Category: How To

How To Make a Social Media App?

Posted on by Super Admin Testreveal

Social media is incessant and infinite in its strength and éclat, making for massively promising domain not just for users but also for elite business entities. With social media platforms dominating the world of marketing and advertising, business wanting to capture ample audience can see it as a lucrative opportunity.

Of course, the competition in this market is simmering with a few jubilant players. But as technology evolves, the new creative social app development ideas are getting big attention.

Before embarking on the social media app development project, expertise in mobile device is must. If you are planning to break into the social market through a dedicated mobile app, you must realize that the major cost falls on the shoulder of backend developers, and that challenges for making it from scratch are high. Therefore, you require great deal of resources and talent to make it work.

Here is how you can give it a jump start:

Main ingredients of social media app

1. Integration with existing social media

The power of true user experience often stems from enabling users to explore the full-fledged interaction. Since they already are a member of a few other famous social platforms, they expect your app to provide them with a button to stay connected with those profiles. Your app can allow them to login to the app using existing social accounts.

2. Sharing expressions

Users want to set a stage of expression on your social app to flaunt their unique creative ability. Your social media app must contain features that empowers users to share their life stories and experiences along through personalized profiles, videos, backgrounds and customized pictures. Take examples of YouTube, Instagram, Flickr, Vimeo, Snapchat, etc.

3. Creating a network

Being able to connect with distant friends and increasing the number of followers make the platform more desirable for users. Like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, social app developers must create a system that lets members to invite new friends.

Read Also : 24 Best Social Media Apps 2021

Smart networking system can help build communication between people. LinkedIn provides professional networking opportunity whereas Tinder, Badoo and Grindr enables personal and dating services

4. Reviews

Social media app doesn’t necessarily need to be confined to mean just social. Since users leave great loads of data, users can take advantage of this information to make purchasing decisions just like Yelp.

The app can know users’ geolocation and let them leave comment and suggestions about interesting brands or local businesses.

5. Newsfeed

Content is what attracts people to decide and subscribe to services. Social network apps run on influential content.

Through expressions, status, video, photos and audio sharing, users generate colossal amount of content in order to display their opinions and be heard.

Therefore, iOS and Android app should contain news feed very typical of quintessential social apps.

6. Community forums

Community forums and discussions like Quora, Disqus and Reddit are fundamental to social apps. Such knowledge sharing can form the basic mechanism of powerful social interactions within the app.

7. Publishing platforms

Blogging and microblogging platforms make for social media services users capitalize to publish creative text and media content. Examples of such apps are Medium, Your Story and Tumblr.

8. Interest-focused networks

Interest-based media creates a powerful community of like-minded people who share similar interests. A media app this genre creates tremendous appeal by bringing together individuals of common tastes. Goodreads is for literature lovers, for example, and Last.fm and Spotify are for music fanatics.

Read also : How To Create an App like Instagram?

9. Private Chat conversations

Having a built-in service of private communication increase ROI for social networking app as it inspire users to resort to your app more often to connect with their friends and followers.

This means users will spend more time in your app.

Creating a  Social Media App

To build such an ambitious social networking app, you should ask developers to first create an MVP for the app. MVP contains core features and functionality that let you test its performance while saving on investment and time.

After acquiring good buzz, you can scale it up to add more features andUI/UX elements. To keep the app’s performance up and healthy, you need powerful architecture built of:

1. Backend

This is a backbone of your mobile app that handles intense rush of http requests as a result of numerous user actions happening within your app.

Node.js, .NET, Xamarin are a few great options to pick for building a mighty, high-performance and scalable networking app backend.

2. Database

MySQL databases along with SQLite or NoSQL are amongst the most preferable database tech for social networking apps as it swimmingly takes over dynamic contents.

3. Hosting

To handle constantly fluctuating traffic to your app and on-demand uploads along with likes and shares and other stress, you need a reliable hosting service plan. AWS is a competitive and widely used option with superior adaptive capability and scalability.

Read also : How much does it Cost to Create an App like Instagram?

4. 3rd Party APIs

Integration of3rd party APIs is the convenient option for mobile app developers as it reduces the efforts needed to build every single part of your social app and enables certain readymade solutions.

APIs can be integrated for solutions like payments, push notification, geolocation and other sensor-based indicators.

Basic steps of developing social media app

You should follow these critical steps for a creating successful social media app:

1) Target audience

In this phase, the idea is analyzed and studied to understand the requirements and map out the target audience. The first step to creating a successful social app is to identify the user needs and challenges they face.

In the end, project analysts can derive KPIs to be achieved in a social media niche. Developers now have a substantial choice of using a ready framework designed to create custom social apps with excellent user experience.

2) Calculating realistic estimates

Once determining the target audience, it is time to build a strategy and calculate realistic budget estimates. If your wish is to create highly engaging and technically immaculate social networking app, as an entrepreneur you should consider investing wisely. Too limited budget can’t produce the app you desire.

The cost estimate depends on the platform you choose, and iOS could be a great option to first develop an app. Then you can opt for Android platform later. Though it is hard to estimate traffic volume, it is essential to prepare database for end users.

3) Design considerations

The social networking design strategy starts with a basic outline and a rough sketch that includes expansive logic, screens to target and layout.

Then comes preparing a good wire frame which is important to development team as they begin to conceive a skeleton and structural view of the app.

Read also : How To Create Video Chat Apps

The next step is to create a prototype that represents a working model of the app and gives detailed understanding of what it is going to be. You can make changes to prototype idea before developers start writing the app.

This is followed by the design of app skin where app wire frame is used to create a solid design.

4) Development & QA testing

Due to rising development process technologies such as DevOps, design, development and QA testing phases are often synchronized and combined to run in perfect symphony.

After prototyping step, developers consider all technical requirements to start sculpting its backend architecture and implement servers, database, APIs and more.

Engineers focus on all the latest guidelines and platform terms for native iOS and Android app development to deliver brilliant performance.

During and post development, testers leverage manual and automated testing and cover extensive use cases to ensure the app is bug-free and well-programmed and has its expected UX standard.

5) Publish, Market and Promote

After everything is checked and tested, the app is deployed. Your app development partner will help you publish the app on popular online stores and create a comprehensive marketing strategy to evangelize the app.

The marketing team will optimize the app marketing with description content and video guides so that businesses can save time on making the app stand out at Google Play or the Apple Store market as well as on popular social media platforms.

Read more : How To Create A Chat App Successfully

Make sure you communicate your concerns about what all are included in your project contract. Some companies separate the cost of development from the fees reserved for marketing and promotion activities.

Also, to achieve better audience, it is advisable to start marketing the app 3-4 months before the app is ready to publish.

Conclusion

Social media app development is not as straight as it seems. The process is rife with many challenges and brainstorming.

Only a veteran mobile app development company with extensive experience, rugged resources and competitive talents can help you build a successful social networking app and fulfill your business goals. They know what technologies best align with your business objective and help create fascinating features.

How To Create an Ecommerce Mobile App?

