10 Steps for Creating an App from Scratch: No matter how advanced smartphone technology becomes, there will always be room in the market for new apps to improve the quality of our lives. Creating an app from scratch isn’t as hard as you might think, and it can even be fun, especially if you have an idea to solve a problem or meet an existing need that hasn’t been addressed by other mobile apps yet. This 10-step guide will help you create your first app from the very beginning all the way through beta testing and release on Google Play or Apple’s App Store. No previous coding experience required!
10 Steps for Creating an App from Scratch
1 – Have a cool idea
You don’t have to be a developer to create a mobile app. If you can dream it, you can do it, and you don’t even need much money to get started. But before deciding to build your app, first determine if your idea is actually cool enough to become an app—or if it should stay in its current incarnation as a web or desktop application. Ask friends what they think; see how they react when you describe your app idea (don’t worry too much about nailing down every little detail). Does their reaction inspire further discussion or does their lack of interest make it seem like something that will only appeal to their meh side? Is it something worth doing over and over again?
2 – Decide on how you want your app to look like
Different phone manufacturers and app stores have different guidelines to follow. The most important thing is to create something that is functional, but also aesthetically pleasing. Now that you have a clear idea of what your app will do, you can work on making it look great as well. Create a list of graphics that will be needed for your application (such as icons, logos or banners). Decide if you need any developers to help out with coding your app. If so, then start looking around on freelancing websites like Upwork or Elance. Make sure to check references! If you don’t know how to code then have a good web designer do it instead.
3 – Brainstorm its features
Before you spend a cent, you need to identify what users want most out of your app. You’ll know when you’ve come up with a compelling feature set when there are few excuses to not download it and try it out. A top priority is establishing user stickiness: How will you keep users engaged with your product and minimize churn (i.e., people stopping using it)? Some features may be more important than others in reaching these goals, so prioritize as needed. Make sure all features are actionable and realistic given your limited resources and timeframe.
4 – Draw out the wireframe
Even though you’re going to flesh out your idea in greater detail, at least get some sort of visual representation on paper (or computer). It doesn’t have to be perfect—in fact, it shouldn’t be perfect. A simple sketch will do; what matters most is that you get your idea onto a screen or piece of paper. This helps break down abstract thoughts into concrete ideas and keeps you focused on what’s important when building your app. You’ll thank yourself later!
5 – Get someone else to look at it and give you feedback
This is one of those no duh points. If you’re like me, though, it’s easy to get so wrapped up in your own head that you’re blind to what others are seeing. Getting outside feedback is absolutely vital at each step of your work, whether it’s getting someone else to read a draft or enlisting beta testers or whatever. You’ll have time later on to rework and refine once you know what needs changing, but if you don’t let people look at what you’ve done so far and say this sucks, then it’s going to suck forever!
6 – Choose a developer
Once you have a solid idea and plan, you’ll need to find a developer. While it’s tempting to do all of your research online, talking with developers in person is important because they can give you concrete answers based on their experience. If possible, visit several different developers and compare them based on past projects and overall confidence. They’ll be able to tell you what steps are involved in creating your app and let you know how long it will take to complete. How much does it cost? Developers charge for their time as well as any additional features or revisions that need to be made during development.
7 – Write up a marketing plan for your app
If you’re going to market your app, then be sure to create a simple plan of attack. You may have a hard time focusing on marketing if you don’t know what you’re promoting, so having a marketing plan is essential. Who are your target customers? How will they find out about your app? What tactics will you use to reach them? If you can answer these questions, it’ll be easy to put together a marketing plan. Once you’ve created one, work with your team and refine it further until all parties agree that it’s ready to go live.
8 – Pick your platform (iOS, Android etc.)
Choosing which platform you want to develop your app for is a critical decision that will greatly impact how difficult it is to make and whether or not it will be successful. If you’re unsure which way to go, pick one of two platforms and learn everything you can about it, then compare your learning with other platforms. Choose whichever platform seems easiest and learn all you can about developing on that one before trying anything else. Be sure to check out our list of recommended reading below for more information on each platform. You can use platforms like Flutter or React Native For app development.
9 – Price your product correctly (if applicable)
Pricing is difficult, especially if you’re not looking to be in competition with your industry. What’s a fair price that doesn’t undercut others while still paying all of your overhead? Many new businesses will price according to what they feel comfortable with or at cost plus some percentage. Some go all out and do value-based pricing, which can be even more difficult. If you can’t answer how much your product or service is worth, there’s no way you’ll be able to sell it at a competitive price or find a sustainable profit margin without sacrificing quality. Instead of winging it on pricing, consult those who are pricing similar products – but don’t compare apples to oranges (do make sure they’re close enough in category).
10 – Have fun!
Don’t try to build a business just to make money, because if you do it wrong you won’t succeed. Build your app as a hobby so that you can continue doing it even when it doesn’t turn out to be profitable. There is nothing better than working on something that was built with all of your heart and soul. I want people to enjoy my app, but I also want them to enjoy writing their code. If they don’t like either of those things, then there is no reason for them to continue using my product.