Forem: Uptech

The Reasons Why Your Business Needs To Redesign A Website

Uptech — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 13:01:32 +0000

Even the most meticulously crafted websites can encounter issues over time, leading to a bad user experience. That's why website design services always include ongoing support that enables web owners to redesign their websites before it leads to any negative impact.

A website redesign is needed to improve user experiences, expand customer reach, and remain competitive in the ever-dynamic digital world. The hard-and-fast rule is to redesign a website every 2-3 years to accommodate these critical needs. But that might not be the best approach at all times. In light of this, here are five questions that could serve as timely warning indicators for website redesign.

Does it look outdated?

Redesigning a website becomes highly important when visual elements and design choices deviate from the prevailing industry trends. In a time when sweeping website updates are constantly introduced to enhance website personalization for users, businesses must swiftly adopt and implement comprehensive website updates to ensure it meets user expectations and fill their actual needs.

Failure to address outdated design elements can result in diminished user engagement, increased bounce rates, and a loss of potential customers to competitors with more visually appealing and up-to-date websites. For instance, an e-commerce website that does not offer interactive layouts and present personalized recommendations based on customer data and browsing history is outdated. There should be search filters and broad parameters that users can easily use to make purchase decisions.

Here are some common signs that a website is not in sink with current trends.

Flash-based website.
Long loading time
Full-screen or disruptive pop-ups
Hit counters on blog posts
Too many widgets on web pages

Does it have a bad user experience, or is it hard to navigate?

First and foremost, a website should only meet the recognized needs of its users. And because user expectations and preferences are dynamic, a user experience element that is "good" today, such as a multi-step checkout process, may become "bad" tomorrow as users increasingly seek faster and more seamless alternatives. The rule of thumb for determining when there is a bad user experience is to monitor user feedback, conduct usability tests, and stay informed about industry trends.

But from what I have seen, a website needs to be redesigned if it does not have clear and concise navigation menus, logically structured content, and easily identifiable calls to action. These elements may need to be redesigned because a business has a new offering. For example, let's consider a retail website initially focused on selling clothing but now wants to expand its product line to include accessories. In such a case, a website redesign is necessary to incorporate the new offerings into the navigation menus, restructure the content to accommodate the expanded product categories, and create clear calls to action tailored to the new offerings.

Web page speed is also one of the essential components of a website's user experience that must be monitored. According to a study, over 53% of website users will likely exit a page if it doesn't load within three seconds. Slower website loading leads to fewer satisfied users and decreased sales. The opposite is also true: Faster website loading equals happier users, more sales, and strengthened trust.

Are essential features working properly?

The significance of website redesign extends beyond design alone. Even if your website boasts an impressive visual appearance, it must function seamlessly for users and web admins. Users will quickly abandon a site if they encounter glitches and features that don't work as expected. For an e-commerce site, when important features such as shopping carts, contact forms, or payment gateways fail to function properly, potential customers can lose patience and choose a competitor.

Likewise, if it becomes difficult to add or change functionality over time, a redesign might be necessary. A website redesign allows you to optimize the backend processes and make managing and updating your site easier. It is a great opportunity to rebuild trust, enhance credibility, and assure visitors that their needs will be met. This is why businesses will not be mute after web redesign. They know they have solved a significant problem and will be ready to communicate the solutions in the redesigned website through social media, newsletters or the site's blog.

Is the website responsive?

When adding new content to an existing website causes design elements to cut off when accessed on a laptop or make it appear too small on mobile devices, that's a compelling reason to redesign by adopting responsive design techniques. For example, an outdated approach is manipulating height and width within your HTML code. With CSS, you gain greater flexibility and control over the visual presentation.

As technology evolves, so do user expectations. If your website's features are outdated or incompatible with current web standards and browsers, it can lead to compatibility issues and limited functionality. A redesign lets you update and optimize these features, creating a smooth experience across all devices and platforms.

Is the website built on outdated technology?

A website with outdated third-party plugins is vulnerable to cyber-attacks. For one thing, outdated plugins often lack the necessary security patches and updates that can safeguard against emerging cyber threats. For example, if a website relies on an old content management system (CMS) plugin, it may have inadequate input sanitization, making it susceptible to SQL injection attacks. Similarly, if the website uses outdated JavaScript libraries or frameworks, it may be exposed to security flaws that malicious actors can exploit.

