How To Create A Social Media App

Gohar Aslam
App Development
8 March, 2024

In this digital age, the way we communicate globally has evolved due to social media. It’s a booming industry with 4.95 billion users worldwide, predicted to reach 6 billion by 2027. Entrepreneurs view social media as a goldmine, making competition much more challenging. If you are an entrepreneur with an innovative vision for a social media app, your app must overcome the risk of a competitive market. To make your space in the existing social media industry, you must create a social media app that appeals to your target audience.

It’s daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. You can engage the expertise of social media app development companies to gain a strategic advantage.In this blog, you’ll explore the types and features of a social media application. Moreover, we’ll also dive into the app-building process and how you can monetize your app to capture more audience.Let’s explore!

Types of Social Media Apps

Social media apps cater to unique audiences with exclusive purposes, leading to varying development processes for each. In this section, we’ll explore different types of social media apps to help you determine the category for your app.

Social Networks

Social network apps, or legacy applications, have emerged to facilitate digital interaction among people through posts, photos, videos, profiles, activity feeds, groups, and more. Opting for social networking app development is ideal if you want your application to support digital interaction, as this format is trendy due to its continuously adaptive nature. For instance, Facebook connects distant friends and family, while LinkedIn targets professionals seeking to foster career connections.

Blogging and Microblogging

If you aim to develop a social media app where text is the focal point, introducing a blogging/microblogging platform is your best choice. These platforms redefine digital publishing, enabling writers and readers to interact with multimedia elements. For instance, Medium, a popular blogging app, seamlessly integrates photos, links, videos, and other content into blog posts, creating a more immersive experience.

It has become a digital haven for professionals sharing in-depth content on thought leadership and impactful stories. Twitter is another famous microblogging app that thrives on brevity, allowing users to converse within a 280-character limit. It is the ideal platform for real-time information, news breaks, and discussions.

Photo Sharing

Photo-sharing apps have taken the forefront in the world of social media applications, capitalizing on technological advancements in mobile phone cameras. Entrepreneurs now invest in creating apps that seamlessly facilitate the sharing of photos, enhanced with creative filters and exciting captions. These applications gained prominence during the era of visual storytelling and are anticipated to be a rising trend. For instance, Instagram and Snapchat capitalized on this opportunity. They successfully engaged Gen Z.

Instagram focuses on instant picture and moment sharing with friends and family. At the same time, Snapchat pioneered ephemeral content sharing, setting disappearing posts, spontaneity, and authenticity trends. The digital landscape evolves daily, allowing Instagram and Snapchat to incorporate dynamic features into their applications with each update. If you want to capture Gen Z and cater to their preferences for sustained success, a photo-sharing app should be your choice.

Video Sharing

Video-sharing apps are optimal platforms for sharing dynamic content, accommodating the sharing of short-form and long-form videos to cater to diverse viewership. YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and others excel in hosting longer videos. Due to its iconic UI/UX design, YouTube leads the race, providing a seamless experience for over 2.7 billion monthly users.

With its content density, global brand perception, and expansive library, YouTube is the go-to destination for creators and viewers.TikTok has emerged as the champion in short-form content, reshaping the social media landscape with a global audience and 4.7 billion downloads. Its sustained competitive advantage lies in its encouragement of sharing quick and engaging content, redefining how audiences consume and create videos. If you aim to create a platform similar to YouTube or TikTok, investing in a video-sharing platform is the way to go.

Content Sharing

Content Sharing apps have emerged as a versatile platform for sharing visually oriented informational material. While these apps facilitate sharing any kind of content, they are usually used to share an amalgamation of text, photo, and video content. For example, Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where users can curate collections by adding ideas, links, images, and photos from the internet.

Moreover, they can add how-tos, infographics, recipes, and anything that fancies their interest. Its visual nature transforms information into an engaging and easily digestible format. SlideShare is another popular content-sharing platform where users upload and share professional presentation decks. It helps users showcase their professional expertise, add industry insights, and offer engaging visual content.

Both Pinterest and SlideShare illustrate the digital landscape for content-sharing apps and emphasize the fusion of visual appeal with informative content that caters to personal and professional needs.

Messaging

Like traditional text or SMS services, social media messaging services have evolved into dynamic platforms to help users exchange text information and share a wide variety of multimedia content. This entails videos, pictures, gifs, audio, and much more; if you’re looking to build a social media app with messaging at its core, rest assured because this market still boasts excellent potential. The best example of a messaging app is WhatsApp.

