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App Development Cycle: A Complete Overview

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An app’s development cycle can be broken down into these five distinct steps 1. The idea When forming your next big app idea, remember that you are selling a product via a highly saturated market. Statistically speaking, it’s highly unlikely that one, if not multiple app developers have yet to ponder or even publish an app that’s similar to your own. We usually suggest that our clients find an app on the market that’s firmly rooted within your app’s territory, and to make amendments to the original idea in order to avoid recreating an already-successful app. The more knowledgeable you are about the competition, the better you can make your app stand out above the rest. If you wish to compete within a highly competitive territory on the market, gaining an edge on the competition is crucial. Start by addressing the flaws in other yet similar app designs – turn their weaknesses into your strength. 2. Finding a developer UXDLAB specializes in connecting clients with experienced development teams. Conversely, say that you wanted to try your hand at coding yourself: we provide resources here on our website that are tailored to help guide the curious non-coder into the vast world of programming. Development is typically a longer process compared to the rest in an app’s development cycle, and learning to code competently enough to create an app would require an expensive investment of your time; the competition will only grow stronger in your stead, so weigh your priorities wisely. Although you could save money by coding alone, remember that the market’s competition is getting fiercer, and having a knowledgeable team on-board will ensure that your app functions as flawlessly as the other successful apps do. 3. Design and Wireframing When designing an app, we focus less on developing the “right look” and more on achieving the “right feel.” Creating a desired experience will take time, so we tend to leave adequate amounts to ensure that every detail is taken into consideration. Designing an app is like mapping out a novel: typically, authors don’t just sit behind a keyboard and churn out their magnum opus based on whatever comes to mind. Before jumping into the process, you need time to organize your thoughts and determine how your content will be ordered and presented to the user. Wireframing is helpful for doing just that: developers can better determine how an app’s elements will both function and be oriented in relation to one another. The visual component of wireframing also helps to elicit more precise and critical input from the team, which is crucial to making an app feel “just right.” 4. Coding (Development) and Beta Testing This stage includes everything in an app’s development between the end of its wireframing / design stage to the time when the app is considered fully functional. The development process is typically both the longest and the most crucial: no matter how great the app’s idea or how visually appealing it may seem, if the app doesn’t function consistently, then it will not perform well on the market. What’s important isn’t how quickly an app is made, but rather how well and consistently it performs. Part of development includes extensive beta testing. Never assume that an app will work 100% of the time unless you’ve already proven so with ample amounts of evidence.An app that works only seven out of ten attempts will not sell more than an app that functions with higher consistency. That’s why we require all our clients to save time between an app’s launch date and its expected completion to search for any hidden errors or glitches that might impede on your user’s experience. 5. Marketing Pre-launch advertising is just as vital to an app’s success as post-launch marketing is. The objective of pre-launch marketing is to create anticipation for the release of your app. Conversely, the objective of post-launch is to direct user traffic towards your app via Search Engine Optimization (SEO). To ensure that your investments will yield profits, it’s best to start researching advertisement methods as early in development as possible instead of waiting right before the app’s launched. Here’s a bare-bones guide we consider following:

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The Mobile App Business Model Made Simple

