On average, a smartphone has as many as 25-30 application running on it. However, usually only 3-4 apps are active at a given time. Because competition is intense, it’s a struggle to get the mobile app featured as a preferred choice. However, if you follow a time-tested method that has helped mobile app developers make an app that fills a massive gap in the market, then you might strike gold.

Besides the actual process of building a mobile app, most developers overlook the basics that help it stand out. So, to make it easy for you to start on the right note of learning how to design an app, we have selected the top fourteen steps from idea inception to marketing to make your app a success this year. No longer will you ponder the question of how are apps made.

If knowing how to build an app has been on your mind, we suggest you take a look at these points before you get started.

An app is a mobile application that you can download on the smartphone. It is a software that carries the ability to perform a specific task. A few years back there were a handful of mobile apps. However, their useful nature has given rise to high demand.

This is a reason that most smartphones now have mobile applications that serve most digital needs of users. Because these apps are readily available either for free or through purchase, their utility noticeable and quickly recognized by consumers.

While the roots of app development began in 1983 with the early predictions of Steve Jobs, it bore fruit sometime in the 2000s. Initially, while application development focused on telephonic usage over time, it changed. Go back a couple of years to when you were playing gaming apps as a favorite pastime.

Of course, over time the popularity of apps became multi-fold. Most apps currently work on utility. Because they meet a specific need, the concept of how are apps made is a highly sought after question in the market.

The Apple App Store was the first app store to launch in July 2008. With 500 apps, it spoiled users with choice for their needs. With more than 10 million downloads in a week, the app store saw huge success.

Later, the Android app store followed with 50 apps. Additionally, Blackberry and Nokia released their own version of apps. However, over the years, the Apple App Store and the Android Store have been able to create a monopoly in the market. And from the likes of it, it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

The popularity of the app store is due to many reasons. Firstly, the app store has millions of apps from which to choose.  So, if you like a particular game, there are many others to try out too. And since most are free, they come with nothing to lose.

On the other hand, apps that have a utility factor have a high search volume. There is a valid reason for it. Because each utility helps users to meet a particular goal, it features high on the list of most visited apps in the day.

App building involves a system to create software that can entertain, educate or serve a specific purpose. Because it meets specific needs, it caters to a wide audience. Among other things to know when wondering how are apps made is a popular trend that features among developers. Since it gives the flexibility to developers to create something on a small scale and receive substantial earnings, it has given rise to millions of apps around the world.

Over the years, apps have become reliable company to keep. It is because the question of 'how are apps made?' has evolved. Now they serve specific reason and meet the user’s needs. ​

For instance, you have access to medical apps like Sleep Time and Pillow, budgeting apps like Mvelopes and CountAbout. In fact, there are apps for every possible thing you need.

If you wish to track your health there are fitness apps, and likewise, for travel plans try the travel apps. The list goes on, and you can get a host of mobile apps by merely downloading to your smartphone in a short time.

While the question of 'how are apps made?' might excite you to create your own app and sell it, we suggest otherwise. It would be fair to recommend taking time to know some critical steps in how to build a mobile app as you need to strike the right chord. Take a look at some vital steps in how are apps made.

Before you create your app, take some time to understand your reason behind creating one. You could be good at programming, and so it’s natural to build one. Or you could be a newbie developer out to prove to the world how good you can be.

Alternatively, the ease with which others make money on apps might be too enticing to leave. However, if you are genuinely passionate about app development, then that can also be one reason to build an app and earn a side or a full-time income.

If you do a random search on mobile apps, you know it yields tons of results. And while a random pick might be a shot in the dark, it might not give you the results you’d expect.

We suggest taking a topic that you are passionate about. Or, even better, one you have a bit of a background with before you begin research. Alternatively, if you know a particular area is a booming sector like fitness and health, then it could be a good avenue that's viable too.

Even though you might narrow down on a particular niche, it might not exactly be a profitable one if there is tons of competition. This is especially true if your mobile app functions precisely as the others in the market and has no USP (Unique Selling Proposition).

