Secrets of building a mobile app prototype

Have you ever thought of converting a great idea into a successful project? We believe in thorough prototyping. What are the secrets of prototyping? How to make a prototype that everybody loves? Let’s explore this article.

It is an articulated reality that designers would anticipate “Wow” responses. However, we generally overlook the other two feedbacks (yes, no), which come if we haven’t paid any attention to the prototyping process.

In this article, we will look at what is the process of mobile prototyping?

So, stay tuned!

(Sources- echoinnovateit.com)

What is a mobile app prototype?

A mobile app prototype is a visual representation of product development processes, the interaction of elements, and product functioning.

It brings you one step closer to your dream app development. With the help of prototyping, you can represent your ideas more confidently. It validates the proposal of the design and logic of the application.

For prototyping, one need not be a coding master. A simple prototyping tool is fair enough.

However, the features of prototyping get developed at the MVP (Minimum viable product) stage.

It is essential for the development of a successful mobile app. Also, it conserves time and money.

How to prototype an app? Secrets revealed.

Some development companies avoid the prototyping process to save few hours. However, these few hours get compensated with weeks of redesigns and bug fixing. Moreover, it is a process that a non-designer can quickly cope up. And we are here to advise you on how to do it by yourself.

(Source- mindsea.com)

Step 1: Design the project goals and sketch ideas into the paper:

Many of you have heard that legendary thoughts are born during lunchtime and sketched on a napkin. Well, the very first goal is to represent the ideas QUICKLY. No color and no art.

Do not get into broad study at this stage. Just relax and identify about what is your product’s aim? How will it deliver a unique experience, and what is the selling point?

The basic approach of the application should amaze you as well as your audiences.

Step 2: Implement competitive examination:

It is crucial to carry a competitive analysis and ensure that your mobile app prototyping is convincing. You may conduct surveys to collect qualitative and quantitative data. It will help in the decision-making process.

As we all know that a compelling product will forever make money while others will remain in the App store’s graveyard.

Step 3: Identifying the key-functionality requirements:

After having a thorough competitive analysis, you would choose the best out of all and decide why this application stands out. Based on the research, you must choose what all features you must include in your app.

It is always a better thought to start preparing the list of must-haves, good-to-have, not-good-to-have features. As an experienced mobile development company, we would prefer to bring up the functionality in an application.

Step 4: Crafting the initial scenes:

The first initial stage is to design the rough sketches. It typically includes profile management, dashboard, and matches. Do not worry if the initial design does not work up to the finalization stage. After all, this is why we do prototyping.

(Source- mindsea.com)

Step 5: Wire framing:

Well, now you can directly start wire framing. Wire framing can be referred to as the outline of the app that lays the foundation of the entire process.

Step 6: Creating prototypes:

To encourage interactions, transform your wireframe into a clickable prototype. One can use online tools for prototyping, which will give the feel of the real future of your application.

Step 7: Testing:

Here comes the time to test the “almost-finished” designed prototype. It is the process to gather some insights and identify the areas, which need improvement. We would suggest iterating the process and do it repeatedly until you have polished the application.

Step 8: Refining the prototype:

It is an obvious step to conclude the whole process of prototyping. After collecting the insights and discovering pain points, it is an opportunity to improve the errors.

By this time, you would have received the feedbacks from users and stakeholders, so start working upon them now.

Not wrapping up, but giving a piece of advice:

Crafting your company prototypes will make you productive, definitive, and innovative. Do not forget to build it with a purpose.

Best to embrace the tools available at your disposal to strengthen your skills.

Never jump on to the things and go step-by-step.

You can hire a professional designer for prototyping.

We at Infozion technologies have extensive experience in building websites and mobile apps from scratch. Our services might be helpful in such cases as well.

Stay connected!

So, you wake up in the morning and suddenly thought having a mobile app for your business. Well, you are overwhelmed and know that it is the best idea ever. You even know that your app can lure away many customers. So, what’s the next step?

The best part of having a mobile app is a good sign for the betterment of your business. The bad part is very few apps are successful. So, what divides a tale of success and debacle- some luck? The answer is yes with a lot of correct steps.

If you consider developing a mobile application, let’s explore our comprehensive guide step-by-step. We have broken down the complete guide into nine key steps of mobile app development.