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The obscurity behind the term “business model” oftentimes causes uncertainty and confusion. For our purposes, let’s think of it as a birds-eye view of how your business will operate. The complexities which constitute the modern business model typically won’t apply to the relatively simpler institution of appreneurship. In the app world, everything is done electronically and over the internet. So business spaces are even optional, although they’re highly advised. Which begs the question…why even bother deploying a business model? The simplicity of the mobile app business model is what makes it so effective and easy to execute. Since those complexities are irrelevant to appreneurs, app developers can focus primarily on the three core elements which constitute a business model: product, marketing, and finances.  Product Consider the resources it’ll take to create, maintain, and improve the app. What would your app need to compete on the market? Do you have the resources to mold your app accordingly? Marketing Your business’s success depends on how well you can discern and engage your target audience. To maximize your marketing potential, you’ll need to find and maintain a solid grasp of the app’s Unique Selling Point.Before moving on, you should realize the extent of paid exposure you can afford and adjust your numbers accordingly. Finances Now that the necessary facilities for creating a quality app have been measured, ask yourself: Is my plan affordable and profitable? Start off by estimating a final budget and weighing it against both your available expenditures and the revenue that you expect your app to accumulate. The toughest part is accurately gauging your potential daily and monthly download rates in a way that’s realistic. If you can devise a plan that’ll satisfy all three of the above components, then what you’ll have is an immaculate business model. Because hiring or outsourcing app, software or eCommerce development company will be the most expensive commitment, having the capacity to develop an app on your own will drastically change the financial dynamics of your business model. The more app development companies you hire, the less affordable your app will be to both develop and to market. If you’re working within the confines of a strict budget, your business model will suffer. Your marketing resources will likely need to be siphoned away to compensate for development costs. Since monetization rates for apps are typically low, the payment for user acquisition is often valued high across all app categories – it’s tough to grab the attention of potential users, and users seldom pay enough on in-game app purchases to match the costs of advertising. The high cost of users is what puts so many apps below the market’s “poverty line”: reaching tens of thousands of downloads monthly is usually required to make out with a profit. This is why it’s essential that you focus efforts on devising an avenue of marketing that’ll result in the highest conversion rates from potential users into actual users. Every serious appreneur should create a working business model for their app. The goal should be to generate the most downloads as you can monthly, and to focus on achieving a successful monetization strategy – every strong business model is built around one.

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4 Features for a Successful Mobile App

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Need help brainstorming new features for your app? Regardless of its category, statistics support that your app should grow faster if you implement one or more of these features listed in this article. Regardless of the category, your app will grow faster if it has implemented one or more of the features listed below. 1. Get Social A chat function give users another reason to re-engage with your app on a daily basis. In-app channels of communication allow communities to establish themselves around your app, turning it into a means for everyday conversation. Opening channels of communication between users is one thing. If you can open communication between you – the developer – and the user in a seamless fashion, you’d be putting yourself into an extremely advantageous position. Direct feedback is invaluable for making improvements to your app: consider offering expert analysis to requesting users, or some other form of advice that gives users an incentive to communicate with you. If you’re creative enough or the value of your communication warrants it, you can even charge users for this feature later in the app’s lifetime – advice can only be accessed by premium users, for instance. Leave users with an incentive to share your app. Offer rewards and services for users that share your app; services they’d otherwise need to pay for. Perhaps some features are overall better if they’re used with friends. Above all, make it natural for users to invite their friends to download your app.  2. Update video/text content As users engage with time-passing features such as videos or lengthy guides, your app’s user session quantity and length will increase, aiding in how well your app is ranked on the app store – both app store ranking algorithms take these two metrics into careful consideration. Of course, the effectiveness of this strategy will depend on your content’s quality. Cycling through quality content will give users a reason to re-engage with your app every-so-often. If you cycle your content regularly, you’re assured to notice an increase in both user session length and user retention rates. 3. Habit support Think of features that users will want to use on an everyday basis. An easy-to-use function that proposes a nuance to an otherwise mundane ritual will make your app highly regarded by potential users; just make sure the app stays on task with its intended function. The more time a person spends on your app, the more inclined they’ll feel to spend money for an enhanced experience. If your app can target a problem and fulfill its niche flawlessly, then it’ll naturally elicit daily user engagement, and those loyal users would feel as though they’d benefit from paying extra for that enhanced experience. 4. Gamification It may require more time to develop, but consider adapting your app’s design with a competitive twist. Have users compete against each other for bragging rights or award high-scorers with exclusive bonus content. As users try to earn higher scores, they’ll engage with your app more frequently than they would have if your app had been less competitive.

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Restaurant Apps – A Closer Look At The Numbers

