Americans spend a lot of time on their phones. The quality of their online experiences is largely defined by what applications they use, which has created a unique niche market. Developers have already created millions of apps, but there’s always room for innovation and improvement.

Interested in becoming a developer? Making waves in competitive markets can be tough. Follow these tips to maximize the chances of creating the next big cell phone app.

Start by Identifying Unmet Needs

The average entrepreneur getting into app development isn’t going to be able to compete with established industry giants that are already providing valuable services. Instead, he or she will need to identify other Internet users’ needs that are currently going unmet.

Start by doing some brainstorming and market research. Keep the focus not on existing apps that are already popular but on ways a new app could fill in the gaps.

Focus, Focus, Focus

Once entrepreneurs have developed a stellar idea, it’s time to focus and refine it. It’s much easier and more effective to develop an app that focuses on simplifying one aspect of users’ lives or online experiences in a specific niche.

If the app is successful, entrepreneurs can switch their focus to adding features and content later. In the early phases, the app should do one thing exceptionally well instead of losing focus and creating unnecessary clutter.

Incorporate Free Content

The best way to get users to try out a new app is to provide basic access for free. If the app offers some value in its basic, free form, users will be less likely to balk at paying for more advanced features or services.

Many successful apps offer both free versions and paid subscriptions. Developers make money on the free versions by relying on ads, then make the paid subscription services ad-free. It’s a winning strategy for everyone from app developers to advertisers and, most importantly, end-users.

Develop for Both Android and iOS

To achieve maximum success, new apps must be able to reach as many potential users as possible. Designing for the two most popular operating systems, Android and iOS ensures that the app will be available to the vast majority of consumers.

Designing for both operating systems requires implementing a cross-platform development framework. Experienced developers know just what it takes to design apps that are perfectly streamlined for both Android and iOS. They also know that cross-platform design will cut back on costs later once the app becomes more popular.