1. CREATING A MOBILE APPLICATION

2. CREATING A MOBILE APPLICATION By Danielle Gatsos August, 2010 MCDM: UWSmartPhones

3. 1. PICK A PLATFORM

4. 1. PICK A PLATFORM Droid? Windows Mobile? iPhone , iPad ?

6. THE JARGON 3. GET TO KNOW

7. The more GeekSpeak you know in the mobile industry the better. Visit the UW Smartphones website and familiarize yourself. THE JARGON 3. GET TO KNOW

8. Understand What Makes Apps Successful 4. PICK A CONCEPT

9. Understand What Makes Apps Successful 4. PICK A CONCEPT For this slideshow, we’re gonna talk Mac

10. BE THE DOVE IN A STORE OF PIGEONS

11. There are 1,000’s of apps in the app store. BE THE DOVE IN A STORE OF PIGEONS

12. What will make yours STAND OUT? There are 1,000’s of apps in the app store. BE THE DOVE IN A STORE OF PIGEONS

13. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS 1.Does your App solve a unique problem? ~Jen Gordon , Smashing Magazine

14. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS 1.Does your App solve a unique problem? “ Figure out what sucks, and how your app can make the life of its user more comfortable.” ~Jen Gordon , Smashing Magazine

15. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS 2. Does your App serve a specific niche? Smashing Magazine

16. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS 2. Does your App serve a specific niche? Find a passionate niche audience (i.e. dog lovers) and watch your app go viral. Passionate people spread the word. Smashing Magazine

17. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS 3. Are you building a better wheel? Smashing Magazine

18. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS 3. Are you building a better wheel? You may essentially be doing the same thing as other apps, but you must do it better. Smashing Magazine

19. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS Smashing Magazine 4. Is your app sticky enough to warrant return visits?

20. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS Smashing Magazine 4. Is your app sticky enough to warrant return visits? Attention spans are short. Make sure you’re engaging your user enough by encouraging participation.

21. 5. RESEARCH YOUR COMPETITION What are their core functionalities?

22. What are their core functionalities? How are you going to do it better ? 5. RESEARCH YOUR COMPETITION

23. 6. USER EXPERIENCE

24. 6. USER EXPERIENCE Using your app should be ‘ as easy as pie.’

25. SUCCESSFUL APPS ARE: 6. USER EXPERIENCE

26. FAST SUCCESSFUL APPS ARE: 6. USER EXPERIENCE

27. FAST SIMPLE SUCCESSFUL APPS ARE: 6. USER EXPERIENCE

28. FAST SIMPLE EFFECTIVE SUCCESSFUL APPS ARE: 6. USER EXPERIENCE

29. 4. Nobody wants to dig through layers, icons, or prompts to get where they need to go. 6. USER EXPERIENCE

30. Easy Navigation is Key. Nobody wants to dig through layers, icons, or prompts to get where they need to go. 6. USER EXPERIENCE

31. Get familiar with Interface G uidelines and Usability. 4. 6. USER EXPERIENCE

32. Get familiar with Interface G uidelines and Usability. 4. List at least 5 features you’d incorporate in your own app. 6. USER EXPERIENCE

33. Play with the Top 10 apps. 4. Smashing Magazine 6. USER EXPERIENCE

34. Play with the Top 10 apps. 4. How do they navigate? Smashing Magazine 6. USER EXPERIENCE

35. Play with the Top 10 apps. 4. How do they navigate? How are they organized? Smashing Magazine 6. USER EXPERIENCE

36. Play with the Top 10 apps. 4. How do they navigate? How are they organized? How much info do they have? Smashing Magazine 6. USER EXPERIENCE

37. Play with the Top 10 apps. 4. How do they navigate? How are they organized? How much info do they have? Smashing Magazine How do they take advantage of the unique characteristics smartphones offer (GPS, touch, etc.)? 6. USER EXPERIENCE

38. FIND YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE Predict what they will want to do. 6. USER EXPERIENCE

39. FIND YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE EX: If Your App is a GAME users will want to beat their high scores, or new users may need guidance and encouragement to keep playing. Predict what they will want to do. 6. USER EXPERIENCE

40. FIND YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE EX: If Your App is a UTILITY think about how or where the task will be completed in real life, what will happen when the task is completed? Predict what they will want to do. 6. USER EXPERIENCE

41. FIND YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE Figure out what types of people will use your app. Don’t leave anyone out, and create live scenarios for testing. Predict what they will want to do. 6. USER EXPERIENCE

42. SKETCH YOUR INTERFACE 6. USER EXPERIENCE

43. SKETCH YOUR INTERFACE 1. What info will be on each screen? 6. USER EXPERIENCE

44. SKETCH YOUR INTERFACE 1. What info will be on each screen? 2. How will you guide your users? 6. USER EXPERIENCE

45. SKETCH YOUR INTERFACE 1. What info will be on each screen? 2. How will you guide your users? 3. How should items be displayed? 6. USER EXPERIENCE

46. YOU CAN BUY THE IPHONE STENCIL KIT TO AID THIS PROCESS. TO CREATE A DIGITAL VERSION CHECK OUT iPLOTZ . 6. USER EXPERIENCE

47. Designers: Download the iPhone GUI Photoshop Template of the PSD Vector Kit. 6. USER EXPERIENCE

48. Developers: Get involved early so designers know what’s feasible and what isn’t. 6. USER EXPERIENCE

49. Not a Designer or Developer? Find mobile interface pros on sites like Coroflot , Crowdspring , and eLance . 6. USER EXPERIENCE

50. 7. THE APP STORE Ask your developer to do the following: 1. Create your Certificates 2. Define App IDs 3. Create your Distribution Provisioning Profile 4. Prepare Application 5. Upload iTunes Connect

51. 8. PROMOTION Get involved in Social Media. Set up fan pages and start creating hype about your app to your target market(s).

52. Contact Friends and Family. Create email lists and start spreading the word on your app. You may be surprised how fast 20 people turns to 2000. Smashing Magazine #2 8. PROMOTION

53. Prepare for Multiple Releases 8. PROMOTION

54. Prepare for Multiple Releases Save some features for future releases. It will take too long to get your dream list on the market. Multiple releases also give an opportunity for more promo down the line. 8. PROMOTION

55. Prepare for a Huge Launch. 8. PROMOTION

56. Prepare for a Huge Launch. Exploit all resources including, online PR, App review panels, niche networks, social media, to build launch anticipation. 8. PROMOTION

57. KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING If you have a great app, following these steps are guaranteed to bring you mobile app success .