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As more and more customers plug into the grid, your restaurant’s internet presence becomes that much more crucial. OpenTable an app with a 4.5 star rating and over 50,000+ reviews that lets users make reservations at local restaurants – conducted a survey to help restaurants understand how diners would like their mobile apps to function. Over 6,000 adults were surveyed in different metropolitan areas around the United States and approximately 76% of those surveyed agreed that incorporating technology into their dining experience would be a tremendous improvement. To debunk what restaurants think diners might expect out of the restaurant’s app, a surprising 86% of respondents could not see themselves pre-ordering a meal and an even higher 88% said they probably wouldn’t make a purchase beforehand. So what are some of the things diners seek in mobile apps? The results were surprisingly unanimous: Diners seem to have nothing but great things to say about technology, so why not plug into the grid with an app of your own? If you aren’t already aware, the large majority of restaurants are adapting touch-screen technology into their services to help both improve and expedite the ordering process. On-table touchscreens have been trending the United States in recent times: I recall using one myself at several Applebees across New York State. When respondents were asked about these touchscreens, 55 percent said that they too had used them before, and four out of five seemed to enjoy or at the very least felt neutral about them. A similar study was made two years prior by Telmetrics and xAd; it was found that 89% of users who searched for a restaurant with their smartphone made a purchase within 24 hours and 64% made a transaction within the hour. This 2012 study had already fortified the notion that smartphone users are more likely to make a purchase than desktop users. So why not make their search easier with an app? In fact, 53% of respondents said they had searched for an app for restaurants within their local directory. Research from Telmetrics and xAd’s more recent 2014 campaign on mobile purchasing had substantiated the above demands of diners: Price and location are two big driving points for potential diners. The majority of users just want to know where your restaurant is, and how much their meal is going to cost. Times are changing, and users expect to find what they want by simply reaching for their phone and pulling up information. If your restaurant can be easily found by a quick search on any old smartphone, then your business will be significantly impacted. Out of every other category, restaurant shoppers have the highest rate of conversion from potential consumers into paying customers. An app that’s personalized to your restaurant’s audience will ensure that users will enjoy their browsing experience and share it with friends and family, giving your restaurant that much more publicity. Ads seem to have a big impact on compelling potential diners into choosing a particular restaurant. 3 out of 5 respondents in the 2012 Telmetrics and xAd survey claimed that they seldom know what they wanted to eat before making a search on their mobile device, and 75% reported to have noticed mobile ads, particularly for restaurants. Funneling resources into developing and more importantly marketing and advertising a great, user-friendly app for your restaurant could be a big game-changer for your business. As more and more customers plug into the grid with their smartphones, it’s important that your restaurant’s presence on the web doesn’t get left behind. For more on how developing an app can help the discoverability of your restaurant, check out our article on how to index an app with Google Search.

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3 Easy Ways To Improve Your Restaurant’s App

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Restaurant apps are notorious for frozen payment transactions and horrific user accessibility. It’s a shame because a recent survey shows that 46% of users report that apps/websites with easier navigation would make them feel more comfortable with finishing a payment transaction. In 2015, total app revenue amounted to a total of 89.17 billion dollars. How can your business tap into that wealth? Better yet, if your business has an app, is user accessibility the sole determinant for its poor performance? The truth is, not many restaurant apps are successful, but the most recent statistics pulled from the Jumio 2015 Survey is helping us understand why. Two years prior in 2013, the same study was made, which posited that 66% of respondents had failed to complete a transaction due to issues during the checkout process.  Evidence from the more recent follow-up study in 2015 foreshadows a rising potential for commercial apps, as the number of failed transactions has decreased from 66% to 56% in just two years. Behind general retail, transactions regarding food and travel have been among the most frequently abandoned, but the problem is not necessarily grounded in the nature of food and travel apps. The issue can be broken down into three main causes, ordered below from the most prevalent to the least among users in the survey. Slow loading times “The loading bar’s frozen…What now? Does that mean my order never went through?” 36% of users cited slow loading speeds as the cause for abandoning mobile transactions. Based on the feedback gathered from respondents in the Jumio 2013 Survey, nearly two-thirds (66%) of consumers attempting to make a transaction on their smartphone or tablet were forced to abandon their purchase: The heightened competition across the app store leaves users with more reasons to leave your app than to remain loyal to it. Why should anyone struggle with a slow app when a faster one that promises to match the same function more consistency is available to them at the same price? The same notion applies to use an app over using a desktop: why should someone use an app for a service that’s faster on the web via their desktop? The point of your restaurant’s app should be to provide a faster and more convenient method than calling-in or using your website, which is a good introduction to the next point – user experience. User experience “How do I even place an order on this thing?” Overall, 46% of users agree that apps that are accessible and easier to navigate would make them more likely to complete a payment transaction. The more difficult it is to make a transaction, the less likely users are to convert into paying customers. Your intention should be to mitigate the number of hurdles facing users before they can complete transactions, and the gathered data above affirms this notion. Security concerns “Their app doesn’t seem too official, I mean it’s very unresponsive and navigation isn’t user-friendly whatsoever…Maybe I downloaded the wrong app?” Although security and comfort contributed least to users’ decisions, you can see how both an app’s responsiveness and its ease-of-use contribute to a user’s expectations and their overall sense of trust with the app. During the Jumio 2013 survey, 51% of users that abandoned an online transaction did so because they felt “uncomfortable entering their credit card information.” The ideal app should cater to and be easy-to-use for a sizable margin of users with a wide age group in mind.