Recognizing if a website technology is outdated might require regular review and testing. Following Google algorithm updates could also give insights into where improvements are needed.

Summary

Most of the reasons to redesign a website falls under the goal of maintaining optimal user experience and facilitating seamless web management for web admins. However, sometimes, it's required because a business is rebranding its products or services. Whatever the case, the five questions asked in this article provide a starting point for assessing the need for website redesign and ensuring that it aligns with a business's ultimate objective.

Best Frontend Frameworks To Use For Web Development

Uptech — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 12:24:34 +0000

The digital world has come a long way in replicating physical experiences and interactions. One such tool that makes this possible is the frontend web development frameworks. From the defunct YUI (Yahoo! User Interface) to modern frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js, developers have a wide range of options to choose from. Their choices are often based on their skills, project requirements, target audience, and, more specifically, the capabilities of the frontend development framework to create a seamless user experience.

In this article, I will share some frameworks that have become popular because of their reliable features. Read on!

What is a Frontend Framework?

In plain English, frontend frameworks are a set of pre-defined tools, resources, and components that developers use in transforming data into a graphical user interface (GUI) on the web. It allows developers to present graphics, typography, and other elements that will be visible and accessible to the user in a visually appealing and user-friendly way.

Right from the emergence of the web, CSS, HTML, and JavaScript have been the fundamental pillars of frontend frameworks. Frontend web developers rely on them to weave their digital wonders and create captivating user interfaces for mobile and web applications. Apart from providing ready-to-use components for developers, the most popular frontend frameworks today, such as React and Angular, are open-source and community-driven.
Most renowned frontend frameworks, especially those mentioned later in this article, have common features despite their different approaches and implementation details. These features include:

Component-based architecture
Support for state management
UI rendering and templating
Cross-browser compatibility
Integration with backend APIs
Data flow management
Reusable code
Open source with a rich ecosystem of plugins, libraries, and third-party integrations

Top 4 Best Frontend Frameworks

From the analysis of different studies, the four frontend frameworks mentioned below dominate the list of best frameworks developers have relied on in the past few years.

1. React

React is a JavaScript framework; hence it is popularly known as React.js. Developed by Facebook in 2013 as a proprietary framework, React has since become open source and has consistently been among the top choice of JavaScript developers for the frontend development of single-page web or mobile applications. A Statista survey published in Q3 of 2022 showed that 42% of developers use React.js.

With its flexible and scalable components, Reach js is an excellent framework of choice for individuals or businesses expecting a significant influx of website visitors and seeking a reliable platform to manage the increased traffic. Its Virtual DOM allows developers to build large-scale applications with constantly changing data.

React 18 is the latest version of the frontend development framework. It includes Concurrent Rendering, a groundbreaking feature that enables simultaneous and uninterrupted processing of multiple components. It also comes with automatic batching functionality that streamlines the processing of multiple operations and provides improved performance.

Notable companies, including Airbnb, Dropbox, Walmart, and Pinterest, have incorporated React into their web development processes. In contrast, React js typically require a steep learning curve for new developers because of the complexities of JSX.

2. Angular

Google’s Angular first came to the scene in 2010, with TypeScript recommended as the programming language for web development. As the only frontend framework based on TypeScript, Angular has maintained its popularity and established itself as a robust and comprehensive solution for web application development. Used by millions of developers today. Angular ranked fifth in Statista’s list of most-used web frameworks in 2022, coming after Node.js, React.js, jQuery and Express.

Angular is notable for its two-way automatic data synchronization. This feature allows developers to seamlessly connect the changes they make in the data model with the corresponding updates in the view. In November 2022, Angular v15, the latest version, was released with enhanced TypeScript and JavaScript interoperability and new features such as Image Directive.

Renowned companies that use Angular for their web applications and platforms include Forbes, Upwork, Deutsche Bank, Mircosoft, and IBM.

3. jQuery

According to a 2022 Statista survey, jQuery is the third on the list of most-used web frameworks globally. An analysis of the top 10 million most popular websites also reveals that jQuery is used by 77% of the websites.

Introduced in 2006, jQuery was among the earliest and most influential JavaScript libraries. It changed how developers use Document Object Model (DOM), providing multi-browser compatibility and other powerful features such as lightweight footprints. The following description from the jQuery Foundation better explains the capacity of the framework;

“jQuery is a fast, small, and feature-rich JavaScript library. It makes things like HTML document traversal and manipulation, event handling, animation, and Ajax much simpler with an easy-to-use API that works across a multitude of browsers.”
What’s more, jQuery is widely used in building desktop JavaScript apps. However, this frontend development framework may not be the most suitable choice for building large-scale applications.

