Connor BrookeToday, mobile application development technology is evolving at a very shocking pace. However, in a market where quality and performance always come before brand loyalty, creating a fluid user experience (UX) is key to the success of any mobile app development project.
User experience is becoming an increasingly crucial feature when it comes to the digital landscape. It defines how the user feels and thinks about your product from his or her own perspective. It is about making something valuable, easy to use and effective for your target market. If your app is confusing or frustrating, then it is providing a poor UX, and users will likely uninstall or abandon it in a heartbeat.
Therefore, there is a need to adopt a user-centered approach to mobile application development that gives emphasis to the needs of target users. Improved UX translates into several key benefits for the companies that provide it, and here are some of them:
1. Loyal User Base :
Everyone has the experience of using an app with lots of bugs and errors, complexities, frustrating interactions and unexpected behaviors. The truth is that, a poorly designed application reduces customer loyalty. Users won’t have a high tolerance for unstable applications and nothing can turn them away faster than a bad first impression. You may not be able to foster a lasting relationship with users. On the contrary, a good user experience can create the kind of loyalty that keeps people coming back for more, increasing engagement. Giving users a reason to return by being engaging and useful is one of the ways to enhance UX and encourage member loyalty. This leaves a positive first impression on the user and gives them a sense of value for having downloaded your app.
2. Reduce Support Costs :
A well-designed app can save you money and time. Consumers regularly struggle with simple issues that solutions can easily be found on a well-designed app. Mobile applications give customers a way to not only find solutions but to connect with your business 24/7, irrespective of where they are. They can offer direct personal calls with sales people, access to a help desk, live chat and even provide on-going support to customers.
You can save a lot of money as you do not need to hire as many help desk staff. Also, users won’t waste as much time asking for help. The app can provide all the information a customer needs on your company and products instantly, and in turn, will result in a higher level of engagement with your brand.
3. Increased Customer Satisfaction :
Customer satisfaction is one of the keys to running a successful business. Success in any industry is often measured by the number of satisfied customers. The better experience you provide for your clients, the more satisfied they will be – and the opposite is true. The worse experience you create for your customers, the more frustrated they will become with your offering. They will rarely recommend your product to their friends and relatives. The same applies to mobile applications.
If people do not like your app or do not use it, chances are users’ expectations aren’t being met or not enough value is being offered. So if you make an app that frustrates or annoys those, chances are your application will be deleted and get bad reviews.
The most common reason why users might abandon or delete an app is poor user experience. This includes heavy battery usage, slow responsiveness, too many ads and so forth. If an app can’t provide a positive first impression, it is probably going to frustrate users and it is likely going to be deleted.
4. Increased Sales :
A well-designed app will have increased traffic, transactions, and conversations. These apps will attract and keep more clients who will buy more products and leave positive feedback. Happy customers often spread the word to their friends and families. Users won’t share your app if it fails to meet their expectations. They also review your application online, which plays an important role in convincing other potential users to download the application. Also, the reviews reflect the current user satisfaction with the application. Remember online reviews is a trusted sources of information, and building trust with users is a key component in ensuring that more people download and use the app.
Providing a great experience helps promote positive word of mouth, thereby increasing sales. Again, it leads to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty, and thus repeat business. User-centered designed also minimizes the number of bug fixes and maintenance needs that often surfaces after launching an app. Identifying glitches in advance can save thousands if not millions of dollars on app updates in the future.
5. It Gives You an Edge Over the Competition:
It is nearly impossible to stand out in a crowd of well over a million. As of July 2015, Android users, for example, were able to choose more from than 1.6 million applications. Apple Store is the second largest app store after Play Store with over 1.5 million apps. It is important that your app stands out from the rest. However, making your product stand out in a saturated market is not as easy as you think.
While there are a lot of tricky gimmicks that you can try to make your app noticeable, you need to involve the user from the beginning in order to succeed. You have to make sure your item is user-friendly – before anything else. Users are attracted to apps that can provide them with what they really want.
Final Thoughts :
A well-thought-through mobile solution needs to conform to your overall digital strategy, offering a seamless and unmatched user experience. This means that the functionality and content that are delivered on your app must be in line with what your target audience actually wants. Regardless of the function or purpose of your app, the end product must provide a superior quality user experience. If you are unable to provide a quality mobile experience, you could be doing more harm than good to your reputation.
Read more:
- FormMule Review – A Drag-and-Drop Form Builder For Business
- Best Dating Apps: Top 20 to Find your Perfect Match Today
This article was written for Business 2 Community by Connor Brooke.
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Nice post Kimber. I’d like to dwell a bit on the point related to customer support. I agree that having support built within the app can help save on costs and can also be more convenient for both the developer and the app users. Both parties can interact without having to leave the app and issues can be resolved quickly. We have recently launched a support desk (www.devcontact.com) that performs these exact functions. The developers who have integrated this solution to their apps have confirmed that they have witnessed a happier and more loyal app user base. Moreover, like you mentioned in an earlier article of your’s, having a simple yet attractive user interface is also key to user retention. Great post!