A bad app is a result of poorly designed UX, with a UI that is just not right for users. Implementing modifications on already existing UX design could be a tricky process to deal with, especially when you have less experience, working with mobile apps. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the pitfalls or loopholes, you need to avoid while getting an ideal app UX onboard.
#1. Not making the app “mobile-friendly”
A smartphone not only has a much smaller real estate to offer, but also has a slower internet connection speed. Henceforth, it is important for apps to deliver responsiveness, and speed, with the given constraints. Most apps falter on fulfilling this factor and result in a disoriented UX dissatisfying the users.
- Rectifying the mistake
Take over the control in optimizing the app processing time. Slower loading will result in a time-consuming app frustrating the users. Cut down on unnecessary user flows, and keep them as simple as possible, with smartness intact. This will not only enhance the performance but make your app respond to user requests real fast.
#2. Blindly “copying” what competitors are doing
It is wise to take references from your competitor’s app, and do something similar to it by adding your own element of twist, or probably enhance upon what is already existing. However, blindly copying your competitor’s idea is something you may regret for life. A successful app has already got its own share of audience and value, and duplicating the same will not only irritate present fans, but the even newer target segment as well. If something has worked for your competitors, does not necessarily mean it will work for you as well.
- Rectifying the mistake
Learn how your competitors have assembled an app, bringing about useful features and functionalities together. Take good points and bad points from the app. Build something that attempts to correct the bad points, and good points enhanced even more by introducing your own creativity.
#3. Too many features are hard to “digest”
If you are going with the flow, you might be tempted to integrate as many features as possible from what you observed in other similar apps. However, the Pareto principle says that 80% profits come from 20% customers. In this case, 80% of app users merely use 20% of app functionalities. So, it is foolish to incorporate things which your app users won’t be even using in the future. With too many features installed, app users get overwhelmed and look for simpler app alternatives.
- Rectifying the mistake
Better focus on enhancing the present app offerings more, rather than bringing in new. You certainly do not want your app to be “jack of all trades, master of none”. Try to master upon the current features, with a constant user feedback for improvements. Get rid of the ones you are sure that won’t be making any difference in the life of the users. Enhancing useful functionalities and eliminating the useless ones, will let your app be minimal, and highly functional at the same time.
#4. Not allowing users a “smooth” sign in
A Sign up (Sign in) procedure does have a lot of security benefits. However, users do not feel the same kind of excitement each time they land upon a login page. In fact, users sometimes feel annoyed logging in every time, whenever they want to access the app. A login wall does act as a kind of barrier in this case.
- Rectifying the mistake
Registration forms should never appear as a pain to the users. How about removing it completely? The most effective way to do that is letting users skip the registration process, and access the app directly. It is the best way to offer them the options of either signing up for an account by filling the form, or going to the app directly by skipping the signing process.
#5. “Onboarding” through an app manual
An app onboarding proves to be a boon for users who are completely new to the app, as they get to know the app closely, and how to go about using it. However, for frequent users, it might be boring to go through the manual all over again, in spite of knowing everything they need to know. This can turn out to be disastrous for users who want to start using the app right away, as soon as they open it.
- Rectifying the mistake
Most app users do not feel the need of a manual during onboarding, as they are fully accustomed in the use of different types of apps. Hence, they want to jump into an app straight away as soon as they open it for the first time. So, avoid bringing a manual into the onboarding process. Instead, just show your brand identity in the form of a name or logo, and let users start using the app immediately after that.
#6. Torturing users with excessive “permission” settings
Do not bombard your users asking permissions for just about everything. When users encounter too many authorization related permissions at once, they are sure to get annoyed. You might have seen an app asking for too many permissions simultaneously, like sending push notifications, accessing your geo-location, accessing your contacts, accessing your camera, etc.
- Rectifying the mistake
Do not ask for permissions all at once. Ask one permission at a time, and only when it is critically important. This way users will feel assured that the app is fully secured, and they will be more than happy to allow or restrict the app from doing something. It is always better to ask for permissions when users will be benefited from the app the most.
#7. Too many “push” notifications popping up
Push notifications are a great way to notify users, and keep the interaction alive even after the user switches off the app. However, too many push notifications popping up at once, may hamper user concentration or focus on the work currently he (she) is involved in.
- Rectifying the mistake
Triggers for push notifications should be so controlled that only important ones pop up, and only when it is important to notify users. This way, communication never becomes troublesome, and even users feel good about checking out each one of them.
#8. Underestimating “updates” or “upgrades”
Updates or upgrades take up too much mobile space, even more than you could imagine. This, in turn, could hamper the overall performance of the app, in terms of processing, and displaying content.
- Rectifying the mistake
Fixing old updates, or upgrading from an older version, could be a painful process to deal with. However, do integrate testing phases at every single stage, in order to alleviate much of the risk beforehand.
#9. Requesting “personal” information at the start
Imagine, you have just opened an app, and asked for your personal information. No-one likes to give out personal information, especially payment related, right at the start, when still in the process of understanding an app.
- Rectifying the mistake
Ask for personal information, or payment information for that matter, only when required. Unless the information is mandatory to utilize the app optimally, do not ask for it, or force users to fill up and proceed only after that.
Still wondering whether to improve your app UX, or not?
UX should not be taken as an afterthought or a micro aspect of an overall app design. It is probably the most important constituent of a product strategy. Taking into account the above mistakes, you can avoid your app UI to be a victim of loopholes, many apps have experienced by now. Augmenting user experience is all about delivering an ongoing occurrence of an app, in minds of users.
Images: ”Ux, advertisement, test./Shutterstock.com“
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