A Step-by-Step Guide to Build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

Introduction

The year 1990 could be noted as the year MVP was born as one teen started selling shoes online, which he bought from his nearby store. Although he incurred a loss on every sale, a new industry was established by him. Nick Swinmurn, went on to pioneer Zappos, later selling it to Amazon for a whopping 1.2 billion dollars.

The process followed by Nick is now called MVP Development, and here is everything you need to know about it:

What's Minimum Viable Product Development?

MVP could be termed the product with minimum features and the most primal form with basic functionalities to showcase its capabilities.

When it comes to mobile application development, MVP can be defined as the application’s fundamental version. It’s the procedure of creating a product with basic yet important functionalities for testing the audience’s response.

After assessing the response, the creation of the final process is started by integrating every useful feedback.

Why Build an Minimum Viable Product?

Minimum Viable Product is created for launching a product as quickly as possible with a pre-existing idea and a limited budget. This way, you can gather as much feedback as you want and then accumulate it to prepare the best possible product.

Best Benefits of Minimal Viable Product Development

Minimum Viable Product proposes numerous benefits, and here are the most useful ones:

Emphasis on core building

MVP allows you to focus on one application at a time within a limited budget. Implementing medium functions reduces risks while also maintain the budget.

An early opportunity for testing

With an Minimum Viable Product, you can get a rough idea of whether you will be able to build an application within the set budget.

Valuable feedback

An MVP lets you gather your audience’s opinion and feedback regarding the application and what they desire from the final product.

Facilitates market support

With an MVP, you can access whether the application is suited for the market or not. The app should be unique and represent your business ideals.

Reduces time

An MVP saves up development time as you already have the basic set up, cutting down on cost.

The Need of an Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

An MVP can work wonders for your startup as emphasized by the following stats:

• Almost 30% of startups fail due to lack of funds.
• A startup that scales everything properly expand 20x quicker than the ones that scaled prematurely.

Here is a deeper dive on the topic:

Initial Model Creation

This provides the initial point for decision-making and offering visual points for reference.

Getting Approval for the Initial Model

This helps share the model with new prospects for testing and comprehension purposes.

Starting the Journey

Hours of building can go to waste without an effective launch, and an MVP helps you do it easily.

Marketing

An MVP allows you to market your product even before its launch.

Concept’s Proof

With an MVP, you can implement vital programming and features, allowing your app to become unique.

Building an MVP

Creating an MVP seems like a daunting task, but it can be done with some easy steps. Here are the steps to easily build an MVP:

Market Research

Even an excellent idea might not bode well in real life; therefore, before building an app, you need to conduct market research. Also, check out what the competition is providing and assess how your product can stand out.

Expressing the Idea

Providing value to customers should be the primary goal of every product, so you must first prepare a comprehensive outline of what it looks for you.

Assess User Flow and Design Process

Prepare a convenient design and try to look at things from the consumers’ perspective. User flow is also a key aspect you need to take care of to ensure the users’ utmost satisfaction.

List Every Feature

Now you need to compile every feature you need in your product. After preparing the list, you have to prioritize them. Evaluate what feature is more integral and then categorize them accordingly. Now define their scope, and you are good to go.

Start Building

Now that everything is in place, it is time to build the MVP. Remember that an MVP should not be inferior to the final product. It still needs to fulfill the customers’ needs, so build it as close as the final product.

Adapt and Evolve

After launching an MVP, get ready for some feedback from your audience. Consider every rational feedback and try to evolve your application as much as possible.

How to know if Your MVP is a Hit?

Here is how you can assess whether or not your MVP is successful:

Word of Mouth

One of the best ways to assess your success is traffic and questioning potential consumers. Interview as many customers as possible and see what they think of the app.

User Engagement

If the app is garnering a viable user engagement, then you know it is and will be a hit. As engagement grows, your business outshines the competition.

Sign-Ups

As more users sign-up for your products, you know that you have created a loyal audience.

Quality Feedback

The better feedback you receive, the better your application has scored on the market.

Active Users

Merely housing a large number of users is useless if the users are not active. If your app packs a large number of active users, then it is a good sign.

Client Conversion Cost

If the cost you incur for acquiring a new customer outweighs the revenue you will amass from the customer; then you are doing something wrong.

Paying Users

No user would ever pay for a sub-optimal application, so many users signify a successful venture.

Customer Lifetime Value

How long does an average client stay connected to your product? The longer it is, the better for you.