How to create a location-based custom mobile app
What’s a location-based custom mobile app, and how can it benefit your startup? Join us as we look at how to create a location-based mobile app your customers will love.
When developing a custom mobile app, it’s essential to build it so it provides a unique selling point and stands out from the apps your competitors create.
A relatively simple way to get people to download your app? Make it location-based. A location-based custom mobile app is a great way to deliver an innovative, personalized, and engaging experience and encourage customer retention.
In this guide, we’ll look at what a location-based mobile app is, what apps are currently on the market, and how to build your own location-based custom mobile app.
Start with a custom MVP app, and take the first steps toward providing your users with a fantastic location-based experience!
Table of contents
What is a location-based app?
A location-based app is a mobile app that uses technology to determine the user’s location. There are a wide range of technologies you can use to identify location, including:
- GPS (global positioning system) – a satellite-based system
- Wi-Fi positioning – a system that uses nearby Wi-Fi networks
- Cellular network triangulation – a system that uses cellular towers
- Bluetooth beacons – a system that responds to the Bluetooth beacons in a phone
- Geofencing – a system that uses a virtual field around an object to determine someone’s location
You can then provide the user with location-specific services or information, depending on where they are.
Popular examples of location-based mobile apps
The location-based mobile market is steadily growing. It’s currently worth $88.42 billion and is expected to grow 156% by 2027!
This means there are already a lot of different location-based mobile apps already on the market, some of which you might already have on your phone. Here are some of our favorites.
- Google Maps. Google Maps uses GPS to identify where you are and how best to get to your destination. It can also recommend local businesses and points of interest
- Pokémon Go. Pokémon Go uses location data to spawn Pokémon in the real world, track how far you’ve walked, and determine where Pokéstops and Gyms are placed
- Foursquare. Foursquare uses location data to recommend businesses that are near your current location
- Tinder. Tinder uses GPS and Wi-Fi location data to determine your location and show profiles of nearby users. While you can use Tinder with location data turned off, it won’t be able to show nearby matches
- Uber. Uber and similar lift-sharing apps use location data to find drivers and calculate fares
- Find My Friends. Available on iOS, Find My Friends uses location data to help you see where your friends are family members are. They must also have enabled the service to be visible in your app
- Deliveroo. Deliveroo, as well as other food delivery apps like Just Eat, Doordash, and UberEats, use location data to find restaurants and calculate delivery fees
- Spotify. Spotify uses location data to recommend music that’s popular in your area, as well as advise when your favourite bands are playing gigs near you
Many Internet of Things (IoT) mobile apps also use location-based data. For example, fitness apps like Garmin and Fitbit use GPS to track your exercise and map your routes.
We have lots of experience developing and launching location-based apps at You Are Launched. For example,Flat Planet is a mobile app for both iOS and Android.
The app identifies where you are in the world and offers audio tours you can download to immerse yourself in your surroundings. You can also get personalized recommendations on where to go based on your interests and preferences.
Why create a location-based app?
As you can see, location-based apps can provide users with additional functionality bespoke to them, as well as make them feel safer. But what are the benefits to you as a startup?
- You can get an advantage over your competitors. As not all startups offer location-based apps, it provides you with a unique selling point in the marketplace
- You can use location-based apps to provide monetisation opportunities. For example, if someone walks past a coffee shop, you can show them a voucher code to encourage them to go in
- You can use the data you receive to make future business decisions. For example, you can use the information you receive to determine which location to roll out to next or what type of advertising users best respond to
Your guide to creating a location-based mobile app
Now that you know what a location-based mobile app is and why you should create one, how do you go about it? Here’s our step-by-step guide to building the perfect mobile app.
1. Define the purpose of your app
While it can be tempting to jump right in and start building your location-based mobile app, it’s important to understand why you want to create it.
42% of startup ideas fail because there is no market need for them, so doing your research is critical. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Who is my target audience, and how will my app address their problems?
- How will location data enhance the user experience?
- What similar apps already exist? How can I make my app better than that of my competitors?
- What is the current state of the marketplace, and how might things change in the future?
- How will you monetize your app? For example, will you offer a freemium version, offer in-app purchases, or use in-app advertising?
- Will my app be available on iOS, Android, or both? It might be easier and cheaper to start on one and then move to the other after launch
2. Plan and design your app
When you’ve identified a need for your location-based custom mobile app, it’s time to start planning it.
It’s essential to determine whether you’ll design and develop your app in-house or use an external development team. If you’re considering the latter, ask your network for recommendations and look at online reviews – as not all developers are skilled in location-based custom mobile apps.
Once you’ve got your team in place, you must determine which data mapping software you want to use to power your location-based custom mobile app. This will be used to identify your user’s position and display map data for them to interact with.
While you can develop your own bespoke tool, we recommend using out-of-the-box software as it means you can launch faster.
It’s important to consider not just the price but also the number of map requests. While a small number of map requests might be OK when you’re just starting out, you may find you need more as your user base grows.
Next comes the design of your location-based custom mobile app. Developing a prototype (for example, a wireframe sketch) can help you map out the user journey and get feedback from your team before you move to the next stage.