Its great popularity can be attributed to its unique business model and revolutionary approach to offering free calling and messaging services across borders. It has fast become a global communication staple, with most, if not all, people using it to interact with one another for seamless and cost-effective communication.

Another example of a messaging app is Discord. It has carved its niche by captivating a substantial gaming audience for global communication.Together, these platforms represent the evolution of social media messaging, integrating multimedia elements and redefining how users connect and communicate in the digital age.

Forum/Post

If you want to create a social media app that offers dynamic spaces for users to engage in conversations and connect through text-based posts and comments, then you’re looking to develop a post-type or forum-type platform.

For example, Reddit is a popular example of a forum. It offers a virtual hub where users join diverse communities to discuss current events, personal finance, or even their favorite TV shows and songs. Someone usually moderates these discussions.

This program structure facilitates open dialogue and creates an ecosystem where users discuss, share, and vote on content. Moreover, Quora is another example and is a famous question-answer platform. Users ask other users specific questions, and experts get back to them with an answer.

Quora and Reddit both showcase the power of online communities. They encourage building social connections and emphasize knowledge sharing through text-based interactions. The market for such apps is still unsaturated and has space for more innovative forum-type platforms.

Must-Have Features: Create A Social Media App

Now that you know which social media app type complements your business idea, the next step is understanding and identifying its must-have features. Here are a few things that you need to consider to make a social media app that resonates with your target audience:

Profile

The profile feature forms the very foundation of a user’s social media journey. It helps users share essential information like their name, photo, location, and online persona with friends, family, and followers. This digital representation fosters a clear connection to engage with the online community.

Posts

The post feature empowers users to share photos, videos, news, and other information with their family, friends, and followers. These interactions help users build a dynamic community and facilitate content sharing.

Search Bar

Adding a search bar to your social media app will enhance user experience by making it easier to navigate the app. It helps discover new groups, topics, people, and posts.

Notifications

Notifications are a great way to keep users hooked on the app. Users are notified when they are tagged in a post. Push Notifications are a great example of this feature. Users don’t need to open the app to see updates on them.

However, it is essential to strike the right balance when notifying your user. Too many notifications can become annoying and often cause user frustration. This might lead to them disabling all notifications from the app and decreasing interaction with it. Hence, when building a social network app, understand your user persona to see how many notifications aren’t too many!

Security

In today’s landscape, user concerns regarding privacy and security are paramount. Therefore, implementing robust security measures is crucial to instill user trust and safeguard sensitive data. Allowing users to have control over their data ensures transparency and aligns with the evolving expectations of privacy.

Friending Options

Adding friending options helps improve user connectivity. Allowing users to send friend requests and follow the people they admire creates a dynamic social experience. It helps them stay updated with their news feed’s latest posts and activities.

Chat/Messaging

Chat or messaging features must be incorporated into an app. This lets users interact with their families, followers, and friends privately. Moreover, it opens doors to creating an engaging interface to interact with people without compromising their preferences.

File Uploads

File uploads are an essential feature of social media app development and grant access to users to share multimedia like photos and videos with their friends and followers. This enriches the user experience by allowing diverse content creation and sharing and builds engaging interactions on the platform.

News Feed

This space allows users to see what is happening in the lives of their friends and the people they are following. This is the most essential feature of a social media application and ensures that the user is ‘all caught up.’ Moreover, you should ensure the news feed is updated in real-time, and the posted content is relevant. Users should also have the ability to customize it to their liking.

Admin Access

Admin access ensures proper platform management. Designated users use this feature to oversee and maintain a social media app. Admins have the access and power to block unreliable users, perform administrative tasks, manage content, and ensure a well-moderated and safe online community for everyone.

Monetization

Monetization adds excellent value to a social media app. Introducing versatile revenue-generating options becomes a crucial element in the creation process. Whether through advertising, premium memberships, sponsored content, or other strategic avenues, providing a range of monetization choices ensures your social platform’s financial viability and sustainability. Hence, when you’re investing in social media app development, be sure to emphasize monetization.

Moderation Tools

Adding sophisticated moderation tools helps users avoid unwarranted trolling and reputation damage at the hands of other users. Moreover, adding moderation tools like shadow banning and comment editing helps keep the online community safe and positive for building meaningful connections.

