On a random Tuesday, we received a query on our website's portal from someone looking for a consultation.

On the call, she stated that she had an app idea but possessed no coding knowledge which was a limiting factor and that is why she needed to hire developers for two months. Soon enough, she started panicking about needing funds for hiring and development.

Understanding her problem, and being a no-code web application development company, we proposed no-code MVP development using which we helped her build a web app within 10 days attracting 100 beta users and raising 500K in seed funding without writing a single line of code and hiring extra helping hand.

What is an MVP?

An MVP is the most basic version of your product with minimum features that can be presented to the early adopters to gather their feedback so that the developers can move on to building the final product with the required iteration. By launching an MVP into the market you can validate your idea without going all in and investing everything at once.

What is the catch then?
The catch is, that it might prove to be costly due to the hiring of multiple developers working on different aspects with tools that burn a hole in your pocket. 

So, what is the solution?
No-code tools have been proven to be a boon when it comes to rapid prototyping, no coding knowledge, cost-effective development, and quick deployment.

A no-code MVP can be built in just 3 weeks if you follow the right process and we'll help you do just that.

Why should you choose a no-code platform to build an MVP?

The demand for app development services is growing day by day. Being a founder, you get so many ideas but the question here is how soon can your idea be brought into the market to take advantage of the demand. To help you navigate the time-consuming oasis of application development no-code platforms come to the rescue. 

Rapid and cost-effective development

If you want to bring an app idea to market, every small factor counts ranging from the hiring of the talent pool to development speed which proves to be a serious roadblock, and your zeal to build an application slowly dulls away. This is where you can leverage no-code platforms to build an MVP with core features, reducing the exorbitant amounts spent on hiring specialised developers as any person without having any technical knowledge can work on the project as compared to traditional development.

Quick testing and iteration

With the no-code platforms, you will be able to quickly develop the MVP which will be then ready for the testing phase. During the testing phase, the early adopters will provide you with feedback which will be used for developing a foolproof application, and with platforms like Webflow and Bubble your application can be improved at a much faster rate at less upfront investment.

Better market opportunity

As established, no code development reduces the development time and cost significantly. This extra budget can go to other aspects of the project such as sales and marketing. As your application is being developed at a faster rate you can take advantage of the opportunities existing in the market.

What to consider before building your no-code MVP?

Before we discuss the steps of developing an no-code MVP, it is important to strategically define the foundation of the version to identify target customers, analyse the competitors, determine the unique value, and prioritise the core feature set that solves real pain points and delivers differentiating user benefits.

Identify your target customer segment and their needs

The first step is to do a market research. Look into your competitors, what strategies are they using, what is working for them, and if not then what might be the reason behind it. This will provide insight into current solutions existing in the market and accordingly, you can devise strategies that will do justice to the user's needs.

Conduct competitor analysis to see what exists in the market

When you move to the competitor analysis, you will carefully delve deeper into the abyss of gaps and opportunities existing in the market. Simply put, the applications that have been already launched in the market need to be assessed. Now, here you step in with your MVP and provide the users with the features they want.

Determine what makes your product idea unique

A survey published by Fortune showed that 42% of startups fail because they are more or less similar to the already existing ones meaning they will eventually end up being dumped in the darkest corners of the digital space. This is why thorough research has to be conducted to figure out where you can jump in with a fresh idea to make your product shine.

Identify the core features

The core features will be the highlight of your MVP and keep the users coming. To achieve this, discover the pain points of the users so you can transform them into features.

Selection of a no-code platform

To select a platform, understand what the MVP's features and functionalities will entail. You can use free trials offered by several platforms to test if your MVP will be supported by the platform. Read case studies and reviews to get insights into the platform. This way you can choose the best platform for your MVP.

Outline what is essential for version 1 vs. nice-to-have

The less talked about aspect is that when developing an MVP you want to offer more to the users, which is quite good but can derail you from the track. Your priority is to develop the first version with core features and roll it out quickly and not waste efforts on non-essential features.

Building your MVP in phases

Phase 1: Design and validate

This initial phase is the first step where you get to see the product you are building, the end product look, and the solutions it offers. 

