engage your app users

1. Start with the problem.
   
   Define the problem you are trying to solve for users of your app. Research the problem online to identify how many other people have a similar one. Then follow it up by trying to qualify and quantify the problem. If there is a lot of information online with quantifiable data, then surely there will be solutions addressing it too. Look for solutions to this problem as the next steps, they could be possible competitors in your space.
   
   If there aren’t many solutions to the problem online, then the chances are you could be on the right path. Next, share the problem with the people you know and trust, while offering them the solution, through your mobile app. Ask if they’ll pay for a solution, if you offered it to them. This group of people would become your base sample Now reason out the opportunity around solving the problem and is it worthwhile moving ahead in terms of time, effort and money. If your mobile app solves a problem that almost everyone has (maybe 90% of your sample group), then you are onto something big. However, if your app solves the problem of only a fraction of your sample (less than 30%), then its better you reconsider your mobile app plans (Read: The 100 best Android apps of 2018 (May))
   
   
2. Review your target audience and their needs
   
   Identifying the right target audience for your mobile app is key to your apps success. Start by creating your audience persona’s, their problems, their needs and list out the solutions you’ll be providing through your app. Also identify why they could be interested and how they will download your app. Remember people are bombarded with app download requests and are resistant to downloading new apps unless they are absolutely benefitted from it. Make sure your app is sticky enough with ux and features that are compelling for the target audience to engage continuously. (Read: 5 Mobile App Features Your Customers Want )
   
   
3. Research the trending features
   
   Review your feature list and then play around with all the popular apps on your smartphone. If you like a similar feature that you noticed on other apps, prioritize it in your list. Identify the other features you like and that will be relevant to your mobile app’s target audience. Do a google search on the most trending features and add them to your bucket list while prioritizing the features
   
   
4. Brainstorming Mobile app features
   
   Once you have identified the trending features, prioritize your feature list from the point of view of your mobile app go-to-market (GTM). Brainstorm with your development team and categorize the features as “Must have”, “Nice to Have” and “Really Cool” features from your target audience’s perspective. Give the features a score with the highest been given to the features required on app launch as part of your MVP-minimal viable product (Examples of Minimum Viable Product). The other features (“Nice to have” and “Really Cool”) could be added to the app in a phased manner
   
   
5. How will you monetize the app?
   
   There are a number of ways you could monetize your app. Monetization options would largely depend on whether your app is in the Business to Business (B2B) or Business to Consumer (B2C) space( Difference Between B2B and B2C Mobile Apps ). This is because the monetization approach is different for each.
   
   B2B apps are usually monetized from businesses paying the app owner for usage of the app. The universal model followed is on a per user app download. Pricing for each app download is entirely dependent on the app owner structuring the pricing for businesses
   
   B2C apps app monetization models are quite a few- through in app Ads, Freemium, In-app purchase, subscriptions, etc. One point to remember here is monetization is worthwhile only when your app has thousands of downloads and is sticky with users. (Read: Mobile App Monetization Strategies)
   
   
6. Focus on UI, UX and on User friendliness
   
   User experience is a key aspect to mobile apps success in terms of stickiness. Story board your end user experience, write the experience as simple steps. Break down the user experiences as user workflows. These are your app user stories. Further break down each user storying to a feature and its requirements. The thumb rule is for your app user, consuming minimum clicks to access a feature. (Read: 10 Do’s and Don’ts of Mobile UX Design)
   
   
7. Beta Launch & Sampling Customer Review
   
   A Beta app launch is one that is prior to the actual app launch to the users. In the Beta launch you’ll need to make the app available to your sample base and users who are ready to be your first customers (pre-launch users). Have them use your app and give you feedback on the features. The data from the Beta launch users is critical to the success of your app. Get all feature related issues sorted and have your sample group re-experience the app. If all is well then go ahead with the app launch
   
   
8. Creating user stickiness on your mobile app
   
   This is a challenging part for all mobile app entrepreneurs where perception differs from real user experiences. Unfortunately, app stickiness can be known only after the app is launched. Post launch and your first set of real customers contribute vital information on how users are engaged on your app. If there are a lot of engagement drop offs, post app download or you notice that app engagement is reducing over time, then you need to rework on your app features. Identify at what levels/screens the engagement stops and that’s when you’ll need to tweak the feature to improve on engagement (Read: Making Your App Sticky From the Start)
   
   
9. Tuning into the “Voice of the Customer”
   
   Voice of the customer or VOC for your mobile app are the reviews that users leave for you on the app stores. These reviews need to be checked regularly and lets you understand what your app users want in the app. A score of above 4 stars on the app store is considered as a very good app and spells success for you. Lesser than 4 stars would mean you need to work on improving your app features
   
   
10. How does Vaayoo help with your app features?
    
    Vaayoo iterates your feature requirements from concept to wireframes to final UX designs translating them into development. Launch. Iterate for subsequent versions. Rinse and repeat the process. This approach ensures you’ll always have the most optimized feature rich mobile app available for your users.