How to Make an App Like Facebook?

Across the entire modern demographics of developed civilizations, there is one thing running common: Mobile Technology. Be it teenagers or elderly people, Mobile app is where socials now come alive and thrive.

 

Facebook is mainly accountable for pioneering this incredible trend of virtual gatherings in 2004, followed by Twitter and Instagram.

 

Social Media App cost

 

Its mobile app continued to keep intact the legacy for years now, leaving many of app entrepreneurs curious as to what exactly they need to imitate a success as glorious as Facebook.

 

If you are one of those business startups seeking expert insight into creating a social engagement world on mobile like Facebook, you have landed in the right place.

 

Read Also: 15 Best Facebook Apps For Android & iOS 2023

 

This blog is going to enlighten you on Facebook facts while walking you through the actual development process and its development cost

 

About Facebook

fb application

Mark Zuckerberg found Facebook partnering with Chris Hughes, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, and Dustin Moskovitz. It was launched in the market in the year 2004.

 

To everybody’s surprise, it eventually became the world’s most renowned social networking and social media app.

 

The Facebook app is a user-friendly app that follows the basic concept of allowing users to find friends, relatives, and colleagues with the help of their location.

 

It targets almost every kind of users who are at the age of 13 or above 13.

 

The features of Facebook like, share and comment people express their thoughts and feelings with others.

 

Facts and Statistics on Facebook:

Today nearly 2.01billion daily active users are relying on Facebook not only for personal expression but also to publish advertisement and marketing visuals.facebook app statisticsIt would be interesting to learn some of the compelling facts and statistics around Facebook mobile app:

 

 

How to make a Social Media App?

To deliver a quality product to users, you need some basic steps to develop a social media app.

 

1) Strategy

After having an idea to develop a social media app, build an overall strategy. Your strategy should include market analysis, targeted audience, and competition research.

You must go through other social media apps to see their strong features and the things they lack.

 

2) Design the app

It is important to create an attractive design for the app; to engage users and retain them. Choose a unique app design enhanced beautifully with some unique app features.

facebook app design

Choose the right technology and user-specific features to design the app.Facebook stands out and stay on top due to its incredibly powerful, addictive and engaging UI elements.

Nothing is redundant in there, which interestingly allows users to promote their network more actively.

3) Preparing for the development

Documentation

Make a list of all the functions of a future project. It will decide your social media app goals and all its functions.

Domain Name

Before developing your app, select the name for your social networking app and domain name also. The purchase domain name and hosting from a trusted platform.

mobile app development

Hosting

If you are planning to start a large networking app with assumptions of 5 million users, use powerful servers like VPS. Powerful servers will enable you to bear high loads.

4) Development of social network

The development of the social networking app starts with the technology you used. You can use two types: ready-made CMS and frameworks.

Social Network CMS

These are a market-ready social network with typical functions and template design. You’ll only need to develop a design and customize it with your requirements.

Despite the fact that these CMS contain some struggles and pose known challenges, some of the most popular CMS for social networks are: Dolphin, Php Fox, Buddy Press, Social Engine, etc.

facebook app cms

The problems you are likely to face with them are:

  • These CMS are very slow in working because they can’t bear the high load.
  • If you want to add new features, it will levy more efforts and concerns about time and cost.
  • The customization of the project needs a lot of time.

Frameworks

These are used for the development of different web applications. Frameworks are designed to improve and increase the speed of the coding process.

facebook app frameworks

Frameworks provide high stability, scalability and high speed. There are as many as 10 famous frameworks that you can use to develop social networking app like Facebook. A few amazing app builders tools are:

  • React Native
  • PhoneGap
  • Ionic
  • Flutter
  • Xamarin
  • Corona SDK
  • Mobile Angular UI
  • JQuery Mobile

The only challenge of using a framework is that the project needs to be developed from scratch, starting from the fist block up.

Although, it is inevitable that this process needs time and resources, it always works auspiciously like a stable architecture for structurally intricate social apps.

The key purpose of any great framework is having ability to rapidly transform a non-uniform idea into a well-organized, functional and aesthetically appealing product for end users.

Read Also: 24 Best Social Media Apps 2021

5) Testing and launching of social media app

When you finish developing your social media app, it is necessary to test the app. Remove all the bugs during sign up or log in; as it will affect your app promotion. The users of your app should enjoy the experience.

facebook app gif

6) Marketing

It is very important to approach to the right audience for your app; who will feel your social media app as the part of their life. So it is important to conduct an active advertising campaign.

It is necessary to attract at least 50,000 visitors per day. You can use Google Adwords, Facebook ads, and Guest Post to create enough traffic for your app.

7) Monetizing your social media app

Most of the networking sites are kept free like Facebook. Users should have free access to most of the functions of the app. But make sure that some functions need a small fee to get access.

From your 100% users, only 1% of users will access those functions of your app; but still that 1% will give you a good income.

monetize

You can make money from Facebook’s advertising space that appears on users’ wall on homepage, at the bottom of the current page or occasionally at landing page.

The advertisers should pay every time users click on it through your app. For this, you have to manage a separate platform for the advertisement.

8) Investment

Once your app becomes famous; investors are attracted automatically towards your project. You have to take care of your app; check your app constantly that it should be bugless and it should not crash.

Nowadays social media apps are a part of everybody’s life. Every person is different and they try to find social media app according to their suitability.

Make an app that contains everything like friends, posts, profiles, a news feed, messenger, searching, push notifications, photos, videos, and offline working options.

Estimated Cost to Develop a Social Media App

The cost to develop the social media app depends on the functionality, time, design scope, the platform used, developers fee, and additional features.

Following the usual contemporary practice, the cost of the application is calculated on the basis of the hourly rate.

The app cost ranges from $20 to $200 which is again subject to the consideration that the ultimate cost would be a reflection of the number of advanced features expected of the app.

Read Also: How To Create An App Like Instagram

Final remarks: Building an app like Facebook

The incessant global gravity to using Social media apps doesn’t seem to wear off and so the demand for developing a widely celebrated app like Facebook will remain unquenched.

The Facebook not only helps people from every corner of the world connect, but it also helps marketers and emerging commercial bodies promote their business.

mobile application development cost

Hence, even from the perspective of future profitability, the time to emulate Facebook is now.

On your journey, however, it is best to connect with an adroit and seasoned mobile app development agency and solicit their consultation.

Hence, for all the good reasons involved, you may find it favorable to communicate your project scope with us. We will make sure all the depth and vision of your requirements are addressed perfectly while forming a working rapport.

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How to Build a Personal Finance App

In the times of increased money flows, these have to be effective indeed.   A few years ago, individuals had their methods of accounting income and expenses and managing their finances.

 

However, today things have been made simpler with the advent of technology. Personal finance apps can be downloaded and used to every according to the individual’s specific situations.

 

 

As you know, there are many such personal finance apps. However, you also can make a good one if you want to. For this, you must make sure that the personal finance app that you are going to build is secure, has useful features and is intuitive.

 

In this article, we attempt to show you how you can build a personal finance app. You can read, understand and then go on to build your finance app. All the best!

 

Read Also: 10 Best Mobile Banking Apps 2019

 

Personal Finance App – What is it?

 

Mobile finance apps are the rage of this age. These help you to calculate expenses on the go and help to ease out the monetary cycles of individuals.

 

build a personal finance app

 

Personal finance apps of today are designed to perform specific tasks, many of which are simple but important. On the whole, they are built to help the user manage his/her financial budget.

 

Any personal finance app is designed to perform the following functions:

  • Help you to strictly control your finances
  • Keep track of both income and expenditure
  • Make regular payments for different services
  • Design a budget and suggest that you stick within the budget by constantly tracking the savings that you have
  • Help to make money

 

The app can be designed for small savings and investments at a personal level.  When building an app with these functionalities, it is important for the app creator to hit upon a good idea and infuse it with good UI/UX for the sake of the user.

 

This should be accompanied by a robust package design for it to become a hit.

