Well fortunately for you, you are not the only one. Mobile Apps are the new normal in 2020, especially for millennials. A new study from ComScore found that consumers aged 18-24 years old spent 66% of their digital media time on mobile apps, and mobile apps account for 57% of all digital media usage. For most app users this is not a surprise; our direct access to gaming apps, social networking apps, business apps, weather apps and many other smartphone applications has forever shaped our use of mobile devices. But ease of use cannot be the only element attracting smartphone users, or can it?
Our technology capabilities are evolving every day by the second and thus being first to market a differentiated innovative feature is a complicated task. What we can do is look for patterns, trends, and other remarkable breakthroughs in mobile technology to adapt our new apps to get maximum results. We need to use the large quantity of information in the marketplace to adapt our concept/idea/actions/business.
Mobile apps have a rich variety of different features embedded in them to make the user experience more appealing. Applications’ addictive nature largely stems from the oft-futuristic user interface designs, their advanced accessibility, and modern visual cues, their lightning speed load times and advanced functionalities, and many more other features geared towards emboldening the user experience.
1. Use Bright Colors and Captivating Imagery to Retain User Attention
The average attention span for individuals is typically 20 seconds; you, therefore, have less than 20 seconds to grasp users’ attention with your content. To grab and retain users’ attention, you must keep it simple. The best way to keep it simple is by including vivid imagery. If your images are following an order, in the form of a story, even better!
If you are still not convinced on how simple your app content must be to digest, then use the following as a motivator: psychologically, humans favor simple information/cues more than complex ones. Changing Minds conducted a study comparing the power of images versus the power of text. The study found that users retained at best 20% of written information. Contrast this with the fact that a user retains 65% of visual information and we have a winner.
Wells Collins, digital designer on Dribble, the online community of global digital designers illustrates a great example of this. Their flatley-designed cartoon-like image supports their main headlines, clearly and to the point. Each image presents an action the user can take to go to the next steps.
Moreover, notice how the shapes and colors flow together; everything is smooth and extremely pleasant for the naked eye. This follows the Unity of Style strategy; keep all designs and animations on the theme.
Quite simply, you must keep your user interface simple and easy to follow. A simple interface will go a long way to harnessing that ideal user experience!
2. Simplify Your Navigation Menu
Do not beat around the bush holds true for mobile apps as it does for personal engagements. You owe it to your current and future users to make your pages easily accessible. The faster they find the pages they need; the more user engagement and retention your app will have.
3. Include Search Capabilities
While this may seem obvious, not enough apps are currently including this especially important feature on their app. The option to search makes your app engaging, more interactive and it provides a better user experience.
4. Follow the platform’s navigation guidelines
For example, if we were to create a company that recommends restaurants, nightclubs and events in your local area, then we would primarily target millennials aged 18-24 years old. Thus, to create a good user experience for our target market, we need to build the user interface of the app for a smartphone user by taking into account different iPhone/Samsung phone resolutions, segment by smartphone model and sales to get an accurate picture of the dominant market.
5. Add guides that help your users better understand your unique app functions.
Applications must guide users towards their next steps. Make it easy to understand how to interact with your application, for example, jump through videos, replay a video, reply…etc
This not only helps enhance the user experience, but it also improves the user interface design of the app by giving it a futuristic vibe. For example, the Instagram App is the champion at making their app efficient. Since they rolled out their story feature and Instagram TV, famously known as IGTV, they made it extremely easy for users to keep watching a live stream after a 30-second intro, replay previous videos etc.
