From a commercial perspective from a business perspective, the market for social networks is considered to be one of the most lucrative market. Of course, this segment is crowded with major companies, but the rapid technological advancement is creating new opportunities for the realization of new concepts.
The very first social media site goes back to the 1970s, to the period when University of Illinois has developed the PLATO System. It included some of the most popular features, including online forums, bulletin boards Instant messaging, as well as several other functions.
Moving forward to 2019, we've got a myriad of social media platforms to pick from (with key leaders like Facebook or Twitter). As per App Annie's report on the The Social Media Network 2019 Statistics, the stats of social media platforms for 2019 show the following leaders in different countries: When developing social media, it is crucial to know that having a mobile application is a prerequisite for an effective project. Also, when we talk about the cost, you should remember that the majority of the time the cost and expenses are tied with the front end (what happens behind the scenes that makes the app/website project function).
App development for social networks can be developed from scratch or as an extension to the current web version. With The APP Solutions, we can utilize either approach because we are familiar in this development phase at each development stage.
Check out the infographic to discover how much does social media app development costs (basic functionality and the use of one platform - Android (or iOS):
How to Create a Social Media App
1. Joining existing social media sites
The fewer steps that separate the user from full-on interaction with an app, the better. They've already entered their personal information in a plethora of social media applications There is no reason to make them do it again. It's better to narrow the process of getting into the new interface to just one option "Connect with" or "Login using" one of the existing apps.
2. Opportunities for self-expression
Everyone wants to feel individual and demonstrate to the world that he is creative exceptional, unique, and out of the ordinary they are. Social media apps must include certain features that will assist in this, such as customizing background images, profile pictures and nicknames, for example.
3. Establishing the network
Every social media is beneficial for the user only if they are interesting individuals. So, social media app developers must work on the most efficient algorithm for the friends graphs and the system that lets people invite their friends in just one click.
4. The newsfeed can be arranged
Nearly every social media platform requires news feeds. Content is the king, and rightly so. Users create a huge amount of data by themselves: check-ins to statuses, check-ins, video audio, and photo uploads. Additionally they share others' content. This allows users to voice their opinion and assert their opinions (which is one of the advantages of social media - you are able to make yourself heard.)
When we begin to design an app that is social media-related to be compatible with Android and iOS, we keep this in mind and provide the best way to arrange the feed of news that is most appropriate to the particulars of the app's social media.
(Newsfeed from All Square Portfolio app project by The App Solutions]
5. Communication with services
To give your customers a better user experience interacting through the platform, you must develop a framework to connect existing services to your network. Thus, users won't have to choose among numerous services since they're already connected. When we talk about third-party services, we are referring to:
Relationship networks
Networks are used to build relationships between people. There are many categories of networks such as personal networking (Facebook),
professional networking (Linkedin) and social networking services (Badoo or Tinder app).
Networks for sharing media
This kind of social media offers users the possibility of trading images and video content. These include Flickr, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Vimeo, Vine, Snapchat. One distinctive characteristic is the ability to scale content. For instance, some allow the option of publishing short videos; other allow you to create your own video channel.
Online reviews
They are a huge base of data that allows users to gather all the necessary information to make purchase decisions. For example, Yelp and Urbanspoon are founded on geolocation, as is the capability to leave comments and suggestions for local businesses.
Discussion forums
Communities, forums, Q&A-services are among the earliest forms of social media. Contemporary examples of this type are Quora, Reddit, and Digg. In the underlying mechanics of interactions between users is the need for information sharing.
Social publishing platforms
This type of social media service is connected to micro-blogging and blogging platforms that let users write and publish text and media content. They include popular platforms such including Twitter, Medium, and Tumblr.
Bookmarking websites
StumbleUpon, Pinterest, Flipboard are all services that allow users to accumulates content for their personal library. These may be shared with other people in the same community. Typically, these social media are used to research interests in order to provide more relevant information.
Interest-based networks
The most appealing opportunity that provides social networks is to meet like-minded individuals who share the same interests. For instance, Last.FM is a network specifically for music enthusiasts, Goodreads is for readers of literature.
It should also be considered the option of integrating your service into all of the networks currently in use in order that posts from users within your social media application could be cross-posted to various social platforms. It can also bring users' friends to your network.
6. Private communication
No matter how thrilling is the experience of public user interaction, there are always things that must be discussed privately. Social networks should have built-in security features that allow for private communications. In this way, users will not go to external resources and will be spending more time using your application. Check out our article to understand the reasons why privacy of data is important.
So you have an idea for an app, and you are aware of the fundamentals of the app. What's next? How to make an application that is social media-related? We proceed to the creation of apps directly.
This APP Solutions is a social media app development company that sticks to native app development. This allows us to enjoy better performance from the social app that is now available on Android and iOS and provides a superior UX/UI, and provides full access to the built-in services of mobile devices.
