Introduction
Imagine you’ve spent a lot of time and money developing an app, but after launch, you face a bitter truth:
No one uses it!
What’s the reason? It’s simple: you didn’t do market research.
In this article, we examine why designing an app without understanding the market can not only lead to project failure but also result in lost investment and damaged credibility.
Part One: What Is Market Research?
Market research is a process for:
- Gaining a clear understanding of the needs of your target audience
- Analyzing competitors
- Understanding trends and user behavior
- Identifying gaps in the market
Without this information, designing an app is nothing more than guesswork.
Part Two: Why Is Designing an App Without Market Research High-Risk?
1. Misalignment with the Real Needs of Users
You may design an app that is technically flawless, but the problem is:
No one needs it, or it doesn’t solve the users’ problems.
Examples are apps published in stores with very low install counts.
2. Ignoring Competitors
Without market research, you don’t know what features your competitors offer, what weaknesses they have, and how you can create a competitive advantage.
As a result, your app becomes either repetitive or weaker than the rest.
3. Wrong Decisions in UI Design
Market research helps you understand what your users expect from the design.
For example:
Apps for younger audiences need a more modern and fast design, while for older individuals, simplicity and clarity matter more.
4. Financial and Time Loss
Without market research, you may spend months developing an app that later requires redesign—or may even need to be stopped entirely.
Part Three: How Should Market Research Be Conducted?
To design a successful app, you must go through the following steps:
- Defining user personas: Who is your target audience? Age, gender, job, lifestyle?
- Interviewing potential users: Identify their real needs.
- Competitor analysis: Install similar apps, review their strengths and weaknesses.
- Reviewing statistical data: Use tools like Google Trends, Statista, and internal surveys.
Part Four: A Successful App Is the Result of Understanding the Market
Successful apps like Snapp, Digikala, and even Instagram understood their market well.
They identified user needs before starting the design—and that’s why their apps became exactly what people wanted.
If You’re Planning to Build an App…
If you’re thinking of launching an app and want to learn more about the design process, the technologies involved, and the costs, we recommend visiting the App Design section of our website.
On this page, you can:
- Find more detailed information about the app design process
- Review our team’s previous projects
- Submit a free consultation request
The first step to building a successful app is making the right decision at the start. We’re here to help you build your ideal app with proper research, professional design, and precise execution.
Conclusion
Designing an app without market research is like building a house without a blueprint.
Even if you use the best materials, if the location is wrong or it doesn’t meet the needs of its residents, it has no value.
So if you want to build an app that is useful, attractive, and profitable, take market research seriously from the very beginning.