 

Popular Personal Finance Apps

 

It is estimated that 4 out of every 10 people in the UK regularly use personal finance management apps. Most individuals with busy schedules find it helpful to stay on top of their money by logging into a safe, friendly and simple to use personal finance app to manage their finances.

build a personal finance app

The most used personal finance apps in the world are Mint (over 30 million users), Money Lover (over 1 million users), Level Money, Wally, YNAB, etc.

 

Personal Finance Apps – Different types

 

There are two different types of personal finance apps that are classified as follows:

  • Those requiring data to be manually input. These are usually simple applications with minimum complications.
  • Those where the data entry is automated. These apps usually have complex services for automatic data input.

 

Some important features of Personal Finance Apps

 

When you build a personal finance app, it is important to have a clear idea about the functions that the app will be able to perform.

 

The most important features of a personal finance app are as follows:

  • User authorization
  • Creation of personal account with all information about the user; a profile of the user
  • Capability to link all of the financial details such as debit/credit card details, money wallets, mail accounts, etc.
  • The ability of the app to track every financial transaction of the user and store it appropriately
  • Ability to set up daily and monthly budgets
  • Capability to generate different statistical reports for specified periods enabling comparisons of amounts that are spent
  • Creation of expense heads such as food, clothing, petrol, etc.
  • Reminders for paying taxes, fines and other encumbrances
  • Appropriate search options
  • Currency conversions
  • Payment calendar

 

mobile app development

 

 

What are features that make the personal finance app powerful?

 

There are some features that a personal finance app must-have for extended functionality and cannot function without. The developer must have these features in mind before setting out to build a personal finance app.

 

1) Security

 

The security aspects of a personal finance app are of utmost importance. This is a factor that builds the trust of people on you and increased comfort levels with the knowledge that their money data is being protected.

 

It is vital to use two-factor authentication (verification using two different channels during login), proper encryption of transmitted financial information and making short-term sessions so the period for which the programs run unprotected are minimized.

 

build a personal finance app

 

In addition to this, other important points include the usage of appropriate fonts and use of exceptionally secure libraries. These suggestions are not exhaustive and are only some of the recommendations.

 

With evolving technology, developers have to think of better methods to solve security threats and challenges.

 

2) Think as users

 

Start to think as your user does and create the app according to their needs. If you want to target the millennial, then speak in the language they understand and use.

 

Read Also: 10 Best Stock Trading Apps 2019

 

3) Make it simple

 

Complicated programs do not impress many people, therefore it is important to keep the personal finance app as simple to use as possible. The app should be such a one that it takes no more than 3 clicks to get the desired job done.

 

This leads to better user experience. Money management apps allowing the user to make payments through the app should have only an optimum number of screens for executing payments and should carefully conduct all the verifications and enable transactions.

 

4) UX Design

 

The design of the app, as mentioned above, should be simple and appealing. You should rope in the services of a UX/UI expert to build a visually pleasing and simple but functional app.

 

build a personal finance app

 

5) Customer Support

 

Customer support 24/7 is of great importance to help your clients with whatever problems they may have. A quick response that is round the clock and in different languages will get you a loyal, global clientele.

 

6) Responsiveness

 

With evolving technology, there are more devices that house finance management apps. Therefore, your app should be one that works on multiple platforms (Android &iOS).

 

Moreover, the app should be comfortably used on different devices with varying screen sizes. All these should be taken into account during the app development process.

 

Market Strategy

 

Finally, you should understand that reaching your finance app to the clients is not a very easy job either. You have to be very clear about how you are going to deliver the app to the users in the market.

 

build a personal finance app

 

 

This go-to-market stage involves defining the value, exploring the various market channels, and creating a detailed interaction map separately for each of the channels.

 

Cost of the App

 

The pricing of the personal-finance app should include the costs incurred during the development stage, design stage and marketing stage.

 

How You Can Draw More Users

 

Today, some ways to draw more users to your app could be one of the following:

  • Provide expenses analytics and pictorially depict amount spent on individual expense heads.
  • Show the cheapest vendor for products or services that are usually purchased by the app user
  • Scan receipts and enlists the figures to the appropriate expense head

 

Read Also: 13 Best Money Making Apps

 

Endnote

 

In case you have decided to build a personal finance app, be sure there is a lot of hard work ahead which will bring its rewards. It is vital to arrange the workflow so that you complete the project.

 

 

It is also important to build an app that recognizes the users’ pain points and helps to sort out these issues in a simple manner.

 

Download button

How to Reduce Mobile App Development Cost?

In this rapidly transforming digital world, the face of branding and marketing has totally changed. Businesses have moved a long way from distributing pamphlets about their services, trying to reach their target audience.

 

 

With the advent of newer updates and versions of the present technology, branding has become more efficient. Now, businesses have incorporated ways to improve their customer relations. This is done by making a direct connection with them, discussing with them about their brand and building a medium of trust.

 

In such times, mobile apps have taken the market by storm. Almost every brand has or is working towards building an app of its own. With data such as this,

 

Mobile App usage

 

mobile apps not only offer a medium to provide their services but also to create brand awareness and a reputed name among the target audience. This also makes the competition fierce.

 

In a scenario like this, investing in an app that is appealing to the target consumer base that masterfully showcases the benefits of the business at the same time is a must. But maintaining your finances while having a well-functioning app can be one huge task.

 

If you are someone new to this field working with or as a developer, then you must keep a lookout for certain additional factors adding up to reduce cost of the mobile app development.

 

Read Also: App Development Cost – Design, Development, Deployment

 

It is important to note that mobile app development takes a lot of effort and one should never compromise with the quality while trying to reduce the cost. Want to soar high with your business but tight on budget?

 

Here’s taking a look at a few tips and tricks to reduce your mobile app development cost.

 

1) Know What You Need

 

Sit down with your team and discuss. Take note of what exactly you need out of the app, what your motive is, what is the target audience. Prepare an outline of the structure of the app and the features that will benefit your business.

 

Do not add or remove features in order to follow the trends. Know the features that are necessary and prioritize them. It is crucial to pay attention to even the smallest details. Let the developers know about the company and the vision.

 

Figure out a rough idea about the application and things that will set it apart from the competitors. The application should be user-friendly, and a proper sequence must be maintained.

 

Adding more features definitely shoots the price up. Thus, evaluating the ones that are well suited for the business keeping in mind the budget can be useful.

 

One can also carry out extensive market research and seek advice from experts to find out the kinds of applications before starting the actual work.

 

2) Keep A Check on the UI/UX Designs Costs

 

A better UI will undoubtedly enhance and provide a better user experience. But customization of designs might increase your expenses to a decent extent.

 

To save up on some money you can adhere to the standard designs. Remember, you can always keep on updating the application with new features even after the launch of the app. Heavy capital should also not be invested in the application at the testing stage.

 

You can add features and make the app user-friendly as and when you receive feedback from your customers.

 

3) Try Outsourcing

 

If you do not have a fancy budget to get a team of developers in your office, then this option can be the best for you. However, never try to compromise with the quality in order to save money.

 

Basically, outsourcing is a method by which you can hire developers from across the globe through various mobile app development outsourcing companies or mediums. This gives you the flexibility to work with a diversely talented group of developers on rates suitable to your business.

 

Depending on the developer you can either choose to pay them on the basis of the number of hours they work or a lump-sum project-based payment.

 

development cost

 

Outsourcing will help you save some capital that would have otherwise used to pay the monthly fixed salaries of your full- time employees.

 

4) Consider the Default Templates

 

Developing an application right from scratch can turn out to be costly and time taking. To reduce some of the load from your capital, you can proceed with the ready made templates already available.

 

You can also find this range of pre-built features at a very low rate. You can begin with the templates that work the best for you.

 

Read Also: How to Choose the Best Mobile App Development Technology

 

5) Keep in Mind the Costs after the Product Launch

 

Launching your final product doesn’t necessarily mean that all your work is done. Bugs may arise afterwards which require alteration in the design of the application.

 

You might also need some of the developers back on board to fix some of these problems. Hiring a freelancer at an initial stage of development can create a problem with their availability. This might add up to your costs.

