When developing a mobile app for your business, it’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to include every app feature you can think of in the very first version.
However, failing to prioritize app features—or creating an app feature list without clear focus—can result in a development cycle stretching six months or more before you have anything ready to release.
Fully developing your app without user feedback could also mean wasting valuable time and money on features users may never need. This delay not only slows your time to market, but also gives competitors a chance to innovate faster and get ahead.
That’s why starting with an MVP app (minimum viable product) – a streamlined version of your mobile app that delivers the most essential value – is key. From there, you can expand based on user data and feedback in later versions.
At Big Fish, we frequently guide clients through creating an app feature list. Here are five effective strategies we recommend to help you prioritize app features:
1. Create a Roadmap
Mapping out different stages or versions of your mobile app helps you structure and prioritize its features.
Get your stakeholders together and jot down each feature idea on a Post-it Note. Then, organize them into columns labeled Version 1, Version 2 and Version 3+.
This visual approach lets you see which features should be developed first and which can wait. If you prefer digital tools, platforms like Trello can be incredibly helpful—it’s something we use at Big Fish.
Here are some tips for creating a successful roadmap for your app:
- Limit features: Agree in advance on the maximum number of features allowed per version. This keeps things manageable and focused.
- Consider dependencies: Some features rely on others being built first (for example, viewing work orders requires a login feature). Address these dependencies upfront.
- Prioritize high-usage features: Focus first on the features users will interact with most, and save less frequent use cases for later versions.
- Involve end-users early: Incorporate feedback from actual users during the planning stage. This ensures that the features you prioritize are based on real user needs, not just assumptions from the development team.
- Be flexible: Roadmaps should guide development but remain adaptable. As you gather more user data and insights, be open to revisiting your roadmap and adjusting feature priorities as needed.
2. Use an Impact and Effort Matrix
The Impact and Effort Matrix is a classic decision-making tool that helps you prioritize app features based on how much effort they require and the impact they have on your goals.
- Low Effort, High Impact: Features that are easy to build and make a big difference should be top priorities.
- Low Effort, Low Impact:Avoid features that don’t align with your app’s goals, even if they’re easy to develop.
- High Effort, Low Impact: These features are often better left out, but sometimes foundational features fall into this category. Your team should discuss whether these features are taken for granted or truly unnecessary.
- High Effort, High Impact: These important but complex features will need extra discussion. Prioritizing their development time and determining how essential they are to the app’s success will guide your decision-making process.
3. Rank Features
Ranking app features in order of importance is another clear way to prioritize.
We recommend ranking features based on your app’s core goal. If a feature doesn’t directly help you achieve your app’s goal, it can probably wait.
For example, if your app is designed to let dispatchers track the location of your fleet, GPS tracking is essential in version one. Tracking vehicle speed, while useful, is secondary.
Ranking features based on the app’s core goals ensures decisions are made strategically, not just based on personal preferences from key stakeholders.
Once you’ve ranked your features according to goals, you’ll have a clear picture of which features to prioritize now, and in future versions.
4. Group Similar Features
Most app features fall into distinct themes or groups. Organizing similar features together allows you to see redundancy and evaluate which ones best meet users’ needs.
With grouped features, you can prioritize entire categories in your strategy. Then, within each group, decide which individual feature provides the most value to users. This streamlined approach helps you build a more focused, user-friendly app.
5. Gamify It
If you’re looking for a more interactive way to make decisions, try gamifying the process. Give each stakeholder a set amount of “money” to “buy” the features they believe are most important. More complex or time-consuming features cost more, just like in real life.
This exercise reveals which features are most valued by multiple stakeholders, and often uncovers fresh perspectives on how they view the app’s potential. It also makes difficult decisions easier by encouraging the team to think about trade-offs in terms of both cost and importance.
Final Thoughts
Is your company planning a mobile app and looking for help to prioritize features that matter most? Reach out to our expert team at Big Fish. We can guide you in developing a focused app feature list that aligns with your goals and brings your vision to life.
