Potential Issues to Look Out For When Launching Your Municipal or Local Government App

The launch of a mobile app can be an exciting moment for any municipality or local government. While a successful launch can lead to widespread adoption, positive reviews, and resident applause, a disastrous launch can have the opposite effect.

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, the pressure to deliver a successful app launch is higher than ever before. Unfortunately, despite careful planning and preparation, things can still go wrong. Whether you’ve worked on the launch of many mobile apps or you’re launching your first app, it’s helpful to be aware of what can go wrong. This way, you can prepare for the unexpected and increase your chances of a successful launch.

Some potentially disastrous issues that could affect mobile app launch include:

• Technical Issues
  Technical issues can occur due to various reasons such as insufficient testing, inadequate infrastructure, bugs, or other software glitches. For instance, server crashes or downtime can prevent users from accessing the app or downloading it. Such problems can harm your app’s reputation and lead to user frustration, which can impact your app’s ultimate success.
• Security Breaches
  Security breaches are a significant concern when having a mobile app developed and it’s crucial to ensure your developer takes proactive measures to avoid any potential security breaches. A security breach during your launch could cause a range of problems, like exposing sensitive user data to hackers or compromising your app’s functionality. Such breaches could lead to the app’s failure or cause significant damage to your user’s privacy, which can result in negative publicity and legal repercussions.
• Poor User Experience
  A poor user experience can result from a complicated or confusing interface or inefficient app features. A mobile app that is challenging to navigate or lacks essential functionality can drive users away, leading to low engagement and retention rates. A poor user experience can harm the app’s reputation, leading to negative reviews and ratings, which can reduce the app’s chances of success.
• Compatibility Issues
  Compatibility issues can arise when a mobile app is not compatible with certain devices or operating systems, making it impossible for some users to access or use the app. This could occur if your app developer doesn’t conduct proper testing on different devices and operating systems before launching the app. Compatibility issues can lead to frustrated users and a poor app reputation, which can significantly reduce your app’s success.
• Falling For the Myth of the Viral Mobile App
  There is a misconception that once an app is built, thousands or even millions of people will rush to download it. This is not ever the case, as there are over 2 million apps in the Apple App Store and over 3 million apps in the Google Play Store. Competition is fierce, and getting your app noticed among the sea of other apps can be a challenge. The key to a successful launch is having a solid mobile app marketing strategy in place. This means doing your research, understanding your target audience, and creating a plan to promote your app through social media, email marketing, and other channels.

Finding Mobile App Launch Success

Remember, the success of your mobile app is dependent on both its development and your ongoing marketing efforts. If you’re working with a trustworthy developer, you hopefully shouldn’t face any technical disasters upon the launch or ongoing use of your mobile app.

By effectively promoting your app before and when you release it, you can prevent your launch from being a total flop. By ensuring you have an ongoing marketing strategy in place, you can ensure your mobile app continues to provide value to your residents well into the future.

If you’d like to learn more about developing, marketing and launching a municipal or local government mobile app, book a consultation with the Info Grove team.

Karim Mansour is an Inside Sales Representative at 14 Oranges, the creators of the Info Grove platform.