Do you remember a time when we used to have Savan app on our phones, now most of us have replaced it with spotify. Similarly, apps like angry birds, vine, dubsmash, retrica etc used to rule our phones 5 years back but these apps now have been replaced by some more significant ones. On the other hand, some apps have upped their game and are still in leading positions like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc.
Mobile phones once used to be a luxury item and now they have become a necessity. Thanks to all the apps out there which somehow has made us believe that we cannot exist without them. There are some prominent apps which you will find on everyone’s mobile phone. Do you know what makes these apps so distinct and noteworthy? We’ve come up with a list that will help you figure out some protruding feature that has made it impactful. Hopefully, this list got you inspired to create the next big thing!
Are you ready to design something that can win hearts?
Spotify
Spotify has been existing since 2007 but it took them over 10 years to achieve this rate of success. When Spotify initially started it had a quite complex navigation system but eventually, they have simplified it and are constantly evolving.
STAND-OUT FACTORS
- Spotify has turned out to be one spot destination for all music lovers because of its now much-simplified navigation system.
- Also, the AI in Spotify is spot on. It has made listening to music much advanced and enjoyable. Research conducted by Spotify itself shows that the music recommended to users or the playlist made by Spotify is very much of their preference.
- Spotify has made constant advancements throughout and has maintained its pace with the changing times. Also, it has extended its boundaries by just not sticking to music streaming but also has tried its hands into podcasts etc.
CRED
Lately, the cred app has been downloaded by a lot of people and currently has a net worth of 806 million dollars, which is mega huge. One main reason for this success is as Kunal the CEO of cred describes it as “If you look at history, nobody has been rewarded for paying back on time. We want to fix that.” He did exactly that, today the number of people using Cred is increasing day by day not only because of the innovative motive behind the app but also because of the app design.
STAND OUT FACTORS
- One feature of cred which prominently stands out is that it has no search button and that is on purpose. The designer believed that since Cred is not a mass product, they did not want to promote seeker behaviour.
- They have put aesthetics first, which knowingly or unknowing is something that attracts a user.
- Regular experiments with the business model.
MINT
If you aren’t aware of this app, then my friend you’ve been living under a rock. This app helps people to keep track on their money. The multiple factors that contributed to its success apart from the fact that its free is that it is secure and has a billion-dollar business idea. But what attracted the users most is its simplicity and clarity in ideas.
STAND OUT FACTORS –
- Since mint was primarily dealing with the user’s money, they made user security a priority.
- It opted for an individual-based solution for different problems.
- The marketing strategy they used to promote their app was genius. They promoted their app without even asking the users once to download it. User or a non-user gave free advice and impressive answers on mintlife which eventually led people to download the app.
Decathlon
This is one sports accessories store which has made big in a very short span of time. Its net worth is 140,000,000€. Decathlon alone is responsible for 4% of sales generated in France. This app has seen rocketing increase in its downloads in a short span of time.
STAND OUT FACTORS
- Decathlon probably is the only company that is focusing on reducing the selling price than the previous year.
- Extensive and aggressive input of customer feedback.
- Individual focus on each sport and on its necessary accessories and gears.
Dropbox
Before dropbox was a success it had a very hard time getting funding and attract potential users. But along the time it was understood that not just a strong product it also needs to get out of the regular league and find a new path which they eventually did.
STAND OUT FACTORS
- One thing that attracted users initially was the free stuff. Dropbox offered 2GB which was a lot back then and free stuff always wins people over.
- Extending the ideas outside of the app. Dropbox started a collaboration with other models and cloud spaces which made working and sharing easier than ever before.
CALM
First of all, let’s appreciate the ground-breaking idea by Michel Acton Smith OBE and Alex Tew they took difficulties faced by individuals and made a billion-dollar profit idea out of it. This app convinced people that it only needs to be used 10 minutes a day and will in return provide their users with serenity. This business model was so successful that even the busiest people started taking out time out of their life to listen to it.
STAND OUT FACTORS
- The app uses professionals and maintains a quality that helps the users achieve health and fitness.
- The fact that the app focus on individuality for eg. It has a feature that helps people who have been diagnosed with HIV. This individual approach has done wonders for the app
- Co-existing with users’ personal space and making them comfortable is what it ideally is.
Summary
One common and prominent feature all these apps share is individuality. Many apps might not have had a great start but with constant efforts and great user-friendly ideas, they have emerged as a techno giant now.