These days you do not require to be a programming expert in order to start creating your own Android mobile app. There are so many resources available and tools in order to help you in creating your own Android app. Moreover, it does not mean that you will hand over your entire mobile app development project to third-party mobile app developer or mobile app development company.
![Android application development](https://appzureblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/banner-android-application.png?w=809)
You can give a great amount of input for making sure that output is exactly the same what you are looking for.
In this post, we will discuss how can you start making Android apps from zero knowledge of programming.
Doing Research
Before starting any new mobile app project, building a new app begins with the research part.
From the creation of goals to choose the platform and version for understanding the market and options for monetizing. Here are some of the questions you should ask yourself before proceeding to design and development of your mobile app:
1. Who is Your Competition?
Before proceeding with anything, you should check the existing market of similar mobile app providers.
Don’t copy the same thing if someone has already done the same thing. Always remember that there are so many apps out there.
This practice is not done to know whether your idea is complete or not, but to learn what works in your favor and what does not.
How can you make it better? Where your competitors are disappointing their customers? What new can you offer to the market?
If you want to create a mobile app which is an extension of an existing service. In that case, competition does not really matter. What you should offer must be an original content for the specific type of audience who knows you and your brand.
2. Who is Your Target Audience?
Due to the lack of face-to-face conversation and sales opportunity in mobile app marketing. Knowing about your target audience is important for success.
However, doing it in a right way is not always easy as it looks.
There are plenty of ways to identify your target audience. Some of the four popular methods are:
- Surveys
- Data on Market Research
- Personas of Audience
- Focus Groups
3. What is Your Budget?
The budget for your mobile app depends on a various number of factors and they are likely to change every year throughout the life of your mobile app.
However, the big budget game changers are:
- Which mobile platform do you use: Native App, Hybrid App, or Web App
- Outsourced or Integrated Development
- Level of functionality required in the app
- Monetizing or Marketing methods used
It’s a good idea to consider each of the above settings before setting your budget.
4. What is Your Deadline?
Like other businesses, there always have to be some workable goals and set of deadlines.
If you are following strict deadlines, then you may require taking some decisions which will help you in reducing your timescale.
The mentioned below are some of the factors which cause a delay in time for mobile app development:
Mobile Vendors
There are many mobile vendors on Android platform which provide the different user experience. Like Samsung uses TouchWiz, HTC uses Sense UI, etc.
Therefore, you must always be ready to create an Android app for different mobile vendors.
Required Level of Functionality
There some functionalities which you might choose to leave on the list of “Nice to Have” and if it is important for you to launch your app on time.
Third Party Integration
Connecting your application to other services can take time. Developers need to learn about third-party APIs and implement them in your app correctly.
Publishing Apps on Play Store
It is a way out of your control. Google Play Store gets instant approval to approve your app for publishing.
Of course, it might also be rejected; This means that you have to go back, improve your app and send back.
It could be a shocker for your expected deadline.
The best way to avoid such delays is to read the specifications and guidelines of Google Play Store very carefully to make sure your app complies with all the rules and regulations.
How to Monetize Your App
Are you earning profits by selling your app, in-app purchases, advertising, app subscription, or some other sources?
The majority of apps uses one of the following four methods:
1. Advertisements
2. Paid Downloads
3. Native Advertising
4. In-app Purchases
You might choose to define the success of your app differently by increasing brand awareness, or a number of mobile app users accessing your content.
Designing Your App
1. Creating Rough Sketch
The first step in designing your mobile app is by putting your ideas on paper.
Here you creating foundations of features for your app and also general look and interface of your app.
You need not worry if you are an artist: it is the simple way to help you and your business team will understand in which direction your app is heading.
2. WireFraming
If you are creating a mobile app from scratch, with all the original features specific to your service, we recommend that you create a “wireframe” of your app.
A wire is a “sketch” from where your ideas come together in a clearer and more detailed view.
Creating a wireframe is now easy thanks to the many available prototyping tools or applications available. POP, Balsamiq, and HotGloo are just some of the popular wireframing apps.
Once you have your wireframe, you can then find app developers and approach them for review based on your designs.
A user interface designer can take your input and improve it, add it and finally design a real and detailed user interface.
3. Storyboarding
While you are creating your wireframes, be sure to plan your storyboard as well.