4. Vue.js

Vue.js was launched in 2014 by Evan You, a former Google staff. The usage of this frontend framework is still growing steadily, and so is its community of developers. There is also a notable increase in its adoption for both small-scale and large-scale projects. This is evident in its usage by Alibaba and Xiaomi, two giant Chinese companies.

Besides, Vue.js has become an alternative to popular JavaScript frameworks because it provides flexible options and is uncomplicated to learn and use. Whether you’re building web and mobile applications or progressive web apps (PWA),Vue.js helps in managing developments of varying complexity with a straightforward approach. Its top features include two-way binding, Virtual DOM, component-based architecture, directives, Vuex for state management, Vue Router for client-side routing, etc.

Summary

The software development market is never static because of the ever-evolving nature of technology and the increasing demands of users and businesses. As such, choosing the best frontend frameworks may be subject to the requirements of the time. As of 2023, however, the four frameworks mentioned above are among the most As of 2023, the four frameworks discussed above are among the most sought-after and in-demand frameworks in the software development world.

How to Reduce Costs of App Development

Uptech — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 14:11:04 +0000

Transforming an app idea into a viable product is a massive investment. In the US, app development can cost between $16,000-$72,000, depending on the features and functionalities. Aside from the need to hire android developers or iOS developers for the coding and development work, a branding agency may also need to be consulted for the app's design and marketing. For startups, these costs can be prohibitive. But, with a low-cost mobile app development, it can be easier to get an app idea off the ground.

With the increasing demand for mobile apps, businesses and entrepreneurs are looking for ways to get low-cost mobile app development. Indeed, there are ways to reduce app development costs without compromising on quality.

Current State of Startup Funding

Over the years, venture capital investment has become the top choice for tech startups. Digital technology companies are consistently receiving the majority of funding. According to a 2022 Statista report, software companies in the United States attracted the most VC investment in 2021, with approximately $124 billion raised.

Meanwhile, the financial model for startups has evolved to various options, and other sources of funding are being explored time and again. They include bootstrapping, crowdfunding, grants, incubators, and accelerators.

In addition, there is a growing trend toward impact investing. Investors are seeking out startups that have a positive social or environmental impact. To understand the complexities of startup funding, one must have a nuanced understanding of the various factors contributing to it, such as market conditions and industry trends.

What Determines the Price of Startup Development

App features

The complexity and number of features in an app can affect its development time and cost. For this reason, the must-have and nice-to-have features must be carefully prioritized and evaluated during the app development process. This prioritization is essential not only to meet the needs of the users but also to stay within the budget for the app development.

Mobile operating system

All operating systems have different design requirements, development tools, and compatibility issues that can affect the mobile app development cost. In any case, startups often choose between cross-platform and native app development for Android or IOS.

Developing a native app for each platform can result in significant expenses since you would need to hire multiple teams of developers. Thus, it's worth exploring cross-platform solutions if you intend to release your app on various platforms. But you can as well move only with iOS or Android depending on your target audience preference.

Connections and server architecture

The budget for app development is incomplete without considering the number of APIs and data storage solutions needed to connect the app to other services. Each API and data storage solution may come with its own cost, licensing terms, and technical requirements. All of these must be factored into the app development budget. The rule of thumb here is only to add the most suitable or necessary ones.

App Security

The security of data that will be collected and stored in a mobile app is crucial for legal compliance. Besides, maintaining data privacy is needed to build user trust and enhance the reputation of the app and the people behind it.

Drawing from my experience, the security cost of an app depends on the complexity of the data collected and the expertise of security professionals involved.

App management

Regular updates and bug fixes are required to keep an app running smoothly with the latest OS updates and user needs. Apps with more intricate and advanced features may need more maintenance, impacting their overall cost.

Tips and Best Practices for Affordable App Development

For startups with limited resources, app development can be expensive. Nonetheless, with the right strategies and approach, it's feasible to reduce the average app development costs while still maintaining high quality and functionality. Here are a few proven steps that can be helpful.

