Top 10 steps to convert an app idea into a real product?

Some of the best technologies in the world were created from unique software app ideas. The best applications turn their creators into billionaires and resolve real issues. While a study shows that 80% of apps get abandoned as they fail to solve real-life problems. 

 Although, if the application is not properly executed, your application idea can instantly transform into a huge bank debt. Certain trends and processes you should keep in mind if you want to convert an app idea into a real product. 

Often the person suggesting ideas for application has limited technical knowledge to develop an application. Hence, the blog has covered everything to guide you through the step-by-step process of converting an app into reality. 

1. Define your app idea and features 

Every good application begins with an idea. Hence, to set the idea into actions and convert it into a real product, the first step you should do is to define the app idea and features. You can also list them on paper. Now draw a product requirement document to define a software app’s vision, purpose, features, or specification. 

 You can list down whatever you think will benefit the application. With all the ideas and features written on a paper, you can increase your focus on the development and growth of the application. 

It will also help convince your investors about the idea, specification, and cost to develop an app. The document you will prepare will guide the development team throughout the process. Also, sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement with the person you will share the document with.  

2. Research the Market trends 

The initial feature list will require some changes. The main aim of every successful mobile application is to gain customer satisfaction. It becomes difficult to satisfy your customers without understanding the growing market trends. This generates the need for market research to find data-based answers to significant questions. In addition, it helps to share the success of the application market. 

 Most times, defining the target audience is when the market research begins. It also includes the application category, user demographics, objectives, type of device, geographical location, and many more. After that, you can study consumer trends and ensure accurate results. Conducting this market research helps you serve your customers better. With 218 billion app downloads in 2021, increasing engagement by integrating social features is essential.  

3. Identify the audience and then continue the development

To obtain a high level of customer satisfaction and meet the user’s expectations, you should understand the consumer. You can classify your audience based on age, gender, occupation, language, location, education, etc. Although to get the best possible results, brief research about the audience is necessary.

 To get accurate results, you can use a journal or field study approach. The journal approach concentrates on the users’ responses to some existing applications. At the same time, the field study approach includes the interaction of users with your application’s prototype. 

4. Identify your monetization strategy 

Once you have an idea about the user and realize how to deliver the functionality they wish, it’s time to identify the monetization strategy to generate revenue from the technical functions, whatever, is the purpose of your application, monetizing them is imperative. After all, revenue is the basic need of the company to keep their business and the application afloat.  

 Today, the app space is a large market and is expected to hit the $2.8 billion mark by 2027. An established monetization strategy is what one would expect today in such an industry. However, various monetization strategies are available for your app in the market. It includes an in-app advertising model, in-app purchases, affiliate models, etc. You should select your monetization strategy based on your application’s purpose and target audience.

5. Draw a wireframe of your application

This is another significant step you must follow before employing mobile developers. Create wireframes, including menus, buttons, screens, and other processes. These define the concept and clarify the needs of your product. 

The perfect way is to draw the wireframes and sketches using pencil and paper, despite any software that needs spending too much money and time. With each version of wireframes, you will be able to create an app from scratch and outshine its elements. By drawing out the wireframes, you will also be able to polish the application’s features, UI and UX designs, and navigation. You do not have to acquire technical skills to draw these wireframes but common sense. 

6. Approach local mobile app developers

After completing the above five steps, it’s time to hire a local mobile app developer for your project. Once you shortlist the names of the vendors, begin personal-level research about them, including their past performance, technical skills, etc. After hiring a developer, sign a non-disclosure agreement before providing the project details. 

A good developer examines every detail you share and raise questions.

Ensure that you provide them accurate answers, as at this stage, the developer will practice understanding your idea, vision, and expectations. Upon learning all these things, the developer suggests some inputs to enhance the concept.  

7. Complete the UI/UX

After employing the developers, begin with creating UI and UX designs for your application. The developers also work on creating detailed wireframes so that you can maintain a smooth flow of the functioning and visualize every screen.

Later, the developers also ask you to review the wireframes to get the inputs for any changes. 

After deciding on the wireframe, the developers create UI/UX designs for the application. Here you can reassess the plan, the cost to develop an app, and the time the whole process will take. 

8. Get the app developed and tested

When you finalize the designs, the coding begins. Testing is a crucial part of the app development process; it allows the developers to detect errors, performance issues, and many other technical hitches. 

No application can be said as full-functional until its proper testing. Likewise, if you want to add some new features, take suggestions from your developer to bring clarity about its functionality and budget. 

9. Launch the app and market it

After the testing and you are happy with the product, launch the application on Google Play Store and App Store. Furthermore, you should begin marketing your application upon announcing the release date. 

You can use social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. When you share content related to the application on these platforms, you will receive reviews and queries about it.

You can also create a blog to update the new features and other things about your application. 

10. Gather market response and work on them

After the successful launch of your application:

1. Collect the market response from the users from your blog’s comments, app’s page reviews, etc.
2. Handle these responses or data to create a base for improvement in the application.
3. Do follow the above steps while developing the app or making any changes. 

Conclusion 

Henceforth, these are the steps to convert an app into a real product. Although these steps seem too long, with the right strategy, you can save plenty of time, energy, and money you spend throughout the process.