5 Mistakes Businesses Make When Creating an App

Without question, launching an app can either be a deeply exhilarating or deeply disappointing experience. Here are just a few key reasons why many apps fail, and why creating a winning application requires a great deal of planning on the part of entrepreneurs and developers.

1. The Idea for an App is Derivative

Whenever a product is successful, there can be little doubt that scores of companies will attempt to replicate that product's success. Unfortunately for most of those companies, consumers know a second-rate copy of a successful product when they see one. If an app can't stand up on its own merits, in other words, developers may want to rethink their business strategy. After all, the world doesn't need another carbon copy of Candy Crush Saga.

2. The App Hasn't Been Adequately Tested

The last thing that a consumer wants to discover an app that they've just downloaded is that the app doesn't work well (or at all) on their smartphone. Every company makes mistakes now and then, but user problems that arise due to laziness on the part of developers are rarely forgiven by the public.

This principle isn't just limited to technology: By way of comparison, look at the manner in which consumers reacted to the final season of the "Game of Thrones" television series. This is also why developers and businesses should always seek out QA services and other professional resources to make sure that their product launch will go according to plan.

3. The App's Creators are Not Passionate About Their Product

If there is one thing that is true about the business world, it is that uninspired products make for uninspired customers. To really capture the attention of the general public, entrepreneurs must feel passionate about their creations: As Steve Jobs once said, "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work."

4. The Developers Haven't Sought Out Unbiased Advice

For many individuals, seeking advice can sometimes be a painful process. In the world of business, however, seeking out unbiased advice is an essential step to success. Simply put, it's better to know upfront about any problems that an app might have.

5. Creators Haven't Considered Their Platform

In the age of smartphones and tablets, choosing the wrong platform for an app can sink a product before it is able to make headway in the market. And the differences between the Android and iOS platforms don't just come down to user interfaces: Entirely different markets engage with these platforms on a daily basis.

If you're aiming to make a big splash in Latin America's burgeoning tech scene, for example, you'll probably want to stick to Android development; conversely, Apple Inc.'s iOS platform is probably the platform you'll want to use if you're interested in breaking into the Western European market.

For these reasons, getting an app right before a product launch can mean the difference between success and a disheartening return to the drawing board. Fortunately, a bit of critical thinking and planning goes a long way in the world of app development.