3. Develop your custom app
We always recommend developing mobile apps as a minimum viable product, or MVP. This means you launch a basic, no-frills version of your app, and add to it during future updates. This means you can get to market more quickly and save money.
Creating an MVP means you need to identify which features to prioritize and which to leave until later. In the context of a location-based custom mobile app, the features you should include in the first iteration include:
- User registration (social login is a good starting point for your MVP app)
- Location detection (ideally with GPS, Wi-Fi, or both. As a rule of thumb, GPS is more accurate but is unreliable in areas with poor reception)
- Map display
- Caching (so you can save map points offline, reducing load on your servers and meaning you don’t need a permanent connection to the internet)
- Search and geocoding (which converts a user’s address or location into coordinates)
- Notifications and alerts
- Reviews and ratings (if appropriate)
- Basic analytics
However, it’s important to remember that no two apps are alike, and the features you include may vary.
Important note:
You need to bear in mind that not all people are willing to share their location data with apps. One in four Americans think location sharing is an invasion of their privacy. This may mean your app is not downloaded by everyone in your target audience. For those who do download your app, you’ll need to prove to them that you’re using their information responsibly and ethically, for example, through a thorough and detailed privacy statement.
Alternatively, you may opt to provide modified data-sharing options. For example, Uber lets users share their location with certain drivers rather than everyone. While turning on location data can enhance your experience, it’s not mandatory in Spotify.
4. Test your location-based app
Once your app is ready, you need to test it for bugs and usability issues. While an MVP doesn’t have to be 100% perfect when it launches, you want to eliminate any significant problems that might put potential users off.
With location-based custom mobile apps, you need to make sure they are accurately picking up the right location on different devices and networks.
We recommend running a beta test with a small group of users. Select users in different locations, using different types of mobile phones, and ask for their feedback. Also ask them to run tests on using both Wi-Fi and mobile data so you can make sure the app works correctly even when there is no internet connection.
5. Deploy your location-based app
When you’re confident that your location-based custom mobile app is ready, it’s time to launch. We recommend a soft launch with mobile apps, as it’s more cost-efficient and means you can continue to refine your app in the background. However, if you’re racing to launch against a competitor, a hard launch can give you the edge and make people remember you.
Also, think about how you’ll promote your app on the app store of your choice, whether that’s the Apple App Store or Google Play.
App store optimisation (ASO) is essential if you want your location-based custom mobile app to rank as high as possible for specific keywords and phrases.
6. Maintain and improve your app
It’s important to gather user feedback after you’ve launched, so you can roll out new features and make further improvements.
You can gather feedback in two ways. The first way is by asking users directly, for example, through emails or in-app surveys.
Ask them what they like about your location-based custom mobile app, what they dislike, and what they want to see in the future. Be sure to ask where they’re based and what type of device they’re using if you’re not collecting this data automatically. Fostering a community around your app can be a fantastic way of getting positive reviews and brand-new customers.
The second way is through user data. For example, if you notice your churn rate increases after you roll out an update, it may mean that users did not like the changes you made.
FAQ: Creating a Location-Based Custom Mobile App:
A location-based custom mobile app is an application that utilizes various technologies such as GPS, Wi-Fi positioning, cellular network triangulation, Bluetooth beacons, or geofencing to determine a user’s location. It then provides personalized and location-specific services or information to enhance the user experience.
Some well-known examples include Google Maps for navigation, Pokémon Go for augmented reality gaming, Foursquare for recommending nearby businesses, Tinder for location-based matchmaking, and Uber for ride-sharing. The market for location-based apps is growing rapidly, with various sectors like food delivery, social networking, and fitness utilizing location data.
Location-based apps offer a unique selling point, setting your startup apart from competitors. Additionally, they provide opportunities for monetization, such as offering discounts when users pass by specific locations. The data collected can inform business decisions, helping you tailor your services to user preferences and expand strategically.
The process involves:
– Define the Purpose: Identify your target audience, understand their needs, and determine how location data enhances user experience.
– Plan and Design: Decide whether to develop in-house or use external teams, choose mapping software, and create a prototype to outline the user journey.
– Develop: Start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) including features like user registration, location detection, map display, caching, search, notifications, reviews, and basic analytics.
– Test: Run thorough tests to ensure accurate location detection across different devices and networks.
– Deploy: Soft launch to refine the app gradually, or consider a hard launch for a competitive edge. Optimize your app store presence through App Store Optimization (ASO).
– Maintain and Improve: Gather user feedback through direct communication and data analysis. Use this information to introduce new features and enhancements.
Respect user privacy by providing a detailed privacy statement. Clearly communicate how location data will be used and assure users that their information is handled responsibly and ethically. Consider offering modified data-sharing options, allowing users to control the extent of location sharing.
Continuous improvement based on user feedback helps in refining features, fixing bugs, and staying competitive. Engaging with users through surveys and emails fosters a positive community around your app, leading to positive reviews and attracting new customers.
We hope you found this guide to developing a location-based custom mobile app useful. If you want to create a fully functional, high-quality app, but don’t know where to begin, a development specialist like You Are Launched can help turn your dreams into reality.