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“What makes a good mobile app? In general, it’s not whether you download it but whether you keep using it.”

-CNN Tech

There are numerous guides to app creation available on the web (google app design advice). To make life a little bit easier I've searched through some of the most influential articles, reliable websites and industry experts and compiled the following list of tips based on the highest trending topics.

Tip one: Keep It Simple (Idea)

Vensi – a US based mobile solution company say “The intent of a mobile application should be clear and concise.[...] Applications that try to do too much usually do nothing well.” Basically – An app that does one thing well will be more successful than anything else!

Tip two: Keep It Simple (Use)

Apps should be easy to use the first time they’re opened. Bite digital (a UK mobile dev company) believe that “Apps need to [be] usable and functional as well as entertaining, fun to use or useful.”

ADDITIONALLY: Apps don’t have to use all the bells and whistles. US digital developers Intridea point out “ the more stuff that gets packed [in will] results in more complexity, higher upfront development costs, and longer time to get to market.”

Tip three: Make It Useful

“[A great app will] allow you to do something that is especially important or rewarding to you -- organize your schedule, keep up with friends, take pictures, get directions to a location, read an e-book, browse the Web or play a favorite game.” -CNN Tech

A good example of a simple and useful app was created by NUS Extra. It simply provides information about offers and discounts that can be obtained with the card. It was downloaded by 50,000 students in the 1st month.

Tip four: Consider: Is It An App?

New web technologies such as Responsive CSS and HTML 5 mean that web sites can act like mobile apps.

Intridea believe we “must carefully weigh the need for a native app against browser-based apps that will serve a broader audience before making a final [desision to avoid] multi-platform roll-outs which often mean bigger budget requirements and increased complexity.”

ASK: Is this something our website could do?

Intridea give the following advice: “Get in the mind of current users of your product, site, or service in the physical and online world and focus on creating an entirely new user experience that it is best suited for mobile.”

About the author

Joe Dix is a digital marketer working in the third sector and the creater of dixign. Joe is obsessed with digital psychology and motivation, designing web sites and blogging. He is running the London Marathon next year - find out more at the dixign Marathon Blog using the link below (it's good).

Check out the dixign marathon blog. | You should follow him on twitter.

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