Looking to develop a successful Amazon-like app? Here are 10 easy steps to get you started!



Learning how to develop a successful Amazon-like app isn’t easy, but it can be done. For many merchants, using Amazon to sell products has become less than optimal, due to the high fees and long delivery times that come with working with the e-commerce giant. Rather than taking this risk, you might want to consider developing your own app or program that mimics some of the best features of Amazon’s business model while also offering some of your own unique features and services.

Looking to develop a successful Amazon-like app? Here are 10 easy steps to get you started!


Step 1: Assess your goals and requirements

One of the most important considerations when designing an app is first determining the purpose of the app. Apps that have clear goals and requirements, are more likely to have users who remain loyal and purchase more products. The following questions can help answer this question: 


  • Why do I want this mobile experience?
  • Who will be using my mobile experience - Is it for work or personal use?
  • What information will be accessible on this mobile experience?
  • What would happen if I were unable to access this data on my phone? 
  • What types of experiences am I looking for in a mobile application? 
  • How often would I like to interact with the app each day?

These are just some preliminary questions that could give you insight into your goals. It's important not to set expectations too high or too low so take your time with these before continuing onto step 2.


Step 2: Learn the basics

Before moving on, it's important that we address one major issue. Though it sounds nice and simple, developing an Amazon-like App is not a very difficult process. In fact, even the most amateur of programmer can create the Amazon App. So how do you ensure your success with this project?


There are many more things to keep in mind beyond just choosing a niche that interests you or just programming in general. The first thing we want to take into consideration is: What makes the Amazon App so popular?


Step 3: Figure out if an app is even right for your business

if an app is even right for your business. If you're in the brick and mortar retail business, an app is likely not for you. If on the other hand, your business relies heavily on downloads or purchases, then it could be a really good idea. It all depends on what you're trying to accomplish. The point of this step is just to figure out what the best way to use technology is for your particular needs. It may seem obvious but many people make this mistake when they create an app without thinking about what it's going to do for them first. Remember, there are two things you need to figure out before moving forward:

  1. Is an app necessary for my business goals?
  2. What would I like my user experience to be like with this app?

Once you answer these questions, then it's time to move on to the next step!


Step 4: Pick your platform

If you want to build for Android, then the only development requirement is the Android SDK. If your target platform is iOS, then Apple has some special developer requirements. They require that all developers enroll in their iOS Developer Program and make use of its latest tools, like Xcode 8 and Swift 3.


For now we will focus on building an Android app. You'll need Java in order to download and install the Android SDK. Once installed, open it up and follow the instructions to complete setup. Next, you'll be asked if you would like to create a new project or open an existing one. Choose Create New Project and give it a name.


Step 5: Register as an individual seller on Amazon

If you're looking for a well-established platform that has more buyers and sellers than any other ecommerce site, then registering on Amazon as an individual seller is the way to go. This is the basic and simplest level of registration, so it should be no problem at all. However, keep in mind that there are limitations with this type of registration. You won't have access to discounts or coupons offered by third parties, such as Groupon and Living Social. You'll also need to factor in shipping costs when considering your pricing strategy.


Step 6. Choose your name, category and keywords

Choosing the right name for your app can be a difficult process, but it's crucial that the name resonates with potential customers. Important points to consider include making sure the name is short, memorable and simple. After finding a catchy word or phrase, it may also be helpful to see if there are any other apps out there with the same or similar names. One way to do this is by searching in Google Play for words related to your idea. You'll find that there are often competing apps for specific categories such as weight loss and lose weight. If you're not getting any relevant results, then it might be time to move on to another name.


Step 7. Write your product descriptions

We know that your product description is one of the most important parts of your page, and we want to make sure it's as best as it can be. That's why we offer both free lifetime edits and top industry experts that will work with you on the content. So don't fret if you're not sure what the best words are or how to craft sentences that convert well – our team has got you covered. It doesn't matter if you're selling clothing, books, games, or even hardware; our editors have helped over 100 companies create great product descriptions for their items.


Step 8. Market yourself on social media

For your marketing campaign, have a strong and strategic social media plan in place. Different platforms allow for different types of content, so make sure that when it comes to building your brand across the web, you're also thinking about how it's going to translate on each platform as well. Use Google analytics or similar to monitor where people are visiting from and what is being viewed on your website. Monitor metrics like bounce rate (percentage of visitors who leave immediately after arriving), time spent browsing the site, conversion rates (percentage of visitors who turn into customers), page views per visitor, etc.


Step 9. Create mobile listings on Google Play or iTunes

It's also important that customers can find your mobile apps in one of the two largest phone stores. Google Play and iTunes both let you create listings for free, but iTunes charges 30% commission per sale, while Google Play takes just 15%. Keep this in mind as you consider which store is best for your business. If your app targets a global audience, then Google Play might be a better option. However, if your target audience is mainly in the United States or Western Europe, then it makes sense to go with iTunes so that more of your revenue stays at home.


Step 10. Set up shop on Amazon

After your eCommerce site is ready, set up an account on Amazon, and list the products that you would like to sell. Depending on the volume of items that you have available for sale, there are a variety of ways to make the process easier. You can hire a development company to build the back end system or you can use one of many online tools. If you want to go with the DIY route, then it's advisable to start with something smaller such as creating a simple website first, before jumping into complex programming languages like PHP or Java. For more information about how we can help with eCommerce development services in order to develop a successful Amazon-like app, please contact us today!

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