Posted on by Super Admin Testreveal

In this present era, e-commerce business has totally transformed the Internet into an enormous marketplace where new emerging start-up companies can grab an auspicious opportunity to market and sell their products. The main purpose of e-commerce mobile apps is to offer a positive buying experience to their users to gain customer loyalty and increase rapid revenue channels.

marketplace app cost

Though e-commerce business is fully dependent on website and mobile, users who are digitally literate nowadays prefer online shopping using  mobile apps rather than website. This is the prime reason why every business, new or established, should look to having an e-commerce mobile app for acquiring significant growth in less time.

Read Also: How Much Does It Cost To Create A Shopping Website

So, here we are going to discuss the must-haves that are required for the success of developing an e-commerce mobile app:

1) Thorough Market Analysis

At the core of the success of any ecommerce mobile app lays the depth of research and analysis of market and customer behavior pattern. Long before you start developing an app, you must first start with determining the buyer persona for your business in order to make it relatable.

Infact, try to be through the market trends about ecommerce mobile app development and know the people who are likely to be your customers. After all, it is your target audience that will measure the performance and the content of your app.

2) Select the Right Technology

The technology you select can make or break the future business scope of your ecommerce app. Consider the elements of budget, popularity, available resources as top source. Even go for recommendations from developers to choose the right CMS, Framework and database system along with the programming languages for the back-end and front-end coding.

Based on the device, you can also develop Hybrid apps that function across available platforms (iOS and Android) saving you good amount of time later for marketing.

3) Uncomplicated Design

The design of the e-commerce store will determine the behaviour and perception of the buyers. The app interface should be easy to understand as the users have an attention span of less than 8 seconds. The creation of complicated designs should be avoided and the user interface should be simple in nature as this will enhance the user experience.

The shape and symbol of the app icon should be unique in nature so that it easily recognised by the users. Also, the name of the app should be short according to the rule of user interface.

4) Catchy images

According to studies, visual information is normally processed 60,000 times faster than text by the users. So it is essential to provide appealing images for the communication of the brand as well as the product.

Read more : How To Make Ecommerce Website Like Amazon

Image-based search options is also another option that can be incorporated to the app as users with language difference will have no issues during product searching. For an improved user experience, the app designers must choose the catchy themes or colours during the development of the app.

5) Security

Security can be considered as a vital part during the development of the e-commerce mobile app. This is mainly because a lot of personal information is asked to the users like details of bank account, info of credit/debit card, address, etc.

The security should be checked during every step of the development for avoiding any kind of loophole. For this encryption and authentication technology can be used which can protect the app code and the entire process.

6) Simple Navigation

The screen size and the content should always be considered during the development of the e-commerce mobile app as the screens of mobile phone have limited space. Therefore, the content should be made readable and clear.

The navigation should be responsive and flawless so that it can automatically fit into any resolution and screen size. It should also be simple and user friendly so that the products or brands are displayed to the users in a very remarkable manner. Due to this a responsive design should be chosen that can automatically fit into any resolution and screen size.

7) Multiple Payment Options

You must consider carefully all the possible scenarios where customers need a little more from you to give you a positive sale. If a customer encounters an issue with payment options, you will miss out on a big potential buyer. When you have customers who have their items put in the cart, your app must direct them towards all the available options for making quick transactions.

ecommerce industry insights & competitor analysis

In order to keep that customer shopping from your ecommerce app, integrate the widely preferred payment methods in your app. Apart from credit card, debit card, net banking, and e-Wallets, you can also nudge them gently to use your app’s in-built wallet sometimes.

8) Social Media Integration

The social media sites should be integrated in the e-commerce mobile app as this will allow the users to connect directly with your app using their social media profile without having to register to make an account. Basically, users dislike the registration process and therefore they should be given the option to connect directly making the process easier.

With the help of social media, the users can share their shopping experience and this will eventually boost the reputation of your business by gaining a good amount of followers. Due to its validated reputation, social media integration can also helps your business achieve fair credibility, visibility and exposure among the target customers.

9) Push Notifications

Push notification is a vital feature that should be added during the creation of an e-commerce mobile app as this can get customers to dedicate attention to your business. It is with the help of push notifications that the customer engagement is improved as this keeps them informed – and interested – about the discounts, new attractions, coupons, offers and promotions which attracts them for more.

Read more : 24 Best Online Shopping Apps

Moreover, the meaningful push messages, improve profit making via up selling and cross selling. The push messages with various offers should appear on user’s device screen without opening the app.

10) Wishlist

Customers choose to drop the items to a wish list for many reasons. May be to compare the prices or specifications with those offered by other ecommerce apps, or because they head towards the end of the month, waiting for salary that is still a week away.

Somehow at times, people might not be willing to lose what they have discovered on your app and seek a system of saving it in your app with intent to buy it later. So, wish list is one of the best way to offer customers a window of wait time and retain sales by allowing them to save products they wish to buy later.

11) Easy Checkout

Checkout process is the critical step to avoid the disaster of cart abandonment. The level of speed, clarity and simplicity offered by the checkout pages can determine the final action of customers. Give users multiple options of transactions. The best alternative should be an inbuilt mobile wallet system that will automatically smoothen up the process.

Give customers a glimpse of add-on products that are similar to what they are looking to . Be clear about hidden shipping costs and the length of the process. Build the page in such a way that customers won’t need to fill the details every time they visit the store.

12) Post-Development Exercises

The creation of the successful e-commerce app should not stop after its release. In fact, you should be more active about making your app noticeable and visible by continuously marketing it on many social portals as well as via emails.

Read more : How To Create a Marketplace Mobile App?

Also, to provide the users with a delightful experience, make sure you constantly update the app with frequent improvements and innovations since customers have whimsical mindset to switch to another app that has more enhanced user-friendly attitude.

Conclusion

Success in the arena of e-commerce is not a facilegoal; however, using the right tools, techniques and developers, one can generate a good amount of revenue through creating an e-commerce mobile app. Offering a unique user experience in their app helps ecommerce companies carve a brand of online shopping.

Remember that the apps that connect the best with shoppers are the ones where users are the central part of the ecommerce app development. Keep customers in your stride and you will develop the best loved app in the marketplace.

How To Use Google Play Instant Apps Without Installation?

Posted on by Super Admin Testreveal

The first ripple of Google play introducing a stunning new feature of Android instant apps was first heard at Google I/O 2016.The peculiarly interesting aspect of these apps is that instant apps allow users to access them in their cloud version on their Android phone. If your phone supports the feature, the app in the Play store will show “Try it now” button if it is compatible with Instant apps type. If so, Android users can start using them without having to actually install it on their device.

The feature is said to not only help users reserve time and efforts, but it will help brands to display users a brief informative demo on what a full version of their app consists before installing it. Google has finally rolled out instant apps to limited number of users who will have compatible devices. These apps are available for Android 7.1.x and later versions.

Here is what you need to know if wish to use Google Play Instant apps without a compulsion to install them.

What are Instant apps exactly?

As Google’s Instant apps hit the store, we expect an all-new innovation creating its wave in Android app market, a revolutionary step towards changing the apps are used. Instant Apps are here to exhibit a brand new evolution for native apps, adding new power, speed and ease for even smarter user experience.

They look as good and normal as those apps already installed on your device and operate similarly. The only difference is that it does not require users to download it using their data. They don’t live on your phone but affords a browsing experience as if exploring a web page.

