App Development: Researching the Target Market and Competition

Apps. They have changed the world, and have made our lives easier.

People are also entertained by apps and end up devoting a lot of time to them. These people spend 85% of their time on smartphones using apps.

There are millions of apps out there, so competition for people’s attention is fierce. This is why when you are doing app development, you need to do some competitor research.

Why is this important? What are the biggest things that you need to keep in mind?

This is your guide.

Know Your Competition

The first thing that you need to do during app development is make sure that you know who your competition is. You can start by figuring out what companies sell the same products or services to you.

Then, narrow it down to the companies that do it in a similar style and a similar scale.

For example, McDonald’s is arguably the most popular burger and fries fast food restaurant in America. However, the local place that sells a burger is only going to be minor competition to them and sit-down restaurants that sell burgers and fries likely will not be considered competition.

Take the time to figure out exactly who you need to worry about.

Go Over Their Marketing Strategy

Next, pay attention to how they market their content. United States businesses spend $350 billion on marketing alone, so this is usually carefully coordinated.

When it comes to fast food restaurants like McDonald’s and Burger King, this could mean having apps to make customers’ lives easier.

It also could mean having games for kids, toys, colorful branding, renovating restaurants, discounted items on the menu, comedic commercials, and more.

The point is that you need to be aware of how your competitor is marketing their product or service. Also, this can give you a better idea of if they have the same target audience in mind as you.

This should help you figure out what you are doing right and wrong when it comes to marketing.

Read Industry Reports

Finally, take a look at industry reports to see what the state of your industry is like and what competitors are leading the way. This should give you a better idea of each company’s success along with what challenges you may have to overcome in the near future.

It can also give you a snapshot of what ideas in the market were popular last year and inspire you to participate in a good idea or adapt and come up with a better idea.

Get Help With App Development

These are three of the biggest competitor research tips that you need to know when you are in the middle of app development. This helps you figure out what companies are doing right, who your biggest competitors are, and what type of marketing strategy your competition has.

Once you have a better idea of what your competition is doing, you can focus on building your app.