specialist | Ward Technology Talent | Twitter | LinkedIn

Are you a mobile developer? In general, top mobile developers have a similar traits that allow them to be successful. Here we look at some of the most important.

What do top mobile developers have common?

1.  Think Mobile

In the early days of mobile development, mobile strategy was often a very simplified process. Trim off some key features and content of the website to allow it all to fit on these smaller screens. The problem here is that this doesn’t address how mobile users interact with the content or the best way to engage with them.

When it comes to smartphone users, they aren’t multi-tasking like desktop users. They are objective orientated and open your app to resolve a focused issue. For example, if you run a catering service, chances are that the user wants to submit a request. The user shouldn’t feel overloaded with features.

 

2. Solve a Problem

At a recent Mobile Learning Lab, Jean-Luc David mentioned in his presentation that building a successful mobile application involved addressing a real need that people had. A method that he uses when presented with the challenge of making a mobile application is to apply Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to the theme that you’re working on. You can then work your way up the pyramid in order to decide how best to solve a problem in that particular area.

Utilize the advantages of mobile – geolocation and focused users – to help solve this problem.

 

3. Keep it Simple

Remember point number 1, the application is being used on a mobile device, you don’t have to be all things to all people. If certain functions are cluttering the user experience and can be done away with then feel free to do so. Don’t be scared to trim the fat, users are looking for an application that works well as opposed to an over complicated nightmare.

Start with the core offering needed to be successful.

Remember that people are going to be using the app in a variety of situations – noise, glare, poor WIFI – all the more reason to keep it simple.

 

4. Set Your Metrics

How are you going to define your success? What metric is best suited to your project? There are plenty of different metrics you can employ. Metrics can include:

• number of downloads of app

• number of purchases made through the app

• user retention rate

• average session length

 

5. Test, Test and Test

Aside from testing applications themselves you should get user feedback on an ongoing basis. Two popular tools are UserTesting.com and MagiTest.com. These are great for remote testing but to truly get a grasp on how users interact with your mobile app – hands-on, live testing is the way to go.

Live-testing can include:

• focus groups

• papers tests

• surveys.

 

6. Develop in Phases

You have to learn to crawl before you can walk. Releasing an app jammed with features is a risky move. Mobile users are open to updating the apps over WIFI so take advantage of this. You can continually tweak ideas and evolve the app over time. This allows for a far more effective end product.