What App Developers Need to Consider for End Users

People expect an app for everything – in fact, they expect that they will even have options. If they don’t like an app, they will quickly drop it and look for an alternative. App developers have to keep this in mind and create apps that users will want to continue to use.

tech
September 22, 2021
What App Developers Need to Consider for End Users

People expect an app for everything – in fact, they expect that they will even have options. If they don’t like an app, they will quickly drop it and look for an alternative. App developers have to keep this in mind and create apps that users will want to continue to use.

Even if you don’t have any app competition, apps should be developed for the end user, and every part of the process should keep their experience in mind to ensure that the app meets their needs.

This blog will help you develop apps that are user-centered so that users will continue to access and use them.

Understand the User Perspective

The best way to develop an app that users like is to constantly consider their perspective. Understand what it is they want from the app and what they need to accomplish when they use it. There are several ways to relate to your user:

  • Develop surveys to see what users want or need. If you haven’t released the app yet, survey your customers.
  • Think about how users are likely to use the app.
  • Know what problem or problems your app is meant to resolve.

Don’t focus on just one type of person to develop your app. Even if you have a target demographic, they all have different personalities, and the reasons they use the app could be very different. By considering different personalities, you will have a more comprehensive idea of what your users want to accomplish.

Keep the Design Simple and Easy to Navigate

You want users to be able to open the app and get started using it without having to spend much time figuring out where to go or how to accomplish easy tasks. With most apps being accessed from small mobile devices, the design needs to be clear and uncluttered. One of the quickest ways to lose users is to make a bad first impression.

As you test the app, see where you get lost while using it. If you are too familiar with your app, have family and friends try it, especially if they are at different user levels. This will give you a better idea of what can be improved.

Support All Available Platforms

A mistake that some app developers make is to create apps for just one platform. Unless you know that all of your users will only have one platform, you want to make sure that the apps are developed across multiple platforms. If someone recommends your app to friends and family, you want those people to be able to use the app, regardless of what platform they have on their mobile device.

Do not favor one platform over another. You need to equally support all platforms, so if you release fixes or updates, it should be done for all platforms at the same time.

Keep Features to a Minimum

Unless you are developing a game or entertainment app, users aren’t looking for anything complicated. There is a difference between offering customers things they can use and having too many features to be functional. People often do not want to spend much time on their apps (except for entertainment), so keep the features to just what users want or need.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be innovative. Sometimes getting in front of the competition will give you an advantage. However, make sure that you always have the user experience in mind, thinking about how your app appears from their perspective.

You should never tell them what they want. Things that may be exciting to you, but to users it could be one more thing that they have to figure out. After a while, they may stop using your app.

Quick Loads and Responses

Having an app load quickly, respond quickly, then close quickly is currently one of the best ways to convert people to being regular app users. People simply don’t have the patience these days to wait for an app to load. If you follow the previous recommendations, your app will have an easier time of loading quickly. However, it is also important to keep this aspect in mind because you can quickly lose users if you add so many features that it takes more than 3 seconds to load.

If Possible, Allow the App to Work Offline

Sometimes users don’t have access to the Internet, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t want to use the app. With so many apps requiring the user to be online, you have a distinct advantage if you offer them the ability to use the app without having to connect. Sometimes, users want some peace and quiet to focus on tasks. If you can give that to them, it will make a much better impression.

Get User Feedback

Once you create a great app that caters to the end-user experience, you need to make sure that remains your focus. Encourage users to review your app and provide surveys to let your users know that you are interested in their feedback. Often, they are the ones who know what you need to do to make the app better.