Recently, these unique apps have found their way to Play Store for public use starting with a few selected apps and games as a part of initial rollout. The strategy is likely to expand to include more Android apps in near future.

Determine accessibility to Instant apps

Instant apps are extending its support and rolling out to a number of additional users recently. However, to check if your Android device has access to Instant apps, you will have to follow certain instructions that involves exploring your phone’s inherent settings menu. The process starts with enabling Instant Apps on your device, which involves the following steps:

  • Open your phone’s Settings menu.
  • Find and tap Google under the Personal category.
  • Under the Services category, select Instant Apps.
  • Tap On the toggle on the top right.
  • Read the instructions and then tap Yes.

Upon completing this essential steps, you can consider finding and using Instant Apps available in Google Play store.

The list of supported apps at the moment

Google is planning to add more apps to this category. However, for now the number of supported apps is lean. The handful of them are:

It is possible that some of them might not support Instant app structure just now, but it is definite that you will be able to access all of them in coming days.

How to discover and use Google Play Instant apps?

In order to search, find and use Android Instant Apps in Google Play, follow the steps below:

  • Use your device to initiate the Google search for one of the supported apps mentioned in the list
  • Select apps that are marked by the word Instant
  • Tap Open app

Once the Instant App you have selected is fully loaded, you can start using it like other Android apps already downloaded in your phone. Wish allows you to access your account, browse products and place the order without being compelled to install the app on your phone.

Also Read : 24 Best Online Shopping Apps

You can view google Play store listing and tap the overflow menu button and then choose View on Google Play.

Though it may sound a little out-of-the-blue due to its distinguished approach, the process overall is quite seamless and easy practically as soon as the Instant Apps toggle is enabled on your device. Soon the wait for Instant app feature will be over and users will be able to make the most out of it.

What to expect from Instant apps, and what not to?

Here is what users are likely to experience when it comes to expectations from Instant Apps.

1) Capabilities and availability

As long as limitations go, practically Instant apps will not place any limitations in its capabilities as developers can build Account signup, videos, options just as seen inside regular app.

However, Instant apps have a unique purpose and target which is to facilitate the luxury of allowing users to view aselected features of the app at times, a set of features that significantly matters to users. The rest of the app portion is likely to remain locked and hidden, prompting users to download the full version for mature experience.

2) User’s Constraints

This is a tentative point in terms of enabling offline availability of Instant apps. Like experienced in PWA (Progressive Web Apps), Instant apps may work offline. However, some features will work only when internet connection is established.

3) Device-specific accessibility

Google is committed to giving Instant apps support to Android devices having Jelly Bean onwards. It is possible, however, that certain phone models may not have capability enough to support its accessibility.

4) Identifying an Instant App

Usually, users will find it difficult to differ Instant apps from other ones installed on their phone. You will barely realize that you are using such app as they offer the same experience as regular app. However, you can identify it by viewing a link to download the full app at the top of the screen.

You can even see a history of the Instant apps you have recently explored by choosing the Instant Apps tab in your Google Account settings,

What is the best way to find an Instant App?

Finding an Instant app may turn out to be pretty tedious at present as the process follows a random path unless you are sure what you want to search in Google play for. Someone can share a link that leads to an Instant app or do Google search for accessing it. For instance, you may type the app name in Chrome browser on your Android phone and follow the result with “instant” displayed next to it. Open the link to land on the app and use its features.

Also Read : 24 Best Android Apps in 2021

Inside the play store, you can easily spot the app with the Instant App Try Now button. Tap it and you will have the app running on your Android device.

Conclusion

Hitting furiously as a big surprise, Instant apps presumably are the next huge wave in the Android app market. The innovation of this appears intriguing and compelling and is thought to possess a lot of potential to revolutionize the way we leverage and interact with mobile apps.

Ecommerce apps and news reading apps have immense benefits to gain if Google starts extending its support for many other apps.

How To Create an App like Instagram?

Posted on by Super Admin Testreveal

The art of photography has evolved in recent times especially due to intrusion of digital technology. It has become a common part of social life, becoming more affordable than it was earlier. With the advent of image sharing apps like Instagram and Flickr, the socio-cultural sphere observed a fundamental shift in photography culture, which ultimately engendered a whole new cult of photo sharers.

Mobile technology has replaced the expensive high-quality professional camera, enabling the common populace to use their smartphone to capture and instantly share photos with their friends.

Social Media App cost

Thanks to social apps like Instagram that pioneered the new trend among active social media users. Instagram has more than 400 million users who post 80 million pictures on a daily basis. Created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger in 2010, Instagram is the kind of app many startup entrepreneurs attempt to clone and develop.

So how would you approach the idea of developing an app just like Instagram? Here is what you must consider.

Essential Components of Instagram Clone App

If you are determined to finally create a mobile app that will satisfy the photo editing and sharing needs of users and compete with Instagram, then you must think over all the essential components and interactive features that users usually seek.

  • Authorization: Users can create a new profile through a sign up process with their email or social accounts
  • Profile Editing: Add, delete or edit personal details
  • Activity log: User explore the activity log section to check their recent activities and actions within the app. Likes, comments and sharing of photos, follow, unfollow, other users’ post and activities on your page.
  • Post pictures: Upload and share photos, tag or mention other people, and what it is about with a personal expression or hashtags
  • Timeline: Users can view a brief of profile, followers, feed and tags
  • Customization: Users can make changes to uploaded photos; crop, rotate, filter and enhance
  • Social features: Enables ability to share posts, chat, invite or send request to contacts
  • Geo-location: The app detects users’ location data through pictures captured using the app
  • Messenger: Send messages, text and media files to your followers and friends
  • Settings: Users are able to change or see the exiting social account settings
  • Banners and captions: Users can additionally make banners out of photos using supporting captions
  • Push-notifications: Users will be notified via push message alerts to explore new updates or engage with more exciting stuff inside the app
  • Search: Advanced search engine can help find new people using username, hashtags or post description

Design

Without having a great design aesthetics, users will not feel attracted enough to use your app. Hence, consider the idea of building a simple yet dazzling app interface.

Instagram offers simple, elegant and easy-to-use interface that has stunned millions of users across the world. So, employ a creative UI/UX designer to address the need to build robust and interactive design elements using simple and elegant graphics, icons combined with beautiful colors.

Read also : 24 Best Social Media Apps 2021

The Key Factors To Consider During App Development

While creating a clone of Instagram app, you will not only require some attractive features but also a complete understanding of how to beat the rivals and make it unique and outstanding in the relevant market. Your first goal is to acquire good number of users with an appealing value proposition for users and a set of fresh ideas.

Listed here are a few key indicators that will help you create loyal customers and a superior brand.

1. User Acquisition

User acquisition may add expenses to your capital investment. Done right, the strategic actions performed to attract users will eventually generate loyal traffic. Using powerful analytics, you will be able to monitor the statistics on new and lost users and what it is that grows user base.

Referral programs for affiliate marketing will have users share and invite new friends in return for a specific reward. Design special features or filters to give away to users who leave constructive feedback and refer more new users.

Marketing your app on social media by making social members talk about the product is another effective way to capture more audience. Create social pages, campaigns and employ media marketing influencers to do the job 3-4 months before the launch.

