You’ve just meticulously created your App. Your team has come together and gone from concept to wire frame to now a working version. The long hours have paid off, and you don’t have to detail an imaginative user interface when people ask; “Hey, what’s your team working on?” You know how the app works, your team knows how it works, and every first degree beta user you let give it a try, experiences it perfectly, because, well, you steer them away from those “sticky” points.
Before you pop the champagne bottle or set the notification emails for new downloads high marks, take a moment to evaluate what Quality Control, you and your team have done to set your app up for long-term success. Quality control can be the agonizing “do we really?” type agenda that deflates even the most motivated team. However, following these simple tips could be the difference in rolling out the Headline App of the year versus just another “app with so much potential.”
- Automation
- Staged Roll Out
- Marketplace monitoring
- Don’t let users run the show
- Classify your bugs
- Test, test, test
- Multiple testers
- Take notes
- Manage client expectations
The developers can’t catch every bug that your app may encounter, making some form of automated testing essential. The best way to apply this is through tools like MyCrowd QA. The process is automated and requires less hands-on than what is the norm for a team. Bugs should never be the reason your app isn’t successful. Apply automation in identifying the bugs and you’ll take this off the list of risks for failing.
Before you release your app to the marketplace, it’s a good idea to release it to a small group of users to monitor for issues. Thomas Weigt of BitSuites says this way if any bugs are detected or user sticking points arise, you can move the release date of the app until they are taken care of.
The reviews found in the App store will be your users’ primary way of getting the word to you that there is something wrong with your app. Make sure that you are checking in and addressing your users’ concerns. A bad review can really hurt you in the App store. Be sure to encourage good reviews as well. Loyal users and past champions of your apps will gladly help elevate your new release to the top charts if you give them good reason. Try sending release emails to your list of followers. Tell them why this app is important and how they can specifically ensure it is a success. Be sure to include a private form or contact for suggestions and improvements. Opening up this channel will give you a direct communication with your best users, without running the risk of seeing one star like feedback in the app store.
While this may sound contrary to what was just said, you shouldn’t let the users’ opinions rule your app. Though their feedback is important, it is equally important not to lose sight of your vision for the app. When dealing with user complaints, listen to their recommended solutions but refrain from making every detailed change someone mentions. “Game changers” in the app world, often carry a learning curve that users new to figure out. If you were to automatically take these away based on simple feedback, the bigger vision would likely fall to the waste side.
Distinguish and prioritize the issues that your app has. Danny Group, CEO Richard Wong, recommends classifying bugs as “critical” and “non-critical.” Critical bugs are those that cause errors and crashes. Non-critical bugs are those that don’t affect the overall performance of the app but are not satisfactory. Using a tool like MyCrowd QA will give you an ultimate list of bugs that exist. Your team can use it as a starting point to divide and conquer on the way to success.
STOP: Would you like to know every bug your App has in a matter of hours? Ensure your App works perfectly for users by running a bug hunt on MyCrowd.com.
After your app hits the marketplace you’re done with the testing right? Wrong! You want to frequently test your app for bugs and errors. Continual testing will challenge you to make your app better and better. If there is any single contribution to maintaining quality control in your app it is testing. Set up systems within your team to make sure every new update is tested. New features and user experiences should routinely be monitored and tested to ensure the long-term success of the app.
As mentioned above, testing is essential. You want as many different groups to test your app as possible; in all kinds of conditions. Rasheen Carbin of nspHire says that different developers are going to test for different issues, so it’s important to get multiple opinions. Crowdsourcing your testing is an easy to use built in process to generate this type of feedback. The mass amount of testers will leverage their own style and knowledge to look for things that you and your team may not think of.
Your developers are going to be managing a lot of different aspects of the app, so it is essential to keep a log of it all. This will keep a clear line of communication among your team. Create a standard log system that anyone on the team can view and add to. Keep abbreviations, symbols and other short hand notes congruent across the team. This will allow everyone to be on the same page and prevent errors along with duplicate work. Also, by keeping a noted work log, your team will be able to reference pivotal points in the evolution of your app. The log will serve as a living document that in the future you can turn to for insight and knowledge when it comes to executing your next big project.
When developing an app for a client, it’s essential to set expectations. Timetables and deadlines provide clear expectations of what is needed for the project to be a success. However, be sure to educate clients on the cost of modifications and new features. Promising new items and keeping the same deadlines and expectations can quickly turn into a “black hole” for everyone. When dealing with clients, be transparent and realistic. The client will have a better understanding of the magnitude your work is generating, and your team will not become discouraged due to the inability to deliver unrealistic promises.
App Development can be a tricky business. There are so many moving parts that a once small project can quickly snowball into a giant task. Many developers forgo the items listed above because they are so bent on crossing the finish line of taking an app live. Don’t make that mistake. As more tools and solutions enter the market to help with quality control, turn to outsourcing and automation to keep your burnout rate low. Start with MyCrowd QA testing… it’ll save you and your team days of work and pave the way for a fantastic user experience!
-MyCrowd
