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Mobile App Insights From the Experts

10

Want to build a mobile app?

Here are the top insights from the Mobile App Chat Podcast.

#1: Create something that is simple and delightful.

It's important to get the ease of use just right.

You should be able to hand the app to someone who has no clue what the app does and within seconds they should know exactly how it works.

Have the app do things that just delight users.

- Chris Barton, co-founder of Shazam

“It’s a million impressive little things…It’s the fact that this is made by friggin’ Yahoo.”

- Greg Kumparak, TechCrunch

#2: Build something that delights you first.

“We became obsessed with how to simplify our lives without adding clutter…”

- Clear

Build something that disturbs you in a deep way.

Build something that you will solve it in a way that is so great for you that the energy that you put into it will shine through and kick start the early traction and the positive reviews.

It's important to take yourself as the most important user of the app.

- Ouriel Ohayon, CEO & Co-Founder of Appsfire

#3: Have an implicit driver.

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.

- Oprah Winfrey

Rovio developed 51 titles before Angry Birds.

Have an implicit driver. The top game developers would be making games even if they didn't get paid for it.

Secondly, take a look at what existing games/apps are doing and copy the promotional aspects.

Learn user interface, marketing, and new content from the most popular apps.

- Rob Segal, Co-Founder of Get Set Games

#4: Good people attract good people.

In order to build a great mobile app, you need to surround yourself with the right people. Find someone that complements your skill sets. It's definitely not easy, but it's worth spending the time to find the right people to build awesome things together.

Lastly, if someone isn't moving as fast as you'd like to move, then find someone else.

- Jeremy Le Van, Co-Founder of Sunrise Calendar App

#5: Don't fall in love with your idea.

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that

won't work.

- Thomas A. Edison

We have a tendency to fall in love with our great app idea, however we don't research the competition or do a thorough analysis of the market to make sure it's something worth building.

And if we do research it's tainted by the love of our idea and we only seek data that supports our idea.

- Dotan Saguy, Creator of Mockapp

#6: Find a technical co-founder.

The reality is the Lean Startup method is not about cost, it is about speed.

- Eric Ries

It's all about having a small core team that is literally with you in the same room.

Having a technical co-founder allows you to bootstrap a minimum viable product to the market with someone who is invested in the idea. People with great ideas don't always have deep pockets.

- Scott Lindenbaum, co-founder of SPUN

#7: Be confident in your idea.

…jump in with both feet and assume success.

There's not a lot of difference between a really good idea and a really bad one. If it's a great idea then no one has thought of it and people will think it's a little off.

Do your homework on the idea and really look in the mirror and think about what you are really willing to invest in this idea.

And then jump in with both feet and assume success.

- Bryan Trussel, CEO of Glympse

#8: It's not too late.

Sea  of  apps…

Yes we are past the gold rush days of the App Store but there are some really great ideas to be had.

Focus on solving a problem, designing it well, and somehow making someone's day more enjoyable or easier.

There's still a market for the app out there.

- Matt Palmer, CMO of Appclover

#9: Focus on doing one thing really, really well.

Songza plays you the right music at the right time.

App Store Best of 2012

Focus on doing one thing really, really well. Make that one thing be substantial and meaningful to people.

Don't try to be everything to everyone. Don't try to solve a problem that doesn't exist for real people.

The best apps solve a problem for the everyday people.

- Eric Davich, Co-founder of Songza

#10: Focus on distribution.

How will users find you?

A big challenge for any app is distribution. You can build a phenomenal product, but still have difficulty getting it to users.

If you build it, they will come makes for a fun movie, but you need a bit more than that in real life.

- Iain Huxley, iOS Lead of Yahoo! Weather

Mobile App Chat PodcastInterviews with the Top App Developers

Shazam Yahoo! Weather Mega Run Facebook Messenger

Sunrise Glympse Songza


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