Friday, 14 August 2015

#QGWDS Building Web Applications

Building a web application is slightly difficult. When you build it, you don’t know if people will use it, you don’t know how users will use it, people will not use your application the way you want them to use it. It’s almost impossible to build a web application once, upload it on the web and get it right the first time. Here are a few factors I’ll recommend you consider before you build your web application:

Spend less time thinking about and building your product at first.
When you want to start building a web application, don’t spend all your time thinking about all the features you will add to your application so it can be cool and awesome. Don’t spend one year building your app. You might think your app will be cool and awesome and everybody will want to use it. But the truth is; nobody cares about you #shit. Don’t guess that people will like it. People want to use products that they derive values and benefits from.
Here’s what you should do: Build your application in a month or less and release it so the world can use it, don’t be bothered about the bugs. Then use analytics software to monitor its performance, and how people respond to it, and use it.
Set an expectation you want your application to meet. After analyzing accurate analytics data; if your application meets up to your expectation them it’s worth developing and you should start upgrading and improving it straight away. On the other hand; if you application performs below you expectations and performs poorly, then you might need to pull the plug. But if you think it’s still worth doing then go ahead and do it.

Optimize for the end user
Think about what the end user will be clicking on, tapping, and interfacing with every step of the way. Your application should have a good navigation menu that will help people navigate through many pages. Go easy on the design; do not over design your application that it takes time to open or load on a device. Make your designs clean and simple. Go to Google and search for good web designs you can implement in you web app so that users will feel good and return to your web app next time.

Always instruct users on what to do
Never assume users will know what to do and where to do them. Only you can know how the application works at first glance since you created it. Always have instructions on several pages telling users what to do and how to use the features. Be a fan of big red buttons that say “Click here to do this”. Add tutorials, guides and FAQ’s in your application.

Have a Call To Action message in your application
You created your application for a reason and unless you say what it is, nobody will know. So always have a call to action message. Example: Sign up to receive free newsletters, Click here to download our mobile app, Invite your friends and get free storage space. Always have a call to action message in your application.

#Bless
Okpala Obinna


No comments:

Post a Comment