Simplifying Your Mobile App

May 18
09:27

2013

Jennifer Lewis

Jennifer Lewis

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

In a market literally filled with technology savvy individuals, it is hard to imagine any mobile device user that does not know how to use an app.

mediaimage
In a market literally filled with technology savvy individuals,Simplifying Your Mobile App Articles it is hard to imagine any mobile device user that does not know how to use an app. The truth is, however, some mobile apps can be exceedingly difficult to use regardless of how intuitive the user has become. And because there is such a broad range of tech savvy users in the market, sometimes it is simply better to make your mobile app as simple as possible for people to use. To generate ideas on how to do just that, here are some things you may wish to consider.

Simpler Is Better

The easier you make the use of your app, the more people will in turn be able to use it. While you may initially be hesitant due to the growing number of sophisticated app users in the market, it is much more likely that you will have larger numbers of users that get frustrated with a complex app opposed to sophisticated users that get annoyed with an overly simplified app. In other words, while you should certainly aim to find the happy medium between complex and simplified, it is generally best to edge on the side of simple in terms of your mobile app. More specifically, if you can make your mobile app usable for the most technologically challenged individual and exciting enough for the most advanced users, then you will be headed in the right direction.

As you set out to make your mobile app as simplified as it needs to be, try to keep in mind that doing so is not entirely up to you. In many instances, it will be the users of your mobile app that will ultimately tell you how easy to use or complex the interface and navigation of your app needs to be. In other words, if your target market is a tech savvy user, then you will likely want to make your app only as simplified as such users need it to be. On the other hand, if your target market is a user that is buying a mobile device for the first time, then you should ideally aim to provide the simplest app possible while still serving its purpose.

Providing Proper Guidance

Regardless of whether you believe your mobile app to be the most complex market offering, or a simplified variation, it is always a good idea to provide your users with the proper guidance to effectively and contently use it. The more detailed instructions that you provide your users, the more likely they will be to use your app frequently. In many ways there is nothing worse than a mobile app that users simply do not know how to use. And while you may originally think that providing a tutorial for users to get acquainted with your app is superfluous and unnecessary, in actuality, even the most advanced mobile app user can appreciate the need for proper guidance in terms of knowing how to use a piece of software.

Conclusion

As you can likely see, simplifying your mobile app is something that takes a lot intuition itself. The best way to do so is to keep in tune with your users and their tech savvy know-how. The more sophisticated the user, the less you need to be aware of the complexity of your mobile app. With that said, it is always good to edge on the side of simplicity for those users that are not as intuitive with technology.