(Source- titandev.net)

The nine stages of mobile app development:

Step 1: Validating the idea:

Before proceeding to the next step, the first thing is to ensure that you are not marrying the wrong idea. The plan is worth investing in time and effort.

• App objective:

Why do you require building a mobile app? Is it needed in your industry? Is your opinion worth satisfying the target audiences?

• Target audience:

Who are your potential customers?

• App USP:

What features in your app will appeal to the target audiences? How do you differentiate it from other companies?

• Opponent examination:

Who are your opponents? Do they have a mobile application? If yes, what solutions will be provided by your steps in a better way than them?

• App investment:

Any application you develop requires money, time, and effort. Are you ready to invest?

• App marketing:

After the launching of your mobile app, what are your strategies to promote it?

Step 2: Market research:

Now comes the crucial part of your mobile development journey. Market research or analysis gives you a clear picture of the actual demand of your target customers. The question arises, how to do market analysis precisely?

• Define your objectives
• Provide your analysis survey questions
• Identify the target audience engagement
• Speak to people about your ideas to every target customers
• Keep informative survey
• List your market competitors and do a desk survey.

Step 3: Build your apps wireframe:

Once your idea is ready and, market research gets completed, it is time to put your ideas into perfect shape. A wireframe is considered the blueprint of your mobile application. It presents the layout of your app’s functionality and features.

A wireframe is mainly a theory before converting it into practice. It is the reference or a guidebook for the app developers.

Step 4: Platform choice:

Let’s continue with the process of making a platform choice. Three options are available with the platform choice process.

• Native app:

The mobile app developers can use different programming languages to develop an iOS or Android mobile application.

• Cross-Platform App/ Hybrid App:

A single mobile application can run on multiple platforms built by HTML5. These get downloaded from all the app stores like native applications.

• HTML5 Web App:

It is an optimized mobile website that looks familiar to a mobile application.

Step 5: Development:

The next step is to give proper structure to your dream project after your mobile app design clears the usability test. The process includes the coding part and the actual realization of your application.

Step 6: Test your app and improve:

One must run a code review process. It helps us to know that there are no major bugs left in coding the mobile application.

Once you have reviewed the coding process, make sure to conduct a final usability test with other colleagues. You may also find out the bugs that you missed or overlooked. You may make the final tweaks to your product.

(Source- appcircle.io)

Stages of Mobile App testing:

Let’s dive into the various mobile app testing stages. Here goes the list:

• Documentation testing:

Documentation testing, also known as preliminary testing, comes at the beginning of mobile app development. In this phase, all the developers will find the inconsistencies and settle them before the actual development begins.

• Functional testing:

It helps to test the mobile application according to the industry requirements.

• Usability testing:

This part of app testing ensures that it offers convenient browsing to all your audiences, having an excellent user interface.

• UI testing:

It ensures that all the graphical requirements are up to the mark as per the needed specifications.

• Compatibility testing:

It ensures the optimal performance of your app according to the device size, version, screen size, and hardware.

• Performance testing:

It helps to test the consistency and mobile application reaction under a specific workload.

• Security testing:

As the name suggests, security testing allows checking the risk of mobile app hackers, virus, unauthorized access, and protection of sensitive information.

• Certificate testing:

It helps to know whether your app meets the standard requirements, license agreements, terms of use, and requirements of all the play stores.

Step 7: Originate a beta version of your app:

Originating a beta version of your app draws initial adopters. These adapters provide a lot of crucial feedback about the pros and cons of your mobile application. The early users’ experience will help the admin to understand the demand of their apps.

Step 8: Launching the final version of your app:

After going through the number of pre-launching steps, there comes the time where you officially launch your mobile application on the play store or apple store.

Step 9: Post-launch activity:

If people do not know about your app, then there is no chance of downloading it. To convince the people about your app and exploring it, one should make attractive advertisements and various ways of promoting it.

Never underestimate the power of social media. Use all digital platforms to promote your app.

What’s next?

The stages of mobile application development seem to be tedious, but it is worth rewarding if you do it correctly. We hope this comprehensive guide helps you in understanding all the aspects in detail. It is suitable for both startups and established businesses.

Good luck, keep building!

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