For great apps you only need to get 2 things right
When I read the many articles about how to create a successful App, I am reminded of the marriage advice of a 90 year old couple who had been together for over 70 years. When they were asked “What is the secret of a long marriage?” they answered “Not getting divorced”. The lesson for App design is that you are going to make an App successful, you have to make sure you don’t screw it up. The good news is that you only have to get 2 things right. Unfortunately, just like staying married they aren’t that easy:
- Whatever you are offering must be easier for the user to do than any alternative.
And I really do mean absolutely any alternative: it has to be easier than making a phone call, sending a message, writing on a bit of paper, or not doing it at all.
- The process of using the App must be enjoyable for the user.
Never mind all the stuff about “user experience”, “human factors”, and “usability”. Those things matter but they are a waste of time unless the user enjoys doing what you want them to do.
That’s it. The rest is down to marketing, “going viral”, and a lot of luck.
