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From booking flights to shopping for the latest street fashion trends on the H&M appto checking Twitter every two seconds – we cannot go an hour without our mobile phones. Our dependency on our mobile phones and laptops has increased by many folds thanks to the pandemic limiting us within the four walls of our homes.As per a survey conducted in 2020,73% of search clicks came from mobile apps. Even brick-and-mortar companies have thus launched websites and responsive mobile apps. So, you can well imagine the demand for adept mobile app and web developers due to the spurt.
The time is ripe for mobile and web developers to jump on the opportunity and take on it. Now, developing mobile applications and websites is a blend of science and art, where programming languages come in harmony with visual palettes to create something seamless. As a developer, the onus is on you to build something that runs smoothly.
If you wish to create a high-end mobile app or website that is as smooth as butter, you got to learn from what professional developers behind the best apps do. Read along for some expert-approved tips.
9 Tricks for Mobile & Web Developers to Follow Religiously
Here are nine commandments to abide by from the mobile and web developing bible. Take note and surprise your next clients with the best product ever.
1. Say no to irrelevant additives
Did you know that 77% of people uninstall apps or exit a website due to crowded designs? Extraneous additions crowd an app or website with unnecessary things. Remember that the fundamental of a user-friendly app or website is its simplicity.
So as a developer, include only the absolute essentials in your creation. Have clear conversations with your clients about the concept of the app and what they want. Also, assume that the users of the app are not tech-savvy people. Keeping that in mind, aim for simplicity.
2. Use basic layouts
Since web developers create the layouts and code them, a lot about designing a website or an app comes under the orbit of a developer. Try your best to keep things simple for the app designer. One thing to keep in mind, in this case, is that the two tenets of a successful app are efficiency and visual value.
Try to hit the right note by choosing a framework that lets the designers tap the potential of UI/UX. Do not make the mistake of coding a heavy stack of programs. When paired with intricate layout designs, heavy codes will only make the app or the website slower.
3. Focus on the audience
The key to creating a successful mobile app or website is to consider the demography of the users. For example, if the app or website offers medical services, you need to create the layout keeping the aged people in mind since they will be the wider audience. Keep things simple enough for the older people to figure out how to book doc appointments or buy medicines.
If the website or app offers assignment help and academic services, the user base might be Gen-Z. In that case, you can try out features from social media apps. Give them the option of creating folders, customizing their accounts, etc.
4. Pay attention to cross-platform development
The very reason behind developing a mobile app is to create an omni-channel by connecting with different platforms. Most developers limit mobile apps to the Android or iOS framework. Chuck the stereotypes and consider the people still using Windows and Blackberry.
For example, most corporate moguls use Blackberry. Again, when catering to the US audience, build apps and websites that run on Windows well. Considering that 1.8 million people used Windows phones, you surely wouldn’t want to miss out on the huge base of users.
5. Run repetitive tests
Practice makes humans perfect, and the adage becomes more relevant for creators like web and app developers. When it comes to web and mobile app development, the process is a series of trials and A/B testing. So, test what you create as many times as possible.
There are bound to be glitches and bugs which may miss your eyes, but not if you use the trial-and-error method. Run repeated checks to debug and make a website or app more seamless. The more you test, the more mistakes you detect. Check for retention rate, user engagement,average session rate, etc. Detect the heavy-weight features due to which the application is crashing and remove them.
6. Prioritize speed optimization
86% of users uninstall an app or abandon a website midway if it takes more than 5 seconds to load. Yes, 5 SECONDS!! People today are THAT impatient. Considering how our attention spans become lesser than a spoon, it is vital to keep a check of the average session time of an app or website.
The lesser time a website or an app takes to load, the better your chances of success as a developer. Chuck out all the unnecessary features and keep it as lightweight as possible. With speed optimization done right, the rate of user engagement is bound to shoot up.
7. Capitalize on the touch interface
One of the main reasons why apps fail is the poor touch-screen factor. You need to understand that the touch factor is what differentials mobile app and website versions. Therefore, you need to strive to bridge the gap between a touch-based interface and a mouse-based interface.
Unless you want an under-performing app with limited design aesthetics, focus on the touch feature. If you want the app and website to reach out to the maximum number of users, build a responsive website or mobile app that responds to touch equally well as it does to clicks.
8. Avoid animation in the intro
Other humans dread being friend-zoned, and every capable developer dreads the buffer-zone. Be honest – don’t you hate the circling ring of buffering? Understand how someone would feel when a cab service app takes all the time to launch, and the person has to reach office in a few minutes.
Do not infest an app or website with too much animation, at least not at the cost of speed. If you want to make the launch interesting, use light intro animation that is easy on the eyes. Also, make sure to fix the bugs to make the transition as smooth as possible.
9. Take constant feedback
Any creation needs feedback, and constructive criticism is what professional mobile app and web developers thrive on. Keep in mind that the product you design is for general users. So, try to rope in unbiased users and ask them what they feel about the app.
Reiterate with your client and team heads about the app’s development and learn from their complaints and problems. Multiple iterations while developing parts of a website or an app will eventually save you a lot of time.
Endnote,
The eCommerce world rests on seamless websites and apps. So, this is the time to brush up on your developing skills and use them to build the perfect solutions. Use these tips shared by professionals, steer clear from making rookie mistakes, and eventually, you will design an app or a responsive website that clicks all the right boxes.
So, what are you waiting for? Break a leg and take your best shot at it.
Author – Kerry Brown is a mobile app and web developer who also guest lectures in several IT colleges in the US. She is also associated with the assignment help brand MyAssignmenthelp.com as a mentor. Besides being a gizmo freak, she is passionate about traveling too.