 

 

Updating and adding features in an application is a common thing in the applications market. Many apps have at least two to three updates in a month. This is done so as to enhance the experience of the user by working from the feedback received.

 

Each of these updates will definitely notch up your business to the next level but will also add up on your costs.

 

6) Minimum Viable Product

 

Minimum Viable Product or MVP is basically the pre-mature stage of your application. A basic structure of the application is developed and launched.

 

Build app with MVP

Rather than waiting and investing in advanced features at an initial development stage, MVP can help a business focus on the ultimate necessities.

 

They can add features and updates as and when the initial rounds of feedbacks are received from the target audience. This feedback and reaction of the people can help you focus on user-friendly features other than investing in the ones you thought would work.

 

7) Compatibility of The Application

 

Based on the compatibility of the application on various platforms, mobile applications are divided into two categories- Native and Hybrid. A native app is confined to a specific platform or device whereas a hybrid app is a more compatible option and works on all operating systems.

 

Depending on this classification the cost of development differs in both the types. A native app is said to provide smooth user experience, but the cost of its development is usually high.

 

This type of application is built from scratch and is focused on a particular platform. This means that if you wish to develop both iOS and Android friendly native apps, you will be charged twice.

 

A hybrid app, on the other hand, is built for multiple platforms. The quality might be different from that of the native app since this is built for different platforms at the same time.

 

However, the cost involved in development is a one-time investment. It is important to choose between the two types based on the business needs and the target audience.

 

8) Build A Team, Divide the Tasks

 

Working smartly and efficiently is always better than spending hours at work with little productivity. As a business which is looking at growth opportunities, your team should be diverse, flexible and responsible for the work they do.

 

Divide the tasks accordingly among the team but most importantly, look for a supervisor. A person to keep a check on the progress of the work is a must. This check is necessary at each step of the work.

 

The supervisor can keep up the deadlines and maintain the workflow, keeping the quality in check. Errors in work can cause loss of time.

 

Sometimes the entire project needs to be redone to fix a mistake. This process will ensure the quality of the work done at each step leaving little room for confusion and errors.

 

9) Maintain A Good Relationship with The Developers

 

Last but not least, maintain a good relationship with your co-workers. Developers usually work under immense pressure. This leads them to make more mistakes. To get great and effective results you need to have some patience.

 

Keep deadlines that are flexible to your plan. Regularly contact the developers even after the work is done. Bugs and technical glitches might arise at any time, even after the work has been done. Having a good contact might save you accruing an additional expense like hiring a new developer.

 

Read Also: App Development Market in UK 2019

 

Final Thoughts

 

Mobile application development can be the most crucial part of your branding strategy. However, if you follow a clear approach and adhere to it, you can build a brand without withdrawing a lot of your capital.

 

 

Management of the data and the information and utilising them to bring out the necessary outputs is a skill you need to hone. If the application is appealing and serves its purpose to your audience, then you might get a head start with the initial profits.

 

Keep a note of the places that did not perform according to your expectations and the ones that exceeded them. Enhance the features that worked and try eliminating the ones that didn’t. Reduce the cost of mobile app development wouldn’t be a difficult task if you keep your eyes on the details.

How to Choose the Best Mobile App Development Technology?

With the onset of the rise of technology in our everyday lives, the focus has shifted to mobile app development. Almost every brand that involves anything related to selling or assisting with services aims to create an application for itself.

 

Applications are also being used as a method of branding. This creates a stringent competition in the market. In such a time, choosing the right mobile app development technology for your business can be one huge task.

 

portfolio

 

This needs to be done keeping in mind the demand of the business, it’s budget and what results are desired out of it.The demand for smartphones is ever-increasing and the potential customers can be seen spending a lot of time on their phones.

 

It thus becomes crucial to know about the various technologies used for the applications that are ultimately landing up on these smartphones. Understanding what suits your business the most and serves your need will yield better results.

 

Read Also: App Development Cost – Design, Development, Deployment 

 

Before you begin the development process, it is important to know the basic outline of your app. For this, you need to consider many factors.

 

  • Cost Consideration: If you are looking for a cheaper option, to begin with, go for a hybrid app. It is important to understand the need, know the target audience of the business and then invest in the additional features at a later stage.

 

  • Speed and Other Features: If speed is what you need to deliver to your customers then you must consider a native app. Hybrid apps are slower when compared to their native counterparts. Native apps are more compatible to feature support. However, they require constant maintenance whereas hybrid apps need less of your maintenance support.

 

It then becomes important to choose the right mobile app development technology for you. A technology stack deals with choosing from a range of programming languages, designing tools, database and other technologies used for the development and the execution of the app.

mobile app development technology

 

Native or Hybrid?

 

A lot of mobile application technologies are used for a different platform. Based on the compatibility of the applications to function on different operating systems, applications are classified as hybrid and native apps. A hybrid app is more popular among professionals because of its ability to function on various platforms with a single developed code.

 

1) Native Apps

 

Native apps are developed to be specific to a particular operating system like Android or iOS. To make the app compatible with all the systems, the developer needs to write their codes separately.

 

Native apps allow a better user experience. The various features like GPS, the camera can be used effectively through a native app. Most of the gaming apps are native since it allows architecture speed enhancements.

 

Intensive and custom graphics work better in a native app. Customization and performance are the key features of this type of application. However, all the capital spend on the app is worth it. If providing an optimal user experience is what you want, then you must go for this.

 

This type of application is ideal for those who intend to spend an amount of money that is more than usual on the development. The cons of developing this type are the extra amount of time and money required.

 

An android based app and an iOS-based app do not share similar codes. It takes double the amount of time to develop it for various platforms. Testing the app also requires more time.

 

2) Hybrid Apps

 

If your aim is to make your business reach more and more people but, on a shoe,-string budget and less time, then a hybrid app is an ideal option for you.

 

These apps can be operated from any operating system. The pros of building this app are that it is easy to develop. The code needs to be developed once and is similar. It cuts down on the extra work and money.

 

However, the developer may need to write certain native codes. Speed and smooth access to various features is the major issue of any hybrid app.

 

3) Web Apps

 

This is another kind of an app which is cheap but cannot be published in app stores. There are of three kinds- traditional, adaptive and responsive.

 

The traditional app is basically a website. The responsive app has a different design based on the device it is opened on whereas an adaptive app fits in different screen sizes of the different devices.

 

It is easier to develop these apps and the developmental cost is relatively low. However, features like GPS and phone camera cannot be used. The visibility and reach are also less as it is not present in various app stores.

 

mobile app development technology

 

Which Programming Language to Choose?

 

There are multiple technologies available for you to develop your app that is fast and provides an optimal user experience. The main programming languages used for application development are:

 

1) C++

 

It is the simplest form of programming language. It is also effective and can be used to create applications for various platforms. It is simpler and can be used as a versatile developmental tool. It is also said to be a sister language of Objective-C. Objective-C is used to develop iOS-based applications.

 

2) Swift

 

Swift is an ideal programming language to develop iOS-based apps. It can be used to build advanced and customised features and can be developed with minimal coding.

 

They also require less time on maintenance. Swift has an effective run-time capability and can be used for object-oriented development.

 

The code is less prone to errors and provides to create a variety of features. Swift also lets you cut down on the app size which naturally increases the performance of the application.

 

android

 

3) Java or Kotlin

 

This programming language is widely used for android app development. There are many open-source libraries and the language is also relatively easy.  Kotlin, on the other hand, is a more stable language.

 

Kotlin provides an efficient and smooth developmental process to the applications. Both Java and Kotlin are ideal for android-based app development.

 

4) PHP and HTML5

 

PHP is ideal for making mobile and web apps. It is an easy language to use and is object-oriented. It follows a three-layered model and is ideal for apps that need database integration. Whereas HTML5 is suitable for web front-end applications.

 

mobile app development technology

 

Read Also: New Technology Trends Driving Mobile App Sector

 

What Are Various Toolkits to Choose From Mobile App development Technology?

 

There are several toolkits available to choose from, some of which are mentioned below. This should be chosen wisely keeping in mind the needs of your business.

