Important Features To Consider When Developing A Successful Social Media App
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Mobile phones and other gadgets have their reach far and wide, and social media apps are the backbone of any organization. They are not only promoting a company or a brand, but are also helping them maintain a brand image in the market. The dominance of mobiles is so much that it has paved a way for simple messaging apps to apps that are rubout with high-end features that allow users to transfer files and make video calls.
Now, what do you think are the top trends of applications that are outshining the others in 2020? Here are the top 3 features that people are looking for in apps this year:
1- Shoppable posts
2- Machine learning
3- Videos
Social media apps can be tailored and made with distinct features to address to requirements of all people. These apps include the likes of:
1- Social blogs
2- Wikipedia
3- Social bookmarking
4- Internet forums
5- Social networking sites
6- Virtual social worlds
Statistical reports of the growth of social media
Facebook is one of the most used applications worldwide with a total of 2.5 billion monthly active users in 2020 according to a report in statista. Here is a detailed graph of Global social networks ranked by a number of users 2020:
The number of users of social media apps has also increased significantly in 13 years. Take a look at the number of social network users worldwide (in billions) from 2010 to 2023 according to a Statista report:
Which social media trends to follow to build an efficient app
Now, we know how social media has benefitted companies, but the way it has changed things for users is drastic. It is very important to draw the attention of social media users to your app, due to which your app should not only be engaging but should have features that outshine the others. There are several trends that should be kept into consideration while producing a social media app:
1- Live streaming: Have you ever done a Facebook or Instagram Live? These are the new and the most used trends of today’s time. Taking the social media industry by storm, this feature is a must include in apps as people are slowly drifting towards live streaming than watching or posting recorded videos. This has evolved the quality of content produced by people doing live streaming, thereby enhancing the user experience. This also gives a personal experience to the live streamer as he can know the number of people who have joined his video and can answer the questions directly.
2- VR and AR: Facebook is one of the few social media platforms to introduce Virtual and augmented reality technologies. This helps users share a 360-degree image or video giving a personal touch and a wider frame to the viewers. You can entice your users by offering them a 3 D feature in video chat as well.
3- Instant messaging: Several social media applications have now attracted users due to this special feature. Like Facebook and Whatsapp, many other apps have enticed users as it has helped them get directly in touch with their friends, families, and acquaintances. The feature has caught the attention of many now and all-new social media apps are now making sure to include this feature in their app as well.
4- Storytelling: Snapchat changed the way people see social media. Sharing stories and tagging their location and people has also made social media more personal. It has not only allowed people to share a story one after the other but has also changed the way images are shared by users. Also, it allows people to posting get instant feedback on their stories. It is also fun to use as users can create their emoticons and let them communicate on their behalf.
5- Payment options: Social media commerce is gaining a lot of prominences as it is allowing small scale companies to sell their products without spending money on buying space in a market place or anything. It has only enhanced the way people purchase products online. Therefore, it is important to have a person-to-person payment integration in these apps. The apps have to adhere to the rules and regulations of online payment before including it.
6- Marketplace: Do you want to attract customers to buy your product? Nothing is better than promoting your product on social media as it is the new marketplace where most users like to buy from nowadays. Attract potential customers to your product or services by letting the users get a glimpse of social media.
The feature you should definitely include in your social media app
It is very important to learn about the latest trends in social media as the competition is tough and the usage is high. Retaining the quality is of the utmost importance as it will decide the fate of your application. Here are some must-have features in your apps:
1- Push notifications: Make your app more appealing and exciting by pushing real-time notifications about news or any other updates. Also, you should be able to push messages on your application.
2- Simple UI: Always remember, the simpler the better. Never let the complexities get to your app as it might only affect the experience of the users. All apps try to retain their user’s information, which is why these apps ask users to fill in certain forms before accessing anything. The process should be easy and not time-consuming for a better experience. Also, one must try to make a simple interface.
3- User profile: A good app experience can only help you retain users to your app. Therefore, you must try to give a personal experience to them by letting them make a profile according to their preferences. This will help you get users back again on your app.
4- Messaging options: More is always better! Add a feature in your social media app that allows you to share news information with the users with the help of messenger. You must also allow your users to share messages on a public platform.
5- File sharing: Gone are the days when we used to think hundred times before sharing an image. The new-age technology lets you share multimedia files with just a click. You might be aware of the emojis and stickers which build a good experience.
6- Customization options: Users might not want to talk or chat with anyone or everyone on an app. Therefore, you must give them options to customize their preferences. They should be able to add or remove friends and block certain contacts.
With this enhanced experience, the expectations of the users have gone high, therefore you must create an app, that has a personal touch to it and features like no other.
Cost of developing a social media app
A social media app can be developed either by in house employees or freelancers who can be hired on an hourly basis to work on the development of an app. A new organization should think of launching its app with limited features and not incur any costs on it initially. This will help them know the kind of features users are looking forward to and gradually add them in the due course of time.
Also, it helps developers save time and money. The money earned can be invested in the app is adding more features in the future. This way, they will not have to incur a high cost.
There are five major steps that are important in developing social media applications:
– Quality assurance
– Deployment and marketing
– Strategy
– Design and development
– Support
Apart from this if you prefer to include additional services like support and maintenance, you will have to incur some more cost.
