How to build a social media app: An entrepreneur’s guide

Global social media users from 2017 to 2027

• Market leader, Facebook, has surpassed one billion registered accounts and currently has about 2.9 billion active monthly users, making it the largest social network worldwide. According to the Apple App Store, the top social media apps in June 2023 were WhatsApp and Telegram Messenger, as well as Facebook’s mobile app.
• The use of social media is an integral part of daily internet usage. An average internet user spends 151 minutes per day on social media and messaging apps, an increase of 40 minutes since 2015. Latin American internet users spent the most time on social media per day on average.

1. Decide what is the most innovative value proposition you can offer

Describe how your product or service solves customer problems, meets their needs, or gives them value in a way that sets you apart from your competitors. You should make it concise, comprehensive, and tailored to your target audience. Consider what makes your app unique compared to existing social media platforms. Focus on a niche audience that is currently underserved or address a specific need. Create an easy-to-use platform that offers valuable services that other platforms do not. Get a better understanding of your users by using data and analytics. Define the core purpose of your app by emphasizing the problems it will solve or the benefits it will provide.
While considering the social media app ideas, keep in mind the below Social network examples (Types)

• Social networks
  Leading platforms: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn,
• Media sharing networks
  Leading platforms: Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube
• Discussion forums
  Leading platforms: Quora, Digg, Reddit
• Blogging and publishing networks
  Leading platforms: WordPress, Tumblr, Medium
• Content curation networks
  Leading platforms: Pinterest, Flipboard
• Consumer review networks
  Leading platforms: TripAdvisor, Yelp

2. List the features your app will offer

Create a list of features your app will offer, such as photo sharing, messaging, video content, etc. The features of a social media application vary depending on the type and complexity, but some should be included in every application. Make a social media app with features that provide value to users. Your MVP should start with a plan and a list of its main features. Here are a few common features you can consider:

• Sign up and user profile
• Post-creation and publishing
• Search engine
• Friending or subscribing options
• Feed
• Chat or direct messaging
• Group and sub-groups
• Notifications
• Moderation tools
• Live streaming
• Customization
• Admin panel

Additional features

• Social commerce
• AR/VR
• Chatbots
• Short videos
• Gamification

3. Do the market research

Social media app success depends on this crucial step, which many entrepreneurs miss out on. Keep up with the current and future trends in social media and technology to anticipate users’ preferences. To differentiate yourself from other social media apps in your niche, you need to know their strengths and weaknesses. Create detailed profiles of your target users, taking into account their demographics, interests, and behaviors.

4. Create a business plan

In your social media app’s business plan, prioritize features that are essential at launch while planning to add others after receiving user feedback. Ensure that monetization aligns with value and user expectations. Consider in-app purchases, subscriptions, and ads that enhance the user experience. Estimate the cost of development, ongoing maintenance, and potential revenue streams. It is important to carefully plan your finances to ensure your app’s sustainability. You will build a strong foundation for your social media app’s success with a focused launch, user-friendly monetization, and financial stability. Having a holistic view will help you make informed decisions and secure the resources your app needs to succeed.

5. Choose a social media app development company

Finally, it’s time to start developing your social media app. For your idea to succeed, it is imperative that you choose the best social media app development company. The company will assist you with the strategy, design, development, testing, and deployment of the social media app. Even companies like OpenXcell provide post-development support, guide you through launch strategies, and help you raise funds with their network. Therefore, make sure you choose your app company wisely to ensure your vision is realized.

6. UI design, prototype, and testing

Once you have determined the features set, look for ways to integrate them into a convenient interface that follows the latest social media trends. Moreover, don’t follow trends blindly – analyze them in advance.

There is quite a buzz about Stories on social media platforms. LinkedIn has already adopted them after being inspired by Instagram. Are they really necessary for a professional networking site? To summarize, make sure the trend you want to follow improves your UX and UI and that the feature it corresponds to is truly necessary, not just trendy. Once you have finished creating your prototype, test it with your users via heat maps and user acceptance tests.

7. MVP development

It has never been more important to create an MVP when developing social media apps. It is quite difficult to predict the preferences of social media users and the trends they wish to follow. You can only make some accurate predictions using AI, but your MVP gives you a chance to test the real market environment firsthand. By launching your product quickly, you can modify it according to feedback from users. By doing this, you can stay on top of your competition and keep your product relevant in an ever-changing social media landscape. However, you should be prepared for unexpected results and ready to use the insight gained at the next stage.

8. Prepare a marketing strategy and test it

Another essential task is promoting your social media app. The idea of popularizing your social media platform with the help of other social media seems strange, so think about other ways to do this. You can start with SEO-optimized content, partner with industry influencers, and run targeted ads. Additionally, reach out to bloggers and media outlets to get your app featured in their stories. Make sure you test each marketing approach. Social media trends change too quickly, so what worked yesterday may not work tomorrow.

9. Develop a full-fledged social media app

Now that your MVP is almost complete, it is time to turn it into a full-fledged application while keeping the users’ impressions in mind. Many business owners tend to replace their development teams at this point, assuming that the major part of the job has already been completed. In any case, you should proceed with the same development team since they are already well acquainted with your business, and it is always easier to continue working with your own code.

10. Launch, support, maintain, and scale

Once you have launched your social media, prepare yourself for a never-ending maintenance and support job. As your app attracts more users, your development team will have to exert more effort to keep it running smoothly. As your business grows, it is necessary to adapt your UX, adjust the workload, localize your product, and keep receiving feedback from your users.