If you are an app developer looking to launch an app into the mobile world, please find immediate solace in the fact that the app economy has surpassed Hollywood in being bigger and more powerful. The Atlantic reported,
“While reading a self-laudatory Apple press release, the technology business analyst Horace Dediu found something remarkable: The iOS App Store distributed $10 billion to developers in 2014, which, Dediu points out, is just about as much as Hollywood earned off U.S. box office revenues the same year.”
You are certainly heading in the right direction to invest your time and expertise, but what are some major things to keep in mind before making an app? The professionals in the industry are adamant on the fact that having a cool idea is only 5% of the work, so unless you’re earning lots of bucks in exchange for that idea, take a closer look at some great ideas to create a great app in lesser time:
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Set your goals:
To utilize time better, you need to set your goals. It means you define what is important in short-term and long-term plans. Once you know where you have to be next week, what should you be working on tomorrow and how much work you should do in a given day, you can sort out many things that seemed harder before.
The most notable successes took at least ten years -- they weren’t overnight achievements. Be passionate about what you are making. Stay persistent and continually learn with each new version update and each new app published. –Steve Young, App Marketing Specialist and founder of Appmasters.co
A week, a month or 5 years- your goals define your frame of mind and keep you consistent.
Time tracking
Tracking time is very important for developers, because without a track of time they may be bent over a project for days and wouldn’t realize it. It seriously affects work-life balance and causes serious health issues too. If you can’t track time and feel lazy, then don’t do it. Get some help. Make use of a good time tracking app that notifies you of your progress and how much time you spend on tasks.
Better still, you can get a simple time tracking tool that also takes care of your project invoices. You can track the time spent on not one but all of your ongoing projects and assess the invoices in a single click. Other personal favorites are Toggl and Time Camp. There are so many features that are fully customizable.
It might sound a bit fancy, but a great time tracking and invoice tool will do half of the management work while you can concentrate on the creative bit. It will highlight the common diversions you face every day, recurring tasks that hold you back, etc.
Split difficult goals into small, achievable tasks
Easier said than done, you will say, but there’s good news. While the whole world is out there procrastinating and pushing away hard tasks for later forever, you can cleverly chop your big and scary tasks into bite-sized pieces. Complete chunks of it that are easier than others, and then look back at the complete picture to feel proud of yourself. You can set up timers and reminders tagged ‘test drive’ or ‘how to test’ that tell you to get your act together and complete a certain task in time.
The Pomodoro Technique is a wise and proven idea of distributing time to have small and achievable goals. It asks you to distribute time into small chunks and roll up your sleeves to get it all done. The resulting satisfaction will be relaxing and increase your productivity.
Manage distractions:
We know it well that in this age of constant notification popping, it is hard to stay focused on one task. Harder when you’re social or running a business. Emails, Skype, Twitter, Facebook, Messaging apps, all ask for so much of our time and we lose track of our progress. A study conducted by Michigan State University found out that distractions leading up to 2.8 seconds can alter results by 100%. It clearly means that distraction leads to errors and can’t be afforded at any cost.
You can do these simple things to avoid distractions:
- Clear your workspace. Clutter leads to distraction.
- Mute your phone during important tasks.
- Close unnecessary apps.
- Set schedules breaks to reply to emails.
Learn from the masters and read Harvard Business Review’s article on the way Bill Gates manages focus on his tasks and avoids distractions.
Ask for help
If you know somebody in your circle who is good at a certain thing you are having trouble with, don’t hesitate to ask them. Maybe they will tell you a better way to do it. It is going to be a major time saver, rather than spending countless hours fretting over an undone task. Maybe you don’t know how to code and know a friend who is pretty good at it. Many developers say that you should go ahead and ask that friend for help, saving time and energy.
If you’re part of a company where you have spotted some people who hesitate to ask for help or offer it, follow this thread to get a few tips. For ethical reasons, it is always good to help around and make people’s day easier.
Conclusion:
While it is always advised to manage time to achieve more, you should remember that priorities matter a lot. In the tech world, developers seldom like to give themselves a break and enjoy life. In short, nobody wants to slow down until they make it big in Silicon Valley. Success is a great fantasy when you have a mere idea, but never avoid rewarding yourself, even if it is for small achievements.
Don’t give in to the myth of multitasking, because it will only confuse you more. With a proper time tracking tool, stay on top of your to-do lists and ace one thing at a time. Managing time is key to making the most of it. Even when you are done with launching an app, it’s not done yet. Post launch period is going to test your nerves on a whole new level. "Just putting it on iTunes isn't going to make it successful, though," Said Mika Olsson, co-founder of app development firm Ebbex. "Some will work and some won't, but to be successful, you are more than likely going to end up having more than one app."
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ABOUT ALMA CAUSEY
Alma Causey is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences and express herself through her blogs. Find her on Twitter:@Almacausey