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Owning a mobile app isn’t easy, but no one ever said it would be. You will be asked to not only build a mobile app that attracts users, but also an app that caters to the user’s feedback with proper maintenance well beyond the official release of the mobile app.
While most mobile app owners will invest the right amount of time and money in building the app, a majority will neglect maintaining the app with updates and new features.
Following this business plan might lead to a successful release, but it won’t see any growth or improvement over time. If you’re looking to build a sustainable mobile app that continues to surprise users time and time again, you’ll need an effective maintenance strategy set in place well before releasing the app.
Since so many app owners fail to understand the importance behind proper mobile app maintenance, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about this crucial step in the process.
What Exactly Are We Maintaining?
If you’ve never owned a mobile app before, it’s important you understand why app maintenance is required after releasing an app on the app store — that way you can do it right the first time. For those that had to learn the hard way, this is your opportunity to redeem yourself.
There are a multitude of reasons why you’ll eventually need app maintenance following the release of your app, but they’ll generally be broken down into three categories — bugs and errors, feature updates, and software updates. These are things that can’t be avoided and the lack of them will actually lead to the demise of the app.
Let’s take a closer look at these three categories:
1. Bugs and Errors
No app is perfect, no matter how hard a developer tries. Though proper testing can help you identify bugs and errors pre-release, there will always be the possibility your app encounters a bug post-release. In this case, you’ll need to provide a quick solution so your users don’t experience any disruptions.
In other cases, you might notice an error post-release that slipped through your fingers throughout the testing process. It might not even be an error, but a change that you want made post-release. Either way, you need someone ready to make those changes.
2. Feature Updates
Speaking of changes to your mobile app, there will likely come a time when you want to add a feature that isn’t currently being offered by your mobile app. Whether this is something you’re demanding or something your users have demanded through reviews, these feature updates are ultimately what keep the users satisfied long-term.
You’ll also want to keep an eye out for new technology that might make your app more attractive to new users. The last thing you want is to see your competitors start to get a leg-up on your app.
3. Software Updates
The third and final major reason you might need app maintenance prior to releasing an app is due to software updates. Since Android and iOS systems are constantly being updated, your mobile app needs to be updated with it.
Being compatible with the most recent software is a good sign that your app can be trusted by users. It will also ensure maximum performance and lead to less bugs or errors.
Whether you’re dealing with software updates, feature updates, or bug fixes, a solid maintenance strategy by a qualified team of developers can set your app for continued success!
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What Do You Gain With Proper App Maintenance?
In order for a mobile app owner to invest their time and money into something, they need to know they’ll receive a return on that investment — in one way or another. When it comes to app maintenance, that return will show itself in a variety of ways.
Below, we’ll discuss some of the major benefits you’ll receive when you invest in the right maintenance strategy for your mobile app:
- Lower Uninstall Rate. When a user encounters an issue with a mobile app, there’s a good chance they uninstall that app not too long after. To save this from happening, you need to gain trust with your users by constantly providing updates and fixes.
- Competitive Edge. Your competitors aren’t going to stop updating their app and looking for new ways to improve, so you shouldn’t either. Stay two steps ahead with proper app maintenance.
- User Experience. If you’re not constantly catering to the user, your app will struggle to gain a loyal following. They want new features, they like updates, and they like surprises — so give them what they’re asking for!
There’s no denying the fact that app maintenance is the secret to keeping your brand in good standing with users around the world. As a general rule of thumb, your users will stop caring about your app the moment you stop caring about your app.
Finding Success With Mobile App Maintenance
Mobile app maintenance won’t be an easy process and it certainly won’t be fun. It’s an ongoing process that will largely deal with preventing and resolving issues with your app. The good news is these are the things that will take your app to a new level time and time again.
We have several golden rules when it comes to app maintenance and we’d like to share them with you, that way you don’t make the same mistakes we see many app owners make.
- Make it as easy as possible for the user to share their feedback and leave reviews, that way you have a solid idea of what needs to be fixed or improved upon. Oh, and make sure you monitor these reviews constantly.
- While consistency is often key, don’t be afraid to change the user interface if you feel it will lead to a better user experience. Sometimes change is good and you need to keep an open mind constantly.
- Always ask yourself, “What can’t my app do?” — we see too many owners focusing on bragging about what their app can do, but a simple mindset change can reshape the future of the app.
- Don’t abandon the testing process once you’ve released the app. This process should be revisited often to ensure it’s performing the way it’s intended to. In other words, don’t always trust positive customer reviews — test it for yourself, too.
If you can find a way to effectively implement the above golden rules, you’ll provide your users with an app environment destined for success, growth, and incessant improvement. After all, that’s the key to sustainable revenue and fruitful profits in the mobile app community.
Whether you’re just beginning the app development process or have already released the app and need a team to maintain it, we stand ready to assist your brand in achieving user satisfaction. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you succeed!
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