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5 Qualities of a Successful Mobile App

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Not since the dot com days has there been such flock of technology startups. Success stories such as Instagram and Twitter have tantalized people’s pallets to go follow in their footsteps. But with the increasing number of apps present in the app stores (1.6 million in the Google Play store, 2 million in the Apple app store as of June 2016) the competition is high. We looked at what app development firms focus on when they’re building out an app for their clients. With so much competition app designers need to make their product look awesome. You’re essentially branding and packaging the app in this stage. Even if two existing companies offer practically the same service, the differentiation and ultimately triumph are heavily rooted in the design. The design needs to be appealing to the senses. Sophistication and creativity should scream through the screen. And look is not the only factor in achieving peak design. The animations should be so good, it almost becomes a pleasure to press and swipe gestures within the app. Though a spectacle for the eyes, design alone will not lead your app to the top of the app store. In fact, too much emphasis on intricate design may harm your app. An app is limited by its platform screen size. Too much going on will only take away from the user’s experience. Which leads to the next characteristic… Great UI It’s human nature to judge an app within the first few seconds of use. We judge books by their covers so it’s only natural that we treat an app the same way. So if there is one secret in making a not only great but lasting impression, it’s a killer user interface. There’s one keyword that that is crucial to great UI, which is “intuitive.” So you want your app to do great things in ways people love. The tricky part is finding ways to carry out all the essential functions that constitute your app, in the simplest, most clean and fluid way possible. The UI must be unobtrusive, avoiding design elements that don’t add a use or function to the app. If it doesn’t add value, it’s eliminated. It’s essential that the user finds navigating the app simple upon first use. Reducing the learning curve as much as possible but at the same time including all the necessary features that would make your app successful. The app must be completely compatible with the platform it was developed for. It should take advantage of the natural qualities of that specific smartphone or tablet. Each platform, iOS or Android offers various gesture-based navigation tools. Swipes generate a new screen while removing another, a pinch of the screen can zoom the image in or out. The gestures rely on the mobile platform itself. Developers need to understand these platform-specific gestures in order to provide an intuitive navigation experience. Maintaining high user feedback scores encourages more users to sign up and spread the word. Many individuals look at others’ reviews of a certain product to staple their confidence in purchasing the item. In a digital world, analyzing others’ opinions is crucial as you cannot physically see or try the product beforehand in many cases. Tons of positive reviews will spark great confidence in a potential user. If such a large community loves the app, chances are that they will as well. On the other hand, negative reviews will strongly hurt. The occasional negative review is practically unavoidable but if the negative ones equal or outweigh the positive ones, you’re in for a bad time and the death of your app legitimate concern. Generating a bit of success great, but if you can’t maintain that success, it’s all for nothing. Rolling out new features, bug fixes, and effective updates are crucial for the growth and longevity of your app. Angry Birds, a gaming app sensation with over 250 million downloads was no doubt fun to play but was not the only reason for their success. Angry Birds released fresh and fun updates periodically. Prolonged sameness will eventually leave the user bored, eager to try something new. Conclusion Competition on the mobile app market is relentless. The market is congested as ever, but that should never deter you from belief in your idea. Successful implementation of these 5 qualities will help you not only defeat but massacre your competition.

