We have seen around our peer group how social media has made an impact on our lives. Social media apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat are making users more engaging towards social media.
Due to the increasing popularity of social media apps everyone is looking to develop one. If you are also looking forward to build a social media app, then you should possess a clear idea about the whole social media development process. Before we explain to you the steps to develop an app, let’s have a look at what a social media app is.
What is a Social Media App?
These are the apps that allow people, organisations and companies to create, exchange and share information over a network of people. For example, people can post or share pictures, videos or they can express themselves through the social media mobile apps.
Mobile Apps are virtual communities where people create an account, fill in their details and login. Some of the examples of successful social media apps are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. They connect users with people, groups and communities already present in that social media network.
If you have made up your mind to make a social media app, then you have made a wise choice as you could make a lot of profit through it. But for that you need to know the whole development process. You can easily get an idea by following the steps mentioned herein under:
What Are The Features of Social Media?
The social media mobile platform is described by understanding the fundamental features of which are profiles, feeds and connections.
Profile
The best way to create a user profile is to connect the app to an existing social media account through which the data can be retrieved. Another approach is the signup process where you can fill in your user updates by entering your email id and password but this requires more effort which nowadays users don’t usually like.
Feeds
The contents which are uploaded in the feeds are shared by users in the form of videos, audios, photos, presentations, etc. This content is known as user generated content and is divided into the following:
- Contents through status updates or photos and video
The social media app that you are developing should be capable enough to share photos, videos and status updates. You just need to upload, share the contents and specify the target audience which you want to reach out to.
- Location based contents
It is an option which lets you know what people are doing or at what place they are. This is done by tagging your location to the post or you can find people who are in nearby locations and can socialise with them. The data is received through a location based API which retrieves a particular location from your mobile network provider.
Connections
Connection can be in the form of content, group, event, social network, SMS, address book, search and recommendation.
Content connection is totally dependent on the user. Users could be a traveller, reader or enthusiast. Groups are the communities where people are connected to chains at a large scale. These create an additional advantage in social media mobile apps. Sending invites for an event or selling event tickets is another way that may help you earn money through social media apps. It also helps in growing connections in the social media domain.
Signup
You should offer customers with several registration alternatives to make it easy for them to come to your site and register themselves. For instance, you can incorporate options like email and password, or phone number and password or guest user option.
To make social networking apps more user friendly and easy to understand, it’s important to add the ‘Forgot Password’ feature. For technology purposes, developers can use Facebook or Google SDK, or Amazon SNS/ SES.
Chat
If you are thinking about how to create an app like Facebook? Then it’s necessary to add a helpful chat feature. Sending messages, images, or videos is an essential piece of any social network. It’s possible to integrate group chats and channels to allow customers to chat with two users and more. You can use socket.io to create scalable chats.
Search bar
To search for friends or bloggers to follow, clients need an easy to use search bar. For instance, it can be made possible to look by labels, user names, and location.
Push notifications
There are other push messages that users can get like a new post from the community area they are subscribed to, a new message, a response or remark to their post, and so much more. Push messages are useful for user engagement.
Media sharing
Such network applications permit users to share a wide range of media files (images, videos, GIF, and so on). The most popular sites of this kind are Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Vimeo, and Imgur, among others.
What Makes a Good Social Media App?
To make a good app businesses should begin by understanding the know-how of social apps requirements, the tech stack needed to build a Social Media App, how to make a social media app, and Stages of Development.
Here we will discuss the different stages of social media app making:
Product idea and business expertise
To understand the concept of mobile social media app, web resource, or automated business process, choose a knowledgeable and experienced social network app development company for your business that are apt on direct free business-skills, and understands client requirements.
Project evaluation and proposal
To understand the needs and requirements, the project is assessed by the development group. From that point onward, the client gets a primer business proposition for the development of social apps.
Prototyping
Understanding what the clients expect from the application, it is advisable to prototype the process. A competently fabricated interface is an assurance that the user rapidly explores and knows how the social media app will take care of his problem. You get a chance to look into the functionality of the future app without the software part.
Product design
Draw and plan the social media app design of all the screens and the essential features of social media (network) application. At Appinventiv, one of the social media app development services, we utilize the suggestions of Google and Apple to design the application. We assemble illustrations that are understandable and convenient, to create a design that will set you apart.
Backlog and development contract
Meeting with the product-hunter, discussing the details of the project. The development team builds a backlog for the whole project together with the customer. After the approval of the backlog, the contract on development is signed with the customer.
Meeting with the product tracker, discussing the subtleties of the project. The development group assembles build-up for the entire task along with the client. After the endorsement of excess, the agreement on advancement is endorsed with the client.
Planning a sprint
We at Appinventiv have the reputation to fulfill client’s requirements and are known as one of the best social media app developers in USA. We do concurrence with the client regarding the improvement assignments that will be performed on the closest run.
Retrospective
Demonstration to the customer, results for about two weeks of development. The advancement group analyzes the dangers and issues, finishes the run, and upgrades the further improvement of the application.
Achievement of the result
As discussed earlier, make sure you provide your clients with the best result by providing all phases of work on social media app development: from the main button to downloading the application.
Parting Thoughts
Developing a social media app is one of the most happening things today but understanding the social media and your target audience is of utmost importance.
If you are looking forward to develop a social media mobile app, AppInventiv is the most viable choice for the same. It is a top rated social media app development company with expertise across all the major mobile platforms including Android and iOS. Our team has worked in the field of mobile app development and having helped clients across several industries with their apps.
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