For any business, small, medium, or large, a web app is the most effective way of interacting with potential clients and customers.

However, not all web apps are the same. If your web application does not appeal to the users, they are not likely to continue using it.

In fact, 38% of users stop using website applications if the layout does not appeal to them.

Everyone loves a web app which comes with a nice interface design and is functional — be it the business owner or the user. On the other hand, very few know how to make a functional app. We are not talking about the coding complexities here, rather their approach towards developing the app.

If you already have an app idea in mind, this guide will be really handy for you. We have put together seven tips that will make the web development process easier than you imagined. 

7 Tips to make a web app

Before we delve into the tips, let’s be clear that this is not a coding manual. We will discuss the seven most important factors that app developers often miss out on or fail to understand.

The goal is to make the web app as user-friendly as possible without cutting down on important functionalities.

There is also a marketing component to any website application. If your domain is already saturated, you need to break the mold and do something new.

So without wasting time, let’s dive into the seven tips to make a web app. 

1. Do a market research

When it comes to the fundamentals, a web app is a product that you are trying to sell. If many people find your application helpful, it will be a success. On the contrary, even technically perfect web apps will be a failure if people do not find much value in them. So before you start developing your application, research its market potential.

When you are doing market research, take into account what needs and demands are on the rise. Then think of ways to meet these demands through a web app. If you can identify a scarcity and capitalize on it, you will soon have a product that everyone wants.

Another important element of market research is finding ways to promote your web app. Here again, you will have to identify a particular problem and the demographics of the people who want a solution to it. Once you have identified who these people are, you can target your promotions at this group. Promoting your app is crucial since people need to know about it first to start using it.

2. Analyze competition

While competition analysis can be a part of market research, it has some distinct elements that deserve separate mention.

When you are analyzing competition, you also have a chance of noting what they are doing right. At the same time, you can also figure out their flaws and work on them.

Your competitors will greatly influence how you design and develop your app. You will need to find an edge-something that is lacking in your competitors. If you are offering the same product as everyone else, people would rather prefer the one they are familiar with. When launching a new web app, you have to ensure that it is unique and not a carbon copy of other web apps.

However, you must not overdo it in attempting to break out of the mold. If you end up making something so unique that people are intimated to use it, your application will be a failure. 

3. Design your web app with a purpose

The first thing about your web app that people will notice is its design. If you get all the design elements right, half the race is won.

With respect to web app development, design is a vast subject that deserves detailed study. It is not possible to sum up everything about it in a few words and you would need skills and expertise to get it right.

Do not overdo useful elements in your web app. For example, tabs are an extremely useful feature for easy navigation. However, if you use too many tabs your application will look more cluttered than anything else.

You must also label everything correctly. Keep in mind that people of varied competency levels will use your application. If you label things correctly, anyone from a child to an aged person can use your app. You would not want to assume any level of competency from the user. Provide all necessary guidelines in the design itself to make it easy for everyone.

Do not compromise on the design of your web app to save cost or time. In the long run, you’ll lose more than what you gain, so you need to consider all the factors, that impact cost of app development.

4. Pay attention to texts

The words you use in your web app user interface will make a world of difference. Steer clear from using any tech jargon that a layman won’t understand. How you structure the words and sentences also have a great impact which we often overlook.

Writing copies for a web app is not easy, considering that it has to be both short yet explanatory. If you clutter your web app with too much text, it will become visually unpleasant. The challenge is to communicate as much information as you can using as few words as possible.

Text in a web app has to have a universal appeal. Using internet slang or informal words is usually not a good idea. However, if you can be quirky while maintaining a degree of universal appeal, it can work wonders. 

5. Have a standardized process

There are multiple web app building architectures out there, and using too many of them will cause major problems. The first problem will show up when a new developer joins your team or an old one leaves. If each of them has expertise in different architectures, maintaining your app will become a hassle.

Maintaining a web app is more crucial than launching it. If you are using different architectures, the next developer would have problems with repairing and troubleshooting. 

For example, if you are using both TypeScript and JavaScript, you might encounter problems with issues like JavaScript email validation. Maintaining a standardized structure will make the development process faster and easier. You have to choose a web development architecture based on your goals and needs. The most important thing is to stick to your choice of architecture. 

6. Prioritize security on your web app

When people are using your web app, you are dealing with user information. For web apps with payment gateways, user information is even more sensitive. Ensuring security is mandatory for any web app. If you do not prioritize security, a cyber attack on your web app can ruin your reputation.

You can ensure top-notch security by having a trained team of developers. These developers have to work in tandem to make sure there are no threats or vulnerabilities. It is an intensive task and demands specialized skills.

A viable alternative is to outsource the work to a cybersecurity firm. These firms have competent teams working round the clock to keep your website secure. 

While it may seem like an unnecessary investment, it is indeed the most important investment for the long-term success and growth of your web apps. 

7. Encourage users to leave feedback and work on them

Creating a web app is a continuous process. It does not stop once the application is up and running. Apart from routine maintenance, it is also important to take user experience into account.

Always keep a feedback option in all your web applications. Make the feedback option easy to use and simple. If you want people to fill out a survey, many will ignore it. Instead, choose something less time-consuming and easy to do.

Getting feedback is the first step. You also need to take this feedback into account when you make changes to your web app. 

Remember that your users determine the success or failure of your application. Respect their opinion and try to incorporate as much as feasible.

Make a conscious effort to persuade users to leave feedback. Remember that only negative feedback will give you room for growth. When you get any negative feedback, assess it from every perspective to see what can be done.

Receiving feedback and working on it also makes your web app future-proof. You need to keep up with both changing technology and human needs. If you are using outdated technology or design, people would no longer find your application engaging. 

Constant feedback tells you what people want and what are the prevailing trends. It is crucial to pay close attention to every single feedback you get. 

Conclusion

As you can understand by now, creating a web app is not easy. You need skills in every domain, be it technology, marketing, or customer interaction. 

We get a good web app only when all these elements work together. Pay equal attention to every point, and your web app will be on its path to success.

 Author bio

Atreyee Chowdhury works full-time as a Content Manager with a Fortune 1 retail giant. 

Do you want to engage your target audience with informative and engaging content? You can reach her at [email protected] for any content writing/copywriting requirements. She is passionate about writing and helped many businesses achieve their content marketing goals with her compelling content. She loves to read, travel, and experiment with different cuisines in her free time.