How to Achieve an Optimized Mobile App User Experience

Last updated on September 15th, 2023 at 10:50 am

UI design of your app is extremely important to make sure it catches your user’s interest. The interface that you create is the first chance for your app to make an impression. The reason is that as many as 24% of users never return to an app after the first use. However, when UX design principles are followed to the core, the number reduces significantly. It’s your app’s onboarding process that retains back the user and here’s how you can achieve that.UI design of your app is extremely important to make sure it catches your user’s interest. The interface that you create is the first chance for your app to make an impression. The reason is that as many as 24% of users never return to an app after the first use. However, when UX design principles are followed to the core, the number reduces significantly. It’s your app’s onboarding process that retains back the user and here’s how you can achieve that.
8-steps to achieve an optimized app user experience

1. Splash screen first

The first contact of a typical mobile app with the user will be a splash screen that contains the logo, loading animation, and the version of the app being used. It is here that you can feature some actionable aspects of your app to make the user’s life easier. Being the first instance when your app brushes with user experience, it is important not to stress the broad functionalities. Longer tutorials deprive users of exploring your app further.

2. Make registration simple

Mobile app users are always on the go. Avoid tedious setup and registration processes, which will cost you a great number of users. “About 86 percent of your customers get turned back because you ask them to register to your app before use”. Also, there are fewer chances for those users who sign up to enter their valid information as they are unsure of how the data would be used. To ensure your users have a seamless experience of using your app, allow them to look around as a guest. However, you can ask for minimal information once the user is ready as your app may require some data from the user to be able to expand its functionality to full use.

Provide users with a good insight into the value of becoming a registered member. Most likely they will be interested in going ahead with the sign-up if it unlocks some amazing features of your app for them. If signing up is an utmost necessity for your app to function, make social login available such that users can enter your app by using Google or Facebook.

3. Help users get the maximum benefit

App users on their mobile devices are inclined towards a particular task that your app can assist them with. Make sure you reward the user by performing the functionality that they came looking for in the first place. Guide customers through their first interaction. If you need to source certain information to help the user, show them where and how to enter these details. Also, extend your app’s complete usage functionality, tips, and updates by starting a blog to regularly update customers about its beneficial use.

4. Avoid criticalities of upfront permissions

It is a bad UX practice to ask for access to certain user features such as geolocation or access to the mobile camera in the first instance of installation and usage. Users would like to understand how the data collected will enhance their experience while using your app. Always ask for permission in context, explaining to the user why the app requires such data.

“The primary goal of UX design is to assist users to perform tasks fast and smooth. The key is to make sure your app is meaningful and useful to customers”.

Always have a privacy policy document that declares what are the personal details you collect from users and how you intend to use them. Also, mention how you keep it private. The benefits of proper web hosting gives you a free SSL certificate that makes your app secure. Hence, you gain confidence with users when they know their data is in safe hands.

Only when you enable users to get engaged with your offering would they be further interested in exploring the benefits and be comfortable in providing the details or giving such permissions. If access is denied for specific users and your app cannot properly perform, clearly explain and assist the user to obtain permissions on a device.

5. Making functionalities useful

A minimalistic design approach not only simplifies visual elements; it also expands your app’s functionality to the maximum extent. Your app should address the motive that users have come for. Visitors to your app have arrived at your offering by clearly defining what they are looking for. So, let the experience just be that, and don’t unnecessarily distract them with irrelevant features not required at that time.

6. Endless but unique possibilities

While websites are restricted to just some specific features, an app does much more than that. Utilize already existing phone features such as camera and GPS. Send notifications through messaging and even allow them to work offline. Keep expanding your horizons when looking to develop an app such that users at the end of it get benefits. With the creative freedom that you have in UX design, indulge in more intuitive functions for various tasks such as you could provide users with an AI experience.

“While users take some time to understand your app’s features completely, take complete advantage of using human-centered design principles to make your product intuitive and useful for users”.

7. Make for comfortable use

Adjust your app’s navigation functions depending on the way users interact with your content. People are constantly using their phones – swiping and scrolling actions are making it comfortable for one-hand use. Keep typing at the minimum. Also, enlarge the buttons so that users can easily locate and use them.

8. Allow seamless transition across devices

For some tasks such as product comparison, people prefer to use their PC instead of mobile. It is found that though mobile activity is at its peak, the popular Search Engine watch data shows that desktop visits still score the highest lasting at least 3 times longer than average mobile visits. Hence, your app should cater to users with only those features that make interactivity simpler through a mobile device. Leave more feature-rich content displays on tablets and desktops.

A secure, simple, and transparent transaction experience on mobile shopping is most attractive to customers. With a good privacy policy and optimized app navigation, customers will find it safe to use your app. As a UX designer always focus on the various interactive features that the buyer will find the most useful.