5 simple steps to help you turn your
idea into a successful app
The key to any successful app is a unique
idea that meets a need. You can turn any idea into an app, even if you don't
know a single line of code. By working with a programmer, you can make your app
a reality, but it takes some work on your part up front. Here are some
important aspects of app development that I discovered while creating my app
for middle schoolers, BrainStars: Math ($2.99, www.app2.me/5326).
1. Define the app
Before you ever start talking to a
programmer, you need to have a solid idea of what your app will accomplish.
Here are some questions to get you started:
·
What is the objective of the app? Does it entertain?
Teach? Keep records?
·
Who is the target audience? Fifth-grade
teachers? Potato farmers? Preschoolers?
·
What are the requirements of the app? Will users
need internet access? Login name and password? Will data need to be stored? And
if so, where?
·
Finally, what will the app "feel"
like? Is it going to be playful and cartoonish? Should it have a professional
look? Will it feel like you are reading your favorite book?
2. Map the flow
Map
the flow
Starting from the main menu screen, what
are the possible options? Take each possibility and create a flow map of every
option. Obviously, this won't be set in stone yet, but if you don't have a
clear idea of the flow before you begin the programming stage, your app may
meander or have dead ends. Here is an example sketch from a portion of my app.
3. Sketch it out
Each screen is a "face" on your
app. You need to be able to show a programmer what your app should look like.
Prior to consulting with a programmer, you can either draw or use clip art to
illustrate the main screens of your app. Keep the dimensions and orientation of
the intended devices in mind. Again, this isn't unchangeable, but is an
important tool for conveying your vision to your programmer.
An
example of a screen sketch I made, and the corresponding screenshot from the
finished app.
4. Find the right programmer
As a newcomer to the app-development world,
this step was the most challenging for me. How did I find programmers? You
guessed it - Google! But that was just the tip of the iceberg. From the list of
programmers in my search results, I checked out each company's website, and I
paid close attention to their portfolios of apps to make sure that they had
developed a variety of different types of apps, not just the same basic
functions each time with different graphics. Then I contacted between 10 and 12
programmers. I gave them a basic overview of what I was looking for and asked
for an estimate (be careful not to give away your unique idea). At this point,
good programmers will ask you some specific questions about how the app will
function before giving you a ballpark price. These questions are the key to
seeing which programmers "get" what you are looking for.
5. Talk money
If at any point you feel that you cannot
answer questions without giving away your idea, have the programmer sign a
secrecy or non-disclosure agreement; any good programmer should have one. If
they don't, you can find one online. Partner with a programmer with whom you
can communicate easily and at a comfortable level of detail. Also, with good
upfront communication, a programmer should be able to provide you with a
reasonable estimate of hours required for your app and lock in a maximum
billing limit so that there are no surprises.
Sign a contract with the programmer,
including a delivery date and consequences for late delivery. Your programmer
should also provide you with what my programmer jokingly called his "bus
CD." This CD contains all of the code to my app (we do buy it, after all),
so that even if he got hit by a bus, I could still make changes down the road.
I was very pleased with Paracoders, Inc., who programmed my app.
Sign
a contract with the programmer, including a delivery date and consequences for
late delivery.
One last tip is to make sure that the
"little things" that can add up to a significant amount of money -
creating an Apple developer account, uploading the app to iTunes, providing
screenshots and app descriptions, and making future updates to meet iOS changes
- are included in the contract. The only thing better than those monthly direct
deposits into your account for app sales is the rewarding feeling of seeing
your idea become a reality.