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5 Tips to Get Your App Idea Off the Ground

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So you have this awesome app idea that you have been nagging your friends and family about for weeks. The drive is there but your words are no more significant than the air you breathe at this point. It’s time to get the ball rolling, it’s time to make your idea come to life. Creating a worthy app is no easy feat, that’s why it’s important to follow these 5 easy steps to ensure success. Do market research If after conducting research you realize that your idea is still untouched, great, more power to you. But unfortunately, you might shortly realize that this is not the case. There may be an app, sometimes even a few that have been doing what you have intended yours to do. If this is the case, the journey doesn’t necessarily have to end here. After testing potential app competitors you may realize that your idea is indeed better. You may also take the best bits of their app and combine them with your own idea to make an even better app. “Good artists borrow, great artists steal.” – Pablo Picasso If your app is essentially the same as others in the genre, but better, people will choose yours instead of the competitors causing a network effect eventually leading to your triumph. Identify your audience It is important to understand the audience you are targeting through this app. Your users can be from a particular industry, gender, region, age group, income group, specific profession, or any other group. Identifying the demographic(s) you’re catering the app towards will help define the reason this app appeals to a particular group. Your whole project revolves around user engagement, the audience ultimately decides the app’s success. Plan your idea So after you have done the research it’s time to start feeding this brainchild. The first step in this process is to decide what operating system you like to develop for. Here’s a more in-depth article to help you which operating system would best home your app: (Link to Messapps “Which platform to develop for”) After you have chosen the OS the actual planning must commence. You must answer questions such as, what will the app look like? How is the UI going to flow? What core features does the app revolve around? The more detailed answers, the better. You will have to translate these answers in the next step, finding a developer. Seek out a developer Now you can skip this step if you have a particular set of skills or are looking to rack your brain around a foreign language (no, it’s not offered on Rosetta Stone). Even if you have zero programming knowledge, the good news is you can hire a developer. It just so happens that here at Messapps, that’s what we specialize in! Although before you even begin looking for developers, it’s crucial to know the stages of development. Understanding the process will help you understand what you are paying for and potentially cut costs. All you essentially need is an idea and some cash but if you already dreamt up a basic layout for the app to implement, creating the wireframes yourself might be a beneficial experience that does not require a ton of technical expertise and will help you cut costs. Acquire funding No matter what your end goal in developing the app is, you are going to require funding. The amount of funding varies quite largely depending on the complexity of the app and the individual stages. It is important to know that the actual programming of the app is the costliest process. How do you get this money? This all depends on your financial situation. If you’re comfortable you can ride the expense solo, or perhaps combine resources with a friend and get a co-founder on board. A co-founder is extremely beneficial as they are willing to share the cost risk with you. If the development bill is substantial, pitching to an angel investor or venture capitalist (VC) may be the route to go. Many VC firms won’t even consider investing in an idea unless there are two founders so if you have great ambitions for your product, get a co-founder. Conclusion If you have a dream turn it into a reality. If you have a vision, you’d be a fool to steer away from it. There are tons of resources available to familiarize yourself with the app development process. There are tons of people willing to throw money in your direction if you convince them why it’s in their best interest to. If there’s a will, there’s a way……

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3 Biggest Mistakes Companies Fail in When Building Their Enterprise App

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Enterprises have found a way to better engage clients through business apps. According to Gartner, demand for mobile app development services will grow five times faster than internal IT organizations’ capacity to deliver. “We’re seeing demand for mobile apps outstrip available development capacity, making quick creation of apps even more challenging. Mobile strategists must use tools and techniques that match the increase in mobile app needs within their organizations,” said Andrian Leow, principal research analyst for Gartner. The research said that the growing ownership of smartphones, which was predicted to reach 2.1 billion units by 2019, will be the driving force for apps in the business sector. People will continue to look for high performing devices and apps. Based on the data shared by O2, recently released smartphones are featuring processing capabilities two times faster than their predecessors allowing HD and high graphic apps to perform well. Likewise, the demand for reliable and high-quality business apps will also be on the rise. However, developing business apps requires a lot of planning. Often, there are problems brought about by errors from the business-side itself. For successful app development processes, here are three of the biggest mistakes organizations commit when building their enterprise application. Forgetting the customer The rise of eCommerce has led to modern consumers demanding high-tech and convenient ways to shop through their mobile devices. To ensure they will use the app, businesses need to incorporate what their target market needs from it. Mobile app users want personalization, solid performance, and rewards for their loyalty, which they want to be delivered to them intuitively and easily. First, invest in proper user experience (UX) design to ensure the user journey is seamless and straightforward. Second, do not forget to integrate personalization techniques to keep users engaged for long periods of time. Lastly, always utilize updates by correcting bugs to keep the user experience at a good pace. Remember that great experience will get more people talking about the app, and we know how ‘word of mouth’ marketing strategies can be powerful in driving its success. Poor testing Many companies tend to forget that not all consumers are up to speed with the latest tech. Businesses need to take note that a great application must work across a broad spectrum of devices and operating systems to be able to reach as many people as possible. Proper testing should be done to ensure the app is ready before its launch on the app stores. Glitches with its performance can do serious damage to the business or brand’s reputation. It is sensible and efficient to invest in in-depth testing upfront and regular maintenance to ensure the app is working to its optimum performance. Fail to communicate value Even big products have problems gathering enough traction to survive tech’s demanding and fast-paced marketplace. And, this isn’t necessarily because companies couldn’t offer people something they want. Businesses fail due to their inability to communicate effectively to consumers how their product (or for this discussion, the app) could change their lives or make things easier for them. It’s effective to create a message that clearly presents the value or benefits of the app to customers. The message should be simple, catchy, and straight to the point. Answer the questions: Mobile applications are a blessing to businesses, as it offered them a way to better present themselves and connect to their target market easily. Investing time and money isn’t enough to guarantee the success of the app. Companies should be able to avoid focusing on sales and move their attention to how their app can provide better service to customers.

