Mobile apps have become our everyday companions. Development companies and developers are always on the lookout for a way to make their apps stand above the rest. But there is one thing that has remained constant over the years. Do you know what it is?
It is the importance of user experience in app development. But why is it important in modern app development?
Imagine you’re a manufacturer and are creating a product. What is the most important thing that you’ll consider for the success of your product? It would obviously be how well your product is perceived by the end users.
It is the same for modern app development. Every company, developer, and other stakeholders want their app to succeed. It isn’t easy, especially when the competition is as fierce as the mobile app world. To put things in perspective, there are more than 2 million apps each on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
This makes user experience even more important for the success of an app. User experience is the overall experience that a user has when using or interacting with a mobile app. It includes everything from user interaction to behaviors. Let’s understand it better.
Understanding User Experience (UX)
In modern app development, user experience has a crucial role to play. It is what determines the success of the app. An app designed with user experience in mind for each interaction is bound to perform well. As compared to an app that is designed only keeping aesthetics in mind.
A positive user experience can significantly increase user retention and satisfaction. While negative user experience can lead to user frustration and abandonment. You only have one shot to make an impression through your app. Because uninstall rate is very high on the first day. This means that users don’t even give a second thought before uninstalling an app if it doesn’t meet their expectations.
To make sure that your app offers a positive and good user experience, you must focus on factors such as;
- Responsiveness
- Intuitive Design
- Seamless Navigation
- Optimized Performance
- Accessibility & Inclusivity
By focusing on these factors, you can create an app that caters to a wider user base.
UX is, has been and will remain a critical aspect of mobile app development. This is because it directly affects the overall performance and in turn the success of the app. However, understanding the user’s needs and prioritizing their preferences can help you deliver exceptional user experiences. An experience that leads to higher user satisfaction.
But wait, aren’t UX and UI the same? As much as they are used interchangeably, they are not the same. Here’s a simple explanation;
The UI for your mobile app is like the paint job on your car. It makes your app look visually appealing and attracts audiences toward it. On the other hand, the UX for your mobile app is how smooth your car actually runs. Meaning, UI can attract audience but not retain them, UX is what empowers audiences to keep using an app.
Now that you have the basic understanding of UX, let’s figure out why is it important in modern app development.
Why Is UX Important In Mobile App Development?
As we’ve already established, UX directly impacts the success of a mobile app. Here are 5 reasons why UX is important for the success of your mobile app.
1- User Satisfaction
A seamless and enjoyable experience means that the users are more likely to be satisfied with the product. This satisfaction leads to increased user retention and loyalty.
2- Engagement & Retention
Good user experience encourages users to spend more time on the app. This provides them with the opportunity to explore more of its features and functionalities, increasing engagement. This increased engagement helps lower customer churn rate.
3- Competitiveness
As mentioned earlier, the modern app market has become super competitive. This is where having superior user experience can give your app an advantage. A positive user experience also improves the chances of your app being popular among the audience.
4- Better Performance
User experience directly impacts the performance of the app as well. Modern users want the apps they use to be fast, responsive, and highly functional. An app designed focusing on UX can optimize the performance ultimately increasing app functionality and responsiveness.
5- Improved Brand Image
A well perceived and user friendly app always reflects positively on the brand behind its success. It elevates the brand in the audience’s eye. Conveying a sense of professionalism and fostering the brand’s user centric approach. All of this contributes toward developing a positive image of your brand.
By prioritizing user experience, you can create apps that not only resonate with the users but also stand out in the competitive marketplace.
If you are looking to develop an app that is user friendly, you must follow the app development best practices for UX as outlined below.
Best Practices For UX
By following these best practices, you can make sure that your app is easy to use, intuitive, and enjoyable.
1- Mobile First Designs
Modern mobile app development is all about mobile first designs. This means designing the app for all types of screens, small and large. The apps must also have touch based navigation and mobile specific functionalities.
2- Speed Matters
Mobile apps must always be optimized for speed and performance. This makes sure that the users’ expectations are met. Since users want the apps to load quickly and respond immediately to their actions.
3- Feedback
Always make sure that the app you design provides feedback to the users for the actions they perform. The feedback can be visual like animations and progress bars or other cues such as haptic feedback and sounds.
4- Minimize User Input
Modern app development demands apps to reduce user input. This means using default settings, autofill, and any other features that can reduce the need for manual input.
Now you know what to focus on when developing a mobile app. It is only fair if you also read about what to avoid during the development process.
Common UX Mistakes To Avoid
As a mobile app developer or a business owner looking to get a mobile app made, you must avoid these common UX mistakes. These mistakes can affect your app negatively and lead to poor user experience and engagement.
1- Overlapping
Overlapping means overloading the mobile app with features and information. This makes the app confusing and difficult to use. Completely going against the UX best practices for mobile app development.
2- Ignoring User Feedback
User feedback is the best QA you can have. It is important for improving the user experience. If you decide to ignore user feedback, it can lead to poor user experience and reduced engagement.
3- Inconsistent Design
The design and functionality should always be consistent throughout the app. Inconsistent design can cause confusion and make it harder for the user to navigate through the app. An app must always provide a seamless experience, assisting users in the actions they want to perform.
4- Poor Performance
If your mobile app takes longer than 3 seconds to load, users will abandon the app. The ideal load time for your app should always be around 2 seconds. If your app doesn’t load within 3 seconds, this is an indicator of poor performance.
Even at 3 seconds the abandonment rate increased by 32%. This shows that poor performance leads to user frustration, reduced engagement, and ultimately abandonment.
If you have come this far, you deserve to be rewarded. Here’s your reward;
Pro Tip To Increase User Engagement
Increased user engagement means higher user satisfaction and higher satisfaction is an indicator of positive user experience. But how can you make sure to provide an unforgettable user experience, every time a user visits your app?
You can do that by using visuals and multimedia elements in the app. However, these elements must not be used randomly. They should be used to convey information in a visually appealing and engaging manner.
5 Steps For Successful UX Design Implementation
As you already know, implementing UX design in mobile app development is crucial. If you’re wondering how to implement it, here are 5 steps you can follow;
- Understand user needs and behavior through research.
- Visualize your app’s layout and user flow with wireframes and prototypes.
- Design accurate mockups that illustrate the app’s UI and UX.
- Test the app by making it available to a select few users and then incorporate the feedback in the app design and development process.
- Always conduct A/B testing. It helps optimize the app for performance and increase conversions.
Let’s Bring Your Vision To Reality!
If you are looking for a mobile app for your business or have an idea for a mobile app, please feel free to reach out to us. Our expert mobile app developers are the best of the best. They’ll make sure to understand your vision and create an app that not only meets your expectations but also satisfies your audience’s needs.
Contact Seattle Software Developers today!