2. User Engagement

User engagement is all about making people read and notice your media activities and spend more time and opinions in your app. Keep an eye on user’s involvement through their daily activities.

Integrate different social functions within your app to allow users to share and comment on the posts. Create features like friends, groups, channels, special feeds, live stories, etc.

To engage further, you must hire skilled developers who can work on creative editing tools that provide users additional power to do more with photos. This is what has made Instagram achieve a great boost in overall engagement.

3. User Retention

Once engaged, users must keep coming back to your app for consistent growth. For this to happen, make sure you adopt best user retention strategy.

If a user has not visited your app in a while, notify them gently by sending a meaningful, less obtrusive push notifications to draw their attention to interesting bits in your app. Try to be in trends for much of your user base would be young audience who are fond of digital life.

Retention also depends on how often you consider and implement on users’ feedback since it goes to indicate that you truly care about user experience and can empathize with their concerns.

4. Personalization

With apps like Instagram and Flicker already ruling the digital photo sharing socials, you need something that helps you create a hot wave. Having personalized elements can be a winning approach due to its ability to make your app competitive.

Users crave features that allows them to design their homepage and menus the way they desire. For example, Twitter facilitates changing the color combination for all the users to make the experience more enjoyable and personalized. Facebook, on the other hand, makes sure users can try various backgrounds for sharing their post.

Domain Similar App How To How Much Our Price
Food Delivery Instagram Create an app like instagram Instagram app cost View price

Monetization

Your mobile app business needs tangible return. In fact, this is the promise with which developers build a feature-rich Instagram clone. You can try multiple methods and approaches to monetize your app and generate consistent revenue stream.

1. In-app s:

This is the most common approach found in many of today’s social apps. Create unique tools and filters and special effects using your creative imagination to give users a memorable experience on smallest price.

2. Advertising:

Like famous social media apps (Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter), your app can also display ads to promote businesses that pay you certain amount in return.

3. Special offers:

For loyal and active users, it is a great gesture to weave unique offers and special deals to make more profit.

Testing

After incorporating all the essential mobile app development steps, it is now time to head for testing the application.

The purpose of testing is to bring the best possible quality of your app by eliminating the smallest of bugs that may spoil user’s time with your app. Also, make sure users can operate your Instagram-like app on all popular devices.

Deployment

Post testing phase comes the final phase called App deployment. At this moment, the developers who have created a high-quality, flawless Instagram clone app will deploy your app with photo and video sharing capabilities on a server and also in the App Stores so that users can easily discover and access it.

Summarizing App Development Strategy

  • Research and analyze the market for clarity and inspiration
  • Find investors to kick-start your project
  • Collaborate with competent developers or hire a reputed app development company
  • Design and develop an MVP of the product
  • Add unique features and functionality
  • Test the final product to ensure the highest quality
  • Expand your app marketing strategy and spread the word months before the launch

How To Create an App like Instagram?- ad banner

Conclusion

Instagram is an unrivalled leader dominating the world of picture sharing. So before you get your hands on creating an app like Instagram, delve deep into the relevant market nerve to discover what works and what needs be avoided.

Keep an eye on your rivals to recognize current trends. As apps of this kind also work as a marketing tool for users, your Instagram alternative should be scalable to incorporate future improvements and engaging updates.

How To Create a GPS Tracking Application?

Posted on by Super Admin Testreveal

With GPS or Global Positioning System, the method of tracking has got to be easier where you can easily find where something is.

Of course, even now there are people who still give such broken directions, most of the times, we just prefer to send them our location pin that shows where we are exactly standing. And that is the beauty of GPS tracking.

To find a specific place, we certainly don’t require a road map or to ask unknown people for directions. Our smartphones have all the capabilities to guide us toward the particular place we want and tell the exact place that we are looking — A nearby drug store, restaurant, etc. For businesses, location-based tracking services provide a comprehensive suite of opportunities also — Right from improved customer services to detailed marketing and greater in-store traffic.

Now, before we start getting deeper into the technical stuff, there is another essential question that you have to ask yourself: What do we have to build a GPS tracking app at all?

What is the purpose of your GPS Tracking application?

The main purpose of a location tracking app is to get information about the person’s current place and pinpoint the exact position. However, this information and functionalities can be utilized in multiple ways across industries and here are some of the instances for your understanding:

  • GPS location tracking can be combined with time tracking to determine your remote employees’ efficiency and performance. Also, it’s up to you if you want to integrate automatic reporting and payment depending on the extra time they did. That’s it. You now have an effective and robust employee management tool.
  • Location tracking is frequently utilized to streamline fleet management operations. Users can offer their drivers with mapping and routing functionalities and through the app, produce reports and forward warnings if there is any emergency scenario. In situations like these, a GPS tracking app completely rules out the requirement to buy and download GPS handheld electronics.
  • You can create a GPS tracker application for outdoor and sports enthusiasts so that they can organize their everyday routes, get statements on the distance, and ensure never left behind.

User Privacy — Important Concern

Many times, users find that the rate of access to their location data surprising and feel like they are being followed by their own smartphone.

Read also : Best GPS Location-Based Games On iOS and Android 2018

Also, a study by Pew Research Center says that in most of the situations, people feel completely normal regarding giving their personal information against some personalized deals or any other tangible benefits and on the other side there are scenarios where such close monitoring becomes too intimidating.

  • Almost 45 percent of participants said that it is highly unacceptable for insurance companies to provide them surveilling their driving practices and provide deals or discounts for safe driving.
  • More than 50 percent felt uncertain about social media networking applications which collect their exact location and other related info and utilize it to send them personalized ads or even trade it with 3rd-parties.
  • 55 percent participants said that they never even think of installing s “Smart thermostat” as it would pursue their in-house actions and make its own temperature changes/modifications to minimize the electricity bill.

If you indeed want to build a GPS tracking application then ensure that your location-based functionalities really offers some great benefits for your customers. Put your theories to test with your customer pool clearly and tell them why they should choose to share their locations with you.

Know How Mobile Location is Received

Now, how to develop GPS tracking apps which are exact enough? Let us take a detailed look at what affects the quality of data in this scenario:

  • Users’ actions and the frequency of re-evaluations have to be conducted as and when the user changes his or her position.
  • Multitude of location references.
  • Wi-Fi, Cell-ID, Network data, and GPS can provide data on users’ location. But depending on just either of the choices can be a bit difficult as they each have their own speed, exactitude, and battery efficiency.

The last two can result in unfolding prevalence of assisted GPS — A method which utilizes both GPS and network data to receive location data. Google Maps and some other map apps usually utilize this style and recommend to connect your device to the network for an enhanced positioning.

Another concern for this GPS tracking application development is that location data received 10 seconds past from one channel could be more exact than the present location received from another channel. Such stabilization might be needed to obtain accurate information.

APIs for Location-based Services

If your GPS app customers are iOS users, then you need to compare the Core Location Framework and related APIs before you start doing anything else. This will let you identify the user’s status and direction, design, and plan the delivery of place and managing events, create a geofence if it is required and make sure the application works with iBecaons.