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3 Tips to Promoting Mobile App on Instagram and Facebook

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Facebook offers all appreneurs the opportunity to utilize its limitless platform for user acquisition. Whether your budget is impressive or mediocre is of no concern to Facebook – all that’s required is a valid credit card account and an accessible Facebook profile. Note that our ad will automatically be placed on either Facebook or Instagram depending on its performance on either platform.   Whether you have Android or iOS app, before diving in, we highly advise that you: 1. Getting Started Follow the link here and click “Create Ad” Next, click and choose the Get installs of your app objective under the Consideration column; click Create Ad Account Enter in the appropriate information and click Continue Choosing your target audience The success of your Facebook ad is contingent on how effectively it can reach its intended audience. After entering in your app’s URL, select who your ad will target based on their gender, age, location, interests, behavior, and language Specifying a Custom Audience Take the extra time to familiarize yourself with Facebook’s vast optimization capabilities – we highly suggest that you create a Custom Audience plan! With the proper amount of care, you’ll increase the accuracy of your ads, meaning that your ads are that much more likely to target and convert potential users into actual paying customers. For more on creating a Custom Audience plan. Facebook allows us access to its splendor of data for no extra cost. Scroll through the following targeting options to access Facebook’s detailed optimization system: 2. Choosing your budget Scrolling down, the budget that you input represents the average amount of money that Facebook will utilize for your ads. We suggest that you start with a small budget until you’ve tested just how well your ads are performing. You can organize your budget on a per-day basis, but note that Facebook may automatically allocate more than your determined daily budget on a single day if your ad incites more conversions on that day; however, to make up for the extra spending, Facebook will spend less money on subsequent days to maintain the average of your allocated budget. It’s wise to toggle on the Set a start and end date option and select those dates for when you might expect to find peak user interest in your advertisements. Optimization is the key to spending your budget as efficiently as possible. Next, click the drop-down labeled Show Advanced Options Optimization for Ad Delivery If it’s not already selected, change the objective of your ad under Optimization for Ad Delivery to App Installs. That way, your ads will be optimized to reach only those people who are the most likely to install your app. This option is always the most preferred for tighter budgets. Otherwise, change it to Link Clicks for a broader target audience. Bid Amount A bid is a representation of your interest in showing your ad to a potential user. Your bid will compete against other advertisers whose ads are also eligible for display on a particular user’s News Feed. If you win during such an auction, you’ll often be charged less than your designated maximum bid. When You Get Charged You can choose to either be charged whenever Facebook displays your ad to users or whenever your Facebook ad converts a potential user into an actual user. The former choice affords you with the freedom of bidding at different rates, whereas the latter demands a definitive amount of payment per app installation. We suggest that you pay by impressions until you’ve conducted further budget testing. Ad Scheduling The Ad Scheduling function is limited to advertisers who select the Lifetime Budget plan. The minimum limit for this plan is $1240.00. Gaining access to Ad Scheduling allows you the freedom of specifying the time-of-day for when your ads will be served to your prospective audiences. Delivery Type We suggest that you leave this toggled to Standard. Accelerated ads are typical for time-sensitive requests, and manual bid pricing would also be required. 3. Formatting your ad Facebook allows for up to six individual ads with their own unique images and headlines per order. Note that although other formats are available, the Single Image option is the most efficient pick. Create a Facebook Page To get the most out of your budget, we highly advise that you create a Facebook Page. Doing so will afford you access to more advertising opportunities. Your Facebook Page will effectively host your ad; without a host, your ad can only be displayed to the right-hand side of Facebook’s News Feed, instead of in the News Feed itself. Choosing an Image/Video The images or videos you choose should capture the attention of your audience while accurately illustrating the app’s function. To avoid poor reviews, you should only set up those expectations that your app can promise to meet. To avoid advertisement fatigue, be sure to include a new and unique image or video. In other words, don’t overuse the same visual theme throughout each of your different ads. And when in doubt, look to your competitors for new ideas! Adding text Facebook determines your ad’s performance in part by how much text overlays the ad’s image. Use this tool here to determine if your image meets text proportion expectations. Before adding text, we recommend that you abide by these general principles: Call To Action As is appropriate with the theme of this guide, for the purpose of increasing conversion rates, change the Call To Action button to Install Now All Finished! Once you’ve formatted your ads, click Place Order, located at the lower right-hand corner! To view how well your ads are performing, make sure to routinely visit your Ads Manager: locate and click “close” at the lower left-hand corner You’ll then be redirected to this screen You can manage your account’s dashboard by clicking the upper-right hand prompt Ads Manager as is displayed in the image above.

