HOW TO BUILD A SOCIAL MEDIA AP

From a commercial perspective The niche of social media is one of the most lucrative market. Of course, the market is crowded with major players, but the swift technological advancement is constantly creating new opportunities to develop new concepts.

The first social media platform was launched in the 1970s, to the period when University of Illinois has developed the PLATO System. It included various features like online forums, bulletin boards as well as instant messaging and many other features.

Moving forward to 2019, we have thousands of social media platforms to choose from (with important leaders such as Facebook as well as Twitter). According to App Annie's report on the 2019 Social Media Network 2019 Statistics, the social media platform stats for 2019 reveal the following top performers in various countries:When creating social media, it's important to realize that having a mobile-friendly application is essential for an effective project. When we speak about the cost, you should keep in mind that the majority of the time the cost and expenses are tied to the backend (what happens behind the scenes that makes the app/website project run).

App development for social networks can be built in a completely new way or as an extension to the current web version. At The APP Solutions, we can work with either option due to our experience of stepping into an application development cycle at any project time point in the lifecycle.

Explore the infographic to learn the price of the development of social media apps costs (basic functionality and only one platform - Android (or iOS):

How to Create a Social Media App

1. Connecting with social media sites

The less steps are required to separate a user from the full-fledged interaction with the application the better. The user has already provided their data in a myriad of social media applications and there's no reason to force them to make it up again. It's better to narrow the path for the new experience to just one option "Connect with" or "Login using" one of the existing apps.

2. Opportunities to express oneself

Every user wants to feel unique and to display to the world that they are creative and unique, as well as out of the box you are. Social media apps should have specific features to help with this like customizing profiles, backgrounds, nicknames, etc.

3. The process of creating networks

Social media can be beneficial for the user only when there are people who are his friends or interesting individuals. Therefore, social media apps developers must develop the best algorithm for friends graphs and the system that allows users to invite friends with one click.

4. The newsfeed can be arranged

Nearly every social media platform requires news feeds. Content is the most important thing and that's a good thing. Users generate a massive amount of data by themselves: check-ins to statuses, check-ins, video audio, and uploads of photos. Additionally they share other people's content. It makes it possible to express themselves and share their views (which is among the benefits of social media: you can be heard.)

When we begin to design an app that is social media-related for Android and iOS We keep this in mind and suggest the arrangement of the feed of news which best suits the requirements of the app's social media features.

Newsfeed for All Square Portfolio app project by The App Solutions]

5. Communication with services

To give your customers an enhanced user experience on the platform, you must develop a framework to integrate existing services into your network. This way, users don't have to choose among numerous options because they're connected. For third-party service providers, we are referring to:

Relationship networks

Networks can be used to create connections between people. There are several categories: personal networking (Facebook),

Professional networking (Linkedin), and social networking services (Badoo or Tinder app).

This kind of social media provides users the possibility of trading photos and videos. This includes Flickr, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Vimeo, Vine, Snapchat. A distinctive feature is the possibility of scaling content. Some, for instance, allow you to publish short videos; other allow you to create your own channel for video.

Online reviews

These social media are vast sources of data that allows users to gather all the required information needed to make purchase decisions. For example, Yelp and Urbanspoon are dependent on the geolocation of their users and the ability to leave comments and recommendations on local businesses.

Discussion forums

Forums, communities and Q&A services are among the very first types of social media. Contemporary examples of this type include Quora, Reddit, and Digg. The basis of interaction between users is the necessity for knowledge sharing.

Social publishing platforms

This type of social media service related to micro-blogging and blogging platforms where users create and publish text as well as media content. They include platforms such that include Twitter, Medium, and Tumblr.

Bookmarking sites

StumbleUpon, Pinterest, Flipboard are all services that allow users to collects the content in the personal library. These is then followed by the other users of the group. Most often, these social networks analyze interests to provide more relevant content.

Networks based on interest

The most appealing opportunity that provides social networks is the ability to connect with people with similar interests. For example, Last.FM is a network specifically for music enthusiasts, Goodreads is for people who enjoy books.

Also, you should consider the option of integrating your service into every existing network so that publications of users on your social media platform can be shared across various social platforms. It will bring a user`s friends to your social network.

6. Private communication

Whatever thrilling the experience of public interaction, there are always things that require discussion privately. Social networking apps should contain built-in services for secure private communication. Your users will not have to access third-party sites and will instead spend longer on your site. Check out our article to understand why data privacy matters.

If you've got an idea for an app, and you know the basic requirements of the app. What's next? How to make an application for social media? We proceed to the creation of applications directly.

It is APP Solutions is a social media app development company which sticks to native app development. This allows us to enjoy an improved performance for the latest social app for Android and iOS as well as a more efficient UX/UI, and provides full access to the built-in functions of the mobile device.