Provide detailed project scope

Providing a detailed brief to the app development team can help speed up the development process. If the requirements are clearly stated, it can save time and reduce the need for revisions. An app cost calculator can help in this regard. You can use it to prioritize features and make informed decisions about what to include in the app.

Aside from the timeline and budget, The project scope should outline and include the following:

The features and functionalities of the app: e.g. push notifications, user registration, GPS tracking
Technical specifications: e.g. database management system, operating system compatibility, and the required APIs
Design requirements: e.g. responsive design for different screen sizes, color scheme and branding.

Look for outsourcing partners with scalable resources

Startups can leverage outsourcing to get low-cost mobile app development. The software industry is replete with outsourcing partners like Uptech who can give you or your in-house team access to a wider talent pool of skilled developers. At Uptech, we can help you reduce labor and infrastructure costs, offer flexibility in scaling your development team, and cut project management expenses.

Create a simplified MVP to test the market

To minimize app development costs, startups can follow the example of successful companies like Airbnb and Uber by building a simplified Minimum Viable Product. Flexibility in product concept and development is possible with an MVP, making it a cost-effective approach to app development. For one thing, it allows you to gather feedback and add features that are in demand.

Choose The Right Platform

Choosing the right platform for app development can help to reduce costs and optimize the app's performance. Native apps are ideal for businesses that require high-performance applications, but building them involves creating separate apps with different code bases for each platform. On the other hand, hybrid mobile app development offers a cost-effective solution that allows developers to share the product on different platforms, reaching a broader audience.

Summary

The best ways to optimize the app development process and minimize unnecessary expenses are to prioritize essential features, create a clear roadmap and project scope, select the right development team through outsourcing and utilize cost-effective development tools and frameworks.

Have You Unlocked M-Commerce For Your Business?

Uptech — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 09:44:14 +0000

The mobile shopping experience is rapidly evolving with new expectations and opportunities. With advancements in technology, such as API integrations in e-commerce software development, the mobile channel is becoming more sophisticated, allowing consumers to interact with brands in ways that were impossible just a few years ago.

In an era of increasing competition, businesses must take their efforts to the next level. M-commerce solutions allow brands to tap into new markets and expand their reach.

With over half of the world's population owning smartphones, businesses can utilize mobile platforms to reach their target audience and increase sales.

What is e-commerce?

E-commerce, also known as electronic commerce or online commerce, is the buying and selling goods and services over a digital network. E-commerce enables consumers to search for products and services online, compare prices, and place orders electronically.
E-commerce can be divided into B2C (business-to-consumer) and B2B (business-to-business). The B2C model is common for online retailers or big box stores like Amazon and Walmart. These companies sell their products to consumers via websites or apps on their smartphones or tablets.
In contrast, B2B businesses sell their products directly to other companies instead of individuals. Examples include suppliers for large manufacturers and wholesalers who distribute goods to retailers. In some countries, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, online shopping is a prevalent method of purchasing goods and services from retailers that would otherwise be unavailable or too expensive to obtain locally.

What is M-commerce?

M-commerce is the term used to describe the process of purchasing products or services via mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. It is a subset of e-commerce. While m-commerce is limited to mobile devices, e-commerce utilizes various platforms, including mobile phones and laptops.
M-commerce for business is a growing field due to the increase in popularity of smartphones and tablets that can be used to purchase goods and services. In 2021, mobile e-commerce brought in over half of France's total e-commerce sales, according to Statista. Other countries are recording remarkable growth in m-commerce.
The most common way of conducting m-commerce is through apps downloaded from app stores and used to access information about products and make purchases directly from within an app.
With m-commerce, consumers can use their mobile phones to buy goods or services, such as groceries, food or drink, clothes, or cosmetics. They can also use it to pay for public transport tickets, parking fees, and utility bills.

Why Should Businesses Use M-Commerce Solutions?

M-commerce facilitates digital interaction between a business and its customers. This interaction can be through mobile websites, apps, or SMS. It is a speedy way of doing business, especially when providing instant services such as booking or payment.

Businesses should use m-commerce solutions because it provides a better customer experience, offer a chance to gauge consumer behavior quickly, build customer loyalty and provide personalized experience.

1. Better customer experience

Every business wants to provide the best possible customer experience, and mobile commerce is a powerful tool. M-commerce is easy to use and convenient for customers. It's a great way to drive incremental sales. With m-commerce, customers can complete their transactions anywhere and at any time.
For example, an excellent mobile shopping app allows your customers an easy way to browse your products and services, find out what's new and what's on sale, place orders and pay for them. They also let you communicate with them more effectively by sending push notifications or text messages to inform them about sales or special offers.