The idea of a storyboard is to visually show the developer how each screen will change from one screen to the other, and how your users will navigate your app.
For instance, this is particularly useful for home screens: users will navigate from the Home screen, Registration screen, Home screen, and so on.
You can use the same tools you used to create your storyboards to create a storyboard.
Specifying Your Requirements
Once your design for the app is completed, the next step is to write down your needs and requirements for the developer.
A great way to do this is to describe, in the simplest manner, the problem you are trying to solve with your mobile app.
Creating User Stories
To do this, the approach we prefer, especially for agile development is that we create a set of user stories.
User stories are a quite like creating audience characters: you take the perspective of your users and describe the actions they will are able to perform in your app.
In fact, you must use the personas you created in the search phase to help you in creating your user stories.
Try to focus on the task of each of individual they want or need, rather than how they will perform it.
Describe the problem, not the solution.
The classic marketing approach is to think about the role, purpose, and benefit for your user.
Requirement Document
After completing the user stories, you can put together everything in a more detailed requirement document.
With a quick search on Google, you can find many great guides on requirement document.
Developing Your App
When it comes to building your mobile app, you have many options.
At this point, it’s good to come back to some of the questions you asked yourself at the research phase:
What is my actual budget?
What are my deadlines?
What kind of app do I require?
Depending on your answers to these questions, your approach to development will be different.
However, you can usually divide it into two key approaches: custom app development and DIY app developers.
Custom Mobile App Development
If you are creating a mobile app with unique and outstanding features, your only option is custom development.
But be careful: this option can be lengthy and costly on the wallet.
For this kind of work, you can either associate with a design studio or hire freelancers
Freelancers
We can get freelance can be found on various job sites like Linkedin, Monster Jobs, etc.
If you are looking for an experienced freelancer who has experience in Android Studio and Android SDK.
You can expect them to pay between $30-60 per hour for a good and experienced developer.
App Design Studios
App design studios might seem like the best way to get your mobile app developed in the best way. However, you must be ready to pay high-end prices too.
Prices from $15000 to 60000 are normal for app design studios.
If you want to create a native mobile app, multiply the cost of each platform you want to develop an app for.
DIY App Developers
If you are a small business with common requirements for your mobile app, you can use an existing mobile app platform or a mobile app creation service.
It is a quicker and more cost-effective solution.
DIY app-builder services have been there for a while, and are an economical alternative to hiring an agency.
This type of solution may be suitable for a small business that only needs features such as coupons, product catalogs, restaurant reservations, or the similar to it.
Testing Your App
It is a good idea to test your app many times during app development phase, not just once the app is complete.
In this manner, you can communicate about the changes to your mobile app developer while he is working on the app; You can save time and money and a lot of hassle in the long run.
On Android, you can install your app file on any computer system or mobile device and test it in a live environment.
Preparing for App Launch
Now you have developed your amazing new app.
You have rigorously tested it again and again for bugs.
Now it is ready to be launched for the general public.
Here are some of the things to be considered before launching your app smoothly as possible:
1. Checking Regulations for App Store
Google Play Store has its own set of rules and guidelines for app submission.
In order to avoid app rejections and delays, you should make sure that you should prepare yourself by reading guidelines about Google Play Store.
2. Writing Good App Store Description
Your potential customer may like the sound of your app. Whenever they open the app page.
The question is whether they will click on Download button?
The app description is a chance to convince the users that this is the app they are looking for.
Moreover, you should write a description which is both informative and compelling and make sure to include the keyword five times for maximum visibility.
3. Making Most Out of Screenshots
Like your app description, screenshots help in selling your app.
So make them count! Use high-quality screenshots that really show what your app can perform.
Screenshots should not be only static pictures.
Many applications now show description and copying into their images to catch the attention of their target audience.
Conclusion
You will find out that there are so many options for reducing time and costs, especially if you are ready to count on support from an Android app development agency.
The important things to remember are: set your time and budget settings, knowing your audience, and do extensive research on your market before finding your ideal developer.
If you have any query related to mobile app development, feel free contact us. We are a leading mobile application development company in India. Till today, we have completed 500+ projects of mobile app development in India, USA and rest of world. We are acknowledged in the market for our affordable pricing policy, guaranteed SLAs and team of experienced developers.