Three actionable items that app developers, designers and product people can use to improve their mobile apps. Presented at the 2015 NJ Mobile Developers Kickoff in Hoboken, NJ.

1. 3 Specific Actions You Can
Use to Improve Your App
2015 NJ Mobile Developers Kickoff
February 19, 2015

2. 1. Make A Good First Impression
2. Use Analysis Tools
3. Make It Habit Forming

3. A. First Open Introduction
B. Account Creation
C. First Time Help
D. Asking For Permissions
1. Make A Good First Impression

4. ● Are you just pushing marketing messages? Don’t include an
introduction.
● Are you just listing features? Don’t include an introduction.
● IN GENERAL: is it absolutely necessary to include an app
introduction? If not, don’t include one.
1A. First Open Introduction

5. ● Don’t require account creation if you don’t need to - ask for
an email address for your mailing list if that is all you want
● Let the user use certain app features before creating an
account if possible
● If up front account creation is required, explain the reason
and the benefits
● Offer social sign in (Facebook / Twitter) but don’t require it
● Don’t ask for too many details
1B. Account Creation

7. ● Empty lists? Populate with helpful information instead.
● Need to explain UI gestures? You might want to provide
guidance.
● Need to explain how the menus work or other basic
navigation and features? Maybe your app UI needs an
overhaul or it is too complex in general.
1C. First Time Help

9. ● Ask for permissions as they are needed, not all at once
● Provide context and the reason for needing permissions
● Ask only for permissions that are needed
1D. Asking For Permissions

12. The Right Way to Ask Users for iOS Permissions:
https://medium.com/@mulligan/the-right-way-to-ask-users-for-
ios-permissions-96fa4eb54f2c
Making a Great First Impression With Strong Onboarding
Design:
https://developer.apple.com/videos/wwdc/2014/
1. Further Information

13. A. App Usage Tools
B. Crash Reporting Tools
C. Other Tools
2. Use Analysis Tools

14. 2A. App Usage Tools
Tool Price iOS Android
Flurry Analytics Free X X
Universal (Google)
Analytics
Free X X
Mixpanel Freemium X X
Parse Analytics Free X X

15. 2B. Crash Reporting Tools
Tool Price iOS Android
Crashlytics Free X X
Flurry Analytics Free X X
HockeyApp Starts at $10/month X X
Crittercism Freemium X X

16. 2C. Other Tools
● A/B Testing (Splitforce, Vessel, Hercules)
● Sales & Downloads (App Annie, appfigures, MOPAPP)
● App Store Optimization (MobileDevHQ, apptweak)
● Push Notifications (Parse, Urban Airship, PushWoosh)

17. List Of App Developer Tools:
http://www.apptamin.com/blog/app-developer-tools/
2. Further Information

18. A. Make Actions Easy
B. Variable Rewards
C.Investment
3. Make It Habit Forming

19. ● The easier it is to get started, the more likely
your users are to stay
● Decreasing barriers to entry over time:
Homepage
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Yo
3A. Make Actions Easy

20. ● Users are motivated more for the anticipation of
the reward rather than the reward itself
● Example: Facebook news feed, eBay auctions
3B. Variable Rewards

21. ● Users perceived value of a product increases as
their investment in that product increases
● Example: portfolio of Instagram pictures
3C. Investment

22. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal:
http://www.amazon.com/Hooked-How-Build-Habit-Forming-
Products-ebook/dp/B00LMGLXTS
3. Further Information

23. Thanks!
brett.didonato@gmail.com
@brettdidonato
brettdidonato.com