5 Considerations for Your Next Mobile Development Project

These days it’s hard to find a company or brand that isn’t looking to start their next mobile development project.

The question is “where do you start?”

Mobile app development isn’t cheap, so it’s best to get all your ducks in a row before pressing play on your next big project.

While there are a few affordable mobile app development companies out there, when it comes to any big undertaking, the devil is in the details.

Skimp on the initial consulting, developmental process, and quality assurance testing (QA testing) and you might just end up with a subpar product that fails to accomplish your original goals AND eats a good chunk of your budget.

So, how do you avoid wasting hard-earned money and time on your next mobile development project?

You keep these three core considerations in mind.

Let’s dive in.

Know What Your Budget Is (But Remain Flexible)

Like buying a car, starting your next mobile development project is a serious undertaking that requires a fair amount of research—and most importantly, a hard budget.

Here’s why.

Approaching a mobile app development company without a budget will likely end in you being referred elsewhere—in the best case—or given a subpar product in the worst.

The truth is that most mobile development projects are incredibly extensive undertakings, and require a great deal of expertise and manhours. 

And unfortunately, when you don’t know what your budget is, it leaves a lot to be desired in the minds of your mobile app developers. 

• Are we going all out or holding back?
• Is there a budget for added testing after launch?
• Will there be a continued maintenance schedule?

All of these are valid questions depending on the scope and seriousness of the project. So, always know exactly what you want and are looking for in the mobile app you want.

Not only does this give your developer (us) a clear idea of what we’re working with, but can help fit your vision into that budget to deliver exactly what you need.

The flip-side to this idea of knowing your budget is also pretty important…

Be flexible.

Coming in with a set budget is advised, however, it’s important to understand that in the process of bridging your vision with the finished product, there may be additional considerations to implement.

For example, perhaps the original vision for the mobile app was simply an extension of your website. But in discovery, it was determined that your true goal was to provide a unique experience that addressed a certain customer need.

This difference can mean an entirely different user experience and user interface, so while it’s important to be prepared, it’s also necessary to be flexible in your budget.

Remember You’re Paying for Trust

In vetting your mobile application development company, you want to look for experience—and lots of it. 

We can tell you firsthand that there are many mobile app developers within the space, however, you should ask yourself how experienced these developers are in handling projects like yours.

So, always take a look at their case studies and past client reviews for a better understanding of their capabilities and how they align with your needs.

This means that freelancing out your mobile app development costs can be detrimental to your final project. Aside from the fact that freelancers are mercenaries for hire—often without dedicated time in one discipline—they aren’t a team.

And without the guiding hand of an experienced project manager and team, you’ll get a group of pros with no teamwork.

Focus on the Fundamentals

When starting a new mobile web development project it is very easy to start with an eye to create the next Instagram app.

Trust us, we’ve been there.

However, as you can imagine, creating a mobile web development project like that is extremely expensive. And to be frank, is unwarranted without a MASSIVE userbase ready to download the app by launch.

More than likely, you won’t have that level of social infrastructure in the beginning, so it’s better to focus on delivering a solid, well-designed, and functional app that solves a problem for your users.

Maybe that problem is the need for more information, a better user experience, or all of the above.

Regardless, it’s best to start off small with a simple goal in mind and deliver on that resolutely. From there, you can always continue to build up. Take a look at the earliest iterations of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. and you’ll see what we mean. 

They each started with a simple function and infrastructure first then expanded as their userbase grew. 

Take Advantage of What’s Around You

In short, this is a reminder to take a look around your industry, see what they’re doing well, and adapt to it where you can.

For example, if a competitor’s site—or app—has a specific user-experience function, think of a way to improve on it and utilize it in your own design.

Ultimately, the winner in any business or organization will be the one who delivers on what their customers want.

One way to accomplish this is to use application programming interfaces (APIs). Similar to plug-ins, these tools allow you to connect one application to another for layered functionality.

This could be a social media scheduler platform that connects to Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook.

Long-Term Adaptability > Short-Term Customization

One of the biggest things clients forget as they take on their next mobile web development project is this…

It’s got to be built to last.

What does that mean?

It means that any digital product must be for the long-term. 

Take a look at archived web pages from even five years ago. They’re ugly. And the reason why so many older websites are like this is that progress is so slow it’s almost imperceptible.

Every day people are changing websites to reflect industry changes, the user’s desires, and to provide a better UX.

While users and consumers may barely register these changes, over time, the differences become night and day.

We brought up this point earlier in the piece but it bears repeating: 

Mobile web development is a long game.

Focus on building a fundamental product designed to deliver an exceptional experience for users. This means dropping many of the bells and whistles that ratchet up the project’s price tag. In truth, it’s better to evolve with the times than to try to set the new trend.

And it’s certainly better for your wallet.

Final Thoughts on Mobile Web Development Projects

There are many great minds with incredible app ideas, but few will get their idea across the finish line.

The difference?

Planning and follow-through.

If you want to create an effective mobile web development project, all it takes is a little prior-proper planning.

Thankfully, now you know exactly where to start.

Ready to start your next mobile web development project?
Click here to talk to us about making your dream a reality.