How To Turn An Idea Into An App In The UK

The biggest confusion startups in the UK face is what to do with a mobile app idea. So, you have a mobile app idea and are excited to get it developed and launched as soon as possible. But you are confused about whether you should hire in-house developers, freelancers, or a dedicated company.

Hold on! There’s a crucial step you are missing.

Before you start the development process, you need to work on improving your idea. An idea is just the starting point. It does not serve as a base for the development team. You need to turn your idea into a full-fledged scope-of-work document to get it developed. That’s what MAD will help you with.

In this blog, MAD will tell you exactly how to turn an idea into an app. We will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to go about your app idea.

You get a clear idea of what you need to improve upon before investing your resources in the development process by collecting feedback. Start off by asking your close ones. Ask them if they are willing to use and invest in an app like yours.

Once you get the green light, ask your management team. This will help you get more precise feedback. If you want comprehensive feedback on your app idea, here are some additional things you can do.

Create online surveys. Google Forms is a good place to start. Roll out your questionnaire to as many people as possible in your target audience range. Ask specific questions about the app's concept, features, and overall appeal. Also, have a section on suggestions for improvements.

Assemble a group of individuals who represent your target audience and organise sessions to discuss your app idea. Encourage the participants to share their thoughts.

Join online communities and forums related to your business niche and participate in discussions. Such platforms have an active user base that can provide valuable insights.

By following these steps, you get an idea of the viability of your app and whether it is worth investing in or not. Refine your app idea based on the feedback collected.

To build and market your app, you need to know exactly who you are doing it for. Understanding your target audience will help you refine your app idea. Your app’s target audience could be the same as your business’s target audience or a little different. Here are the key factors you need to be confident about.

The demographics of your target audience will largely affect the UI/UX design and marketing of your app. For example, a kid’s app and an app made for college students will not look the same. Define characteristics such as age, gender, education, income level, and location.

Delve into the psychology and lifestyle aspects of your target audience. This includes their interests, values, and motivations. This information will help you set the tone and messaging of your app.

What exactly are you trying to solve or fulfil with your app? Identify your target users’ needs and challenges. Your app should provide satisfactory solutions to these issues.

Does your audience primarily use iOS or Android? Answering this will help you set development priorities and allocate resources.

Once you get an understanding of your target audience’s demographics and pyschographics, create a few user personas. These are fictitious representations of your ideal users, with details about their names, backgrounds, and behaviours. They will serve as a reference point for your developers.

By understanding these points, you will be able to create an app that resonates with your users.

Now that you know your audience, find out who stands in your way to reach them, i.e., your competitors. Why will people download your app if someone else is also doing the same, and much more efficiently? You must have a compelling answer to this question if you want your app to succeed.

There are two types of competitors you have to look out for:

Direct competitors are the ones who offer similar services or products to yours. Their apps are very similar to yours.

Indirect competitors have overlapping features with yours. They solve the same problem but in a different manner.

Once you create a list of your competitors, download and analyse their apps. Take note of their user interfaces, features, and overall user experience. Focus especially on what they do well and where they fall short.

After you have followed the above-mentioned steps, you will gain confidence in your app idea. Now conduct a SWOT analysis to understand where your app stands and the challenges it is likely to face.

Strengths: What is the USP of your app? It should be something that your competitors do not have and cannot easily replicate.

Weaknesses: What is something your app lacks? Figure out ways you can overcome those weaknesses.

Opportunities: Are there any potential opportunities in the market where your app can shine? Think of ways you can tap into those opportunities.

Threats: Are there any potential threats that can hinder your app’s success? Prepare for the worst.

By conducting a SWOT analysis, you will be able to create a precise marketing strategy that hits all the right points.

Now that your app concept is in place and you know what you are dealing with, start working on monetisation. How is your app going to generate revenue? There are many ways it can do that. Here are some of them:

Offer a free version of your app that has limited functionalities and a premium version that unlocks the complete app.

Create a subscription-based pricing structure where users have to pay a timely fee to access premium features.

By implementing ads, you can generate revenue through impressions, clicks, and conversions.

You can launch your app as a paid app on the marketplaces that users have to purchase to access.

Allow users to buy products, virtual goods, upgrades, or additional content within the app.

Once you have all of the above-mentioned data, compile it into a structured scope-of-work document. Share this document with expert mobile app developers in the UK, like MAD, to start your app development process. We will brainstorm with you, adding essential features, deciding on the right technology, and setting the timeframe.

Our comprehensive solutions provide you with defined pathways to help you navigate the overwhelming tech landscape. Allow us to guide you on this digital journey.

Contact MAD today to kickstart your mobile app development project.