Thinking about a GPS application for Android users? Well, in this case, elements are a little less easy since there are two distinct approaches to receive the users’ location on this platform:

  • Utilizing Google Play services location APIs
  • Utilizing Android framework location APIs

The below are a couple of tips for app developers to take into consideration:

Android Location API

This earlier released API utilizes 3 separate providers to receive user’s position data:

  • LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER identifies location utilizing satellites and takes some time to deliver the information.
  • LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER identifies location depending on the reachability of a cell reception tower and Wi-Fi access networks.
  • LocationManager.PASSIVE_PROVIDER returns location produced by different providers. You indirectly obtain locations’ updates when rest apps or services ask them without having to request the location yourself.

Google Play Services Location APIs

How To Create a GPS Tracking Application?-ad banner

Nowwadays, Google is actively promoting thischoice as a robust, less-battery consumption solution and dynamic solution for identifying user’s location. It is a component of Google Play Services APK and is developed on best Android’s APIs.

The provider automatically chooses which location channel to utilize depending on the efficiency and battery utilization and lets set up more cutting-edge features such as geofencing.

Read also : 24 Best GPS Tracking Apps For Android in 2021

How To Develop An App Like Viber For Android?

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In 2015 only, nearly 75% of mobile users preferred to use instant messaging apps for quick communication. Because of this, the soaring demand to create a chat app has emerged. One such app that has enhanced the quality of interpersonal communication is Viber. Used by people from all walks of life, Viber is a social networking phenomenon and has amazing features which has made it one of the most celebrated chat apps in the world.

communication app cost

Many businesses and companies crave apps like Viber in order to deliver messages conveniently, without any time delay. People who loved Viber want more of such sophisticated experience in their daily life to make their personal conversations more delightful and spontaneous. Since the launch of Viber, the technology to create a chat app for Android users has improved in many ways.

Viber’s History of Making

In later days of 2010, Viber was first launched for iPhone, as competition for Skype. Founded by four Israeli partners (Talmon Marco, Igor Megzinik, Sani Maroli and Ofer Smocha), as a part of an Android app development project, the first Android version of Viber was released in May 2011. This was the restricted version, though, with a limited group of users. After receiving the positive response, Viber was then launched for Blackberry and Windows phone in mid 2012. In July, 2012, the first ever unrestricted version was out.

The Success Factors of Viber: Features and Functionality

Viber’s functionality varies depending on the platform where it is installed. Upon installing, it asks to make a user account where phone number is a username. After the installation process, Viber interacts with phone’s local address book, creating a synchronized organization of contacts.

Viber doesn’t require users to log in to the app to communicate through messages, images or voice calls over 3G/4G and Wi-Fi networks. The software works across various popular mobile and desktop platforms, including Mac OS and Microsoft Windows. The software also supports as many as 30 languages.

Developing apps like Viber for Android

The need for real time communication has inspired the growth of Android app development for Android users. Any chat application must be enriched with stunning features to ensure intuitive messaging and sharing experience. Ever since Viber’s launch, technologies have transformed a lot and now enables spontaneous conversations as expected by today’s users.

As more and more creative updates are introduced in chat apps, it is possible for developers to develop similar apps that improve chat communication standards every time. Each app that ends up in app store has unique attributes and personalized architecture made to amaze its users.

Technologies for Instant Messaging Apps

ERLANG:

It is the superiors programming language used by many high-rated real-time chat apps (Whatsapp, Wechat, etc). It is a general purpose language that enables Android app development for instant messaging apps with great usability and intuitive user experience.

Cassandra:

It is the best easily available chat app creator with reliable scalability. One can replicate multiple datacentres using it and it provides ease to restrict local data outage instances.

Amazon Simple Storage Service:

Amazon cloud storage instils true power to real-time instant messaging apps. Amazon S3 offers secure and scalable cloud storage for data objects and makes the app accessible from everywhere.

Ideal Features of Most Desirable Chat App

The success mantra behind real-time instant chat app lies in its ability to serve users something they desire or something they never really expected. Touching the right sentiment and creating a finest appeal of chat communication is what makes such apps special among users. To create a chat app like Viber, one must make sure it will not just be about serving the purpose of text messages since these users have mature tastes and love surprises in form of unforeseen features and unique approach.

Some of the ideal traits that can make your chat app perform best would be:

Connectivity:

Real-time chat app is the most preferable communication option among today’s folks because of its prompt message delivery. Therefore the app must offer instant connectivity for users.

Quality conversations:

One-on-one and group conversations must be enabled in any modern instant messaging app. The group talk should have the capability to offer quality conversations and convenience to share documents, multimedia files, location details, audio message, and contacts.

Security standards:

Android app development team must focus on providing high security in chat application so that users can rely on the app without having concerns about losing their privacy or data to any third party.

Voice and video calling:

Viber, WhatsApp and Skype lets users avail voice calling services; skype had video calling since the beginning. Team video/voice call, conference talk are some of the features that set business standards in the app and enhance communication experience, making it scalable and more usable.

Presence and availability:

The chat must be laced with clear presence indicators, which is the requirement for any instant communication chat. The different presence status that signal the availability of users are: Online, offline, away, On Break, Busy, In meeting, Be back in, etc.

Search options:

The presence of search functionality enables users to look for conversations of recent past. It gives easy access to specific contacts or their conversations based on shared numbers and facts.

Favourite list:

To create a chat app means giving the users power to do more. By adding an option of gathering friends in favourite list, users can enjoy even more personalized experience.

Profile:

this is the most prominent feature of any instant chat app as it allows users to create their virtual profile with personal details, image and an elaborate stylish status.

Conclusion:

When it comes to creating an instant messaging chat app like Viber, the ideas can be endless. You can do as much as you think in your app. You can find the best Android app development team that understands the concept of developing a real-time chat app thoroughly and have proven experience in the area. It can be a business purpose app or an app that is intended for personal/social conversations with elaborate features and high-quality functionality. You can also make it a fusion of both. No matter what your approach is, the app must turn out to be an intuitive experience for users and engage them in fastest and most personalized communication ever.

How To Create a Hybrid App With Android Studio?

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As the need for Android devices are increasing day-by-day, the demand for apps will only increase. Unlike Android apps, hybrid apps are like any other app on your phone. Hybrid apps are built with a combination of web technologies like HTTML, CSS and JavaScript. The key difference between the two is that hybrid apps and built inside the native app that utilizes the mobile platform.

Android Studio is a free and easy to use integrated development environment.. After using this steps to create hybrid apps using Android Studio, we are sure you will have a good hobby or even a promising career as an app developer.

The main requirement for this is a native shell to hold the app. In other words, you need to use web view in Android. Web view allows you to display web pages as an activity layout.

Step 1: Design your Application:

Before you commit to an approach, it is advisable to make sure you have all the requirements ready so that it can meet these requirements.

For example, if you are creating a pure HTML5 mobile application, then you have access to only those features that are available to the browser.

Also, ensure you have the Pre-requisite: – Cordova CLI and the Android SDK tools, ready. For installing Cordova CLI, you first need to install Node.js version 0.10+.

Next run the following command to install the Cordova CLI:

sumo npm install -g cordova

Next, install the Android SDK tools from

Step 2 – HTML5 Mobile Framework Application

The foundation stone for building an HTML5 mobile application is the HTML5 mobile frameworks. While using jQuery on a website, it allows you to easily create animations, show and hide things, and so on.

Finally, get to adding your website. Edit your index.html page for content.