 

1) SDK

 

SDK is required to program different features. SDK for iOS connects the various software applications and the operating platforms. SDK for androids can be downloaded separately with third-party add-ons.

 

SDK has an inclusion of API which included a number of libraries and tools. Apple and Google offer their own developing tools. These also include interface elements and is ideal for a native approach.

 

2) PhoneGap

 

This is open-source software uses programming languages like JavaScript, HTML5 to build dynamic native applications for various platforms and operating systems.

 

The framework is ideal for mixing certain parts of hybrid and native code. PhoneGap supports a number of framework libraries that help the developers as they do not have to heavily depend on HTML or CSS to build an interface. It is ideal for cross-development apps.

 

3) RhoMobile and MoSync

 

Both are ideal for native app development for various platforms and provides an open-source framework. Developers can choose from a range of languages for the different operating systems.

 

MoSync is integrated with Eclipse-based IDE and thus the app development can be done using C or C++ programming.

 

4) Appcelerator

 

This is ideal for developing hardware-based applications. The open-source framework uses HTML, PHP and JavaScript for building applications for different platforms.

 

mobile app development technology

 

Things to Consider While Choosing A Mobile App Development Technology 

 

Now that we have discussed the various technologies you can use for your apps, let us take a look at the factors that you must consider before choosing them. The right decision will help you to work more efficiently.

 

1) Know the Project

 

This is the most important thing to consider. You should not directly follow what others are doing. Try to take a note of the things that will benefit your business and add features accordingly.

 

Choose your priorities wisely. If speed and modified UI designs are the most vital parts of your app then try going for a native app and use Kotlin or Swift languages.

 

2) Target audience

 

Not just developing the application but ensuring that it reaches the right people in the right amount of time is necessary to get the work done effectively.

 

Thus, choose from the mobile app development technology keeping in mind the likes of your audience. Optimise the UI designs and integrate the min to various social media platforms to increase the reach.

 

3) Adapt and optimize

 

It is important to know the complications and intricacies of mobile application development. Thus, getting everything right in the first go may not be possible.

 

Thus, improvising should always be part of the plan. Know the budget properly and work accordingly. Find a solution that serves your needs and reaches to the people along with fitting in your budget. This is possible, you just need some research.

 

Read Also: Mobile App Development Market in UK

Final Thoughts

 

To conclude, the choice of the mobile app development technology is a vital process of application development. Before beginning with the project, it is very important to consider all the factors and complications that may arise.

 

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Take into account the work of your team; divide the tasks keeping deadlines that are not too tight. This will help in building an efficient application and will be good for the long run. You might also seek expert advice if you feel confused before starting the work on your project.

 

How To Make an App Using API [Complete Guide]

App developers or any individual wanting to build an application today and become a part of the 2.1 million apps in Google Play store and 1.8 million in Apple App Store must have heard of the technical term API (application programming interface).

 

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API develop mobile apps and third-party software programmes interact with one another. A known example of APIs in action is the ability to log into services or accounts with your Facebook login credentials.

 

For instance, you can log into Uber by using the credentials of your Facebook account.

 

Uber

 

According to Twilio’s James Parton, “APIs are going to be the driver for the digital economy and unless they (companies) are talking about APIs already, they will be left behind.

 

Read Also: Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Day to Day Life

 

This shows that API has become an accepted tool to develop mobile apps. But what exactly is API and its benefits?

 

Benefits of API

 

As you must be aware, technology was not born yesterday. It has taken years to evolve and grow. Yet, until a few years back, it has only been about people communicating with a machine or a man working with machine.

 

Thanks to the growth of API, technology has come to such a stage where machines are capable of communicating with machines by making use of the power of IoT (Internet of Things) and wearables.

 

APIs for iOS, Android or mobile applications of any other OS have made it easy for things to communicate, connect and work. The best example will be wearables attached to your body and connecting it with apps.

 

To put it simply, APIs allow one program or application to make use of the capabilities of another software or application.

 

Brands like, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, eBay, Netflix, Dropbox and Uber have built apps with API integration and intelligently used APIs to make their app perform certain actions like, geo-location, social preferences and usability.

 

To develop mobile apps, API makes it possible for the exchange of data with web services, such as Facebook, Google Maps or other such web services and take advantages of their offerings and popularity.

 

Today, there are other types of APIs used by businesses like, chat APIs, payment APIs, tracking and location APIs and analytics APIs.

 

android app development

 

Application of APIs

 

When developing an application, APIs have multiple usage making them a versatile tool. They can be used as per your requirement. The access points of a system are ruled by API.

 

By using APIs, developers have this massive independence in manipulating the application or system that they are developing.

 

Benefits of APIs

 

  • Saves time – APIs save a lot of time when developing an application. This is because it puts an end to the need of coding the entire thing in order to make it work. They are available readily from reputed web services. For example, app developers can make use of DropBox API or Google Drive API in their gaming apps, making it possible for users to save the progress of their game session into a cloud-based storage that can be retrieved whenever you want to.
  • Provides new function without the hassle of coding from the scratch – Building apps with APIs allow developers to provide something unique to the users. You can look at Yelp for inspiration. This popular mobile app lets users search for the best eating places in town based on the recommendations and reviews from Yelp users. After helping users find what they are looking for, the app uses the Google Map API in Android to help users locate the eating place on the map. In the iPhone version of the app, the Apple Maps API helps users locate the restaurant. You can also use APIs intelligently to offer a superior user experience.
  • Convenience – Apps with API allow users to use their Facebook or Google user details to sign in without the need to create a new login account. This is an excellent example of convenience.
  • Flexibility – Today, majority of apps allow users to share information on different social media platforms like, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram. APIs make it possible to share articles, post reviews and comments, without having to leave the app

 

So, APIs are basically everywhere, and users are probably using it without their knowledge.

 

Power of API

 

But, when you are involved to develop  mobile apps, there is only question that you need to ask – whether to buy or build API by yourself?

 

Read Also: 11 Easy Steps to Create a Mobile Application

 

Buy or build?

 

There is no confusion regarding the need to integrate an API. But you need to decide on how to do it.

 

The first option is to integrate an API that is already existing into an application. The second option is to build a new one by yourself. Obviously, the first option is a no brainer as it saves a lot of money, time and needs lesser experience.

 

On the other hand, building an API from the scratch will allow more room for customization according to your specific needs whilst maintaining a high standard of security.

 

ios app development

 

Remember the Following When Building an API from The Scratch

 

  • Permissions

If you decide to build an API, do not forget to insert a developer key. This will make sure that whoever wants to use the API has to insert a specific code for using it. This way, it stays away from hacking, misuse and abuse.

  • Process documentation

You must document of the process of the API development so that it is easier to track the progress. Also, proper documentation will ensure that the user or you is kept updated about the past and present status of the API.

  • Plan your update

There will definitely be a time when you have to roll out an update in the future for the API. You must ensure that it is a planned one. Make sure that the development of the API is such that it is safe and easy to roll out updates when it is needed. In case you are careless, the chances of messing up the functionalities of the apps based on the API are high.

 

Mobile app development best practices with API

 

mobile app development practices

 

  • It is essential to build a solid foundation and also invest both up and down the stack to be able to create a responsive digital experience for the users. Take the necessary steps to make sure that your mobile application is not sitting on a slow API as that will provide a very poor user-experience.
  • Reduce API calls and network chatter as that leads to draining the battering life of mobile devices.
  • In order to meet the growing demands for new digital experiences, you need to move the points of integration from large systems to micro-services architecture.
  • Remember that every change that you do in the backend will be affecting the performance of the API of the front-end application that expends it. So, every architectural decision must be precise.

 

Read Also: Why Should Mobile App Developers Consider Flutter

 

Conclusion

 

The reason why mobile apps creation is to perform basic functions – communication, interactions and delivery.

 

contact us

 

But, think about the purpose that the apps will serve if they did not have anything worth transacting, communicating or delivering. Across the world, businesses are sitting on a lot of intellectual property that can be used in the form of APIs.