Livestreaming

Live streaming is just as important as file uploads. It is an essential feature that helps score brownie points in the eyes of the user. Moreover, this allows users to connect with their audience immediately and share what’s going on in their lives. It enhances dynamism and user engagement in the long run.

Customization

2024 is all about creating a personalized experience. Hence, customization is a pivotal factor when building a social media app. The capability to tailor the visual identity of your social network—adjusting colors and fonts, incorporating your logo, and personalizing your domain—ensures a cohesive and branded online presence, fostering recognition and user loyalty.

Analytics

You need to access data and analytics to identify your user’s characteristics. You can easily track where your user is located, their device, and the type of content they are engaging with. This helps provide the best user experience and adds more value to the application for the user.

The Social Media App Build Process

The process of creating a social media app has a total of five phases. Each phase of building a social media app complements the next by seamlessly integrating vision, user interface design, backend and frontend development, and database architecture, ultimately creating an engaging platform that fosters user interaction and satisfaction. The process is as follows:

Phase 1 – Project Initiation

Define Vision:

Before diving into social media app development, you must identify an opportunity gap in the social media industry that you want your app to cater to. After identifying the gap, create a vision to address this unmet need and position your social media app. This vision will guide the development process, influencing critical decisions related to features, user experience, and overall positioning in the market.

It ensures that your app not only addresses the identified opportunity gap but also provides unique value, setting it apart from existing platforms and capturing the attention of your target audience. Moreover, choose a niche. It is better to address a specific community than target the masses. It helps build brand identity and sets you apart.

Getting A Partner Onboard

Getting an experienced social media app development company on board is pivotal during the initiation phase. This ensures the success of your social media app. When choosing a social media app development company, research and identify one with a proven track record. This adds valuable insights and technical and strategic expertise for a smooth-sailing app development process.

Phase 2 – Project Planning

Define Key Development Decisions

When starting social media app development, you must make some essential choices. The iOS vs. Android dilemma, decisions on development frameworks, and the tech stack demand strategic consideration. These choices shape the anticipated timeline and resource allocation for the project. Identifying the key features to be integrated further refines the development roadmap, aligning the app with user expectations.

Choose a Project Management Strategy

Selecting your project management methodology is essential for the success of your social media app. Whether you choose Waterfall, Kanban, Agile, or another – introduce a balance between efficiency and adaptability. Each approach has its advantages and drawbacks, influencing the ultimate project outcomes. Aligning the chosen methodology with the app outcomes is crucial for success.

Define Key Development Decisions

Choose a Project Management Strategy

Define Project Timeline and Budget

You must craft a detailed project timeline and budget grounded in the earlier decisions. Estimates for timing and costs are contingent on these selections. For instance, opting to develop for Apple iOS prompts the inclusion of line items in the budget for necessities like the developer membership fee. This structured approach ensures a seamless and well-organized trajectory for the app development process.

Phase 3 – Project Execution

Creating Admin Panel

The admin panel is the epicenter of all app operations. It contributes significantly to app functionality. It controls user activation, terms of service and enforcement, and overall feature management. It aids in seamless control and ensures app maintenance.

Designing The App

You must craft the mobile app design with a meticulously planned wireframe, sticking to the best UI/UX practices. The best bet in this step is to hire a UI/UX expert to help you navigate this technical phase. Consistency and user-friendly navigation reign supreme for retaining users, crafting a smooth experience that invites repeat engagements. Ensure that your app design complements your branding and appeals to your target audience.

See our latest relevant exploration The Evolution of Business Web Applications

Focus on App Development and Quality Assurance (QA)

Once the design has been finalized, dive into app development. It would be best if you placed your trust in the capable hands of the development team. Building a social media app requires rigorous QA testing to spot bugs and eliminate them swiftly.

Users jump from one social media app to another at the slightest hint of glitches in this fiercely competitive social media industry. Hence, give this step its due importance!Holistic development and QA phase pave the way for a robust and user-friendly app. It ultimately secures its standing in this ever-evolving industry.

Phase 4 – Project Monitoring and Controlling

Track Project Timeline, Deliverables, and Cost

Here, the critical focus is vigilantly monitoring and controlling the project’s dynamics. Keep a sharp eye on the project timeline, constantly assessing progress and costs. Maintaining detailed documentation is vital; create a comprehensive history describing everything, from roadblocks to smooth processes; everything should be mentioned. This insight becomes valuable when getting updates and adding features to your social media app.

