Mobile application development is constantly evolving, with new technologies and practices emerging every year. Staying up-to-date with the latest best practices can be challenging, but it’s crucial for ensuring that your app is not only functional but also secure, scalable, and user-friendly.
In this article, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive checklist of the top 10 mobile development best practices to follow in 2024. Whether you’re a seasoned mobile app developer or just starting, this checklist will help you stay on top of your game and create high-quality mobile apps that meet your users’ needs.
10 Mobile App Development Best Practices Checklist in 2024:
1. Conduct a Better Research
The foremost step should be conducting better research before planning the mobile app development process. Knowing the market, product benefits, and understanding the target audience is important. This is the only way to stand out from your rivals in this competitive market.
Therefore, before starting the app development, proper research about every aspect should be done. It only helps in proper planning but also prepares for future losses, which may come.
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2. Opt For a Suitable Development Method
Numerous ways are there to build an application depending on what type of application you want. Consider such factors before starting to develop an application since it plays a crucial role in the final launch of your product. There are various options available, which include native, hybrid, and web-based mobile apps.
All these options come with advantages and disadvantages, but the most important factor in developing mobile apps is making the right choice, which you want to develop. For instance, if you want to develop gaming apps, it requires a seamless user experience. That’s why a native-based application looks like the best fit for this purpose. Undeniably, it is a great option, but it might cost considerably more and can work on a single platform at a point in time.
Simply put, if you want to launch on diverse mobile platforms, then it may not be the ideal way. Therefore, hybrid-based apps are more cost-effective and can be developed for dual platforms at one time. On the other hand, web-based apps are also ideal if you would like to create an app available outside the app stores.
So, you need to hire a team of developers carefully. It’s important to think before opting for a suitable development method.
3. Choose the Preferred Platform
The targeted audience always plays a key role in building the right application, especially for startups. Hence, the method of mobile app development should help businesses in many ways. Generally, Android and iOS are the two main mobile platforms to launch the application; however, both of these platforms have a different set of users.
It’s all-important to find out the platform on which your target audience is most active. As per the report from Statista, Google has become the largest platform in terms of the biggest number of available apps. The Apple App Store is the second-largest app store. This is what you can check in the below graph:
Above all, this is a key consideration for startup businesses for creating useful apps in 2024. Do not forget to create a scale of preferences based on your research and information. It will help you in the long run.
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4. Security Is a Must
Mobile app development security does not slow down the process of development. However, it can prevent bad outcomes from a breach such as data loss, lost revenue, intellectual property theft, and reputational damage.
So, ignoring the security of mobile apps can put developers and businesses in danger. Before delivering the final product, make sure you do proper research. Apps may contain sensitive user information; thus, securing them becomes crucial.
There are a number of potent security options to consider, such as 2-factor authentication, finger lock, etc. Moreover, it is also recommended to have a backup, which is equally important.
5. Prioritize the Design Work
Keep in mind that there is a huge difference between developers and designers. Designers are responsible for the overall style of the mobile application, including color schemes, font selection, and types of buttons.
On the other hand, developers are more concerned about the working details of the application. Startups need to find a way to link these two professionals. We mean that they should both work together to achieve the same goal. The design is the key to optimizing the app design for the users.
6. Pay Attention to UX
Mobile apps are preferred by smartphone users over mobile sites because they are fast, convenient, and easy to navigate. There is exciting data, which is worth looking at. Mobile users spend 88% of their time on apps and just 12% of their time on mobile websites.
Comfort and convenience are the major factors why visitors prefer mobile apps over other web or mobile sites. These are the reasons why mobile apps are popular among people. So, you can’t afford to miss the chance of impressing your first-time visitors. Therefore, following this mobile development best practice assures your app achieves success and serves the purpose for which it was created.
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7. Update Apps Regularly
Apps also need maintenance like any other product. Regular updates help them to improve. This practice comes with cost implications, so you should keep note of this while building your app. The app’s updates require changes to the application’s features during updates. Updating your apps on a regular basis can increase the app performance at the time of high demand.
8. Beta Testing and Feedback
No matter how seamlessly your app works, it’s always important to get feedback from others. Beta testing is a great method of getting feedback from beta testers, and it is also worth taking it. Plus, you should also contact other developers for advice. It is good for delivering the final product, especially if you are a startup and doing this for the first time.
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9. Don’t Forget to Follow the App Store Development Guidelines
If you are a startup, then the chances are you may not be aware of all the app development guidelines and rules. For developing apps for iOS, you should follow guidelines for them. Generally, applications go for both platforms i.e., iOS and Android, in the long run. If you don’t follow these guidelines, the odds are the apps may be rejected.
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10. Avoid Decluttering the App
One of the most important and best practices startups should follow is making your app simple yet interesting. If the mobile app is full of things, it may confuse the users. The screen is limited when it comes to mobile apps.
Therefore, the most important features should be displayed at one usage. For example, Instacart, a grocery delivery app, has all the features and functionalities in a way that the users can clearly understand the transition.
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Conclusion
It is easier to say “develop a seamless mobile app” than actually create one. If there is an app full of useful features and functionalities, the users never let it uninstall. We need to understand that you, as a startup, should religiously follow the mobile app development guidelines and the above-mentioned points in your practice.
If you really want visitors to stay in your app for a long time, then provide a rich experience to your users. Strive to create value with your apps. Avoid overly indulging in making money via in-app purchasing if the users may be distracted by these things.
If you want to share your thoughts with us, let us know in the comments. We’d like to hear about it!