There are 2.1 million apps this statistic contains data on the number of apps available for download in leading app stores as of the third quarter of 2018. As of out there, many of which have been abandoned by developers and users alike – indeed, most apps can expect to lose 80% of their users in the long run.
Owners are often reluctant to spend time and money on saving an app from the grave, and we understand the pain. Sometimes there’s nothing left but dust. But sometimes a few stitches, a brain transplant, and a well-timed lightning bolt can bring these lurching monsters back to life. Telling the difference is about knowing what went wrong with your app in the first place.
Poor UI & UX:
The look and feel of a mobile app are crucial for a positive user experience. That’s why here at Appingine we put a lot of effort into the design of our apps. It is important because it tries to fulfill the user’s needs. It aims to provide positive experiences that keep users loyal to the product or brand. Additionally, a meaningful user experience allows you to define customer journeys. Some other examples of poor user experience include:
App performance issues (slow or lagging)
Long load times
Long registration processes
Features that are difficult to access
Poor Performance:
Even if an app is well marketed and acquires a healthy user base early on, it might not be quite ready for them. Some apps fail because they’re simply not up to scratch. They might be poorly designed; they might be slow and unresponsive, or the app might be perfectly functional but delivering content that’s grimmer than the inside of a coffin lid. Or there might simply be something else out there which does the same job better.
Poorly Researched Market & Audience:
Great ideas in theory often don’t make great apps in practice. The decision to launch a project should be research-driven. Is there a market for the type of app you want to develop? Are you solving a certain problem? What’s the competition like? Realistically, would people want to use your app? Are you making someone’s life easier? Providing a unique experience? Is the idea defined well enough to be executed?
It’s easy to think that customers will love your app, but can you justify it? Have you researched the market? Have you checked what your competitors do? Have you gathered any data to prove that you’re not going to waste time and money on something nobody really cares about?
Ignoring Platforms:
Android and iOS (as well as other platforms) have very intuitive interface guidelines. They operate in different ways, using different gestures and common buttons or prompts placed in different areas.
For example, Android users are accustomed to a back button that is built into the hardware. Apple devices don’t have this. Failing to account for platform-specific nuances like this can severely affect user experience. When apps don’t perform well across the scope of devices, networks, and operating systems, it becomes a major problem. Users get frustrated when an app works on the iPhone, but not on their iPad, for example.
When developing for multiple platforms, it’s important to build with platform differences in mind. Apps that don’t do this correctly will result in frustrated end users, and given that the average user will decide in less than a minute whether or not your app is worth using, a little frustration can mean a whole lot of failure.
Improper Testing:
Fifty-eight percent of iOS-based devices suffer from performance failures like apps crashing or components shutting down. While it’s rare that an app will be without minor bugs upon launch, making sure you invest in QA before shipping can ensure there are no major issues. If an app isn’t tested properly, it’s bound to be rife with bugs that impact user experience and is prone to crash. A single crash is more than enough to stop users from ever using it again. In fact, some of the most common negative reviews on app stores are related to apps crashing. And the more negative reviews you have, the more likely your app is to fail.
Factors That Affect App Store Rankings:
Like search engine ranking algorithms, app store ranking algorithms differ. The factors Google Play uses to determine which apps rank higher than others are not the same as the factors used by Apple. That said, there are a few factors that are accepted as common among the most popular app stores.
Number of Downloads
Download Consistency
Ratings and Reviews
Uninstalls
App Store Optimization Tips to Increase Visibility:
Keyword Research
Title
Description
Icons and Screenshots
A Poorly Executed Mobile App Launch:
You’ve done all of your market research and now it’s time to focus on the execution of the mobile app launch. For a launch to be successful, there should be an established marketing plan to ensure that every step is made and executed properly in a timely manner.
A mobile app launch isn’t a one-time event. There will always be room for improvement which makes the mobile app launch a cyclical process that requires reassessment as market demands change. Recently launched mobile apps should be updated and relaunched regularly to keep users engaged through new updates and features.
Closing Thoughts:
The performance of an app depends on many factors that can range from competition to marketing budgets to sheer luck. But beyond these factors, poor research and poor execution are common reasons why apps fail when launched. Focusing efforts on market and audience research, following platform-specific best practices, and thorough quality assurance testing can be the difference between failure and success. If your app is floundering, expertise from marketers and developers can bring it back to life. Ask yourself where you went wrong first time around: is your app at fault, or is the marketing you put behind it? Does it work fine, but offer no incentive to users, or are users trying to use it and giving up? Once you know what’s gone wrong, you know who to approach for help – a developer, a marketer, or both.
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