 

By using APIs, you can extend the usability of data beyond conventional boundaries. Without APIs, the future of mobile app development would have been bleak.

 

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How To Make an App like Quora

Quora – the first thing that comes to mind when they hear the word is information, and in a Q&A format. Since its inception in 2009, this brand has made a name for itself as being the “go-to” site for all kinds of esoteric information. Here are some interesting statistics about Quora.

 

  • Current number of employees: Over 500+
  • Reported value of company: USD 1.8 billion as of April 2017
  • Number of monthly active users: 300 million
  • Number of topics: 400,000
  • Percentage of mobile traffic to Quora: 40%

 

 

The driving force behind Quora’s success is that it has capitalized on the information segment of the market and propelled it to a new level.

 

Letting people register and talk about different topics with their real profiles is one thing that other sites do not have, and the need for such platforms never fades.

 

Quora

 

How Quora Works?

 

When you register as a user on this platform, you as a user can ask questions and other users answer them. Information in the answers offers a range of opinions and perspectives and people can edit their posts, if they wish to do so, in the future.

 

What makes the Quora format special is that all the content is generated by bonafide users which makes the platform very popular with users around the world.

 

The statistics speak for themselves. Just like every other business, Quora also has an app which offers the same access to users. The current trend is to focus on question categories as users find it more useful and keep in touch with happenings around them.

 

Read Also: How To Create an App Like Amazon

 

Stats like these will help convince a confirmed skeptic that Quora-like apps will pay off:

 

Quora’s User-Related Statistics

 

  • Daily Visitors: 1,425,000
  • Daily Pageviews: 3,421,990
  • Daily Bandwidth:65.84 GB (1.99 TB/month)
  • Daily Revenue: $12,833 USD
  • Website Worth: $4,693,471 USD

 

Steps Involved in Developing an App Like Quora

 

Quora’s success is based on high quality content and an interested and invested audience. What sets the Quora app apart from its competitors is its intuitive design, which is simple to use. All a user must do is:

 

  • Sign up
  • At sign up, you must choose categories of interest
  • This is used to channel the right information to your feed
  • You can always change your interests via the settings option

 

A typical Quora feed would look like this:

 

quora

 

From the above screenshot, the information that a user sees in his feed is obvious – there are answers to questions and questions that he/she could answer.

 

Keep in mind that Quora is not any Q&A database – elements from artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing and search algorithms are used to develop an intuitive and informative database.

 

A dedicated team of web designers and developers will be required to create even a prototype.

 

List of Features

 

Here is a list of features that would have to be part of the new app.

 

  • Home Page:

 

As indicated in the image above, this page gives the user an overview of all the topics, questions and answers on topics being discussed, the people participating and those you follow based on your interest.

 

  • Your Profile:

 

This is your personal mode of accessing everything on the app/site.

 

  • Activity Feed:

 

This is displayed on the home page and includes content that is of interest to you. The activity feed basically contains information about multiple topics and people.

 

  • Topics being followed:

 

This feature allows you the user to follow other people on the site, just like on Twitter.

 

  • Adding answers to questions:

 

This feature lets a user answer questions or add to other answers by adding or editing information/functionalities. It is also possible to draft answers to questions which have to be answered immediately.

 

  • Sharing Q&As:

 

Since Quora is essentially set up as a community and your app will also follow the same pattern. You can share your questions or answers.

 

  • Inbox:

 

This is essentially for chatting and receiving messages on any topic being discussed.

 

Other important features that you could include from Quora are:

 

  • The Zen mode
  • Ask and answer questions anonymously
  • The ability to up- and down-vote answers
  • Posting answers in the form of a blog

 

 

Now that you have an idea of what features you could develop for your app, you have to also keep in mind that you will need an Admin section to manage the feeds. Here is an overview of what you have to do to have a complete and functional app.

 

features

 

Read Also: How To Create a Retail App Like Walmart

 

Advanced Features to Include for Better Coverage

 

  • Social Media Integration:

 

To make it easier for your users to share content with others, integrating the requisite API will allow them to also add and connect with multiple social media accounts for better visibility.

 

  • Integrating Cloud storage:

 

This is to ensure that information and data is stored safely for easy access. Your choices for cloud storage include Google Cloud or Amazon’s data storage facilities. You may need to pay if your generated data is higher than the storage offered by them is surpassed.

 

  • Integrating CMS:

 

To manage an app and website seamlessly, integrate them with a good content management system which you use to track all your content.

 

Since your Q&A sessions cover a number of topics and the information has to be stored somewhere, using a CMS makes complete sense.

 

You have to also take the following KPIs into consideration as part of the app planning process, if you want to generate a similar following and the same revenue volume.

 

Active user numbers:

 

After creating and deploying the app, one way to create interest in your app is to encourage your users to invite friends to follow. Once they understand what your app offers and its value, you will have many new users. Try to add new and unique features to make the app fun to use and promote.

 

User retention rates:

 

Getting new users is important but retaining them is more so. By making it easy for users to sync social media accounts, information on the topics they are following and commenting on will boost new sign ups by friends.

 

Push notifications are a good way to draw attention to your app and this is one metric which requires close attention and follow up.

 

Engaging the audience:

 

Q&A apps are a great way to get educated on a range of topics. Whether a person knows something or asking questions, making it fun to participate will go a long way in audience engagement.

 

Work on making the UI for your app fun and easy. Adding quirky features will raise your visibility.

 

Read also : 11 Easy Steps to Create a Mobile Application

 

Developing a Quora-like app could cost a lot of time and money, ranging from $20,000 for a basic version and close to $70,000 for a version with all the bells and whistles.

 

Consider the people who are needed to understand the requirements and deliver the needed results:

 

  • UI and UX experts
  • Developers for both Android and iOS platforms
  • Backend developers
  • QA personnel
  • Project and Delivery Manager

 

 

Building any app is a fairly long and complicated process and finding the right team to do the work is very important. Pick a team based on their previous work and get your app rolling.

 

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How to Create a Successful Retail App Like Walmart

Anyone who has ever shopped at Walmart knows how big the stores are and the deals they offer on every item. Shoppers are guaranteed good deals and savings at Walmart.

 

Consider this – Walmart has more than 7 million items for sale. Like every retailer, Walmart is trying to make it easier for its employees and customers to find what they need in a quick and convenient manner.

 

 

Therefore, to take the shopping experience to the next level, what new additions did the retailer make that has the market abuzz?

 

eBook

 

  • Pharmacy – easy refills, no lines and the entire transaction takes just minutes

 

  • Money Services – no extra paperwork, save time by going through the express lane with money already loaded in the wallet

 

  • Express Lane services (yet to be introduced)

 

  • E-Receipts

 

Read Also: How to Create An App Like Amazon?

 

Walmart introduced these features upon customer requests with an intent to offering a “personal assistant” who makes finding items and deals super easy.

 

Retail App use hasn’t been made available in every store and is expected to happen soon. The introduction of such capabilities makes Walmart the “go-to” store.  Even Walmart is investing a lot of money so that it can transform its business model and remain competitive.

 

The company’s emphasis is on streamlining the entire shopping process, especially since customers can buy everything under one roof.

 

Even a company like Walmart is trying to incorporate changes in the marketplace to enhance customer experiences by introducing new features periodically.

 

Retail mobile app play a critical role in bridging the gap between physical and digital commerce. Not only do they facilitate convenient and fast buying, mobile apps are also fast transforming into vital platforms for interaction between retailers and customers.

 

Walmart’s current e-commerce sales graph for the US market shows:

 

 

However, in spite of the slight dip in the trend, the market for Walmart’s e-commerce business is picking up in 2019 again. In fact, experts project a staggering 25.8% of Walmart’s entire business to be generated through e-commerce in the United States by 2022.

 

 

Considering that shopping with apps has touched 57% in 2018, it is absolutely evident that customers will continue to use this method even in the coming days. As a retailer, if you want to create a retail app which is as successful as Walmart’s, this is what you need to get done.