Outline features list and user flows

Once a problem statement has been established, map out the user flow. A user flow is a step-by-step depiction of how users will onboard, navigate, and achieve their objectives. This will show how someone will interact with the product and what their experience will be like. Choose and prioritise core features for your MVP which can act as the differentiating attributes.

Customer discovery interviews

To improve user experience you can conduct a couple of interviews with target users. This can help you identify issues they face, solutions they are using, and what new solutions they seek. You can even iterate the user flow and the features based on the feedback received. 

Wireframes and interactive prototypes

This is where the actual building of the MVP begins. The goal here is to draft simple wireframes to visualise what the interface will look like and how users will navigate through it. You can use tools like Figma, to map page layouts and connect these pages into clickable prototypes.

Phase 2: Develop version 1 with no-code

Unlike custom code development, you can jump-start your MVP development journey with platforms like Bubble, Adalo, and others without spending too much time on selecting the technology stack.

Configure backend data and integrations

No-code platforms offer pre-built components to help you configure the necessary databases, API integrations, cloud storage, and logic required for the MVP backend. To refine the experience, you can integrate any third-party tool such as payment processors and email providers.

Build an app or web interface and connect data

Design web or mobile application screens and UI components that are compatible with various device sizes. The important step is to seamlessly integrate the frontend interface with backend logic.

Input hard-coded data to demonstrate flows

Here, the goal is to validate that all the parts of MVP connect and function properly by inputting dummy seed data and stimulating end-to-end flows. This can be done by manually inserting fake data and constructing user journeys like signing up, updating a profile, posting content, etc. using the hardcoded data. It proves your databases, business logic services, APIs, and user interface are all correctly integrated when you manually walk through workflows.

Phase 3: Connecting and testing your MVP

As by now you are done with the core flows functioning, it is time for testing and final integrations.

Link supplementary APIs and data sources

To enrich the MVP and make it user-friendly, you can integrate supplementary external databases or third-party APIs. Common sources are social media APIs, payment processors, CRM databases, financial data feeds, marketing automation systems, etc.

Conduct usability and functionality testing

With a diverse set of users, you can validate responsiveness across platforms by asking them to go through the workflows and give candid feedback on challenges faced. Rigorously verify across edge cases, and fix any bugs or issues that surface impeding functionality.

Refine UI and UX based on feedback

The feedback you receive from the testing can be used to rapidly iterate the interface issues and improve the overall user experience. The smooth flows enhance discoverability, clarify confusing elements, and optimise user satisfaction.

Phase 4: Launch and iterate

This is the final phase where the MVP is launched and continuously improved.

Launch marketing website and MVP

Create a website to promote your MVP's key features and benefits, attracting interested visitors. You can release the MVP to a small group of target users first. This community will provide constructive feedback from real people representing your intended audience.

Gather feedback from users

Once you have rolled out your MVP to early adopters, make sure to ask for feedback through in-app surveys, post-usage questionnaires, and feature requests. You can monitor usage via web analytics to see popular flows. Compile these inputs into an actionable findings report.

Prioritise roadmap

To scale, plan a roadmap for developing additional features over the next 1-2 quarters based on genuine user inputs from the beta trial period indicating pain points and must-have new capabilities. This ensures you build what customers need.

Continuously improve all aspects

Maintain a fast tempo of rolling out incremental fixes and improvements continuously based on insights gathered and with the no-code tools this becomes easier. By rapidly addressing bugs and refining the UX issues raised you can become the users' top choice.

Once you follow this structured four-phase approach, you’ll have launched an impressive no-code MVP for customer validation in just 3 weeks. However, if building your first digital product still seems daunting, an expert partner can guide the way.

We are a leading no-code web and app development agency, specialising in speedy MVP development. With in-depth expertise in platforms like Webflow, Adalo, Bubble, etc, and a deep focus on customer discovery, our web and mobile app services deliver successful outcomes for startups looking to turn ideas into reality. 

If you have a transformative concept but lack the technical skills or bandwidth, connect with us to discuss how to bring your innovative product vision to life with no-code agility.