In the second, when you are working on a massive project our social media application developers suggest starting with an MVP or minimum viable product. MVP is a product with an initial set of features that allows you to quickly send the product to the market to test the idea. This approach helps to announce the product quickly, while dramatically saving time and cost. Once validation is finished it is time to begin finalizing the product: add featuresand features, as well as design and improve UI/UX. Following this, the app can be sold to be validated again and testing.
MVP Scheme Stages of Development
Five Steps of Social Media Application Development
We at APP Solutions, our professional team has adopted an approach that makes the most sense from the technological and business perspective and we have followed these essential stages in developing a successful social media app.
Step 1. Creating a strategy of your online presence
This is the stage where we analyze the idea and the competitive field and analyze the needs, draw up a portrait of the intended audience and identify the most important performance indicators to be met. This will help us identify a unique niche while developing an app that is social media-related for mobile.
Step 2. Plan the social media app's workflow
The design itself is comprised of many steps:
Sketching
Quick and basic outline of future applications. They help assess the future design of the project and the number of screens, and how they interact.
Wireframing
It is among the most important steps of designing a process because it aids the developers to visualize the skeletal structure of social media apps. It offers a structured view of the app and the experience that will get the user.
Prototyping
A prototype developed is a working model for an application that is to be developed. It is useful for both the customer and for developers an understanding of the product. It is much simpler to alter an idea and make changes to it prior to the development process begins.
Design App Skins
In this phase, we convert wireframes in the design of the social app. We are analyzing existing solutions, observing the latest trends and then constructing UI/UX to give the most optimal possible solutions.
Step 3. Development & Quality Assurance for iOS and Android
The development and design processes typically run in conjunction during the life cycle of a mobile application. When the prototyping phase of the app is completed then we create its back-end by installing servers, databases APIs, as well as working to create the ideal storage solutions.
We offer a solution that is compliant with all technical requirements including user guidelines, technical requirements, and platform standards. It is our iOS and Android engineers suggest to our customers native development of social media apps to improve the performance from the app.
(You can estimate the development cost on the internet using the cost calculator.)
At every stage of development we offer manual and automatic testing of every aspect of the application and their interaction within the program. (By the way testing isn't just conducted to ensure that developers didn't make any errors into their code. It is also done to examine the user experience of the project.)
Related reading:
Case Study: Video Streaming App Proof of Concept
How to Create a Community App
Step 4. Publishing & Marketing the App
Our team of experts also manages the publishing process, produces all promotional materials such as screens, video guides and a clear description of the application. This helps companies who use social media to be noticed in both the Apple Store and Google Play Market.
Also, about marketing. When you think of your idea to develop a mobile app or a web project keep in mind that the development costs are only part of the cost. You must also take into account basic marketing needs and expenses. What method you decide to take in promoting your own app is up to you and don't stop planning it after your app is available in an app store. Don't forget to track quantifiable metrics for your app, which is essential for your success on the social media platform.
Step 5. Maintenance & Support
Once the project has been released to the marketplaces for applications we provide our customers with all types of support and updates.
Quantitative Metrics for Social Media Application
For business analysis of social media mobile apps, we highly recommend sticking to the metrics that allow the ability to track engagement and develop solutions that can be implemented.
They can be classified into five categories that include user, financial, sales, acquisition, and marketing. Depending on the type and purpose of the application there will always be an individual set of instruments. Here are a few essential instruments:
Acquisition: CPI & CAC
Cost per Install (CPI) is determined by tracking installs of users who came from advertisements. CPI is calculated by dividing advertisements costs in relation to the amount of applications installed.
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is the total value of all marketing initiatives required to win customers. It is one of the most important factors that determine that the business is operating with a business model that is viable. This indicator indicates business growth potential.
User activation
Active users in comparison to downloads. Activation actions/parameters are customized for every app.
Rate of User Retention and Churn
Retention in users is measured as the percentage of users who returned to the app based on the date they made your first use. If the new update is launched, it is essential to see if the user's retention has changed, because it allows you to determine the things that are working and what's not so in the new version.
The churn rate indicates the percentage of users who have removed themselves from the mobile application for social media. The lower the number the less, the better.
User engagement
User engagement is a number of actions taken in the app. One of them is Session Length and Interval.
The first one shows the time that passed between who first logged in and then exited, the second demonstrates the time between two sessions.
Traction
It's a quantitative proof of the demand in the market for the product. It provides a picture of the month-to month increase in the number of users.
Rate of burning
The amount of money the mobile app is consuming (burning) each month like server costs, marketing, staff and other expenses. It lists the necessary resources at the resources available in order to plan growth further and raise funds.
How to Make a Social Media App
Social media app development is no easy task. However, we believe that good ideas, our expertise, and a professional team of social media makers are sufficient to build an effective project that will meet your business objectives and provide loyal users. This is the solution on the following question "How to create a social media app? ".