 

Features to Incorporate:

 

  • Availability of Items along with Stock Count:

 

This feature informs shoppers whether a specific item is available for purchase and how many are currently in stock. If a specific item is sold out, then the likely availability date should be mentioned along with a reminder to purchase when there is enough inventory in stock.

 

  • Price Check:

 

This feature lets customers check the current selling price and do comparison shopping. This a key feature that is must have for any ecommerce app development.

 

  • Other Product Information:

 

Including customer reviews have proven to be quite useful and motivates customer buying. Including recipes or new use ideas additionally boosts customer interest.

 

  • Similar Products:

 

If customers can look at similar products and their functions, they will definitely buy what they want. This will cut down on item returns and assist in streamlining the management of returned merchandise.

 

  • Previews:

 

With growing AR use and 3D modeling, companies which offer product previews and features stand a better chance of selling any product. This is especially true in the case of clothing and electronic items where customers like to take a closer look before making the final purchase decision.

 

  • Geo-Location:

 

This feature works well if a customer is going shopping to a specific store. Use this effectively to promote sales with offers, deals on product combinations and loyalty programs as well. Include store maps so that these products can be located easily by the customer.

 

  • Multiple Payment Gateways:

 

Offering customers a choice of payment methods will boost app use. Whether it is Apple Pay, Braintree, PayPal, Google Pay or some method popular in a specific country, redirecting shoppers to specific pages for their convenience will ensure higher sales.

 

  • QR Codes:

 

This feature is now being used by many companies to get information on products and their prices. By using their phone to scan this code, customers can get other information like buying trends, reviews and discounts.

 

  • Product Finder:

 

This feature must be included so that customers are quick to find exactly what they need. Adding it to the smart search feature will let customers find a product based on size, colour and any are filtering – criteria that may be applicable to the specific product search. It saves time because there is no need to scroll through an entire catalogue, mindlessly.

 

Read Also: 10 Best Shopping Apps UK 2019

 

Closing Thoughts:

 

The Walmart online business model acts as the benchmark for retailers when developing their individual ecommerce apps. They exactly know which key features are useful to in order to generate business and streamline searches.

 

If a customer must spend a lot of time searching for deals at their favourite retailer, they are bound to give up and find the same product elsewhere, if search consumers a lot of their precious time.

 

 

Simplicity and convenience are essential for a seamless shopping experience. Spending time upfront to integrate a retail app with inventory and payment methods will play a key role in staying competitive.

 

Whether app development is done in-house or outsourced, look at what the competition is doing right. This will offer a great roadmap to getting the formula right, and ultimately paving the way to success.

 

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How to Market an App on Social Media?

Right before your mobile app is launched, you must ponder over how you are going to generate public interest and drive frenzy among prospect users for downloading it.

It is time to try effective ways to attract more users and create a huge drive around your app. However, with more than 5 million mobile apps vying for users’ attention, making your app visible is rather daunting.

Choices are more, options are endless, and hence marketing your app is definitely not that simple and straight. Also, what adds more dismay is knowing that 25% of apps downloaded by users are abandoned after installation.

The thought of social media marketing therefore sounds convincing especially when 50% of folks are likely to discover mobile apps via family, friends and colleagues. The platform afforded by virtual socials is immensely influential and drives great buzz for your digital creation.

On that note, check out these powerful tactics to successfully market your app on social media:

1) The Clever investment in Paid Ads

Paid advertisements on social media help reach more audience and attain strong presence. Sponsored ads especially boosts your marketing momentum and drives more downloads especially when it is difficult to fetch the audience through organic reach across different platforms.

 

 

Nowadays social platforms have evolved to display advertisement with app install options. In fact, social media ads are accountable for almost 49% of app downloads. Hence, more visible your app is in your social paid ads, more is the chance you have to convert target users.

For paid ads on social media to be effective, you also need to choose the platform most preferred by your prospect app users. To optimize the marketing budget while also boosting downloads, minute targeting and riveting content are basic essentials.

Read Also : 24 Best Social Media Apps 2021

2) Influencer Marketing for Faster Results

The real effect of influencer marketing is drawn from the fact that social influencers have already mastered the art of persuading their fans and followers and can give you the ready base of receptive audience. Influencers and micro-influencers own deep knowledge about what excites and appeals to their audience/followers.

Hence, as you pair with active influencers on social media, your app is likely to appear conspicuously to the audience already engaged and connected.

Instagram and Twitter have emerged as the most effective channels where recommendations of influencers work miraculously on purchase decisions. In fact, 40% of users active on Twitter have made purchase decisions influenced greatly by influencer’s recommendations.

On the other hand, Bloglovin Global Influencer Survey of 2016 states that 59% of influencers recommend Instagram as the most effective engagement channel. However, it is momentous to discuss app promotion tactics with influencers for exact results.

3) Expect from Reviews and RatingsThe reviews and ratings of a product share direct correlation with brand reputation and user acquisition. Keep a close watch on the best of user reviews that you can be smart enough to share on social platforms to spur the downloading spirit.

People appreciate reviews and 60% of them actually base their critical decisions about downloading the app on its online ratings and reviews. The public words about your app not only help others understand the app’s motive and importance, but it also generates value as a social proof.

Since 40% of mobile app users discover app from the app store, it makes sense to feature outstanding positive views to get users to notice the app. It is therefore crucial to make sure you post your praise received from a third-party beta tester on social media to amplify the app’s visibility.

Apart from Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, YouTube also provides a robust video marketing platform where you can find opportunity to host your app on channels like Daily App Show and receive strong response and ratings.

4) Encourage User-Generated Content 

If you are determined to work on delivering value, why not show it by encouraging User-generated content, aka UGC. The idea of value creation among users focuses on illustrating importance and efficacy of your app by means of user experiments with your app. The best way to connect with the future audience is showing them how your app does own potential to improve lives.UGC works best where ads fail. Nielsen’s market research confirms that 90% of customers consider peer recommendations while 33% listen to ads. Encourage users who have already benefitted from your app to submit the photos and videos demonstrating how the app is practically useful.

You can run a contest, post interactive UGC and feature video tutorials to maximize engagement and create opportunities to acquire new users from existing ones.

5) Realizing the unique potential of various Social Media Platforms

In 2019, with great many innovations and breakthrough capabilities, social media platforms have become far more evolves and advanced than we ever imagined in the embryonic phase of the technology.

Each social platform at present offers unmatched potential and business advantages for luring and interesting more users towards your app.

Facebook For building active Community

Facebook’s rich content-driven platform comes handy for creating dedicated pages that offer a promising scope of building a broad active community.

Also, you can collaborate with many interesting Facebook groups where your app can reach and connect with the target audience. As you feed value and proactively respond to group members on Facebook, you can easily convince them to download.

Make sure you remain active and:

  • Post HQ images, videos and Gif of apps
  • Bring engaging contests and blogs
  • Share giveaways or freebies for trials and installs
  • Feature promotional offers, discounts or vouchers
  • Introduce gifts for referrals

Your active cooperation and comments on Facebook shows your helping spirit and earns appreciation from users, priming them for app downloads.

Instagram for app Elaboration

Instagram aesthetically eradicates what usually scourges today’s brand marketers – the challenges of engagement and app promotion.

Perfect for well-crafted visuals, Instagram lets you present your app features in an elaborate, creative fashion. Here you can post Sneak peeks in form of enthralling visuals like:

  • HQ photos and Gifs
  • How-to videos
  • App screenshots
  • Website or Influencer content
  • Entertaining creatives
  • Contests and gifts

Instagram users feel deeply excited and intrigued by what is not available but is soon to be in near future. Thus, you can unobtrusively foster much hype around your app on the platform.

The use of proper, popular Hashtags in posts done twice or thrice a day makes your Instagram app marketing meaningful.

The key to seizing great number of Instagram followers is making the most out of visual platform with right mix of content and good aesthetics.

Twitter appeals to marketing and customer service

Twitter has risen as the most dynamic and magnetic marketing platform that latches on tweet, retweet, hashtags, videos, impressions and GIFs. Best for interactions, Twitter helps you spread the word faster and engage with more target users.

