• Home
  • News
  • Marketing Events
    • Marketing Events Calendar
    • Submit An Event
  • Business Directories
    • Marketing Agencies
    • Advertising Agencies
    • Market Research Agencies
    • Market Research Recruitment
    • Event Management Agencies
    • Public Relations Agencies
    • Marketing Industry Associations
    • Industry Recruitment Agencies
    • Promotional Merchandise Agencies
    • Social Media Marketing Agencies
    • SEO & SEM Agencies
  • Marketing Tools
    • Marketing Plans
    • Marketing Publications
    • Marketing Jobs
    • Calculators
    • Media Research
    • Advertising Facts
  • Advertise
  • Write For Us
  • Subscribe

Marketing.com.au

Marketing news, events and resources

  • General
  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • Market Research
  • Public Relations
  • SEM
  • SEO
  • Social Media
Hot Mobile App Trend Predictions for 2017

Hot Mobile App Trend Predictions for 2017

November 8, 2016 By Steve Brendish

With users spending over 65% of all digital media time on mobile devices, it’s no wonder that mobile app technology is the hottest battleground for developers, marketers and strategists to win the hearts, minds and dollars of a connected public. Recent years have seen unprecedented changes in the ways that technology users interact with mobile users, and there is little sign of this pattern letting up. Here are a few of the most dominant emerging trends in mobile app technology that we expect to see as 2016 draws to a close and 2017 looms large:

1. Crowdshaping

Developers and marketers are increasingly looking to their users for guidance, advice and input into how to make their apps more user-friendly. Rather than try to second guess, it makes more sense to explore ways to gather the most relevant feedback from the very people that will be using the app on a regular basis. This process is known as “Crowdshaping” and in-app user engagement tools are providing unprecedented opportunities to tap into an app’s user base to shape their direction.

2. Wearability

Wearable devices such as Apple Watch and Google Glass are not mere gadgets, they are potentially game-changing technologies that have the power to redefine how we interact with the digital world. 2017 may very well be the year in which these platforms take off and app developers will need to adapt quickly and nimbly to the varying screen sizes and interface limitations. Those who get it right earliest are likely to reap rich rewards.

3. App as a Lifestyle Choice

Not every device has unlimited bandwidth and memory. In fact, the vast majority of mobile users are limited in these regards. Apps compete not only with each other for attention but for real estate and download limits. Many of the most sophisticated apps are evolving from pieces of software that perform a specific function, to integral parts of our lifestyle. The Weather Channel, for example, has a jogging app that allows them to track their run and check the weather, eliminating the need for multiple apps and saving valuable space and megabytes. 2017 is likely to see this trend expand rapidly and new apps will aim to become an indispensable part of your lifestyle, rather than simply a tool.

4. You Have Entered The Thumb Zone

Today’s mobile user is chronically time poor and will almost certainly spend significant amounts of time using their apps while they are on the go or multitasking. Typically, this means navigating one-handed, using only one’s thumb. Smart app developers and designers have cottoned on and realised that critical buttons and calls to action should ideally be placed within easy access of the thumb on the hand that is holding the phone. Add into the equation that lefties will have the mirror image pattern, and you end up with a sweet spot on your screen that is the ideal area in which to put clickable stuff – The Thumb Zone. Place your “Buy Now” button outside this area, and users are likely to fast become annoyed and bounce right out of their shopping cart!

thumb-zone
Source: www.smashingmagazine.com

5. Creative Navigation

We have become accustomed to the traditional ways of moving from one screen to another, however, App designers are constantly looking for new ways to move users through their UX. Parallax scrolling is likely to continue to become more widely utilised, allowing users to creatively scroll through their apps, rather than click. Apps such as Uber have perfected their linear navigation structure, reducing options and simply guiding the user in a straight line through the process. This strategy can be genius if utilised correctly but can leave the user feeling they are being herded like cattle if not managed really well.

One thing that we know for sure is that we can always expect the unexpected when it comes to developments in the digital world. However, we hope that this has given you some insights into where things are heading.

  • About
  • Latest Posts
Steve Brendish

Steve Brendish

Founder/Creative Director at Appee
Hailing from outside London, Steve Brendish has over 25 years’ experience in the Digital world, working for studios in the UK and Hungary, before moving to Australia to start his own. In 2013, Steve teamed up with Alberto Simongini and Ken Kades to create Appee, the world’s most advanced in app user engagement tool.
Steve Brendish

Latest posts by Steve Brendish (see all)

  • Hot Mobile App Trend Predictions for 2017 - November 8, 2016

Other Related Marketing.com.au Articles:

  • Australian Marketing Conferences and Events – March 2020
    Australian Marketing Conferences and Events – March 2020
  • Australian Marketing Conferences and Events - February 2019
    Australian Marketing Conferences and Events - February 2019
  • Online Marketing Events – November 2020
    Online Marketing Events – November 2020
  • Australian Marketing Conferences and Events - June 2018
    Australian Marketing Conferences and Events - June 2018
  • Online Marketing Events – September 2020
    Online Marketing Events – September 2020
  • How to Prepare Your Website for Google’s Mobile Mandate
    How to Prepare Your Website for Google’s Mobile Mandate
  • Online Marketing Events – October 2020
    Online Marketing Events – October 2020
  • Top 5 App Store Optimisation Techniques
    Top 5 App Store Optimisation Techniques

Filed Under: Advertising, General, Latest News Tagged With: app, crowdshaping, digital media, marketing, mobile app, navigation, thumb zone, wearability

Recent Posts

  • Marketing Events – February 2021
  • Top 5 App Store Optimisation Techniques
  • Why Are My Local Competitors Outranking Me?
  • Turn Mentions Of Your Brand Into Juice Passing Links
  • Marketing.com.au’s Top 10 Articles in 2020

Join Our Newsletter

For free updates on upcoming Australian events, articles and resources.

CONNECT WITH US

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

MAIN MENU

  • Advertise with Us
  • Write For Us
  • Submit An Event
  • List Your Business
  • Marketing Events
  • Business Directories
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

SEARCH BY CATEGORY

  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • General
  • Market Research
  • Public Relations
  • Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
  • Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
  • Social Media

Join Our Newsletter

For free updates on upcoming Australian events, articles and resources.

Copyright © 2021 Marketing.com.au · Terms & Conditions · Privacy Policy

  • Home
  • News
  • Marketing Events
    ▼
    • Marketing Events Calendar
    • Submit An Event
  • Business Directories
    ▼
    • Marketing Agencies
    • Advertising Agencies
    • Market Research Agencies
    • Market Research Recruitment
    • Event Management Agencies
    • Public Relations Agencies
    • Marketing Industry Associations
    • Industry Recruitment Agencies
    • Promotional Merchandise Agencies
    • Social Media Marketing Agencies
    • SEO & SEM Agencies
  • Marketing Tools
    ▼
    • Marketing Plans
    • Marketing Publications
    • Marketing Jobs
    • Calculators
    • Media Research
    • Advertising Facts
  • Advertise
  • Write For Us
  • Subscribe