Step 3 -Testing Application through Browser

The best thing about an HTML5 framework is that, you can test it directly through your local server browser. You will be able to access your application through a local web server by going to:

If you are using the Chrome DevTools, you can even imitate the view by clicking the mobile icon in the top left corner of the screen. From here, you can debug your application to your content using the Console, Network, Time-line etc.

Step 4- Package your Application

Using third party applications like PhoneGap and Xamarin, you can package your application in a native wrapper which act as a bridge between your app and the native API’s.

Third party application loads your app in the web view, which in turn displays your application to the user.

Now we can generate a release version of the APK

Cordova build –release

Your APK file should be located here:

platforms/android/ant-build/MyApp-release-unsigned.apk

To submit it to the App Store, we need to sign in.

Step 5 – Testing Application on a Device

As we mentioned before, the best thing about the HTML5 application is that you can test it in any local browser. To test the application using native API’s, you will have to run it on an actual device.But do you know to debug without your browser debugging tools?

Luckily, there are a few good options to debug directly on your device. One of the few good options is to use the GapDebug. It allows you to install. ipa files for iOS or .apk for Android onto your device and provides a debugging interface that exactly imitates the Chrome Dev Tools. Any kind of changes you make in this interface will be reflected on the live application.

Step 6- Distribute on App Store

Once you have finished with your debugging and ready for the launch, you will first have to sign your application to the Play Store before you can install it on any device.

To sign your application, you will simply need a key store file

You create a keystore with the Java Keytool utility that comes with any standard JDK distribution and can be located at %JAVA_HOME%\bin. On Windows, this would usually be C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin

Final Process:

Sign up as a Google Play Developer and prepare your app store listings. Thankfully this is the least tiny hurdle you need to pass the test.

How To Make An iOS Game App From Scratch?

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There are a handful of games that have graduated from being ordinary to extraordinary in a short time. Pokemon Go, Angry Birds, Candy Crush saga, Clash of Titans are a few successful games that have made history by becoming the most addictive playtime. Their makers took the whole world by surprise.

If you wish, you can also make an iPhone game that exhibits creativity and helps generate enormous revenue. However, it is certainly not a child’s play to develop an iOS game app. You need to gain in-depth awareness and insight about making an iOS game app from scratch.

It is true that anyone with some programming experience can make an iOS game. Here is what you need to learn:

Have an Original Idea and Fresh Vision

Unless you have nurtured an original idea for a magnificent game, it is difficult to go ahead down the course of development. Pokemon Go did not happen overnight. Its maker contemplated a lot over its like ability, viability and its usability.

The idea combined with a strong vision can work wonders. Research through the app market and analyze some game apps that have similar theme as yours. It may take a few days or weeks or months before you can build a strategy.

Jot down your ideas such as:

  • The type of gameplay
  • Sound effects
  • Unique background theme
  • Unparalleled characters
  • Graphics and art styles
  • Game music
  • Winning actions and score system

If your idea is still not worked on, you have every reason to push it forward to develop an original iOS game app.

Most Important Prerequisite Skills

A great mobile app is a result of many talents working on the same projects, including programmers, graphic designers, project managers and marketers. When you are only one playing all these roles, you will require wide skillset.

You can code only when you have proper understanding of core concepts in computer science. Here is the list of some of the must have areas you need to master:

  • Xcode & Interface Builder
  • Building to Devices
  • Swift
  • Objective-C
  • UIKit
  • MVC
  • Instruments
  • Core Data
  • TableViews
  • Git, Subversion
  • Clean Coding Principles
  • Threading & Concurrency
  • Unit Testing
  • Push Notifications
  • In App Purchase

All of these skills together can ease your way into building a superior iOS game app.

The best way to approach any creative game app is to focus on its design aspects. An iOS game app is all about graphics and not text. So learn in depth how you can make the game design a true winner.

Cull The Right Tools

With right graphic tools, iOS app developers can define and controls visuals of any iOS game. Each tool has its own pros and limitations. Some of them are:

GameSalad: Any aspiring iOS game app developers who has no thorough experience designing a game app can pick the handy game creation library GameSalad. This popular tool allows users to just drag and drop various elements to develop games fast.

Flash games: Although it is good to have knowledge of Objective C, you can write games in Flash, which offers simplicity of coding. Flash can be converted to run on iOS later.

Cocos2D: Like many developers, you can also choose third-party open-source framework like Cocos2D for creating iPhone games. It makes the process of coding the game rapid, efficient and easier and is compatible with both Swift and Objective-C.

Metal: It is an iOS exclusive tool that can allow iOS developers to produce fascinating, high-quality game visuals defying the hardware limitations of the iOS devices. It practically consumes less power than rival tools.

However, it supports developing small, less sophisticated apps and only new iPhone devices. Since it is iPhone exclusive, building an Android version of the game with Metal is an insurmountable challenge.

OpenGL ES: It is the glorious, more mature and cross-platform alternative for building delightful, rich graphics for iOS game app. It works on almost every platform, and is quite versatile (for complex and straightforward gameplays) and constantly updated.

SDL: It is a fast, multi-platform graphic library that supports creating 2D graphics. However, it is not mature and does not support 3D graphics much. It is the viable choice for small, low-level iOS games development where it fulfils all your requirements.

Program and Code

You meet a lot of options in terms of tools approaches for easy and rapid and iOS game app development.

Xcode: It is Apple’s typical free IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that allows developing iOS games on Mac. It can be downloaded from Mac App Store for free. Usually, the languages that go with Xcode games are C++, Objective-C or Swift.

Swift: This programming language had electrified many developers at the time of its announcement. It is quite flexible and as light as lower-level language, also as powerful. It enables developers to build fast-running apps without having to opt for comparatively lengthy and intricate Objective C and C++.

Objective C: this is the old language iOS game developers are very familiar with. They can use to make it function in their favour since they know its pros and pitfalls. A Great number of iOS development tutorials depend on Objective-C to convey the instructions.

Third-party frameworks: If you don’t want to opt for Swift as a programming language, third-party app development frameworks like RubyMotion, Python, Xamarin etc. You can use them without even learning new aspects.

Corona and Phonegap: If you want to use your web app development skills (JavaScript, CSS, HTML) to create an iOS game, Corona and Phonegap can make it possible for you to convert these skills into native mobile game apps.

Sound Effects and Music

If you have ever played any game (which I am sure you must have), you will know the epic role of special supporting music and sound effects. Sound and dialogue enrich the game, bring motions alive and create immersive experience.

Though it is possible to create sound effect yourself using certain household equipment, using technology to do so seems less decent and gives sharp results. A few good public creative sound libraries include:

  • freesound.org
  • pdsounds
  • freesound
  • Audacity
  • soundjay

You can also go to online marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork where you can ask people to do the sound adding job for you. You will find the variety of talents who are creative and experienced in this domain.

You will also discover incredible voice actors who can imitate suitable voices and sounds for your iOS game.

Test Your Game

The coolest aspect about developing an iOS game app is that the development environment feels easier and more organized compared to Android ecosystem where fragments and devices are in great numbers.

