A Detailed Guide to Make A Messaging App – Process, Insights, And More

As technology advances, so does the world around us and the way industries operate. With messaging apps, we can now communicate with our friends and families within a flash. Moreover, as messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, and more are gaining popularity, it has forced tech startups and entrepreneurs to consider how to make a messaging app and create one of their own.

Thinking of creating your own messaging app and kicking off a Startup company from it? If you answered yes to the question, you would be glad to know that you are at the right place. In the following article, we discuss how you can design a chat application and launch an unparalleled messaging application in the industry.

So, what are you waiting for? Jump right into the article and get started with learning how you can create a never-before-seen chat application.

What Is A Messenger App?

Before we jump into breaking down how to create a messaging app, let us answer – what is a messenger app? A messaging app refers to a platform or an application that is dedicated to enabling communication between people. Its primary feature is that it allows users to send and receive messages. Nowadays, the industry’s dominating messaging apps are including additional features that have helped them reach the top. If you’re confused about what features to add, don’t worry about that! We have included a detailed section on it to ensure that you can build the industry’s top messaging app in no time.

Why Do People Use Messaging Apps?

Nowadays, more and more Startups are planning to build chat apps to make money and create a name for themselves. But, what is the purpose of a messaging app and why do people use them?

Can you imagine that approximately 23 billion text messages are sent per day all across the world? As more and more people are taking to smartphones, they are also using messaging apps to stay connected and fulfill different purposes. For example, some use messaging apps to communicate with their peers and grow academically, whereas businesses use these apps to get in touch with their clients. After the COVID pandemic, a lot of people have opted for remote work and messaging apps help facilitate the smooth running of businesses.

According to a report released by Software Advice, some top reasons why people use a messaging app are:-

• No hold times unlike calls
• Convenient and easily accessible
• Allows parties to keep a record of the messages sent
• Offers multi-tasking benefits
• Can be used at workplaces where calls are not allowed

Make A Messaging App – An In-Depth Market Analysis

Now that you know why businesses are focusing on instant messaging app development services, let us discuss the market potential. After all, you must know about the popularity of messaging apps, how much time people spend on these, and identify the companies you are up against. This will not only help you make informed business decisions but will also help ensure that you create a chat app that has the potential to take off!

According to a survey conducted by On Device Research, users hailing from different parts of the globe have at least two messaging apps installed on their smartphones. So, it is clear that messaging apps are highly popular among different generations irrespective of the country they are from. Owing to this huge market potential and popularity, a lot of businesses want to create a chat app like WhatsApp.

But, before you jump right ahead to make a messaging app, let us look at the top industry players that you will be competing against:-

• WhatsApp
• Facebook Messenger
• WeChat
• QQ Mobile
• Skype
• Viber
• Snapchat
• LINE
• Telegram

Key Features That Your Messaging App Must Include

With so many messaging apps flooding the industry, how do you ensure that your app is better than them? After all, you must compete with them and engage with users for better results and brand popularity. Well, the easiest way to do so in terms of development is to create your own messaging app that includes key features of chat apps.

To help you do so without much difficulty, we have listed the key features that the top messaging apps include. Find them here along with a brief description of these means and refer to:-

1. Make A Messaging App With Authorization Features

With the advent of social media, privacy has become crucial which is why you must create a message app that allows users to build a personal account. You can also allow them to sign up or sign in with their other social media accounts. For increased security, you can add sign-in functionalities that include SMS confirmation or voice confirmation.

2. Access To Phone Contacts

Ensure that your messaging app automatically accesses the user’s existing contacts (with permission) and imports them to the app. You can also allow users to invite their contacts via a single click. If this seems a bit complicated to implement, we recommend you outsource app development talents who are capable and can help you build it.

3. Advanced Chat Options

In today’s highly competitive market, it can be difficult to build an app that is similar to that built by tech giants. However, you must ensure that your messaging app includes the basic functions and functionalities in its MVP. You can plan to include advanced chat options that integrate with the major social media platforms to help your product succeed in the market. To ensure seamless integration of these features, a lot of businesses are getting in touch with their preferred mobile app design company.

