If you want to create one of the most successful applications, it’s important to ask yourself one question before even getting started with the ideation process: Do you want to create one of the best mobile apps of our generation? To answer this, be sure to know what your goal is.
If you are looking to surpass competitors and capture your target audience’s attention, among other things, your answer should be a resounding ‘YES’! There is more than can be achieved through an app, but these are definitely some of the benefits.
Keep in mind that how to accomplish this feat is another question altogether. There are many different kinds of apps that people use on a daily basis. Some applications help people manage their finances (known as FinTech apps), others provide medical solutions (known as MedTech apps), and several more serve a vast range of additional purposes, from simplifying the process of online shopping to fulfilling a user’s entertainment needs.
In a nutshell, there are millions of mobile apps available for download on both iOS and Android devices. The problem is that, unless your application offers something completely nuanced, there’s a good chance that it will fall through the cracks. Sure, it may garner a decent following, but to really stand out from the crowd, you need to design an app that offers something so outstanding and so incredible that your target audience will not be able to live without it.
In this post, we’ll explore some of the most popular and trending mobile applications, the traits that the most successful apps of all time have in common, and how to make a successful app overall.
Top Successful App Launches of Our Generation
What do the top trending apps have in common? They are popular and people want to use them. With the launch of several new mobile devices, any business considering a new application idea should take a close look at some of the most successful app companies and the products they’ve launched that have solidified their position as leaders within their respective industries.
Here are examples of some of the most successful mobile apps that have transformed the world as we know it over the past few years:
Most Successful Social Media and Video Mobile Platforms
- YouTube
- Snapchat
- TikTok
Most Popular Video Calling and Chat Applications
- Facebook Messenger
- Skype
Most Successful Mobile Games
- Subway Surfers
- Candy Crush Saga
- Temple Run 2
Most Successful Entertainment and Streaming Apps
- Netflix
- Pandora
- Spotify
Most Successful Two-Sided Marketplace Apps
- eBay
- Uber
- Amazon
- Airbnb
- Etsy
Tips to Build One of the Most Successful Apps In the Market
Whether this is your first time conceptualizing a mobile app or have already launched a few applications already, you are undoubtedly thinking about all the ways you can make yours shine. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach as far as how to make an app successful, the most successful applications tend to share a few similar characteristics.
Below, we explore 9 key factors of success for app design and development:
1) The App Is Unique
First thing’s first. If you want to build one of the most successful apps on the mobile app market, it has to be original. We’re not saying you have to reinvent the proverbial wheel, but for your application to really take off, it needs to offer something in a way that has never been done before.
Perhaps a new concept for a gaming app or a better, more simplified way for users to consolidate their monthly expenditures. The idea itself need not defy the laws of technology, but it certainly needs to be unique enough that no other company has ever attempted to tackle the same problem in quite the same way.
The concept itself should be catchy, creative, smart, and practical. It doesn’t have to be overly complicated or filled with a dozen over-the-top functionalities; it just needs to offer a new way of approaching a particular action or fulfilling a need based on your company’s specific industry.
2) The App Serves a Purpose Specific to Your Target Audience
Perhaps one of the greatest mistakes a company can make when designing an app is failing to cater to its target audience. We already explored the ways in which an app should be unique, but aside from offering a new way of accomplishing a task or a different manner of tackling a problem, the application itself must be relevant to your intended audience, or else it will not succeed.
Research your target audience and what they are searching for in terms of applications. Demographics play a vital role in how you should model your app, so pay close attention to what your customers are trying to accomplish and what their must-haves are.
If your target audience is a younger demographic, you may want to consider incorporating a bit of a “wow factor” into your app design, such as animated graphics, more intricate features, and even pop culture references in your content. If your target demographic is more mature, try to keep your app simple and straightforward.
3) The App Is User-Friendly and Easy to Navigate
Regardless of your target audience, the most successful applications are always built around User Experience (UX). User experience refers to the ease with which people can interact with your application’s features, which directly influences how useful and desirable your app will ultimately be.
User-friendliness is a key aspect of UX and takes into account the time it takes to learn how to use and understand an app, how easy it is for a user to navigate the app’s components, as well as the frequency with which issues occur, like screen freezes or full app crashes.
The fewer the problems your customers may face, the better their User Experiences will be. In turn, this ensures that your customers are more likely to both continue using your app and even recommend it to their friends and family members.
4) The App Is Secure
In an age where people use the Internet to perform most of their transactions, it’s vital to ensure an application abides by the highest standards of security so your users’ personal data is not at risk for hacks. Incorporate multiple levels of security features into your application, such as two-step authentication and biometrics to prevent unwanted hackers from accessing your customers’ private information.
Also, make sure you abide by the proper protocols set forth by your industry. For example, if you are creating a MedTech app, make sure it is HIPAA compliant. If you are designing a FinTech app, it should be PCI compliant.
5) The App Is Responsive
With the release of multiple new smartphones, all of which have varying screen sizes and resolutions, you can’t risk having your app display poorly or stall on any device. The most successful applications load quickly and seldom present any complications when loading or interacting with them. Be sure to make your app fast and adaptable to any device.
6) The App Offers Cross-Platform Integration
Speaking of adaptability, if you want to create a successful app, it should be available to as many users as possible. This means ensuring that it is cross-platform ready. Your application should be available on any operating system and accommodate new software updates whenever they arise so that minor glitches are removed and your users can continue to enjoy a seamless experience while on your application.
7) The App Is FREE to Download
No one wants to pay for an app. The moment users see a dollar sign attached to an application, they are likely to look for another that offers similar services free of charge. While some apps merit a price tag, the vast majority do not impose a fee. If your application is free to download, you’ll attract far more customers than if you charged them.
8) The App Goes Viral
When an app goes viral, this means that it has amassed a huge and rapid following of users. What makes a viral app special is the fact that it reached its prominent status not through paid advertisements, but by word of mouth. These are the apps, like TikTok or Candy Crush Saga, that nearly everyone you know has downloaded and use all the time.
9) The App’s Users Are Habitually Dependent on It
It’s not enough for an app to provide a one-time solution to a user’s needs; to reach the heights of success, an app needs to engage the user and continue to prove relevant. Regardless of the industry, the most successful applications not only meet, but exceed user expectations and keep them coming back for more because they improve the user’s quality of life.
A great app continuously presents fresh content, innovative ideas, useful tips, and generally captivates users to the point that they become a staple in users’ lives. In a nutshell, these apps fulfill a critical purpose that no other app or service can match and that the user can’t accomplish on their own. Without these apps, a user would find themselves at a disadvantage.
Obtain Advice on Designing One of the Most Successful Applications for Your Industry Today
Creating a new app is not easy. However, when you have an experienced app development company by your side, you can be well on your way to having one of the most successful applications for your particular industry.
Make sure to find someone who is experienced in both the technical part of building an app as well as on the business side of it.
