Ever wondered how Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and other such apps go viral?
In a bid to make life easy and better for the human population, tech gurus are innovating creative ways to solve human problems and simplifying this innovation into mobile apps, today the google play store and the IOS store I filled with a wide variety of applications, however many of such apps do not get to go viral, it is not also surprising that more innovators are venturing into the tech space and trying to be the next Whatsapp, Instagram, and Facebook for the Nigerian populace.
What is it about some apps that make them globally accepted and popular and others don’t to be the same?
- YOUR DESIGN SHOULD DO THE WORK
Instagram figured out that people enjoy sharing images, so it built a platform that allows users to share images on all other major social platforms and that did the magic: Organic promotion of the app. Design is an integral part of the execution, hence the need to carry out adequate research on market needs and create a smart solution for it.
- TEST, TEST, TEST
It is important to always note that the app users are not here to test your products but rather to use them, it is therefore your responsibility as an app developer to test, test and test again before the final launch into the market. This may sound like basic knowledge, but statistics show that around 44percent of apps defects is identified by users of which 23% is by direct feedback, and another 21% is from public user review in app stores. So present an app that is ready to use.
- REFERRAL WORKS ALL THE TIME
Everybody loves a free gift, and extra incentive or bonus just for signing up using the app, Jumia has become very professional with this approach. By providing something free, cashback/offers upon signing up with your app you easily encourage new and existing app users to invite many others to the platform hence leading to more app downloads.
- USE THE SOCIETY TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
With the advent of Xender, android users have become very carefree in-app exchange as thousands of app exchange is carried out daily, when people see other persons, friends, and family using an app, they are more likely to use it themselves, social proof helps us to know that we are part of the new movement/innovation. When users sign up for your app, display photos of friends, and suggest them to follow, in turn helping them grow their network. Facebook and LinkedIn utilize these techniques expertly.
- EMBRACE RELATIONSHIPS
Appreciate your users and communicate regularly with them, a friendly smiley would do the magic, people don’t trust you unless you are willing to return the trust, tell a story about your app/product put it up in the ‘About’ section, and watch people sharing it.
In the ever dynamic Nigerian tech space, providing innovative solutions to the users’ needs is unfortunately not enough, ensure that they enjoy the process and the services as well. This implies quality assurance, standard testing, understanding new market trends, and learning from major players in the industry.
