This document provides a 10-point checklist for developing a successful mobile app. It advises defining the app's purpose and understanding users before development. During development, the checklist emphasizes simplicity, usability, reliability, and intuitive design. It also stresses the importance of ongoing support, analytics, and marketing even after launch to ensure the app remains useful. The full whitepaper can be downloaded for additional tips on creating a great mobile app.

1. Do You Really Need an App for that?
A Top Tips App Development Checklist

2. Garry Partington
@garrypartington
Garry Partington
garryp@apadmi.com
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CEO of Apadmi, Reality Mine & the Founder of Mobile Monday Manchester,
an organisation which holds networking and knowledge sharing events for
the mobile community.
•
Worked in the mobile industry for over 15 years, even helping to develop
the first smartphone, the Ericson R380 back in 1998.
www.apadmi.com
www.realitymine.com
www.momomcr.org

3. Apadmi Background
apadmi.com
@apadmi
Apadmi
•
The experts in mobile technology, creating brand led mobile experiences
for businesses and end consumers alike.
•
55 strong team, who deliver and strengthen brand advocacy and
engagement by creating reliable, robust and intuitive mobile apps and
server solutions in both the consumer and enterprise space.
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Over 15 years industry experience.
•
Our clients include The BBC, The Guardian, The X Factor, BT, Skyscanner
and Aviva.

4. People Like Apps
75 billion apps are expected to be downloaded by the end of the year
50 billion iOS apps - 800 apps per second
20 billion Android apps

5. Incredibly Busy Marketplace
40% of users turned to competitors as a result of a bad mobile experience
57% of users wouldn’t recommend a business based on a
bad mobile experience
Important to Stand Out

6. 1. Apps’ for Apps Sake?
Mobile App and/or Mobile Web?
85% of users prefer apps BUT consider user demographics.
A mobile app is not the same as a mobile strategy – an app is a bookmark
for loyal users, a mobile website is for everyone else.
Define the App’s Purpose
Build a ‘made for app’ experience – don’t just copy your mobile website.
Consider what the app should achieve?
Use the added functionality to better serve app users whose expectations
will differ.

7. 2. Know Your Users
Evaluate User Demographics
Considering these questions, even if you can’t answer them all, will help
you design and develop an app that is useful, usable and relevant:
Are your users tech savvy or novices?
What are their usage patterns?
What platforms & devices do they use? – develop for the most popular if
they have limited resources.
Where will they have connectivity?

8. 3. What’ll Do?
Simplicity, Usability & Reliability
It’s better to launch an app that does one thing well than lots of
things badly.
4. Content Matters
Create vs. Consume Content
If your app is consuming content understand where it is coming from.
How it gets to the app, influences the app’s size and the complexity of
embedding content.
Embedding content makes apps harder to update but simpler to build.
Downloading content makes coding more complex but updates easier.

9. 5. Design & Intuitive UI
A Good User Experience is Critical to Success
Expectations are high. Users are accustomed to well-designed, functional
apps. Its quicker, cheaper and easier to test a paper of HTML based mock
up of a UI than to fully develop the application and realise problems.
Device Led Design
Users of an Android device do not expect apps to behave in the same
way as they would on an Apple device. Each platform has certain idioms
users become used to.

10. 6. Choose Your Partner
Define the Relationship
Developing an app is more than just programming.
The partner should take you through concept creation and definition, UI
design, development, testing, launch, analytics and ongoing support and
maintenance, essential for bug fixes and platform and device updates.
Be clear what is included within the budget.
Partner Credentials
Look at a partner’s experience, their customers and ask for references
and ask how they will work with you. This interface will be the key for
success.

11. 7. What’s Yours is Yours
Launch the App Under Your Name
Unless agreed for ‘commercial reasons’ so not to confuse users. If you
create a great app it should be your name all over it.
8. Source Code
Ensure you Own the Source Code
You’ve paid for it after all and make sure you actually receive it. This gives
you more options when it comes to maintenance and future releases.

12. 9. After the Launch
An App is not just for Christmas
If you keep your app updated, fresh and functional on the latest
platforms and devices your app could have the lifespan of several years.
Ensure you have a roadmap for the life of your app, inc. support for new
devices and releases.
Review your App Store Rating
This enables you to gather direct feedback from users, providing valuable
insights for future updates.
Deploy an Analytics Package
Analytics packages can provide near real time stats and invaluable
insights about your apps usage, helping you make strategic decisions.

13. 10. Marketing &
Monetisation
Plan the Launch and Promotion of your App
With hundreds of apps launching every day, its not enough to just
launch your app and hope it gets downloaded. Ensure your launch and
promotion is consistent with your overall marketing strategy.
Consider Pricing
Inevitably free downloads are more popular than paid ones, so you
should only charge if the app truly adds value through content or
functionality.

14. Download the Full Whitepaper
12 Top Tips to Create a Great Mobile App
www.apadmi.com/whitepapers
apadmi.com
@apadmi
Apadmi