GUARANTEED WAYS TO IMPROVE USER EXPERIENCE ON MOBILE APPS
To develop a mobile application (also called a mobile app) that attracts a wide range of targeted mobile users requires an in-depth understanding of various factors and preferences critical to the intended user.
First, what is a Mobile Application?
A mobile app is a software application developed specifically for use on small, wireless computing devices, such as smartphones and tablets.
While taking into account the goals and objectives of the project owner, the essential elements for building a mobile app that works is to develop a mobile app with the user experience in its entirety.
Applications are mainly intended to be tools that assist users in simplifying an activity and providing a better experience. They are built to also give the user a way to express this experience and improve the service.
Low scores in user experience and friendliness result in mobile apps failing to make an impact in the market, but with a definite determination of what mobile user entails it is feasible to develop a mobile application that works and carter for the user’s needs.
Before we go straight into what you all need to know about mobile user experience, let start with the basics.
The Basics of Mobile User Experience (UX)
User experience is the overall experience an individual has when using products. In this way, “mobile user experience” encompasses what the user feels or experiences when using a mobile device (phone, tablet, wearable, hybrid).
Developing a mobile application that meets mobile users’ unique requirements must involve having a deep understanding of users, what they need, what they value, their abilities and also their limitations the development process
In tech world, there are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but actually mean very different things: User Experience, abbreviated as UX, and User Interface, abbreviated as UI.
UX Design considers the overall feel of the experience, how it makes the user feel, and how easy it is for the user to perform their desired functions.
UX is all about identifying and solving user problems.
UI Design, on the other hand, is how the product’s interfaces look and function, this is all about creating intuitive, aesthetically-appealing, and interactive interfaces.
Some of the factors that ensure the quality of the user experience include:
Usefulness
Innovative software solutions should go hand in hand with end-user needs in order to be useful.
Usability
Software solutions must be easy to use for targeted audiences to achieve defined goals effectively, efficiently and satisfactorily.
Desirability
For an entire software solution to be efficient must be tempered by an appreciation for the power and value of image, identity, brand, and other elements of emotional design which result in positive feedback.
Findability
The navigating of software solutions should be comfortable and self-describing, so users can easily find what they need.
Accessibility
Software solutions should be independently accessible to anyone including people with varying visual, mobility, hearing and intellectual abilities.
Credibility
Software solutions must-have design elements that influence users to trust and believe what they tell them.
Streamline Experiences for Mobile Users
To provide the perfect and adequate experience to mobile users it’s crucial to consider the following critical factors.
Target audience
Mobile phones are more portable, you can move with a mobile phone anywhere and easily access the services you need. It is essential to always pay attention to the target audience’s interest and preference when it comes to app usage to ensure your app design achieves an excellent first impression.
Size
Mobile devices have different screen sizes and their screens aren’t good enough to fit a lot of information on a single page. It’s essential to create a single design that adjusts to all devices (responsive design).
Also, to provide a good mobile user experience, the best and more important information should be first introduced to the user. It is crucial to understand the kind of information to hide in menus and what kind of information to put on display. Users must be able to quickly find what they want and be directed to more information swiftly.
Navigation
To improve the user experience for your mobile app it’s pivotal to arrange the functionality and content into a logical structure to help users easily navigate to the most important content and functionality and complete their tasks.
Navigation on mobile apps needs to be more intuitive than it is on desktop sites. If users face navigational problems while using your app, then it is structurally flawed.
User Input
Users don’t rely on common peripheral devices such as a physical keyboard or mouse to use a smartphone. Mobile devices are equipped with touch screens as a medium of data input.
As Luke Wroblewski says in his book Mobile First, “When it comes to mobile forms, be brutally efficient and trim, trim, trim.” It is essential to offer interactive and comfortable input methods for any information users are required to enter, such as their credit card and billing information, during registration or checkout for example.
Symbols
Most software solutions use symbols to guide users, it’s always influential to use the most common known symbols and icons. The unexpected use of symbols will confuse your user, and when users think the application is misguiding, he/she might not want to continue using your app.
Mobile user experience design is tricky, there are so many factors to put into consideration. As the list of mobile devices keeps on growing, every application should be user-centric by taking into consideration all factors that are related to the user environment because people want consistent and pleasurable experiences across all device types.
If you are looking forward to developing a mobile app which considers the needs of the people who will be using the product (website, app or custom software) contact Ellipsis Digital. We, at Ellipsis Digital, collaborate with our clients to build software that works for organization, businesses and startups.
