If you get a big idea for your app, this post will come in useful for you. We’re going to break down how exactly to take that app idea in your head and turn it into reality.

It seems like there is an app for everything. Yet, at least a few times a week, most of us think ‘Why isn’t there an app for that?’ It’s not a secret that apps can be hugely impactful creations and a great way to solve problems for people. But developing an effective and useful app is quite a complicated process. What’s more, it can be quite expensive and laborious, especially if you’re looking to design a solution employing modern state-of-the-art technologies and sophisticated tools. Today, more and more businesses turn to professionals with extensive experience in IoT development, VR software development, and employing much hyped AI techs. Still, before you dive into the app development process, you want to get a clearer idea of its main constituents and stages we’re going to guide you through right now. Note that we are trying to identify each and every particular step you might need to take when developing your solution. Below are three main stages that beginner business owners or app development enthusiasts tend to overlook or not give enough attention to in the first place.

Draw It Out

First things first, you want to draw your idea out. Whether you’re using a pen and scratch paper, or an iPad and an Apple pencil, you need to get that app idea out of your head and start thinking about what it can look like as a tangible thing. Some key questions to ask you when you’re sketching your app idea are ‘What is truly essential’ and ‘What would be nice to have included?’ When designing your app, the first version of it that you’re working towards is your minimum viable product, which represents the cleanest and simplest version of your app. So, don’t start off by throwing every feature you can think of into it. Instead, draw out how it would do that one thing you’re trying to accomplish really simply yet effectively. The best part about this step is that it’s totally free, and anyone with zero money can sketch out a groundbreaking app idea.

Market Research

No matter what business or product you’re launching, market research is an important step that should never be skipped. You need to look at alternative apps you’d be competing with. What are your target customers looking for in your app? What do they need in an app experience? How will their lives be improved by you solving this problem for them? This is also the perfect time to note pricing and business models in the marketplace. This will help you know how to monetize your app. Do you charge for it? Have a subscription? Or, maybe, it’s going to be free? You need to think through the underlying business plan for your app, as well.

• The great thing about the Internet is that there are tons of blog posts and articles from professional app developers that can shed light on app development and allow you to make more informed decisions. You can check out the most recent ones at Sirinsoftware.com right now. Take time to read resources like that, too and think how you can apply that insight to your own app.

Mockup

The next thing you should give enough time and effort is a mock-up of your app. Mockups are basically a rough sketch of your app user interface and the general flow of your product. There are a lot of mockup tools out there. Still, you want to refrain from using untested and dubious software unless you possess extensive experience in app development and are closely familiar with such a type of software. You can pay for a specific tool or work with a designer and use your sketches to guide them in creating your mock-up.

Note that a mockup doesn’t have exact positioning of your buttons and other UI elements. Nor does it utilize complex colors or have any fine-grained UI components. Essentially, it’s a blueprint for your app so that when it’s time to show your app to an investor, employer, designer, or a potential customer, you can show and explain to them how it works.

If you’re new to app development, tap into the expertise and rich experience of those who can help you with the realization of your creative endeavors. If you avail yourself of professional assistance, the odds are good that no step in your app development process will be disregarded or inadequately executed. Take these simple recommendations into account and embark on your fascinating app development journey.