2. Real-time analytics of consumer behavior and business processes

With m-commerce, you can get real-time information on what your consumers are looking for and how they respond to your products and services. As a result, companies now have access to more customer data and can use this information for better targeting and personalization of ads and offers. In other words, you can quickly adapt your offerings to meet their needs, thus improving customer satisfaction and retention.
M-commerce solutions also allow businesses to better understand their customers' buying patterns. For instance, if you sell mobile phones, you can use m-commerce solutions to determine when customers buy phones in bulk or prefer specific models over others. This will help you make better decisions about pricing strategies or stock management.

3.Increased brand awareness and sustained customer loyalty.

The mobile channel represents an opportunity for businesses to engage with their customers more directly than ever before, which translates into increased brand awareness through digital marketing channels like social media, search engines, or email marketing campaigns.
If a company has a mobile-friendly website, it will be much easier to reach out to its target audience through mobile-enabled social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter. For example, businesses can share news updates or promotions directly with their followers.
Besides, mobile commerce users are more likely than non-mobile users to be frequent purchasers of a brand. The major reason is that they are exposed to more ads on their phones and tablets.

4.Truly omnichannel

M-commerce solutions offer a seamless experience across all devices. So whether potential or existing customers are on their phones or tablet, they can easily purchase products from their favorite brands and complete the transaction in a few minutes.
M-Commerce also allows businesses to interact with their customers through multiple touchpoints. Businesses can interact with their customers through various channels like emails, social media, SMS or mobile app notifications, etc..

5. Personalized options

Mobile shopping allows customers to make purchases based on their preferences. They can choose what they want, how they want it, and when or where they want it. This personalization makes customers feel valued and respected as individuals. It also makes them feel like they are part of a community where they can share their experiences and thoughts with other users.
M-commerce apps can be tailored to each customer's unique needs through personalisation features like user profiles, location tracking, and social media integrations. These features allow businesses to develop a more intimate relationship with their customers.

Summary

Mobile commerce will continue to expand in the coming years. While there are certainly challenges and obstacles to overcome, the mobile trend shows no signs of slowing. With more than 50% of all internet traffic coming from mobile devices, m-commerce for businesses has become necessary to stay relevant in today's marketplace.

Offering shoppers the flexibility to purchase from your online store from their mobile device is a great way to boost sales by making it easier for customers to buy. However, if you still need to start using a mobile commerce site to help drive in-store traffic and sales, you're missing out on a huge potential revenue stream.

10 Questions to Ask When Looking for IT Outsourcing Services

Uptech — Wed, 20 May 2020 15:43:02 +0000

Outsourcing services have grown to become quite a widespread practice both in large enterprises and SMBs. Whether that’s because of convenience or necessity doesn’t matter, the fact remains the same.
Read more about why companies outsource. (https://uptech.team/blog/why-do-companies-outsource)
This trend is showing no signs of slowing down, especially in the IT sector. Companies are reliant on technology now more than ever, but there is a global IT skills gap that makes it difficult for companies to fill in their vacant positions. Some of the areas that will be impacted by the skills gap the most are software development, cybersecurity, analytics, and project management.
If your company requires IT services, IT outsourcing will be your best option. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of outsourcing services and see which questions you’ll need to ask to find the right company that can meet your needs.

Questions to Ask

It’s expected that by 2020, global IT spending will equal $3.88 trillion. While your company might not invest that much in IT outsourcing, you’ll still need to ensure that you’re hiring the right company for the job and that you’re not wasting a single dollar on partnering with incompatible third parties.
Read more about how to find an app developer. (https://uptech.team/blog/how-to-find-app-developer)
The best way to find the right people for the job is by asking the right questions during your negotiations. Take a look at some of the most important questions to ask for IT outsourcing.
Read more about what is IT outsourcing. (https://uptech.team/blog/what-is-it-outsourcing)

What Does the Process of Application Development Look Like in Your Company?

Asking about how the company develops applications or software solutions will let you know what you can expect to receive from it. You’ll gain insight into their workflow, see how they approach software development, and check whether they’ll keep your own business goals in mind while working on your project.
Pay very close attention to the answer and demand a full explanation. If it seems like the company is taking shortcuts, perhaps it wouldn’t be the right choice of partner for you. Shortcuts can end up becoming very expensive, so make sure that their entire application development process is up-to-par.

