Mobile technology has taken over the marketing landscape, which is why more and more businesses are taking a mobile approach to their outreach efforts. If your business hasn’t done so already, it’s time to come up with a plan in terms of mobile app design.
In order to help you better reach mobile audiences, here are just a few app design elements to keep in mind:
Importance of Mobile Outreach
Mobile technology is taking the world by storm and, as a result, there is a massive mobile audience that continues to grow each day. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center, an astonishing 90% of all American adults own and use a smart phone on a daily basis.
Likewise, of the adults polled, nearly 10% said they are extremely dependent on their smart phone apps. Many of these mobile users are your current and potential customers. By neglecting them, you’re missing out on a unique outreach opportunity.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to design an attention-grabbing app for your business.
Design with Function in Mind
Many businesses make the mistake of focusing too much on their app designs without putting much thought into functionality. Your app needs to look great in order to draw people in, but it is all functionality from there.
In the article, “Recap: Mint Talks Mobile Design at MobileBeat“, Mint’s head of design Mike Tschudy discusses the importance of intuitive app design. When an app is truly functioning properly, the design heightens the user’s experience.
You can do this by making sure your app uses familiar swipe, tap, pinch, and touch features. Likewise, you should take time mapping your user’s experience.
Does each page lead logically to the next? Is there an easy-to-find and use navigation toolbar?
All of these design elements make your app that much more functional.
Avoid a Busy Design
If you’ve ever come across apps with overly busy designs, then you already know how difficult they are to navigate. That’s why it’s important to remember how effective a straightforward, simple app design can be.
Mobile apps are already limited by the constraints of screen size, so why complicate your business app with too many moving parts?
Consistent font size, color, and shape, alongside predictable touch features and subtle graphics are much more powerful than an app that’s trying to do too much.
Think Placement
Navigating a mobile application can be a tricky process no matter how much thought you put into the design.
Some users hold their phone with one hand and swipe with the other while others hold their phone with both hands and navigate with their thumbs. This should all come into play in terms of button placement.
By putting a little thought into button placement, you can make it easier for mobile users to physically navigate your mobile app.
Keeping buttons, links, and other tabs near the center of the screen where users don’t have to scroll up and down or side to side is a great way to make your app design more navigable.
When you’re ready to truly reach out to your mobile customers, keep in mind the app design pointers above.
About the Author: Adam Groff is a freelance writer and creator of content. He writes on a variety of topics including app design and mobile technology.