No matter how best you think your app is, you must test your iOS app for performance and bug issues. You can either:

  • Do it yourself OR
  • Hire an app-testing company

Do It Yourself: Of course, you can test the app you built with lots of hope. However, the process could be tedious. Also it is difficult for you to have an honest second opinion as you are highly optimistic about your app being perfect.

Hire a Company: A company that spent years testing different apps know the entire science of testing your app in various environments and conditions. They will use their impartial eyes to test it across majority of devices and deliver honest opinion.

Release the App

If it is for iOS platform, it is worth noting that, unlike Google play, Apple is straightforward and rigorous about placing the app in its app store. Apple follows strict guideline and insists that developers need to first enroll in the iOS Developer Program that charges fixed yearly fee.

Considering this, your app must be clean, original and harmless to get successfully published in the Apple app store.

Just ensure:

  • You carefully read guidelines before releasing it
  • You improve your app before its launch
  • You collaborate with a reputed app publisher
  • You polish the app to match stern Apple standards
  • Your app has iOS specific features
  • You hire professional PR company for app promotion

Key takeaway:

The path to iOS game development is infused with a lot of challenges, and how you surpass them depends on your understanding of the process. It is not every day that you conceive, strategize and build an iOS game app from scratch. Therefore, make sure you have sufficient programming skills and knowledge of iOS specific tools, graphics, various sound effects before starting off. Don’t forget to test your game app for bugs and performance. Hopefully, the steps explained above will augment your confidence.

How To Make Your App Attractive?

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Mobile app development has become a blazing reality in recent times especially for companies that dream about achieving greater goals. Due to its burgeoning demand in modern times, having a mobile app means a solid boost to business growth. However, not every user will download and use your app. With mobile app development touching the saturation point, app stores are now cramped with plethora of apps, creating a tough competition.

It is a valid argument that marketing your mobile app impacts its success, but does your mobile have ability to attract instant attention? Your app must stand out and look attractive to users. If the app has aesthetic appeal, users will come swarming in to try your app. The following discussion uncovers the secrets of making your app more attractive.

To start with, every UI/UX designer must ask these crucial questions to ensure their app design reflects creativity and beauty.

  • Does the app design appear aesthetically pleasing?
  • Is it created with user-friendly colours?
  • Does UI feel intuitive when tried?
  • Does it offer fluid navigation to users?
  • What about the consistency of design elements?
  • Does it load and open fast?
  • Does it provide smooth transition?
  • What makes it different from rival apps in the app store?
  • How impressive was the user experience?
  • Does it function properly across all the devices?
  • Is your app highly recommendable for wider group of users?

To address all these questions confidently and make the app design look really good, here is what you can do:

1. Titillate Your Users:

Users are in your app to have an extraordinary experience, a kind of journey no other app can offer. You must, as a mobile app developer, understand what users prefer, where exactly the design trends are going and what would trigger their interest. Scour the app market and study some of the best successful apps and learn what you can do to emulate them.

Try to make a list of everything that you find amazing in their apps, including images, typography, colours, icons and navigation techniques, etc. Then make your own strategy as to how you can come up with a brilliant design that has it all. If you have spent good years in mobile app design job, you should have pretty-faced ideas to titillate users with great features and finest functionality. Understand the nerve of today’s rapidly evolving users and what could motivate them to consider your app. The best of designs are prepared mostly in the initial state of conceptual creative planning. Once you finalize your design, don’t attempt to change it now and then.

2. Easy-To-Use Design Model:

Despite the fact that more than half the world is down to using smartphones and various apps, you can still not think that everyone of them is savvy. There are still good amount of people who find using certain features of mobile and apps considerably tedious to use. This is why having a design that provides the ease of use is essential.

Things about mobile app development and its design are changing every day, and so are its features and facilities. Every app differs from another app in terms of gaining access to data or navigation. So there will always be certain people who are not as deft as others might be. Hence, it is a good approach to keep app design model easy-to-use and simple.

3. Offline Functioning Of App Design:

Many informative apps work offline with a strategy of providing more exclusive data when users come online. Nowadays, users tend to choose those apps that allow them to explore it even when their device is not connected to internet. Such apps whose usability remains intact during offline mode are best loved by users.

Offering the consistent users experience online and offline also makes your app emerge attractive among users. Evernote, Google docs, Onenote and many other apps allow users to work on their information even when they are not connected to any nearby Wi-Fi. If you are an entrepreneur or a part of an app design team, you should consider integrating this practice in your next development strategy.

4. Let Users Connect With Its Simplicity:

After you are ready with the UI of the app design, share the rough draft of it with some of your friends or families who are not technically skilled. They are, in this case, more like end users. Give them complete freedom to explore and judge various elements of your app design and see how it goes. If they call it intuitive experience, you can say you have placed your efforts in the right direction.

In order for users to connect with your app, you need to practice keeping things simple. From buttons to menu tabs and call-to-actions, every part of it matters and requires your sober attention.

5. The Grid Logic:

Grids in app works like an organizer and delivers consistent user experience at the moment of exploring different pages of the app. When you switch from one page to another, grids make sure users never lose consistency and visual connection while they engage and shuffle through its pages.

It is advisable for mobile app designers and developers to prepare the sketches of grids for graphic design. This way the user experience will be more organized, visually proper and unified across the entire all the app pages.

6. Magical Effects of Colour

Mobile app design process is incomplete without a thought of colours and their perfect suitable combination for the app. Your choice of colours is vital as it can decide the fate of your app and add magical effects to it. The choice of colours, however, depends on the genre of your app and user base. For productivity apps, light colours make it easy to read long texts. Bright contrast colours appeal most to gaming apps and entertainment whereas darker shades work best for media.

Colours can also be used for highlighting the different parts of the app. For instance, if users hover over an item in a main menu bar at the top, they can see its colour change and glow darker – which indicates they have selected the option.

Colours not only make the app attractive, but it also helps create seamless experience for users.

7. High Resolution from Points and Pixels

While designing, one point one should shift their focus on is space division of display. Points and pixels are the deciders of how the final image of an app is going to appear to users as they play with its interiors on their screen. Points and pixels together determine the overall resolution.

A designer should think of pixels which are the smallest dots on space on the screen, hardly visible yet important. The good density of these pixels creates a finest image. To achieve high resolution and clarity, more number of pixels should be placed in a display. Points are units of space that contain certain amount of pixels, making up a display.

Thus, a mobile app designer should control points throughout the entire design process to deliver high-resolution viewing experience for users. Higher the resolution, more attractive will be your app interiors.

8. Give a Shape to a Beautiful Icon

The app icon is something that creates the first impression on users’ mind. The icon is the first aspect of your app that viewers will realize. Apple uses golden ration grid system in the app store to accommodate the unique elements of the icon’s design in a way that looks gorgeous and fascinating. The main purpose behind creating an attractive app icon is to draw maximum attention from the viewers and inspire them to download the app.

Mobile app designer has ample control over how they would like their app icon to look. There is a technical system that helps them create icons that catch myriad eyes.

9. Champion Responsiveness

People have all different kinds of devices where they expect your app to function consistently. This means that your app must offer proper responsiveness and optimal viewing experience on various screen resolutions of mobiles, tablets, etc. Responsive design of an app ensures the users will have equally delightful experience irrespective of the device they choose. A mobile app development company who has years of experience in building excellent mobile apps would know the importance of making their apps responsive and perfectly optimized to all sizes of screens.

