There’s no better feeling than releasing a brand-new mobile app; adding new or improved value to your customer’s journey is always a win! However, it’s important to not let that excitement get in the way of properly testing your new app before releasing it. Discovering a laundry list of issues and bugs aren’t fun to discover right after launch. Read on to learn why it’s important to test your app and to see what you should look for when you’re testing.
Why It's Important to QA Your App
From the way it looks to the way it interacts in certain situations, there are a lot of elements that go into an app design. It may look like perfection on your iPhone, but what about an Android? What about older versions with smaller screens? Additionally, your login flows may work perfectly if everyone interacts in one specific way, but not if they deviate from that predetermined flow. QA’ing your app will help you ensure that it looks great and reacts accordingly in all situations.
How to QA Your App
Once you’re ready to test your app, here are a few things that you should look for:
Design
How does it look on different devices? Try it out on an iPhone, Android, Tablets, and anything else. Double check that it transitions seamlessly from portrait to landscape as devices are rotated.
User Friendliness
How difficult is it to get from Point A to Point B in the app? Good-looking apps are nice, but if they make it difficult to complete any task, your customers will get tired of it quickly. It’s a great idea to ask for second, third, and even fourth opinions from people who aren’t as close to the app-building process as you are. Beta testing with a small group of your loyal customers is a great idea to make sure they understand how to move through the app and that it accomplishes their needs.
Grammar and Spelling
Are there any spelling or grammar errors in any of your content pieces? Make sure to correct any mistakes.
Login, Registration, and Checkout
If you have any login, registration, or checkout flows, test that the process works in both conventional and unconventional ways. Try to break it. Think outside the box for new ways to approach the situation.
Links
Are all of the navigational pieces linking to the correct place? What about all of the links within each tab?
Functionality
Do all of the parts and pieces of your app function the way they should? For example, if you have a search that allows users to quickly find your location nearest to them, that’s great! But it misses the mark if the app can’t accurately geo-locate them.
Contact Forms
Can users get in touch with you from the app? If so, ensure that the forms are going to the right place so you can address all inquiries as quickly as possible.
Getting to the bottom of these common issues before launching a new app will save you the headache of scrambling to release new updates with improvements and bug fixes. If the time has come for your business to invest in a new mobile app, we’d love to discuss your business’s goals. Let’s get in touch today to start the conversation!