What Kinds of Companies Do You Typically Do Work For?

Of course, the answer you’ll want to hear here is the kinds of companies that are similar to yours. Different businesses have different requirements and objectives, and if you want your project to be completed successfully, you’ll need to look for companies that have experience working in similar niches.
It shouldn’t be a deal-breaker if the IT services provider mostly works outside of your niche, but it’s a big plus if they have at least some experience in your field.

Could You Show Me Samples of Your Previous Work, Especially Ones That Are Related to My Company?

Seeing some of their previous work will show you how skilled and professional they are. You should feel free to ask questions about the different projects, why they decided on a specific approach, whether they’d encountered any difficulties, how they’d solved them, etc.
Examining previous work will always tell you what you can expect from an IT provider, and it might even give you some ideas that can improve your project.

How Will You Manage the Project?

Learning more about your IT provider’s project management is crucial. The answer will allow you to find out how quickly you can expect your project to be finished, and it will let you know what role you will play in all of this.
Be sure to check who will be on the team that handles your project. Check how many developers will be working on it, what their seniority levels are, and more.
From our experience, a big team is not always a good option. Because it could be hard to manage a team and communicate in time. And the most important - effectiveness doesn’t multiply by the number of people at the team.

What Is the Team’s Expertise?

IT outsourcing can be done for a million different requirements, and no one can be an expert in all things IT. Most teams specialize in a few different areas, so it’s always important to check whether your IT provider has the required expertise to complete your project.

What Are the Financial Terms?

Checking about the financial terms is always crucial. Different IT providers have different pricing structures that can have a significant impact on the final cost.
You’ll, of course, want to know whether you’re required to pay a certain sum of money before the start of the project. You’ll need to know whether there will be any financial requirements if an unexpected problem arises, and what the financial implications are if you’re not satisfied with the result.

What Collaboration Tools Do You Use During the Project?

When you’re outsourcing services, you’ll need to know the specific collaboration tools your provider is using, primarily if they’re located in a different country. Collaboration plays a vital role in any project. Your IT provider needs to let you know how your project is progressing, and you’ll always need to have a way of contacting them and working with them wherever they are.
There’s a wide variety of collaboration tools currently available on the market, so make sure that both you and your IT provider will be using the same one.

What Do You Expect from Us and What Should We Expect from You During the Project?

IT outsourcing doesn’t mean that you’re completely excluded from your project. After all, it’s your project, and you should play a part in it and stay engaged. Make sure that you’re aware of your role in the project and that you know what you’ll be expected to do. It’s just as important as knowing what you can expect from your IT provider.

Could You Provide Any Testimonials or References from Past or Current Clients?

Seeing the testimonials and reviews from previous clients will let you know whether the company’s doing satisfactory work. You’ll learn more about the IT provider’s strengths and weaknesses and even their core values. It’s just like doing a background check on your in-house employees, so don’t forget this crucial question.

How Much Would It Cost and What Does the Price Include?

And finally, the cost. IT outsourcing can go from a few thousand dollars to a hundred thousand, depending on your project. Your price estimate should include research and consultations, design, development, licenses and copyright laws, and more.
If you want your project to be done right, you shouldn’t be afraid to invest a bit more in your IT provider. After all, you get what you paid for, and the cheapest provider isn’t always the best. IT outsourcing will still be your most affordable option, even if you spend a few dollars more.

The Bottom Line

Armed with these questions (and their answers), you’ll be able to find the best IT provider that can provide you with the exact services that you need. You’ll be able to make an informed business decision that will ensure that your IT outsourcing is done right.

How to Get Feedback for Your App

Uptech — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 10:57:38 +0000

Creating an app requires a lot of time and effort, so you can't afford to build something that your target audience doesn't want to use. But how can you know what they want and design an app that will meet all their needs?

The answer lies in user feedback. Feedback is the absolute key to improving your mobile app and making sure every user loves it. Read on to find out the many reasons why you need feedback from your users, before exploring the best ways to collect it.

Discover more how to conduct usability testing (https://uptech.team/blog/how-to-conduct-usability-testing).

Why You Need Feedback from Your Users

It doesn't matter if you have launched your app or you're looking to rebuild an app you already have. In any case, you need to know what your users think of it. When you get a clear insight into their opinions, you can understand what to do to improve your app.

