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1. Make the functionality glitch-free
Glitches can frustrate the most patient app user. Often, glitches occur in mobile apps because of the poor architecture of the app. If the app hasn’t been built for mobile and it isn’t compatible with the software or hardware features of the mobile device, you may notice glitches. It’s important that you create an app that provides mobile-friendly functionalities.
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2. Go native with the app
Native apps integrate brilliantly with the mobile device, and they offer seamless functionality. They’re also more secure and are easier to use. Plus, since you’re not relying on cross-platform tools during app development, there is little to no chance of developmental errors. This means fewer bugs and glitches.
Overall, compared to hybrid apps and web apps, a native app offers a much more enjoyable user experience. So, go native with your app development.
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3. Optimize the app design for mobile
A little while ago, we spoke about the need to develop the app for mobile. But architecture aside, the app design should be optimized to mobile too. An app that doesn’t intuitively fit the screen size of the mobile device or where buttons and site elements crowd over each other or where the entire structure/format of the app change completely, doesn’t make for a good mobile app.
When developing the app, keep in mind the different mobile devices you’ll be designing the UI for and then go ahead.
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4. Implement creative messaging/alerts to handle app problems
Mobile apps aren’t immune to technical issues and problems. Developers need to account for these issues and create creative messaging that can mitigate the annoyance caused by the technical problem.
Some common technical issues that can happen with mobile apps are:
- The app crashes
- Content doesn’t load on the page or loads incorrectly
- Errors occur while loading
- Buttons malfunction or get disabled
- Internal navigation is broken
In these cases, the conventional error message won’t do the trick. An ingenious and timely alert, providing an alternative solution can save you from losing a high-value customer.
Some companies use really funny one-liners to pacify users. Others use crying dinosaurs or broken hearts to indicate the error. Still, others display a page that looks ripped apart, with an image of outer space or broken codes, to indicate there’s nothing here except for a technical problem.
They also provide an alternate solution that the user can implement – for example, going back to the Home page or visiting a product page that’s similar to the one they were searching for.
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5. Make the website navigation seamless
The primary expectation of any app user is that the mobile app should be easy to use. This is where well-planned navigation comes in.
Sometimes, app developers overload the mobile app with numerous navigation features – a drop-down menu, buttons, internal links, CTAs, etc. These will be all over the page, and they’ll confuse the user about where they need to go, to find the service/product they’re looking for.
To make things easy, provide a clear cut menu, which then leads into sub-pages. Restrict the usage of buttons, forms, links, and clickable CTAs to just one or two per page. You should also include an in-app search bar to make navigation easier for users. Providing a mobile app sitemap is also a great way to help people navigate to the section they want.
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6. Animated transitions are really engaging
Nobody likes seeing a boring, static app page. Transitions can bring your app to life and make it more entertaining and engaging to use. Some really fun transitions you can use are:
- Disorganized animation
- Rotation and position changes
- Perspective switch
- Depth of focus switch
- Sliding animation
You can use your animated transition to experiment with app colors, images and content.
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7. Integrate accounts and provide for data mapping during form filling
Form filling on a mobile device can be too cumbersome. The small screen size and keypads can make even the most careful users prone to mistakes. Your users may miss out on filling some fields and may be forced to fill in the form again when the app displays an error message during submission.
This is where it pays to integrate the mobile app to other apps or social media platforms. For example, a job search mobile app can be integrated with LinkedIn, and user data can be mapped from the social media platform onto the app. This will reduce the work that users have to put in while filling forms.
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8. Optimize your app for all gestures
By gestures, we mean the hand movements that users use when operating apps. Some people swear by swipe, others pinch the screen. Scrolling or flicking are other gestures that users use to navigate on the app.
Your new mobile app must be able to recognize, decode, and action the gestures that the user makes. This will make the app infinitely easier to use, and there’s less likelihood of your user jumping ship to a competitor’s app.
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9. Chatbots, FAQs and live support are essential
In-app support is a must to improve the user experience on the app. Chatbots and FAQ pages can provide solutions to most common issues, and live support can provide the personalized help that users may need when using the app.
A robust and responsive in-app support can really turn things around in your favor.
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10. Make your app accessible
The time has come to make mobile apps accessible to people of all types, calibers, and challenges. Make your mobile app disability-friendly by providing alternative navigation features, in-built screen reading functionality, resizable app elements, and alt text/tags graphics.
Doing so will make you much-respected by the community, and you’ll find more takers for your app.
