I was a novice entrepreneur once — I started an app business in 2019 — facing ambiguity and stress, having no time to learn because you should work for 3-4 different roles in the startup, not knowing what exact step has to be the next. I wish I had attended Apple Entrepreneur Camp back then. Though even now I have appealing insights from the program.
Sometimes all you need is adequate guidance — that can help to clear the vision, and I got one on the course — so here is a list of my top 5 lessons.
1) Make your app inclusive for as many people as possible
When creating a product for diverse users — inclusivity is essential. Consider language support, accessibility features, and cultural considerations in design. Creating an inclusive product not only aligns with ethical values but can also set your product apart from competitors and build a loyal user base.
Since my team develops a kid’s learning game, the Camp made us realize the need to diversify the characters in our products to represent a wider audience, including individuals from different backgrounds, genders, and with disabilities.
2) Always be user-centered
Sometimes you get lost in your business processes while you move fast, building your company. Well, to create a successful product, it is crucial to prioritize the needs of your users above all else. Conducting user research, testing and iterating on designs, and seeking user feedback can help ensure — your product is user-friendly, intuitive, and valuable.
To better understand your users, it may be helpful to segment them based on various factors like country, age, gender, needs, pain points, favorite categories in your app, and how they discovered your product. By clustering your users into these segments, you can gain insights into how to better meet their needs.
We had an always-on process of usability testing in Keiki, led by the design team, and so far we are starting a continuous user research process with in-depth interviews.
3) Tailor your store product page to make a better experience for the individual user
Many young entrepreneurs tend to overlook the process of product page optimization, choosing to display the same product description to all users. Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge that users possess varied requirements and your product may offer several noteworthy features that appeal to users through different channels, each with its unique target audience.
Here are some questions to verify you are doing your maximum with optimization:
- Does your product have any core features that can be highlighted for different segments?
- Do you need to alter your product pages for different traffic sources, like paid social or partnership?
- Do you need to modify product screens depending on the country?
- Do you upload seasonal content?
- Have you ever tested changing app icons and screens with different styles and colors?
It's vital to set up your first A/B test as soon as possible. So you can see how changes to your product page are affecting users.
4) Prepare for the app review
The feedback provided by the App Review team is invaluable for new app developers. Each comment provides a unique perspective that can be used to improve and refine the app for a better user experience.
What can you do to prepare?
Identify the top apps in your category — check product features, reviews, and general metrics like downloads. You can utilize App Annie and Sensor Tower for such a goal.
Compare your app with direct competitors or products on the same stage as yours — check out user reviews and feedback, since users of small apps can be more engaged. Evaluate app design and functionality, and analyze app performance metrics.
5) Reward your user
First of all, for me personally, just simple navigation, and tutorial are already a reward for a user. Nevertheless, I am here to tell you another point — you have to create an adventurous journey with a reward system for your customer.
It gives them a sense of achievement and happiness, which makes them feel good about using the app. Besides, it helps the app keep users around for the long haul, so everybody wins!
We designed a reward experience for our young users after every accomplished stage.
Well, what’s more…
After talking to people from Apple, you begin to understand why they are such an incredible company, creating products like Vision Pro. Despite anything else, the user is always at the forefront of their priorities.
With endless opportunities for personal and professional development in today's world, the best advice is to be proactive, ask questions, and view every person as a potential source of wisdom to share and from whom to learn.
Every individual is a treasure trove of knowledge, especially when placed in an environment like the Apple Entrepreneur Camp and it is up to each participant to take advantage of the opportunity for growth.