You can share pictures, blog contents, videos, news and more. It also allows you to run public polls for active feedback session or contests. You can also ask for user’s personal experiences or privately send message via inbox for propagating brand value.

The platform Twitter provides is quite credible and potent for sincere market executives and can be used for customer service. Positive customer service means positive word of mouth which enhances your app’s status.

Leverage the influence of images

Pictures as they say talk louder than words whether it is for blogs, App screenshots or social media posts. Pictures help express what a description text can’t.

Make the post vivid and more influential by using attractive picture of your app. If there are a few users already using it, you can post screenshots of them using it with a supportive CTA like Download the App.

It is also great to create a post with a message showing the countdown of your app as the release date approaches. Pick a different feature or benefit every time you post. This will keep users clung to your app and let them remember it until it is finally released in the app store.

Read Also : 24 Best Video Chat Apps 2021

Your Final Takeaway

Modern digital media marketing savors the idea of crafting most memorable, interesting and relatable content on app features and benefits. Your social media marketing strategy must revolve around acquiring more users and creating authentic value.

Combine your robust marketing strategy with user psychology as you attempt to know what community would love about your app and encourage them to download naturally. Don’t forget to post regularly on social media to maintain strong presence and reach maximum people.

How To Create an App Like Amazon?

Ecommerce has become a rich, enticing landscape for businesses and app development companies alike. Online retail commerce is an ever blossoming industry, booming with average annual growth is estimated to reach $3 billion by 2019.

 

how to create an app

 

Of all active ecommerce portals, Amazon is the one reaching one million customers within 27 months of its launch.

 

In the US, Amazon earned the appreciative market reputation of being the most valuable retailer, surpassing Walmart in market capitalization in 2015.

 

This is mainly attributed to the fact that online shopping app users feel more content with their purchases than traditional retail shop experience.

 

Read Also: How to Create a Retail App Like Walmart

 

Therefore, people rush flooding to ecommerce market for promising business opportunities. But create an app like Amazon means going up against the fierce competition.

 

When looked from developer’s standpoint, mobile apps are passed through several crucial stages of Agile methodology to make sure the final product is what you initially envisioned.

 

Here, keeping Amazon’s boundless success in mind, we are going to walk you through important stages and key ingredients to create an astounding e-commerce app like Amazon.

 

 

Conduct Market Research

 

The first thing to kick-start your market research with is identifying the app users’ requirements and their reason for engaging with your business.

 

Conduct Market Research

 

Accordingly, approach the developers with your firm thoughts on the type of products you want to serve customers with. Your thorough research will help you sort out what your specialized goods are along with their digital presentation tactics.

 

Usually, the entire scope of market research involves:

 

  • Product features
  • The target audience requirements
  • Insight into business operations of Competitors
  • Trending facts and interests
  • Success boosters
  • MVP basics
  • Scalability solutions

 

Delve a little deeper into how other existing apps and brands sell goods online which are similar to yours. This will give you a good idea on essential features, presentation skills, creative ideas and more, the elements that actually worked for their online business and what is no longer needed.

 

Amazon’s Success Boosters: Original Features

 

If we take a look into the Amazon’s dazzling success, you will be amazed at the volume of sales, repeat customers and customer satisfaction level they acquired.

 

They started as an online bookstore which was then astonishingly transformed into the most successful ecommerce app.

 

Scalable and versatile, Amazon transcended beyond the biggest database of books and now offers appreciable discounts on many of its titles, which becomes one of the efficacious tricks to attract eternal customer loyalty.

 

Amazon’s Success Boosters

 

In its early version of Bookstore, Amazon had a powerful search engine plus vast categories of products to help customers make right purchase decisions.

 

Its recommendation center allowed customers to buy books matching their tastes, mood and reading preferences, etc.

 

Read also : 10 Best Shopping Apps in UK

 

Amazon has gift parcel options and automatic notification and shipment tracking system. Users’ ability to read and share ratings and reviews augmented its popularity as ecommerce customers rely on product reviews far more than their descriptions.

 

Pick and Choose Features of Value

 

If you want to create an app like Amazon, your first instinct should be not to exactly imitate all of Amazon features but to sculpt a solid and competitive architecture of an e-retailer app that stands out among all other online shopping apps.

 

Therefore, launching an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) through rapidly Mobile App Development (RMAD) with all the essential features is an approach never regretted. These features include:

 

User log-in/registration

 

As clichéd as it sounds, it is important to remember that login process is the gateway to your app’s inner personality. This is why it needs to be pleasant, easy and user-oriented; this is where user experience actually begins.

 

User log-in/registration

 

With that note in mind, users should never be asked to provide loads of personal information before they explore and browse the insides as guests to make sure the app is worthwhile. To make the journey easy, allow them to use social sign-in options such as Facebook and Twitter.

 

Product Search

 

 

Just like Amazon search, your product search must be super fast, responsive and keyword-sensitive, having a host of filters and precise indexing. Doing this will help users get close to their products-in-search in no time.

 

Effortless Navigation

 

The way users find, browse and switch between pages and menu options must be made smooth and effortless. Your product category titles and service offerings should be comprehensible enough for users to navigate through.

 

Minimum-Resistance Checkout Pages

 

The biggest nightmare retailers face is the ambush of checkout content. Not matter how enthusiastically users load their carts with favorite items, online shopping market research often hints that nearly 70% of cart-filling instances result in abandonment. To avoid such horrid debacles, make sure:

 

  • Guest users find it easy and fast to purchase without mandatory login and account creation. Keeping heavy registration steps at checkout threshold would be a deterrent factor to a thick volume of potential customers.This is why they should be able to log-in using social media accounts.
  • Maintain the simplicity of the checkout page. Don’t overwhelm first-time customers with unnecessary questions and confusing options.
  • To keep it all transparent, show users a clean checkout progress where they can see how many steps are left before reaching the order confirmation page. Customer psychology favors the knowledge of how much time to spend prior to obtaining what they want.

 

User Reviews

 

This simple feature directly impacts sales as it reflects customers sharing their experience about the app and products. Let users see all types of reviews because they trust user reviews more than product descriptions.

 

A Reliable and Safe Payment Gateway

 

A Reliable and Safe Payment Gateway

 

Payment gateway does the job of sending the transactions to bank’s processing systems. Due to involvement of sensitive data, the payment gateway feature must be safe, secure and trusted.

 

Using well reputed systems such as PayPal and Stripe could be worth consideration as they are popularly chosen for assured transactions.

 

Shipping

 

Amazon’s success also exudes from the generous network of warehouses that enabled prompt delivery of items ordered. As users upfront expect lightning-fast free shipment delivery, it will do good if your product page inform users of time and price of the shipment.

 

Additionally, make shipping forms user-friendly and clean with multiple inputs and clear entry fields.

 

Other Features That Matter Later:

 

  • Real-time order tracking
  • Wish list
  • AR product view
  • Live chat support
  • Push notifications
  • Social media integration

 

Prepare a Sharp and Professional Design Logic

 

Having a unique, unforeseen design idea could be a powerful game changer for your app. Not only does it generate positive impression, but it also equally acts as a customer-magnet. Also, the design visuals remain mostly accountable for users’ overall opinions.

 

Read also : Best Online Shopping Apps

 

This is why it is vital to focus on fusing the basic elements of templates with a fresh professional layer of design that contributes to enhancing the brand recognition.

 

Design a Logo With Clarity:

 

Since your app logo is the first thing customers notice before downloading it, it is the only chance to create an irresistible first impression. You can try to match Amazon’s style of logo that clearly displays brand name, representative colors and a shopping cart.

 

Make a Remarkable Layout:

 

Users will entertain no misapprehension in the matter of crafting the app layout. Their eyes remember 80% of the information in its visual form and the rest in written text. Create a perfect layout for an app in which product pictures stand out from the background. For this to happen, you must emphasize:

 

  • White and plain background
  • High quality pictures
  • Captures from different angles
  • Large photos to grab attention
  • Zoomed view

 

Choose The Mobile Platform

The next stage involves deciding on mobile platforms for launching the app. This can essentially be the part of your marketing research for knowing the preferences of your target consumers across target geographies across the world.

