While the average mobile app development is typically used to being asked a host of questions by their clients, the best companies are those that are willing to turn the tables. Taking the time to ask clients the right questions is one of the most crucial steps that is often skipped.
The following guide will allow a mobile app development company to develop a closer relationship with their clients and keep them from making avoidable mistakes. These are the questions that must be asked:
Can the app be summarized easily?
In order to create a successful mobile app, the client needs to have a strong idea of what their app’s essence will be. Can they describe their prospective in a few simple words? The clients that have the strongest level of understanding are the clients who have the best chance for success. A client that cannot explain their own idea is a client that may need to head back to the drawing board for awhile.
Who is your target audience?
It is easy to say that everyone would be included here but in reality? An app developer needs to know who the target audience is for the application so that they can lend the proper expertise. What platforms does this audience use? Are there demographic differences between each sector of the audience? The more information that the client can provide regarding their target audience, the easier the process becomes.
Is there a specific deadline that needs to be met?
The deadline that has been chosen will need to make some form of logical sense. Is this deadline connected to any other aspect of the company? Is there a specific campaign that this application is going to be used for? If so, the timeline must reflect these realities. A project that is tied to a specific deadline needs to be started as soon as possible.
The client should not expect a miracle when they are choosing a mobile app development company and the company should never be in the business of attempting to provide one. A practical timeline will make for a much smoother process on both sides of the coin in these instances.
Does the client have a fixed budget?
While there are some clients who may have an unlimited budget to work with, there are others who will not. A mobile app development company should never make the mistake of assuming that their client will be able to make decisions without considering the financial aspect.
The best companies can provide their clients with the type of assistance that lets them get the most possible bang for their buck. It can be tough to pin down an exact number when it comes to the budget but the client should have a fairly precise range in mind. In order to decide on a budget, the scope of the work that is going to take place needs to be discussed.
Will there be an ongoing budget?
Once the app has been launched, the company must find out if the client is willing to provide an additional budget to handle any issues that may take place. Bugs are a common problem once an app has gone live and in many instances, these bugs are not the fault of the client or the company that they are working with.
The costs of hosting and the costs of continued optimization must be considered. A client that has done their homework will have already set aside a portion of their budget for post launch concerns and these are the clients who have the best chance of achieving their goals.
Is the app being developed as a means of increasing the level of employee efficiency at a specific location or is the app being developed as a means of attracting new clientele? Some apps may be used to assist a company when it comes to their hiring practices and some apps may be designed to increase the number of sales that are derived from currently existing customers. Defining the business related objectives is a key step to take when developing a successful app.
Have you researched your competition?
No business should ever be patterning themselves after their competition but taking the time to do the proper research is still important. If the client is claiming that they are actually the first company to come up with a particular idea, this could be a major red flag. This point of view suggests that there is a lack of research taking place.
A direct competitor might not be executing the exact same strategy but they are certainly in the ballpark. It all comes down to the problem that the app is trying to solve. This is the question that will decide whether the client has done their homework on the competitors or if they are still convincing themselves that they are the only company to think of a certain idea.
What’s your strategy when it comes to monetizing the app?
Even apps that are being designed with an eye towards increasing office efficiency or improving current hiring practices require a strategy for monetizing their existence. There is always a monetizing angle that needs to be considered in these instances. All apps are going to have the ability to increase the level of revenue that a business can generate and it is up to the client to take the time to learn more.
Otherwise, they are placing themselves in a position where they expect an app development company to do all of the work on their behalf. Whether the company is going to rely on a subscription model or in app purchases, they need to know how the app is going to generate revenue before they have their initial meeting with the developers. These are the goals that help a client to stay focused.