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Tanishaa Sinha
Tanishaa Sinha

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The probability of launching a successful app is 0.01: Here's why

Apps are an indispensable part of our life in today’s times. Want to set up a meeting? Use Zoom/Google meets. Need groceries for tomorrow? No worries, services like Blinkit have you covered. Getting bored? Games and social media are just a click away!
There are a plethora of purposes which apps serve in each and every domain .
How ironic is it then, that even though the user market is of millions , 99% of the apps fail after their first year of launch?
The pattern that has been observed is that even though users download let’s say 20-30 apps, they only frequently use 6-8 among them and the others are discarded/deleted just after a single use.
Thus creating an app which is viable, monetized and in trend is quite a challenge nowadays, especially when there is cut throat competition in the app development sector.
There might be a lot of reasons why your app might fail after launching. Some of them are:

• Poor ROI
Developing an app does not just require a pen and paper, it is quite an expensive task in terms of resources. You need a team of trained professionals who are technically sound, monetary investment along with heavy software if you need to create it on a large scale.
Also, generating money is quite tough when it comes to apps (as most users look for free use) . Thus a solid strategy, subtle advertising methods and a lot of time is needed before the app starts to become profitable for the developers .

• Compromise on UX Research
A lot of times apps having great and unique ideas fail to garner the support and user base they expected. This might occur due to negligence on the user experience(UX) part. In order to expect users, a developer needs to understand through and through what a user is seeking, how they want it and what more functionalities can be added to make their experience smoother.

• Innovation V/s Utility
People have come up with ideas and solutions which might have been unthinkable of a few years back. If you properly explore Playstore or Appstore, I’m sure you will find apps which will blow your mind with their creativity.
But is there really a need for it? Is there a demand, a long term growth for the idea? Or is it just a fun and inventive app which will disappear in a few months?
Developers need to keep in mind that innovation and utility go hand in hand. Along with originality and freshness, there needs to be a hole in the market or a purpose which the app serves,today and in the years to come.

• Discontinuous check on backend support
The first year after the app launch is extremely crucial . You need to promote your app extensively and continuously work on the given feedback by users. You also need to maintain the backend of the app, the regular updates and make sure it’s running smoothly.
The first impression does leave a deep impact , and is a deciding factor for people if they want to continue with your app or not. Thus, backend support should continuously be checked and updated for facilitating smooth functionality, specifically during the initial years after the launch.

It is quite evident that developing and sustaining a successful app is certainly not an easy task. The development , launch and support phase all require special attention to a lot of factors.
Do be prepared for facing unseen challenges, falls and criticising feedbacks. But I assure you, the final product and user satisfaction will make it all worth it!

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