Social media trends in 2020
2020 has been the year of technology and trends with people sitting in their homes and working from home. There has been significant growth and innovation in the arena, which has led to new trends and features coming up every now and then. Let’s take a look at new features and formats which should be explored by social media users this year:
1- Groups: Have you witnessed a watch party till now? If not, then you are missing out on the latest social media trend of the year and something that everyone is talking about these days. Facebook has been promoting group chats since 2017 and has successfully created a group video chat now. Facebook also rolled out ads pixels, which can currently be accessed by only a limited number of groups. However, it will be launched on a larger scale later on.
2- Messenger ads: In 2016, Facebook launched the popular messenger ads which were witnessed by everyone, all over the app. These ads went through several updates and changes and have become a reliable platform for promoting companies’ products and services. It is a low-cost advertising platform that is visible on the chatbox of the users. A click on an ad will lead the user to the landing page of a companies’ website.
3- Click to messenger ads: Conversations can be started by clicking on the stories in the messenger ads. This feature was launched by Facebook in October 2019. Users can take a call in action by swiping up on a story and starting a conversation. This tool helps a one-on-one conversation with a company with the users. Also, it is a very personal tool, thereby increasing the chances of reach of a product to the consumers.
1- Story ads: The social media platform gained limelight for its stories. With more than 500 million people making their accounts on Instagram, chances of people witnessing ads have increased leaps and bounds. Instagram launched stores more than two years ago and people have been using them since then. Story ads have helped the social media platform to boost sales and get more people to spend on story ads. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also claimed that three million people were advertising on stories on Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook.
2- IGTV: Have you ever swiped up a story to see the full-length video or an ad on IGTV? It has been in action since 2018 when it was launched. The IGTV videos have a shelf life and the viewers can go to a profile and watch the videos at any time they want to, unlike in the case of Insta stories. The Influencers on Instagram have been using this feature extensively either by creating engaging content for users or for promoting a brand or a product.
3- Posts that are shoppable: Even the small scale entrepreneurs got the opportunity to showcase their talent and sell their products online with the help of Instagram. People have made their companies profiles and have been getting in touch with customers without the help of any middlemen. The checkout feature was launched by Instagram in 2019, which has helped online traders make deals with their customers efficiently. It also displays the tags of a product including the pricing and other details.
1- Video focus: Video ads have helped Twitter earn a lot of revenue. The feature was started in 2018 when more than half of the revenue earned by Twitter was because of these ads. The following year it was claimed that video ads were the fastest-growing ad format. Later, the social media app allowed the advertisers to create 15-seconds long ads, while paying for only those that are played for at least 6 seconds with 50 percent pixels in view.
2- Hide replies: Not all user replies to tweets are welcomed by either the advertisers or any users. Therefore, in November 2019, Twitter allowed users to hide replies making the conversations more controlled. This allowed the advertisers to remove content that was spam and that wasn’t required on their Twitter page.
YouTube
1- Original content: In May 2019, YouTube made live videos, series, and other original content ads free for all viewers. Later the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) claimed that more than half the revenue earned was from the ads from original video content. That is how the format became one of the most successful ways of advertising a brand or a product. People started thinking of more ways to create original and appealing content for users.
2- non-skippable ads: In early 2019, YouTube launched the 15-seconds non-skippable ads for the advertisers. This led to reviving the old advertising techniques and luring users to click on the ad which took them directly to the advertiser’s page. Before this came into being, YouTube was only open to people or brands who were only advertising through the YouTube reservation process and its premium Google Preferred network.
If you think the list ends here, you are wrong. Other important social media platforms that have equally been earning a lot of money from advertisements include the likes of Snapchat, Tik Tok and Pinterest.
Why social media is addictive
Do you look into your phone every now and then? Do you tap on Facebook and Instagram to see stories and the latest products that are doing the rounds? Well, you’re not the only one. The entire world is addicted to social media. Everyone has their account on either of the social media platforms and are spending their maximum screen times on these apps.
But what is it that makes these apps addictive? Take a look:
1- It makes catching up easy. Haven’t you met up with your friends and family in the recent past? You can get all updates on what they have been doing through their social media posts.
2- Too many people to share some news with? No need to worry. Social media lets you do it all at once. Sharing information or news on mails is quite an old school and can go in the spam box. Therefore, post that information on Facebook or Instagram letting everyone see it at the same time.
3- We love to read the information on certain things and know more about something that is our interest. Social media lets you do that. You want to catch on some recent news or what people are saying about it, social media is the best place to know all about it.
4- Brings memories back as people can get in touch with their old friends, whom they might have lost touch with.
5- It lets others understand someone better as your posts and pictures reveal a lot about you.
6- Staying in touch with your family is made very easy with Facebook or any other social media application. Even if you are miles apart, you can still feel the presence of your family with the help of social media.
7- It makes one feel a part of the world as all users can participate in any conversation and know about what is going on around the world.
8- Social needs are very important and one has to make his/her presence felt in the social world. This is when social media comes into action.
9- What does one do when bored, and left with nothing but their phone? Social media is on the top of the list as it kills boredom and lets you look into the lives of others.
10- Social media doesn’t let one feel lonely as they are in contact with someone all the time.
Conclusion
Social media is diverse and acts differently for everyone. One of the most important advertising platforms in today’s times, it owes the maximum success to the user’s addictive behavior and the new trends in the industry that are launched by the developers every now and then. The social media advertisements have a long-lasting impact on users.
Xpertyst is a Mobile app development company and is working on social media platform from last few years and have extensive knowledge of domain features, if you are looking for social media app development services, write us at info@xpertyst.com