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Creating an App Preview Video that Sells

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Half of all installers gauge whether they’ll install your app within the first 5 seconds of browsing your app’s page. If you’re confident in your app’s abilities, then why not sample it through a video! Your Average, Browsing Visitor Thanks to rising video trends on social media, the average online browser prefers the viewing ease of smooth video editing over wordy descriptions and cluttered screenshots. Increase the likelihood that your visitors will convert into paid users by invoking positive expectations. The theory behind app preview videos is that they cater to the dwindling attention span of the average visitor while also allowing the app’s creator to sample the many innovative aspects of their app. First Impressions – The Graphic/Poster Frame Your  feature graphic  (Google Play) or  poster frame (iOS) acts as the thumbnail for your app’s preview video. Regardless of the app store you’re using, this graphic or poster is the first image users will see on your app’s page. Fittingly so, this image heavily influences your visitors’ first impressions, so make your choice wisely. Demonstrated above, the difference between Google and Apple’s app stores is that your video will push aside your screenshot gallery on iOS devices. This is why we consider poster frames on Apple’s App Store that much more crucial than those on Google’s Play Store. Whether your visitors are impatient or eager to engage, an effective video will increase the likelihood that they’ll commit to your app and convert into a paying user.   Video Content and Length According to a recent study performed by Apptamin, an average of 10% of visitors will leave your video per every 5 seconds. Accordingly, as a general rule of thumb, the most optimized preview videos should run for no longer than 30 seconds.   The more effective your video is at engaging its audience earlier on, the more likely it is to peak user interest and to convert them into a paying user. Although drawing engagement should be your first priority, beware of the danger in over-exaggerating your video content! Misleading your audience in this way will yield expectations that your app cannot meet. Preview videos often backfire in this way, as false expectations tend to yield poor reviews and higher uninstall rates. Storyboard your Video Prioritize the messages in your video! Order those messages based on the importance of the information being conveyed. Since your video can only lose its viewers, the most important message should be saved for the first 5 seconds. The easiest way to prioritize the information in your video is through a storyboard! Lay out the top ten attributes of your app, narrow down that list to about five or six, then rearrange them based on the order of their importance. Sound With whatever music you decide to incorporate, confirm that you have permission to add that track first! For easy access to royalty-free tracks, visit SoundCloud’s many free-to-use playlists As for narration, if you plan to create the voiceover yourself, make sure that your budget affords you access to a quality microphone. However, keep in mind that most app store visitors tend to browse via mobile during their daily commutes, so remember to add subtitles to cater to those who mute their volume for the sake of others. Final Thoughts Like most other avenues of marketing, expect the average visitor to have a short attention span and plan accordingly! Observe other app preview videos, but don’t be afraid to experiment with your own unique ideas. There’s always room for innovation in the app world!

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