How To Begin MVP Web Development

You have a business idea. You have the urge to showcase it and look for feedback from an active audience.

That might be when you need to build an MVP website. The sole purpose of it is to collect customer feedback.

An MVP website is an online site that lets people know what a viable product is all about. It also allows people to subscribe to your services early for more information or usage. Svit. one, Mattr, and Moneypigeon are good examples of this method.

A lot of these founders love to build their MVP websites using Webflow. Today, let’s talk about how viable it is to create an MVP website and how to create the best one.

Is Creating an MVP Worth It?

If you are planning to create a product that can capture the attention of your target user base by solving their core pain point, then the answer is a resounding yes.

However, there are two sides to every coin, and you should consider both pros and cons of an MVP.

Pros of MVPs

• The design process moves forward with actual user feedback data.
• When building a website, there’s no concern about the public reception of the website. There’s only the planning, creation, and launch.
• A website is much cheaper to create, so any startup founder can easily validate their idea.

Cons of MVPs

• An MVP is a one-shot attempt. You only get one chance to make the best impression on your target audience. If the website isn’t developed perfectly, it can hurt your brand’s reputation in the long run.
• Only some users will buy into your product to utilize your services.

The Lean Startup Method

According to the lean startup method, an existing company brings out an entirely new product. The product is based on the desire and user behavior of the target market. That way, the product is consumed when pushed out of the gate.

The lean startup method is the forefather of the MVP website method. The goal of an MVP is to test the viability of the development of a certain product.

With a website MVP, you can calculate the feasibility of your idea within a much shorter budget, appealing to what the customers want.

What’s Different Between Web Application & Mobile Apps MVP?

When looking at the different aspects of building an MVP, the only thing that sets them apart is the tech stack used in the development.

But before releasing an MVP, it’s a must to ensure which platform you are targeting for a certain market, or your entire project can result in a loss.

Suppose the majority of your target market is mobile users. In that case, it’s best to target a mobile application instead of a web application.

But do take note: it always isn’t the case. Many successful MVPs, such as AirBnB and FaceBook, started as web applications and targeted mobile platforms later on.

The true difference here is the type of audience you are trying to reach and the technology stack you will need to use for each of these MVPs.

Both web and mobile app MVPs require different tech stacks, and creating a web MVP isn’t viable when most users are mobile users.

If you’re looking to take on the competition on all fronts, you should choose a multi-platform development tool like Flutter for MVP.

How to Build an MVP Website

We’ve talked about the importance and both pros and cons of creating an MVP website. Now, let’s see how to get to make one.

Step 1: Assemble the Right Team & Get Them up to Speed

Getting the best available talents on board for your project is always a tough choice. But if you know exactly what you are looking for, you should be able to assemble your team easily.

Once the team is set, debrief them about every possible objective they may have in the future.

Step 2: Research the Market, Audience, & Competitors

Research is the most crucial step when it comes to developing any MVP. You can perform this research for four data types vital for your development.

• The Audience: To determine user needs, pain points, and expectations.
• Target Market: To find your competitors, see the pre-existing solutions offered by the competitors, their proceedings, and if there are any gaps in between.
• Technology: to determine the best industry practices and the technical resources to help you achieve them.
• Criteria: Define the criteria and tools you can use to analyze your MVP’s success.

Step 3: Set Core Features

To set your core features, utilize the following couple of techniques:

• Determine core functions that your product must have when it launches
• Identify your UVP and USP
• Create a priority list and assign priority accordingly
• Communicate with the team and the stakeholders to clarify your requirements
• Document everything

Step 4: Choose The Right Platform

Your development speed is your best friend. To speed up the process, choose the right platform that suits your product idea, and implement any third-party tools you need to get yourself the desired results.

Step 5: Design, Develop, and Test

Even though your team is working on a minimal that will only have a few core features and minimal functionality when the initial version launches, treat it like a high-fidelity product. That way, you can ensure the most integrity your product can ever deliver.

Your goal should always be to launch a product that functions flawlessly for maximum positive user impressions.

Bonus Step: Seek and Incorporate User Feedback

Once you launch your product, the early adopters and the new users you’ve attracted to your product idea will provide valuable feedback. Keep necessary feedback collection methods in place to utilize every feedback for maximum product improvement.

Best MVP Web App Development Practices

1. Categorize Features Based on Priority

Only include features that will provide the maximum value to your target customers. To ensure you only offer the most relevant features, always maintain a priority list and categorize all the features on the list.

Though you are providing only some of the fancy features on the initial product version, you can always keep them noted for later. Then, slowly continue developing your startup idea into a full-fledged product.

2. Build a Proof of Concept if Necessary

Before you even start working on any MVP, creating a PoC (Proof of Concept) can be a great move. Even before creating an MVP, a POC can help you validate your idea. POC is a great way to determine if you should move forward with building an MVP.

3. Define & Measure MVP’s Success Criteria

There are multiple MVP success criteria for you to measure once you launch your MVP. All these factors help determine if investing further in your application is a good idea.

Once that’s done, keep track of every bit of progress to learn from them and implement better updates to your product.

This way, the product is constantly gaining traction by gaining attention from new potential customers and investors.

4. Few But Solid Features

Though the entire goal of your development is to keep it as minimal as possible, that doesn’t mean you will be providing features that lead the users nowhere.

Even with functions as little as one, everything you implement should be rock-solid that the users can count on.

5. Use Agile Development Methodologies

Agile development methodologies like Scrum can help develop MVPs because they allow flexibility and rapid iteration. This can help you get your MVP to market faster.

Planning to launch your app within a shorter time window and perfect functionalities help you catch the market faster, increasing the rate of your success.

6. Never Compromise Quality

There will be more than one issue during the development process that you might overlook. However, these issues can later remain unsolved and create functionality issues in the long run. When working on your app, never compromise on quality at any cost.

The same goes for picking expertise to work on your project. An MVP is the best test you can perform on your product, and you should only settle for the best.

7. Remember, It’s About the Users and the Experience

The user experience should be a top priority when developing your MVP. Ensure the user flow is smooth and intuitive and that the design fits the customer journey perfectly.

When you put the customer first and make them feel appreciated, they will be compelled to stick with your product in the long run and retain customers.

8. Don’t Obsess Over Monetization

If you focus on delivering value and providing a solution that people want, a great user experience. In that case, you will eventually open doors to infinite money-making strategies.

But if you are implementing shady monetary practices, current active users are bound to turn away from whatever you offer.

To Wrap It All Up

When you already have a product idea, and you have measured the feasibility of your idea, the best time for building an MVP is right then and there.

If you are looking to validate your idea with minimal cost and effort. In that case, MVP web development is the way to go.

And the best time to create one? Right now! Get started with our startup MVP development services today!

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