Why is Market Research Crucial Before Mobile App Development?

After spending a lot of time brainstorming and having intense discussions, you’ve come up with an awesome mobile app idea. Congrats! Finding problems that people have and creating a mobile app to solve them is amazing. However many good businesses run into problems because they don’t do enough market research. 

To make sure your mobile app development succeeds, you need to do thorough market research. In this blog, we’ll talk about the important steps and strategies for doing market research so your mobile app idea can become a big success.

What is Mobile App Market Research & Why is it crucial?

Market research for mobile app development is essentially the process of gathering and analyzing information to make smart decisions about your app. 

Understanding Your Target Audience

• Is there a significant market for your app?
• Who are your ideal customers?
• What kind of competition exists for your app?
• What sets your app apart from the competition?
• What features do your customers value most?
• Will the app be free? Or will you charge users for it?
• What are the common pain points users face with existing apps?

Additionally, perform a SWOT analysis to gather detailed insights and change your custom mobile app development accordingly.

Benefits of Mobile App Market Research 

Market research helps you in a lot of ways which are given below

• The chances of app success are higher by identifying target audience needs and competitor weaknesses.
• Reduces costs by cutting unnecessary features.
• Optimizes marketing to attract the right users.
• Provides concrete data for informed decisions about features, pricing, and strategies.
• Reveals market gaps that you can fill.
• Ensures the app remains relevant and adaptable by staying updated on trends.

In essence, market research is an investment upfront that pays off in the long run. It equips you with the knowledge and insights needed to create a mobile app that users love and that beats the competition.

8 Pitfalls You Must Avoid Before Mobile App Development

Here are some things to avoid while doing market research for your mobile app:

2. Relying on assumptions: Don’t assume you know what users want or need. Gather real data through surveys, interviews, and user testing to gain an accurate understanding of user needs.

3. Focusing only on direct competitors: Look beyond apps that seem exactly like yours. Consider indirect competitors that solve similar problems, or those targeting the same audience with a different approach.

4. Sampling the wrong audience: Don’t just ask your friends and family. Get feedback from people who represent your actual target market. Look for diverse perspectives to avoid building an app with a limited appeal.

5. Ignoring negative feedback: Don’t be discouraged by negative feedback. It’s valuable information that can help you improve your app. Use it to identify areas where your concept needs work.

6. Skimping on research: Market research takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. Don’t rush the process or cut corners. The more comprehensive your research, the better your understanding of the market and user needs.

7. Focusing just on features: While features are important, prioritize user needs and pain points. Your research should help you understand the problems your app will solve, not just the features it will have.

8. Looking at outdated data: The mobile app market is constantly evolving. Make sure the data you’re using is current and reflects the latest trends and user behavior.

By avoiding these pitfalls, you can ensure your market research provides valuable insights to guide your mobile app development in the right direction.

Conducting Mobile App Market Research

Custom mobile app development requires analyzing your competition as a crucial step. It helps you understand the market landscape, identify opportunities to differentiate your app, and ultimately create a product that stands out.

Identify Your Competitors:

1. Direct Competitors

These are apps that offer similar functionalities and target the same audience as yours. Look for apps with overlapping features in your chosen category.

2. Indirect Competitors

Consider apps that address a broader problem your app can solve more specifically, even if they aren’t direct matches but cater to similar user needs in different ways.

Analyzing Competitor Apps 

1. Features and Functionality: 

Download and thoroughly explore your competitors’ apps. Identify the features they offer, how they function, and the user experience they provide. Identify the strengths and weaknesses in their approach.

2. User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX): 

Evaluate how user-friendly your competitors’ apps are. Are they easy to navigate? Is the design intuitive and aesthetically pleasing? Consider how you can improve upon their UI/UX design.

3. Monetization Strategy: 

How do your competitors generate revenue? Are their apps free with in-app purchases, subscription-based, or completely free? Analyze their pricing models and consider what might work best for your app.

4. Look Beyond the Apps:

Analyze how your competitors rank in app stores for relevant keywords. Research their app descriptions, screenshots, and reviews to understand their ASO (app store optimisation) strategies.

Explore your competitors’ websites and social media profiles. See how they market their apps, what kind of content they share, and how they engage with their audience.

5. Gather User Feedback:

Read reviews of your competitors’ apps on app stores. Pay attention to both positive and negative reviews to identify user pain points and areas for improvement.

6. Utilize Your Findings:

Based on your analysis, brainstorm ways to differentiate your app. Can you offer a unique feature set, a superior user experience, or a more competitive pricing model?

Analyze your competitors’ weaknesses and identify areas where you can improve upon their offerings.

Does your app idea stack up against the competition? Understanding the competitive landscape can help you refine your concept and ensure your app offers a compelling value proposition.

Conclusion

A successful app launch hinges on hard work and meticulous research—there are no shortcuts to achieving desirable results. However, you can always rely on trusted sources to make your journey smoother.

At Hashtechy, a leading mobile app development company, we pride ourselves on providing strategic solutions to help our clients achieve outstanding results.

If you’re ready to turn your idea into a top-notch app, we’re here to be a key contributor to your success.