Hence, if you want to stand out, then it’s vital that you do a bit of market research to know exactly where the demand lies. Try finding mobile apps in that sector. Can you possibly give it a new spin? Are there some gaps that is not addressed? Can you fill a huge demand that needs to be directed to meet people’s immediate need? Take time to answer these, and you could be on your way to creating a mobile app that takes off.

The next question of 'how are apps made?' is whether to launch it on the Android App Store or the Apple Store. Each of these app stores has their benefits. While the Apple store caters to a specific type of audience that is familiar with the Apple brand, the Android Store has its own unique audience.

Get to know which app store is easiest to launch apps. Often there are specific criteria based on which apps get approved. So if you are sure your app meets the requirements laid out, then choose the one that is robust, easy to navigate, and will help you reach your audience fastest.

Once you decide on the type of store, you will need to check other apps in the store. See what makes the app highly popular. Is it the functionality, the number of options to use it, the variety of features that makes a user stick to it? Or is the app more handy than others?

Knowing what makes your competitors thrive can give you ideas to create your blueprint or framework for your app. Identify these gaps and create your structure based on existing apps and their functionality and your analysis.

You might have the best blueprint to make your mobile app a success. And you might also be on the right track. However, if you do not identify the exact resources you have with you in your process of how are apps made, you might end up taking on too much work and falling short.

Also, you might not have anticipated what you can expect in a limited time-frame. So if you do not identify the resources well in advance, then the process of how are apps made might not be quite a successful one for you.

Every mobile app runs on a robust backend. And they are relatively well-made so that you do not have any breakdowns or hiccups that drive away customers. Most developers go through rigorous checks to test the backend. Furthermore, it's wise to test it on multiple platforms to detect its performance. This helps identify vulnerabilities or loopholes that could cause problems later on.

Different models can help you earn from the app. Consider whether you will make it a free app to download. Or will you want to make it a fee-based model? Also, will a one-time payment mode work well or can you run it as a periodic payment? You need to check each of these for its relevance and longevity of the app.

After selecting the idea, creating the blueprint, setting realistic expectations, creating and deciding on the model, it’s time to put all this together. While you get all these components ready, form a timeline of events with their deadlines. It will help you get a top-view of where you stand regarding launching the product. Deadlines can also work well if you are working with a team. Each will have a realistic expectation of what they can expect from the work assigned.

If you are working in isolation, then it’s on you to create the app. However, if you are with a team, there will be many moving parts. And each might come with problems that might take time to sort. However, by rapidly focusing on the crucial elements, you identify the core areas to classify before you go ahead with a beta test.

Even though you might be utterly confident of the mobile app, there might be some loopholes that you’re not aware of. As a developer, running multiple tests will give you an insight into the bugs or fixes to resolve. And by doing so, you eliminate any chances of a breakdown or issues that might lead to negative reviews on the site.

The next step is to get your app featured on the app store. But before doing so, ensure you have ticked off the app criteria on the store. This avoids any last minute hiccups and also ensures the app follows any necessary compliance.

After releasing the app, you will need to check for user reviews, as well as any issues in downloads or the app in general. Once you pass this phase of knowing 'how are apps made?' the next step will be about improving or modifying the mobile app to meet user expectations. Bear in mind is that user reviews can influence future downloads. So take time to address these issues quickly.

While you cannot entirely change the mobile app, subtle tweaks are vital. Take time to know where you can improve the app. Are there any useful suggestions that can make the app more efficient and better? And can the app undergo modifications so that it features higher up the app rankings? By analyzing these and many feedback reviews, you can improve the chances of app performance on the app store.

Among the many apps in the market, it is natural for your mobile app to go lower down the rankings. And this can hamper your app's performance. For this, marketing your mobile apps is crucial. With a little effort, you can popularize your app with word-of-mouth marketing, replying to comments, and promoting your app on third party sites.

We hope this list of mobile app creation inspires you to build your app.

If you loved this article share your favorite app building steps with us in the comments! For app developers looking for a way to understand how do mobile applications work share this list with them!

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