When you ask someone to review a mobile app, they will certainly start the feedback with its design and user experience. UI, features accessibility, and engagement are the prime factors that connects the users with an app.
As an old saying goes, “People Don't Want to Work or Think More Than They Have To”. Hence, the app should have a human connect that attracts and engages user with the least amount of effort possible on their end. There should be natural and flawless course when it comes to navigation between various elements in your application. Here is how you can merge human psychology with UI/UX design and sprinkle a sense of occult in your app design.
a. Make Sure that the App is Self-Explanatory
- It’s a good practice to display information bit by bit and let your user decide if they want more details. In psychological terminology, this is called Progressive Disclosure, wherein a user is presented with features and information that have relevance to their current activity. Rest of the information is displayed on user request, or if the user performs a certain action out of his/her curiosity to explore more.
- Don’t just define things; exemplify them. Taking user onboarding as an example, wherein a visual guide can be prepared for users, illustrating how to use an app or certain features on a screen.
- Pay attention to affordance on app objects. If an object on a screen or device seems clickable, make sure it results in the corresponding event.
- Instead of relying upon assumptions, go for user research. This will give an estimate of what features should be included or what not. Building an app with a lot many features, considering that they might help your users in some way or the other may leave an app complicated and cluttered. An app should precisely render what a user wants.
- If possible, do the best for users at your end. For example: Provide Defaults, that you think might be the best for the user’s interest.
b. Prepare the App to Handle Human Mistakes
While performing a task on app, it is likely that your users will make mistakes. Therefore, take relevant measures to prevent them or provide options to undo them. For this, following ideas might work:
- Always use a confirmation before submitting the input received from user’s end. This willl eliminate errors, which may result in error or require users to provide input again.
- If a user activity results in an error, let them know about it through an error message that clearly elaborates root of the problem.
- If a task is prone to error or mistakes, divide it into small parts. You can achieve this by presenting sections of the task on multiple screens.
- Most importantly, Take your application on a rigorous test drive before releasing it for your users.
c. Don’t Let Users Memorize Information for Long
- Human memory is fragile. When a task takes place in steps, make sure that your users don’t have to remember more than 2-3 items/information from the previous steps.
- Humans rely religiously on social acceptance. They tend to take other users opinion, whenever they are uncertain about a product. This is called social validation. And hence, rating and reviews are something you cannot afford to ignore.
- Doing something together creates a bond. And this is the reason why feature like tagging is quite common in messaging and social media apps. Hence you must consider adding social features to your application, if possible.
e. Use Eye Candies to Capture User Attention
- The only way to engage user in an app is to grab their attention. Human eyes and mind are programmed to notice anything that’s unique. If an app interface is designed in a way that it captures user attention, then half the job to hold the user is done.
- One of the common ways to grasp user attention is by using senses. This can be done through colors, beeps, font highlighting, interesting pop-ups or notifications etc.
- Don’t try too hard to hold on user attention. Events like advertisements or too many pop-ups may cause distraction or annoyance for the users, and they might abandon your app. Therefore, opt for simple, subtle ideas to engage the users.
f. Make your App Interactive, not Interruptive
- Mobile app users are quite smart. Instead of trying to elaborate, provide them information through mobile tooltips.
- Lengthy texts or constant pop up notifications may annoy your users. There is a thin line between engagement and interruption. It is good to interact with the user but make sure you are not interrupting them.
- Do not expect users to perform multiple tasks on single screen. Allow them to move forward step-by-step so that a flow is maintained for task accomplishment.
Is Your App Ready to Connect with Users?
Investing quality time in designing an app equals higher user engagement and ultimately higher ROI. Therefore, understanding users, their behaviours, and expectations will lead your way towards user acceptance for the app.
What’s your idea for a successful mobile app development? What’s your approach to engage users. Share your viewpoint in the comments below.