Accommodate Unexpected Delays and Cost Overruns

Adjustments are inevitable due to unexpected delays, unanticipated issues, or cost overruns. Flexibility is vital when it comes to social media app development. Modify your timeline and budget carefully, aligning them with changes to your product’s needs. External factors, such as new legislation or evolving trends among competitors, may necessitate adjustments. Adapting to this changing landscape ensures your social media app remains resilient, responsive, and well-positioned for a sustained competitive advantage.

Phase 4 – Project Monitoring and Controlling

Phase 5 – Project Closing

Launching and Deploying the App

Now that your app is ready, the next step is to make it accessible to anyone and everyone. Release your social media app to the world and market it so people download it in millions. You can do this by ensuring that you create a pre-hype for the app and start building an active user base via beta testing. Take user feedback very seriously and make the required changes where needed.

Once users start interacting with your application in great numbers, chances are you’ll see an upward trend for the next few years. Wrap up your project and ensure all expenses are settled between you and the developers. Ensure you archive all budget documentation, project plans, and other related documents.

Define Marketing Strategy

Here, we recommend building a product vision board and outlining business goals. Your social media app must be created to ensure alignment with the target audience’s needs. The go-to-market strategy entails developing an ideal customer profile and in-depth competitor research. The goal is not only to position the app strategically but also to employ effective marketing tactics. This comprehensive approach will drive the app’s success by offering a unique solution and resonating with the identified target audience.

Gather Feedback from the Development Team and Customers

Feedback forms the backbone for social media app development and ensures the success of your app. This information helps update the app continuously, and you can also use this feedback to develop future projects.

We can help you build a scalable and functional socail app for your business. See our Social App Development Service

How to Monetize Your App?

Creating a successful social media app isn’t easy. It requires careful planning and adopting and adding diverse revenue streams to it. There is no universal guide to monetizing your app. However, you can focus on a monetization strategy that complements your type of social media app and its target users.

In-app Purchases

In-app purchases include special filters, exclusive features, points and tokens for games, rewards, gifts and discounts, and subscriptions. These in-app purchases can be offered to general users and content creators.

In-app purchases enhance user experience and monetization. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram showcase unique approaches, with users purchasing gifts or subscribing to exclusive content. The app takes a certain percentage of money from the transaction.

Advertising

Digital advertising adds another layer of revenue potential and caters to a world of different app types. It has become a staple for social media apps, even on a modest budget. Practical algorithms are crucial in pushing ads to the right audience, significantly impacting small businesses. Offering a self-serve platform simplifies ad creation and placement for business users. Meaningful ad metrics like reach, impressions, and engagement rate are essential for gauging effectiveness.

Subscriptions

The subscription model has been evolving at an unprecedented rate. Its recent updates offer exclusive perks to users, like ad-free experiences and premium features. Exclusive networks like Raya and features on LinkedIn demonstrate the diverse applications of subscription-based models. Moreover, Twitter’s short-lived account verification subscription sparked a trend, prompting other networks like Facebook to explore similar strategies in 2023.

Partnerships

Partner programs present lucrative opportunities for app growth and content creation. YouTube’s Partner Program incentivizes creators with revenue sharing, while partnerships with influencers and brands amplify app visibility. However, adhering to FTC disclosure requirements remains essential in promotional collaborations.

FAQs

1. What is the cost of creating a social media app?

The cost of creating a social media app is contingent on various factors, including design, features, software, and development complexity. However, the typical social media app development range is $55,000 to $200,000. This is an estimated figure and may vary.

For a detailed analysis of cost please see our latest article on it: Cost to create Social Media App

2. Can I create a social media app without coding?

You need an app builder to create an app without coding. These programs have pre-programmed templates and functionality that you can personalize to complement your app requirements.

3. Is a social media app profitable?

Building the right social media app can bring in significant profits. As a start-up, you need to invest in hiring the right social media app developers and marketing strategies to grow your user base. You can generate good revenues once you have substantial social media users on board. The most common way social media companies make money is through advertising.

Senior Content Writer
Gohar Aslam

Coding Pixel

Gohar is a seasoned IT writer specializing in leading technologies. He holds a Diploma and Bachelor's degree from the University of London, with professional experience spanning over five years in the IT sector. His expertise involves a keen focus on mobile applications, web apps, blockchain, content management systems, e-commerce, and fintech. Beyond the professional field, Gohar is an avid reader and reads extensively about emerging and innovative technologies.