 

Certain developed countries like North America and Europe prefer iOS whereas the rest relies on Android. From the eyes of developers, iOS development looks easier and less time-consuming as it demands optimizing the app only for the recent versions of Apple devices.

 

Android development involves more time and complexities as developers need to optimize fora wide range of devices and screen resolutions. To expedite the Android development process, you can opt for only the most popular Android devices.

 

Since Android devices are diverse and have captured a huge global market, building the Android app is hugely profitable. You can also opt for a cross-platform approach targeting both platforms at once.

 

Conclusion

 

Create an app like Amazon sounds much more viable, economical and faster than building a web application for online shopping that is expected to be responsive.

 

Amazon’s exponential success is the best inspiration if you are embarking on an ecommerce business. Contact the right ecommerce app development company and do your research in advance to identify the niche market and target audience.

 

how to create an app

 

The next, follow the above steps to achieve the objective. Keep improving your product after launching the MVP with new updates and innovations. The rest depends on how the development process goes on to create such an app like Amazon.

 

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How To Make a Social Media App?

Social media is incessant and infinite in its strength and éclat, making for massively promising domain not just for users but also for elite business entities. With social media platforms dominating the world of marketing and advertising, business wanting to capture ample audience can see it as a lucrative opportunity.

Of course, the competition in this market is simmering with a few jubilant players. But as technology evolves, the new creative social app development ideas are getting big attention.

Before embarking on the social media app development project, expertise in mobile device is must. If you are planning to break into the social market through a dedicated mobile app, you must realize that the major cost falls on the shoulder of backend developers, and that challenges for making it from scratch are high. Therefore, you require great deal of resources and talent to make it work.

Here is how you can give it a jump start:

Main ingredients of social media app

1. Integration with existing social media

The power of true user experience often stems from enabling users to explore the full-fledged interaction. Since they already are a member of a few other famous social platforms, they expect your app to provide them with a button to stay connected with those profiles. Your app can allow them to login to the app using existing social accounts.

2. Sharing expressions

Users want to set a stage of expression on your social app to flaunt their unique creative ability. Your social media app must contain features that empowers users to share their life stories and experiences along through personalized profiles, videos, backgrounds and customized pictures. Take examples of YouTube, Instagram, Flickr, Vimeo, Snapchat, etc.

3. Creating a network

Being able to connect with distant friends and increasing the number of followers make the platform more desirable for users. Like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, social app developers must create a system that lets members to invite new friends.

Read Also : 24 Best Social Media Apps 2021

Smart networking system can help build communication between people. LinkedIn provides professional networking opportunity whereas Tinder, Badoo and Grindr enables personal and dating services

4. Reviews

Social media app doesn’t necessarily need to be confined to mean just social. Since users leave great loads of data, users can take advantage of this information to make purchasing decisions just like Yelp.

The app can know users’ geolocation and let them leave comment and suggestions about interesting brands or local businesses.

5. Newsfeed

Content is what attracts people to decide and subscribe to services. Social network apps run on influential content.

Through expressions, status, video, photos and audio sharing, users generate colossal amount of content in order to display their opinions and be heard.

Therefore, iOS and Android app should contain news feed very typical of quintessential social apps.

6. Community forums

Community forums and discussions like Quora, Disqus and Reddit are fundamental to social apps. Such knowledge sharing can form the basic mechanism of powerful social interactions within the app.

7. Publishing platforms

Blogging and microblogging platforms make for social media services users capitalize to publish creative text and media content. Examples of such apps are Medium, Your Story and Tumblr.

8. Interest-focused networks

Interest-based media creates a powerful community of like-minded people who share similar interests. A media app this genre creates tremendous appeal by bringing together individuals of common tastes. Goodreads is for literature lovers, for example, and Last.fm and Spotify are for music fanatics.

Read also : How To Create an App like Instagram?

9. Private Chat conversations

Having a built-in service of private communication increase ROI for social networking app as it inspire users to resort to your app more often to connect with their friends and followers.

This means users will spend more time in your app.

Creating a  Social Media App

To build such an ambitious social networking app, you should ask developers to first create an MVP for the app. MVP contains core features and functionality that let you test its performance while saving on investment and time.

After acquiring good buzz, you can scale it up to add more features andUI/UX elements. To keep the app’s performance up and healthy, you need powerful architecture built of:

1. Backend

This is a backbone of your mobile app that handles intense rush of http requests as a result of numerous user actions happening within your app.

Node.js, .NET, Xamarin are a few great options to pick for building a mighty, high-performance and scalable networking app backend.

2. Database

MySQL databases along with SQLite or NoSQL are amongst the most preferable database tech for social networking apps as it swimmingly takes over dynamic contents.

3. Hosting

To handle constantly fluctuating traffic to your app and on-demand uploads along with likes and shares and other stress, you need a reliable hosting service plan. AWS is a competitive and widely used option with superior adaptive capability and scalability.

Read also : How much does it Cost to Create an App like Instagram?

4. 3rd Party APIs

Integration of3rd party APIs is the convenient option for mobile app developers as it reduces the efforts needed to build every single part of your social app and enables certain readymade solutions.

APIs can be integrated for solutions like payments, push notification, geolocation and other sensor-based indicators.

Basic steps of developing social media app

You should follow these critical steps for a creating successful social media app:

1) Target audience

In this phase, the idea is analyzed and studied to understand the requirements and map out the target audience. The first step to creating a successful social app is to identify the user needs and challenges they face.

In the end, project analysts can derive KPIs to be achieved in a social media niche. Developers now have a substantial choice of using a ready framework designed to create custom social apps with excellent user experience.

2) Calculating realistic estimates

Once determining the target audience, it is time to build a strategy and calculate realistic budget estimates. If your wish is to create highly engaging and technically immaculate social networking app, as an entrepreneur you should consider investing wisely. Too limited budget can’t produce the app you desire.

The cost estimate depends on the platform you choose, and iOS could be a great option to first develop an app. Then you can opt for Android platform later. Though it is hard to estimate traffic volume, it is essential to prepare database for end users.

3) Design considerations

The social networking design strategy starts with a basic outline and a rough sketch that includes expansive logic, screens to target and layout.

Then comes preparing a good wire frame which is important to development team as they begin to conceive a skeleton and structural view of the app.

Read also : How To Create Video Chat Apps

The next step is to create a prototype that represents a working model of the app and gives detailed understanding of what it is going to be. You can make changes to prototype idea before developers start writing the app.

This is followed by the design of app skin where app wire frame is used to create a solid design.

4) Development & QA testing

Due to rising development process technologies such as DevOps, design, development and QA testing phases are often synchronized and combined to run in perfect symphony.

After prototyping step, developers consider all technical requirements to start sculpting its backend architecture and implement servers, database, APIs and more.

Engineers focus on all the latest guidelines and platform terms for native iOS and Android app development to deliver brilliant performance.

During and post development, testers leverage manual and automated testing and cover extensive use cases to ensure the app is bug-free and well-programmed and has its expected UX standard.

5) Publish, Market and Promote

After everything is checked and tested, the app is deployed. Your app development partner will help you publish the app on popular online stores and create a comprehensive marketing strategy to evangelize the app.

The marketing team will optimize the app marketing with description content and video guides so that businesses can save time on making the app stand out at Google Play or the Apple Store market as well as on popular social media platforms.

Read more : How To Create A Chat App Successfully

Make sure you communicate your concerns about what all are included in your project contract. Some companies separate the cost of development from the fees reserved for marketing and promotion activities.

Also, to achieve better audience, it is advisable to start marketing the app 3-4 months before the app is ready to publish.

Conclusion

Social media app development is not as straight as it seems. The process is rife with many challenges and brainstorming.

Only a veteran mobile app development company with extensive experience, rugged resources and competitive talents can help you build a successful social networking app and fulfill your business goals. They know what technologies best align with your business objective and help create fascinating features.