It's the first most crucial step you need to take when looking to redesign an app, or when you have just launched it and have no idea whether or not people like it.

Of course, you will probably harness the power of analytics to see how well your application is performing and what kind of user experience it provides. But there is nothing better than feedback to learn what your customers honestly think of your product.

To provide your customers with real value, you need to listen to them. Listening to what they have to say is the key to satisfying their needs and building a product that they would be genuinely interested in using.

Another reason to collect feedback – saving money. Making changes to your application can be costly, mainly if you rely only on your instinct. Feedback will prevent you from making unnecessary, expensive adjustments.

How to Collect the Feedback

Here are the best ways to collect user feedback for your appand ensure you truly improve your app:

Feedback forms
Emails
Pop-Ups in App
Support

Feedback Forms

Feedback forms are some of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to better understand your customers' needs and their satisfaction with your app.

You can display a feedback form whenever a user triggers a specific event, such as using a feature for the first time. For instance, if you have a shopping app, you can display this form after a customer has completed a purchase.

The vital thing about these forms is to ask no more than 2-3 questions, because asking too many may be irritating. You should also make sure all the questions are direct and specific.

What's also essential is providing people with the skip option. That way, you won't disrupt their experience if they don't feel like interacting.

However, you should give them an incentive to fill out your feedback forms. A good rule of thumb is explaining that their feedback will help improve your app, but you can also go the extra mile and offer a discount on something in your app – anything that would encourage people to share their reviews.

Pro tip: there is a service to collect and process user feedback and measure the Product/Market fit - PMF Survey. (by Sean Ellis).

Emails

Email is still one of the most effective communication channels. Granted, email correspondence is slow, and many people ignore promotional emails. However, you should still give it a try.

You should include an incentive. Many people who are thrilled with a particular mobile application typically love leaving feedback even without a specific stimulus. However, others do need something of value in return for their precious time.

Feedback E-mail from Plai

Be sure to include your incentive in the subject line, so that you see a high open-rate. Address every recipient by name to personalize the conversation, and explain how their responses would improve your app.

Inform them about the time needed for leaving their feedback, and thank them in advance for taking the time to do it.

Make sure you don't sound like a bot. Be friendly and add a human touch that will help you foster meaningful customer relationships.

Pro tip: there is a service to send trigger emails and pushes - Customer.io. We at Uptech (https://uptech.team/) use it for our own project Plai (https://plai.team/). It helps to create sending logic and collect email bases.

Pop-Ups in App

Pop-ups could irritate people, so you need to be careful when using them. Don't display them every time a user launches your application.

Also, don't display them when someone is in the middle of using the app, such as playing a game level or checking out to complete a purchase. Otherwise, you would only create bad user experiences.

Pop-up in Sprent

Instead, make them pop up at the right time in the right place. Rather than interrupting the user experience, show a pop-up after someone has used your application for a specific time, or when they have completed a particular task.

For instance, Uber asks for a rating after a customer has used the service for several rides. Similarly, the HotelTonight online travel app asks for a customer review via a pop-up after someone has booked a hotel.

Support

In-app customer support is yet another great way of collecting feedback from your users. Most developers create a support page in the app that only displays contact information, such as a phone number or customer support email.

This isn't very effective, because rarely anyone likes writing emails to customer support and waiting for someone to reply. Even fewer people pick up the phone and dial the support number.

Instead, let people contact you quickly from within the app using a dedicated customer support page. Live chat support is also useful. It enables fast, real-time answers, and significantly improves customer experiences.

Support in Plai

If you integrate live chat support into your mobile application, you will make it much easier for people to share their insights, as they wouldn't have to leave the app.

This is also important if your users come across potential bugs within the app, as they can instantly reach your tech support team to notify them and help fix the issue.

Pro tip: Integrating existing customer support solutions like Intercomor Zendesk will save you a lot of time and money, so that you don’t need to build your own.

What to Do with Feedback

You should always follow up with your customers and respond to both positive and negative feedback. Let them know you heard what they had to say and that you appreciate them taking the time to share their opinions.

After validating both praises and criticisms, use the feedback to improve your app. Organize and filter what you have gathered, and work closely with your development team to prioritize your application changes.

Pro tip: Impact/Effort map usually works great for the feedback prioritization.