In the second, when working on such a large-scale project our social media application developers will suggest that you start with the MVP the minimum viable version. MVP is a product that comes with an initial set of features that allows you to quickly present the product on the market to evaluate the concept. This helps to launch the product quickly, while reducing time and money. Once the validation process is complete, we start to finalize the product: add features, and design, improve UI/UX. Following this, the app is made available on the market for another round of validation and testing.

MVP Scheme Stages of Development

Five Steps of Social Media Application Development

At APP Solutions, our professional team has developed an approach to workflow that makes most sense from a technological and business perspective and we follow these critical elements to build a profitable social media app.

Step 1. Creating a strategy to use social media

At this point, we thoroughly study the idea and competitive landscape examine the needs and sketch a profile of the potential audience and determine the primary performance indicators that are to be reached. This helps us find an area of specialization when creating an application for social media on mobile devices.

Step 2. Design the social network App's workflow

The design itself is made up of various steps:

Sketching

Simple and concise outline of future applications. They assist in evaluating the logic of the project in terms of the number of screens, and the interaction between them.

Wireframing

It is one of the most vital steps of the design process since it aids the developers to see the skeletal framework of social media applications. It offers a structured view of the app , as well as the experience that will get the end-user.

Prototyping

A prototype that is created is a model that is working for an application that is to be developed. It can be used to provide both customers and developers an understanding of the product. It is much easier to edit an idea and modify it before the development process begins.

Design App Skins

In this phase the wireframes are converted into the design for the social application. We're studying the current solutions, watching the latest trends and creating UI/UX in order to offer the most efficient solutions.

Step 3. Development & Quality Assurance for iOS and Android

Design and development usually run together in the development and design phases of a mobile application. When the prototyping phase of the app is complete then we create its back-end by installing servers, databases APIs, and working to create the ideal storage solutions.

We create a product that meets all technical specifications including user guidelines, technical requirements, and platform standards. It is our iOS and Android engineers recommend our clients native social media app development to ensure the best performance of the application.

(You can estimate the development cost online using our calculator for cost.)

At every stage of development, we provide the ability to test both manually and automatically every part of the program and their interaction within the program. (By by the way testing isn't just conducted to ensure that developers didn't make any errors into your code. Instead, it is used to check the UX of the program.)

Related reading:

Case Study: Video Streaming App Proof of Concept

How to Create a Community App

Step 4. Publishing & Marketing the App

Our expert team also takes care of the publishing process and develops all promotional materials, including videos, screens and a clear description of the application. All this helps companies who use social media to stand out in the Apple Store and Google Play Market.

And, of course, marketing. When you think of the idea of a mobile app or web-based project keep in mind that the cost of development is only part of the cost. You must also think about the essential marketing needs and costs. What method you decide to take in the promotion of your app is your choice but you shouldn't begin thinking about it once your app is in an app store. Do not forget to monitor any quantitative data for the app, which is essential for your success in the world of social media.

Step 5. Maintenance & Support

After the project is released to the markets for application we provide our customers with all types of support and updates implementation.

Quantitative Metrics for Social Media Application

For analyzing the business value of a mobile applications for social media we recommend sticking to the metrics that permit tracking engagement and help to develop solutions that can be implemented.

We can divide them into five groups: financial, user, sales, acquisition, and marketing. The type and function of the application there will always be the right instrument. Here are a few essential ones:

Acquisition: CPI & CAC

Cost Per Installation (CPI) is determined by keeping track of installs of users who have come from advertisements. It is counted by dividing advertisements costs in relation to the amount of installation of applications.

Client Acquisition Cost (CAC) is the total sum of all marketing initiatives required to win a client. It is among the most important factors that determine whether the company operates with a business model that is viable. This indicator indicates business growth possibilities.

User activation

Active users in comparison to downloads. The parameters for activation are adapted to each application.

User Retention Rate and Churn Rate

Retention in users is measured as the proportion of users who came back to the app on the date of their first visit. If the new update is launched, it is essential to see if the user's retention has changed. This will help you determine the things that are working and what's not so with the new version.

The churn rate shows the number of customers who have abandoned using the social media mobile app. The less it shows the lower.

User engagement

Engagement with users can be described as a range of actions taken in the app. Among them are Session Length and Interval.

The first illustrates the duration between who first logged in and then left, while the second shows the time in between two sessions.

Traction

It's a quantitative proof of the demand in the market in the market for this product. In other words, it displays the monthly growth of the users.

Rate of burn

The amount that the mobile app is spending (burning) each month . This includes server costs, marketing, staff and other expenses. It provides a list of the resources that are at app's disposal to plan for growth and to raise funds.

How to Make a Social Media App

Social media app development is not an easy endeavor. But we are convinced that good ideas, our expertise, and a experienced team of creators will result in an effective project that will reach your business goals and attract loyal customers. This is the solution on the following question "How to create a social media app? ".