10. Get Just One Thing Right

In an effort to make the app famous and attractive, certain mobile app developers often fall for the wrong design approach. They tend to cram many options and features into one single app which may result into good amount of confusion and complications when used on a small touch screen.

While designing any app, one must remember to focus on the core purpose of the app. They should bear the idea of touching primary requirements of users and integrating features that users will definitely connect well with. Many options can divert users from the desirable user experience. Hence, to make the app attractive, serve them what they would indulge in.

Conclusion:

A great app idea will not do much good until it turns into a great app design, and a great design is every mobile app company’s dream. For cross platform mobile app developers, app design is a primary challenge as it has to be accepted by Google Playstore as well as Apple store. As for Apple, it never approves of a design that looks mediocre through their review process.

If your app development plan also involves generating revenue, the design becomes amply important. Apple is quite punctilious and rigorous about the design standards of every app that gets published in iOS store. Their reviewers insist on having a high-quality design interface that helps users interact with its content.

However, whether it is for Android or iOS, mobile app designer should focus on above guideline to make the best out of their work.

How to Get Five Star Rating For Your Mobile Apps?

Posted on by Super Admin Testreveal

As the world changes, consumers are getting smarter and more selective. The psychology of first impressions still prevails especially in the landscape of mobile apps. More influential than marketing stunts, app store ratings and reviews given by fellow users are something that drives discovery and conversion for an app.

Reviews are trusted more and ratings help evaluate the app quality and performance. Since users rely on app reviews heavily before downloading, ratings and reviews make your app more discoverable, successful and profitable. This is why it is important to learn how to get five star ratings for you mobile app.

Here are 8 great tips to secure five star ratings for your new or existing mobile app:

1. Integrate an automatic rating prompts

The idea of integrating rating prompts in your mobile app can make or break the customer retention. It has ability to either enhance customer experience or disturb users to the extent of quitting the app.

The right use of prompts can, however, keep the users alive and encourage them to boost your apps ratings.

Make sure:

  • Your prompts do not interrupt users’ ongoing in-app interactions
  • You incorporate their sentiments before soliciting reviews/ratings
  • You segment the customers and ask only those who love your app for reviews
  • Set proper intervals for rating prompt frequency
  • Run a survey to learn the points of improvement
  • Resolve the queries of unsatisfied customers
  • Use third party prompts if you don’t have your own

2. Analyse the pattern of customer behaviour

Using analytics helps you learn more about customers:

  • Behavioural pattern
  • Choices and tastes
  • Motives and intents
  • Age group and demographics
  • Expectations from your app
  • Areas of interest
  • Selling points

You can use the data gathered through analytics to make your in-app communications more personalized and efficacious.

You can use third party analytics or your own. Choose the platform based on the type of data you want to pull from customers.

Based on the data, you can build a strategy to trigger rating prompts for target audience.

3. Choose Proper Time to Deliver Rating Prompts

The key to your app’s five star ratings is also delivering rating prompts at the right moment. If you have mobile experience, you must know how right place, time and person make a huge difference.

Do’s:

  • Think of the precise moment to strike with a prompt
  • Wait until the customer is accustomed to your in-app environment
  • Prompt the request when he/she completes the task
  • Use pre-built standard dialogue for prompt messages OR
  • Use your own creativity to form a unique dialogue

Don’ts:

  • Ask to rate the app immediately after the user opens up the app
  • Prompt the customer while he is playing with your app features
  • Deliver the rating prompt before an action is completed
  • Not waiting for the right mobile moment to send the message

Always remember:

  • The most suitable time to prompt is after your customer has accomplished their task. They are ready to open up and share their experience in app store.
  • Create a unique prompt message to go with the app’s flow to offer intuitive experience.
  • Prefer to wait at least 5 days after your app is installed before sending a prompt to increase your chance of getting high rating and reduce app abandonment.

4. Make a Gentle and Creative Approach

Innovate your style in which you approach and ask your customers to rate your app. You can get a little personal and creative while asking a question. For example, “Do you love the experience in our app?” or, “Do you love what you see in this app?”

In case you want to draw feedback from them, you may try, “how do you find this app?” followed by answer choices such as “Good”, “Excellent”, “Average”, or “Could have been better.”

Such questions:

  • Drive segmentation of your customers
  • Determine who is likely to be your ‘fans’ and who will play ‘critic’
  • Encourage users to take action and respond
  • Trigger interactive conversation

Your app will have both:

Fans: People who love it and are likely to rate you high

Critics: People who are not happy and may seek an opportunity to leave negative feedback.

Always offer ‘thanks’ to customers for answering your question and their time. This gesture shows that your brand appreciates both positive and negative comments.

5. Follow the First Question with Careful Prompts

Now at this stage, you know the personal sentiment of your customers. Now you can guide certain segment of them to an app store for real reviews.

To go closer to 5-star ratings, do these:

  • You can expect customers who responded positively to your first question to leave a positive review. You can prompt them doubtlessly
  • Handle the customers with negative feedback carefully. Those who have responded negatively are prepared to rate you low. Direct them somewhere other than an app store for sharing their harsh feedback
  • To retain the high ratings, use rating prompt to lead unsatisfied customers to less harmful communication channel like the one you might have inside the app
  • Start working on their valuable feedback to improve weak points of your app they have experienced
  • Finally, after they have shared ratings, quickly take them back to where they paused in your app so that they can continue to explore more.

6. Your Communication Matters

Your customers can’t hear your tone as you deliver in-app messages. But they can surely judge the language you use especially while asking for ratings.

Make sure:

  • You are gentle, respectful and friendly
  • Your words are not demanding or intrusive
  • You are not much direct and abrupt
  • To keep it short, readable and sweet
  • You never forget your brand voice in all user engagements

Your communicational ability can influence your app store ratings. This is why it is pivotal to sophisticate your language when you reach out to them.

7. Be Patient and Understand User Psychology

In history, no empire is built overnight. Getting 5-star ratings requires some amount of patience after you start working on your strategy. Ratings build up gradually.

In mobile app store reviews, even a fraction of star counts. In a blog post by Mobincube, they have explained how an increase of just 0.1 (i.e. from 3.9 to 4.0) can make a huge impact on your app reputation and its earning.

This is the psychology of app users in modern times. Apps rated 4.1 are more downloaded than apps with 4.0 ratings. Hence, even a slight difference of score can increase or decrease the number of your app’s fans.

8. Manage a private channel for negative reviews

One clever way to keep your rating up is to, gather negative feedback and manage them privately. You will not get happy users all the time. But critical reviews can also help improve your app and offer you new ideas.

It is a good practice to have a separate in-app support channel for having private communication with users who have unpleasant complaints about your app.

This solution keeps their frustration away from the app store, leaving good reviews unaffected. You can think of Uservoice. If customers are happy with their support experience, they can bestow on you bright ratings.

Final note:

Ratings and reviews are the key to increase app visibility and for acquiring new customers. To many users, they are the best way to evaluate the quality of the app and some find it more credible than word of mouth recommendations. To draw more stars for your app, always practice offering pleasant user experience. Hopefully these tips will help bring you five stars and put you on top of the charts.