Make sure there's an excellent reason for making specific changes to the existing features, or for adding new features. Be sure to fix bugs and other potential issues and alter anything else that will lead to excellent user experience.

After you update, redesign, or rebuild the app, notify your customers in your update notes and thank them for making it happen. You can also personally thank all those who gave you feedback, including those whose recommendations played a part in the update or redesign.

Make sure you encourage them to keep providing you with feedback anytime they want so that you can continually provide them with real value.

Summary

As Bill Gates once said:
"We all need people who will give us feedback. That's how we improve."

Even if the majority of your gathered data revolves around criticism, don't let that bring you down. That should give you an even stronger push toward improvement and success.

Therefore, regularly ask for their feedback and listen to what they have to say. Always respond in a friendly manner – to both positive and negative feedback. Thank people for their time and shared insights, and use the data you collect to implement the necessary changes and continually optimize your app. That's the only way to create something that people will absolutely fall in love with.

Read more:
How to build a social media app
https://uptech.team/blog/create-app-like-tiktok

How to validate your app idea
https://uptech.team/blog/validate-app-idea-without-development

How to conduct Usability Testing - Best practices
https://uptech.team/blog/how-to-conduct-usability-testing

Tips & Tricks for iOS App Debugging

Uptech — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 12:44:08 +0000

App debugging is an essential step in the application development process.
Still, there are some shortcuts to take and become better at iOS app debugging. Below, you will find a list of tips and tricks for iOS app debugging you can incorporate today to optimize your workflow and deliver quality iOS apps.

Check out more tips & tricks for iOS App Debugging
(https://uptech.team/blog/ios-app-debugging)

Install and Master LLDB

LLDB is a very reliable and ultra-fast debugger. If you are using Xcode to write your iOS apps, there is no need to install it as it is a default debugger that comes pre-installed with Xcode. If you are using something else than Xcode, you can install LLDB by entering terminal and typing in “lldb.”

Using LLDB is very easy, and you can master it fast thanks to the abundant help documentation it comes with. To access LLDB help, type “help + command.” For instance, “help breakpoint” will show you how to use breakpoint syntax, which subcommands breakpoint support, and what each one of them does.

You can use “apropos” to look for specific terms in LLDB documentation. Consider it as a neat search function accessible via terminal. To use it, type in “apropos + phrase you are looking for.”

Po, p & v

Po and p are few of the first commands iOS developers learn. Po is the command that prints object description, and p prints out the raw information about an object. V is the new command introduced in Xcode 10.2 that you can use instead of pos & p.
When used, p or v command will also create a local “$RX” (X will be a number in real use case scenario) variable, which is quite handy as it can be used for debugging.

Capture Changes in Real-time With Watchpoints

Wouldn’t it be handy if you could stop program execution once one of the properties changes? You can set LLDB to stop and to do that only for some time every time a property you are interested in changes.

To keep tabs on the property or multiple properties at all times, you should start using Watchpoints. To do it, open the Debug Area and select the property you want to observe. You can see it in the left section of the debugger.

From this point on, the changes in the property will result in LLDB stopping.

Take Control of Functions with Xcode Breakpoints

While Xcode features several different breakpoints, here we will focus on Symbolic, Exception, and Swift Error breakpoints. These breakpoints can be set on symbols such as “viewDidLoad.” Breakpoints are quite useful to determine which function causes the bug to occur. If you set a symbolic breakpoint on the “viewDidLoad” function, Xcode will stop when the app calls the “viewDidLoad” function.

Creating symbolic breakpoints is easy:
● Click on the + button in the bottom left corner
● Click on Symbolic Breakpoint in the pop-up menu

To identify the very code line that’s responsible for the app crash, use Exception Breakpoint. It only triggers if an exception is thrown. On the other hand, you can use Swift Error Breakpoint to see all the errors you code throws.

Debug While Developing With Step Over, In and Out

If you are responsible for initial debugging as a developer, you can add debugging to your workflow without disrupting it at all. You can do this thanks to LLDB navigation actions:
● Step Over - This action will help you go to the next code line in the context, which is quite useful if you want to debug functions
● Step In - a neat action that will help you debug your code step by step. If you are in a position calling another function Step In will take you to the function without executing it
● Step Out - this action is great for checking whether the function works as intended or not. Xcode will stop once the function has returned

I hope our tips & tricks for iOS app debugging will be useful for you. What tips do you use?

With Love from Uptech!