How to build your first app
Get everything ready to start with these steps
You finally decided to take the next step and build something from scratch, but you are not sure what nor how. I’m here to help you clear up some the thoughts that are running through your head right now.
First step: Flush your insecurities
Before starting anything you need to be sure that your big app idea is the way to go, things go wrong all the time but you can only call it failure if you didn’t learn anything in the process. Most successful app developers create two or three apps before a big hit.
- Do some research! Internet is free and wide, somebody probably did something alike!
- Check if the market is big enough, after you do the numbers split them in half, if it still works do not hesitate and start ASAP!
- Validate the idea with the public, talk to people & friends. Make a poll or something.
- Adjust the idea based on the validation
These tips will help you build real confidence on your project, the one it needs to succeed.
Step two: Android, Web or iOS? Which one do I choose?!!!
This is gonna be directly related to your target, keep researching. Its better to waste a few hours on research that months on development.
- Which device is the user most likely to have?
- You don’t need all platforms to validate the prototype, start with one.
- Make a pro / cons list of every option
Web apps don’t show up on the store of each platform, that means less visibility. If your aim is mobile users, create a native app prototype. Don’t forget that you need to test the idea in the field, an MVP is the best way to do that without doing serious time/money investment.
Step Three: I have everything planned, now what?
Well, now you have to decide how are you gonna transform that pile of files into a functional app.
These are the options you have at this point:
- Learn to code and build it yourself (Slower but the cheapest option, you will learn a lot in the process)
- Partner up with a developer. This options requires a lot of trust and dynamics in the team, it may be a friend or a colleague.
- Hire a tech company to develop your Product. This is the most used way to build an app, you can get the product ready and running in no time. There are growing companies like us (Redmint Labs) who work specially with startups. The experience is the key here.
If you want to know more about us read this blog post or visit our Website.
Step Four: How do I make money out of it?
There are a lot of ways to make money from your app. I’m gonna list you the most common ways being used at the moment, pick the one which suits your needs (adapt if necessary)
- Users pay to use the app
- Free version of the app with ads
- App is free, you charge in-app purchases for extra features
- Subscription fee for your service (app is usually free)
- Grow your user list first, charge later (App free, no ads)
Be sure to have a business plan defined before starting, you can always change it on the go. For example The Android Keyboard Swiftkey was a paid app & now they switched their business model to sell themes instead.
I hope you find this article useful, leave any questions you have in the comments.
www.redmintlabs.com
Tags: Redmint, Redmintlabs, software development for startups, high quality tech teams on demand for startups
Rodrigo Matías Gómez
Online Marketing Manager at Redmint. Recently graduated from Audiovisual Design at Universidad de Palermo . DJ & Music enthusiast.
