You finally did it – you had the perfect idea for the app or software that will mean a major breakthrough for your company. You can already see how people will love using it and all of the amazing benefits it will bring to everyone involved. It’s fantastic! If only there was a quick way to get that idea from your head and make it a fully functional reality!
Except there isn’t – a fast lane, that is. There isn’t a shortcut to success when it comes to software development. So, can you turn your idea into a reality? Well, you can get the aid of the best nearshore development team you can hire and follow the method below that will iron out any potential issues you may find along the way while making it easier for you to get the app or software of your dreams.
Let’s review the road to success!
1 – Write down everything about the idea
One of the first things you have to do is write down everything that you can think about your idea. What is it about? Are there any other apps or software like it in the market? What are its main features? And what about some extra features you might want to add? Be as thorough as possible when writing this, as whatever you write at this point will serve as a guide throughout development. Whenever you lose your horizon or can’t remember something in particular, you’ll be coming back to these notes to make everything clear. If needed, write and rewrite all the answers to those questions until you get a clear picture.
2 – Research your market
You have a vague idea about some of the defining characteristics of the market you’re about to enter. Now it’s time to check those assumptions against reality. Conducting market research in the first stages of development is key to avoid distortions and misconceptions along the way. It’s highly likely that you’ll see that some of your assumptions are plain wrong or aren’t as accurate as you initially thought. Complete market research can show you who your competitors actually are, how many viable options for your idea are available, and even help you identify unfulfilled needs in the niche you are interested in.
3 – Create a buyer’s persona
Knowing your audience is also an essential step you have to take in the first stages of your app or software development. Again, you might imagine a certain kind of person that might end up being your target audience only to find out that, in reality, your main users are entirely different. You have to be as detailed as possible in creating the buyer’s persona – that is, your ideal customer. Research everything about the kind of people that might be interested in your idea, from where they live and what’s their age to their interests, professions, income, and any other data you can get your hands on. All of that will allow you to create a profile that will come in handy when designing the app, the tone of its branding and marketing itself.
4 – Be sure you know how you’ll earn money
Unless you’re willing to spend a lot of time working with nearshore development services to end up giving away your app or software for free, you have to get your monetization strategy clear from the start. There are several ways you can get money when your idea is turned into a reality: subscriptions, in-app purchases, ads, partnerships with other services. Maybe the research itself can show you which is the best strategy to follow, be it because everyone is successfully using a strategy or, on the contrary, because no one is.
5 – Create the first sketch
Now that you have all the foundations for your idea, it’s time to get some real work done! The first step? Creating your first sketch. In it, you’ll draw your initial approach to design, interface, and features. Don’t try to get it perfect the first time around, as you surely will change a lot during development and once you start working with the nearshore software development team. Be realistic and make a sketch in the best possible way, as it will surely guide the first stages of development.
6 – Get in touch with the right developers
After all the foundations are done and you have a clearer idea of where you want to go, it’s time to start talking to the people that will get the job done. Here, it’s best if you do online research and consider several candidates that can work with you in your project. Take the time to learn about their past work, how they are perceived by their former clients, and what experience they might have with products that are similar to the ones you want to build. Pay attention to what these providers suggest when you present them your idea, as you can get really good insights from experienced people. Finally, don’t dismiss the possibility to outsource the development. That’s especially true for nearshore software outsourcing, as this can bring significant benefits and expertise to your project.
7 – Start development
Once you’ve screened your software developers and decided to go with one of them, it’s time to start the app or software development. One of the first things you have to do is complete the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to get the full picture of how the final product will be. Here, you have to decide how to arrange all the elements that make up the final product and even cut out the ones that don’t make sense or that are just adding noise to the whole thing. Listen to the development team suggestions, as they surely have some insight on how to improve it all.
After you have it all mapped out, let the developers start working on the app or software. Be sure to ask the team to present you with a plan with specific deadlines so you can monitor the progress. The development will have several stages that will have plenty of room for you to test the product and provide feedback as development is underway.
8 – Test and launch
The development stages will take significant time, especially if your feature list is comprehensive or complex. However, it’s better if you take the time to get it all done right and properly. In other words, you should take enough time to test everything as many times as needed, so you are sure that the app or software actually works before rolling it out on the market. Once you’re happy with the results, it’ll be time to launch it. You can do that through your website, a third-party store, or both. Alongside that launch, you’ll have to put your marketing machine at work to promote your new creation. Here, you should tackle a combined approach that uses social media, SEM, SEO, PR wires, email marketing and everything you can think of that can get the buzz going around your new product.
The final step
Once your app or software is on the market, you can’t consider your job is done. In fact, it’s just begun! The marketing efforts will have to be ongoing to keep your idea alive and well. Additionally, the development team will have to be open to hear user feedback and work on any changes or improvements. There might be problems you couldn’t control before launch, room for new features you overlooked, or patches that need to be issued.
Taking your idea from the depths of your mind to the users isn’t something easy. You have to work a lot in each of the stages defined above, rework a lot of things as you go, be open to change direction mid-development, and keep the work going even once the product is on the streets. It takes effort, time, and money, but if you play your cards right and follow these steps, you’ll be closer to have a winning product in your hands.
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Founder Dinis Guarda
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