In a world full of ideas for mobile apps, validating your idea will help you to save time, money, and effort. In this blog post we will describe why validation matters and take you through Six Steps to Validate your Mobile App idea before development.
Why Validation Matters
Building a mobile app for which there is limited demand, will automatically set you up to fail. As a startup entrepreneur, you should be rightly excited that you have devised a groundbreaking concept that is sure to be a success as a mobile application.
However before you opt for a large financial investment it is wise to ask yourself: Does my target audience actually need this app? By validating your idea before you embark on developing it ensures that you are creating something people want with significant potential demand.
This will also help you to avoid costly mistakes and in the long run give you a greater chance of success.
Here’s how you can do it.
Step 1: Identify the Problem You’re Solving
A successful mobile app will always aim to provide the best solution for a real problem. It is important that you clearly identify and define the exact problem you are hoping to solve with your mobile app. Remember if your idea doesn’t solve a pressing problem, it may struggle to gain traction.
3 Questions:
- What pain point does my app address?
- Who experiences this problem most?
- How are people currently solving it?
Step 2: Research the Market
A significant part of your app development journey will include market research. The core aspect you must focus on are if any similar apps already exist and if so, what are their strengths and weaknesses. Having competition is a good thing as it indicates demand. Your market research should reveal gaps that your idea can fill in profitably.
3 Questions:
- What are their features and services?
- What do users think of other apps? (reviews)
- How do they price their product or service?
Step 3: Define Your Target Audience
Knowing and understanding your target audiences is of critical importance to the success of your mobile app. You can use the internet and various forums and social media to gauge the key demographics of your proposed target audience.
4 Questions:
- What is their age, sex and location?
- What are their interests and behaviour?
- How often do they face the problem you are trying to solve?
- How do they access information? (what devices and platforms?)
Step 4: Build a Simple Prototype (MVP)
A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) can be described as a scaled-down basic version of your app that showcases its essential features only. An MVP app also provides you with the opportunity to obtain a deep understanding visually of your idea in action.
Step 5: Get Real User Feedback
By working with an experienced mobile app developer you can build an MVP version of your app to share with investors, friends, family to get their feedback and comments.
Obtaining MVP Feedback
- Share it on related social media forums and groups
- Create a landing page and observe the interest of those signing up
- Undertake a survey with tests users and interview them for improvements
Step 6: Test Demand with a Pre-Launch Campaign
Having completed the development of your app, prior to a mainstream commercial launch you should consider a pre-launch test run campaign.
How to Test Demand
- Consult paid advertising and digital marketing campaigns directed to a dedicated landing page
- Offer potential core users the opportunity to sign up for an early release
- Run a crowdfunding campaign (like Kickstarter) to jazz up interest and evaluate the potential of your completed mobile application
Conclusion
By validating your idea first, you’ll launch with confidence, attract investors, and increase your chances of success. A great idea isn’t enough, you need to know that there is a demand for your proposed app idea before spending your hard-earned money. Validating your valuable idea helps you to set up your expectations professionally and profitably, in advance.