4. Exchange Of Files And Messages

As discussed, a lot of businesses contact their clients via today’s messaging apps. Moreover, students and business employees connect with their peers and colleagues via these apps. Often, they need to exchange files, videos, images, and other content, and today’s top messaging apps allow them to do so without much hassle. Include different APIs when you make a messaging app to ensure that users can exchange files and messages.

5. Real-Time Location Sharing

If you want to build your own messaging app that allows users to share their real-time location, you can ask your development team to utilize Location Manager Class on Android and iOS. Major messaging apps have successfully implemented this feature, while Telegram is allowing users to even create routes from an initial point to a destination point of their choice.

6. Push Notifications

Push notifications are an integral part of any messaging app that you are thinking of developing. It is a quick way to engage with users and notify them whether they have any messages or not. Your team can utilize Google Cloud Messaging and Apple Push notifications to implement this feature and better engage with users.

7. Message Backups

To increase your application’s user retention and boost user satisfaction, we recommend leaving an area for customization to users. Allow them to choose their message backup area and frequency to ensure users have control of their storage and application space. We also recommend adding functions that allow users to control the app’s theme, color schemes, and much more.

Technology Stack To Help You Make A Messaging App Easily

Before you hire mobile app developers to make a messaging app and build one of your own, we recommend you decide on the technology stack. After all, it is completely dependent on your app’s demands, needs, and goals and the functionalities you want to include. You must also understand the differences between a native app and a cross-platform app and go with the one that best fulfills your needs and demands. Check the following tables to better understand the differences and decide on one for your app.

To help you understand the different tech stacks and options available to your team for backend development, we have successfully listed them in the table below.

How To Make A Messaging App? – Step-By-Step Breakdown

The first step to making your messaging app is to plan the project and define the associated business goals. After all, prior research can save a lot in terms of future costs to rectify errors and implement functionalities. You must also look at the different case studies available and check out the competitor apps to conduct proper market research. Some common aspects of your messaging app that you must figure out include:-

1. Problem Statement

This section deals with understanding critical problems faced by customers to help you better develop solutions. You must aim to solve these issues to the best of your capabilities in the next stage.

2. Solution

Once your customer’s pain points have been identified, the next step is to identify the probable solutions. In this stage, you might need to try out multiple solutions to determine the most feasible one that you can implement. You must also ensure that your customer’s needs are prioritized to ensure that your app is better engaged with them and can compete with the industry’s bigshots.

3. Value Propositions

In this section, you need to determine the value you are providing your customers with. Some common value propositions offered by the industry’s existing messaging apps include – free-to-use, real-time chat and messaging, accessible irrespective of location, simple and easy-to-use interface, and encrypted chatting. Remember that the stronger your value proposition, the better the chances that users will prefer your app.

4. Key Metrics

Here, you need to set the metrics based on which you will evaluate your company’s performance. Some common key performance indicators (KPIs) used by startup companies include – monthly active users, customer retention rates, customer conversion rates, and overall audience engagement.

5. Channels

With the advent of multiple social media channels and platforms, you must decide the channels through which you want to reach your customers. Some common marketing and promotion channels that you can consider include – word of mouth, social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and App Store or Google Play Store promotions.

6. Customer Segments

Without understanding who your target customer is, the development of the application can be difficult. We recommend determining the user profile of your typical audience, their behavior, and app usage preferences to better cater to them.

7. Unfair Advantage

This is one of the most crucial sections that you must answer – how is your app superior to that of your competitors? Some points that you might be able to take advantage of include – a marketing advantage that you might have or technology solutions that only your app offers.

Once you have determined all of these, we recommend putting together a strategy and plan that defines your course of action. Then, find an IT vendor or put together a team to develop an MVP with which you can test user feedback. Following this, you can better curate your app features and offer personalized experiences to suit your customer needs.

Conclusion

Although the messaging app market is flooded, there are a lot of unrealized opportunities that you can take advantage of. You can conduct proper research and ensure the delivery of an experience that amazes your customers and keeps them engaged. A good place to start is the above article and a few case studies on the different text messaging apps available in the market.

Confused about the technology stack you want to utilize or want to build a skilled development team? Get in touch with the top mobile app development company in India and outsource the talent you need to bring your app dreams into reality!