More than 2 million applications are launched yearly at the play store, but only 0.1% make it to the top.
It is a cut-throat world where merely building an "awesome" application that no one cares about isn't enough. Developers should keep many determining factors in mind.
Still, the most overlooked aspect by people is the UX of an application. Ironically, that's the first thing a user notices upon opening an app.
Many business owners and entrepreneurs have realized that an application's success lies squarely in the hands of users. User satisfaction has become their top priority.
A good UX can help to increase user satisfaction, retention, and loyalty. At the same time, poor UX can lead to frustration, abandonment, and negative word-of-mouth.
This blog will help you understand the role of user experience and the UX review process in app development. To achieve these results, let me take you back to the basics of the term UX.
The world of UX
UX (user experience) refers to a person's overall experience while interacting with an app, including the usability, accessibility, and emotional impact of the interaction.
There is no standard, accepted by all, definition for user experience. In general, it is an umbrella term used to cover different sections such as -interaction design, information architecture, visual design, and usability.
The goal of UX is to create an app that provides meaningful and relevant experiences to users.
It involves understanding the target audience's needs and goals and designing easy-to-use, efficient, and enjoyable applications.
Why do you need UX?
In today's competitive digital space, UX is a billion-dollar industry.
Everybody who downplayed is now facing the consequences.
"People ignore design that ignores people."
-Frank Chimero, Designer
In the context of mobile applications, UX design involves the creation of wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.
It defines the application's layout, navigation, and overall look and feel.
What user experience designers do goes beyond UX and UI design. UX designers do user research and usability testing for the following reasons-
- To gather feedback
- Identify room for correction
- Optimize user experience
- To get user insights
UX designers constantly examine the interaction of the users with the app to check whether the application has any scope for evolution in the future.
The principles of UX
But how does the UX designer achieve the company's goals and satisfy the user simultaneously?
UX designers work on the principle of why, how, and what.
- WHY - Understanding the motives and intentions of the users behind adopting the application.
- WHAT - Understanding the application's functionality, i.e., what the user can do with it.
- HOW - designing the application in a way that is both aesthetically pleasing and easily understandable for users.
The why factors come before the what and then the "how factor" to successfully execute the UX of the app.
So now let's dive into what makes the role of UX in app development not just crucial but unquestionable.
UX - The secret ingredient in successful apps
It is no secret to you now that the success of an application is directly proportional to the quality of its UX.
UX plays a crucial role in app development by helping to ensure that the app is tailored to the needs and goals of its target audience and that it provides a positive and meaningful experience to the users.
Here are some ways UX can impact the success of an application:
User satisfaction
Customer satisfaction is a measure of how well an application meets or exceeds the expectations of a customer. There are several ways that businesses can measure customer satisfaction, including through surveys, focus groups, and customer feedback.
If a user can't get satisfied with the application, then the inevitable outcome is the uninstallation of the application.
A positive UX can make an application easier and more enjoyable, increasing user satisfaction. On the other hand, poor UX can lead to frustration and an overall negative experience, which can result in users abandoning the application.
User retention
User retention is the ability of a company o to keep its users or customers engaged with its product or services over a while. It is a crucial metric in business that has a significant impact on revenue and profitability.
High user retention rates often indicate that a company provides value to its customers and has a loyal customer base.
A good UX can increase user retention by making it easy for users to accomplish their goals within the application. It can lead to users returning to the application regularly.
User loyalty
The term refers to the degree to which a user is committed to a particular application and is willing to continue using it over a long period.
Loyal users are often more likely to recommend the product or service to others. They may be less sensitive to price changes or competing offerings.
A positive UX can foster a sense of loyalty among users, as they are likelier to continue using an application that provides a good experience.
It can be crucial for applications that rely on a subscription model, as loyal users are likelier to continue paying for the service.
Word-of-mouth
A good UX can lead to positive word-of-mouth, as satisfied users are likelier to recommend the application to others. On the other hand, poor UX can result in negative word-of-mouth, which can harm the application's success.
Tips for you to improve UX
In the current business scenario where the user is the king, every small and big business invests its money in UX and UI to please its king.
Satisfying your user in all aspects takes a professional UX designer to cooperate with the idea's originator. The user has come to expect a high level of quality for the UX of an application, be it a free or paid app.
Below are some tips to keep in mind while building an application with good UX.
Get to know your user.
A successful application is built on the foundation of the targeted audience's needs, goals, and motivations. Getting customer feedback and conducting surveys are recommended to understand the end user.
Also, designing the user flows and creating user stories help you map out the steps a user will take while using the app. It can help you identify potential barriers or pain points in the user journey.
Simplicity sells
A design that wins a user's heart is one with the perfect balance of aesthetically pleasing and perfectly functional. That is also the hardest nut to crack, as one can never tell the right amount of both.
In the 21st century, contrary to people's belief, simplicity always sells. Many trends come and go, but a simple, straightforward, concise design never goes out of style.
Plan your journey
Building an application exceeds more than one person. It takes people from all different fields to come together and have the same goal of creating a successful user-focused application.
All the team members need to have the same user-focused goal and support the designer by giving feedback on the feasibility of the design.
Final Thoughts
Designing an application influences its success significantly. By investing in UX, a business can create apps that meet the needs and expectations of its users, leading to a successful and profitable app.
UX designing is a complex process that takes a professional UX designer, a true end-user advocate.
Finding a good UX designer may seem like a difficult task for your hand right now, but your search ends at Makes360. We strive to provide a product with great UX that leaves a meaningful imprint on the users of your application.