How to develop a Web Application in 5 easy steps – A guide for web developers and businesses

How to develop a Web Application in 5 easy steps – A guide for web developers and businesses

Posted by legacye in Web Development on 09 15th, 2009 | no responses

Having developed web applications for a few years now, I’m always interested in helping people get their own apps up and running whether it be coders or small businesses. In this article you’ll learn 5 of the most important things to help deliver a successful web application to the market.

The key to success isn’t in having the most expensive website or the best animations in your UI, but in fact understanding your users and what they might want from your service. Once you’ve understood this, developing a great web application is as simple as following these 5 steps.

1. Conception – begin with a clear Wireframe model of what you’re trying to build – a clearly designed concept will help to save you a lot of time and energy later on down the process when you begin coding or investing in having your application made.

2. Consider your competition – whether you’re a business or a developer writing a Web Application there’s a certain level of expectation that’s been set by the rest of your competition. They’ve risen the bar so make sure you develop above it and not below it – if they’ve created an intuitive interface that’s user friendly you need to make sure your solution is going to be just as welcoming.

3. Building – In these economic times, it can be expensive hiring an entire team of coders to turn your idea into a reality. Even a developer wishing to try their hand at their own business can find it difficult to absorb the costs of making something amazing, so consider all your options. There’s a huge number of online sites that offer freelancers who can complete your project (usually at 30-40% of the local cost) so use this to your advantage. Outsourcing is a good idea.

4. Designing – try to give your application it’s own unique identity. This can be something as simple as a tweaked up interface users are used with a unique theme applied to it or something a lot more thought-through. A good graphic designer (with just as good communication skills) will be able to help you achieve your vision. If however you are tight for cash there are other alternatives to an in-house designer – for cheap designs, consider tweeting or using a company such as CrowdSource or 99Designs to help reach out for design ideas. Some companies hold design contest to get some creativity coming their way and it can pay off in a big way.

5. Releasing and testing – Once your site has been fully developed there are a few things you can do before an official launch. Make sure that it works with all popular Web browsers using a site like BrowserShots.org or Adobe BrowserLab. It’s also a good idea to get some initial feedback on the usability of your application from services like ConceptFeedback, OpenHallway or QBN. They’ll probably help save you a month or two of slow traffic due to issues you didn’t know about your site and at the end of the day you’ll be in a powerful position to go out into the market knowing you’re ready to make an impact.