Thread: Can app development really be a good fastlane method anymore?

After frequenting the android market for apps recently, it seems that many apps are offered for free, and the ones that aren't don't seem to be tremendously popular. This might be a mild discouragement for me, as app design was my chosen business system for the fastlane. If people are earning significant incomes with apps, then what might be their chosen method of distribution/marketing the apps, unless there are other factors besides distribution to consider?
Thanks for any info.

Brandon

I think there are a lot of people jumping into this market with a "me too" philosophy. While there is money to be made tagging onto something popular, that only works as a business strategy if you know when to get in, when to get out, and how to spot the next "trend."
The side effect of this is that the app stores/markets are absolutely flooded with apps that are very similar, making quality apps harder to find.

I've been an iPhone developer over the last 1.5 years with a few "utility" apps in the store and have finally started to see some success (not at the "significant income" level just yet...) but it didn't come overnight. I had one of my apps ported over to the Android market, and it seems that people are less likely to pay money for Android apps vs. the iPhone market.

To be successful at mobile apps you need to have more than just the app store delivering your customers to your "door" - I have had some good results promoting my apps from websites built to tailor to the industry that use the utility apps.
Last thought - you are REALLY dependent on Apple/Google which is scary and gives you very little control over things such as your customer list (have no way of communication with customers for iPhone apps)

Yes I think it can be fastlane.

Angry Birds alone has been downloaded 600 million times!

Originally Posted by Giles

Yes I think it can be fastlane.

Angry Birds alone has been downloaded 600 million times!

That is a rare example.

If you are going to do an app, I recommend something valuable for businesses. I think there are many more people willing to pay if it is valuable to their business. The key is to offer a free app and have a clever way of monitizing it on the backend. If it is for businesses, then have Pro upgrades available with great features.

Apps are coming out all of the time so you would need to make constant updates, new features and develop new apps. Even with this, you hope users don't just delete your app and add the new hottest thing.

If you can come up with something very useful that you can patent so no one else can come close to stepping on your toes, then you are golden.

Or better yet... make something that ALL apps can benefit from. I always like the business model of selling supplies to the gold miners.

Originally Posted by JoeV

Apps are coming out all of the time so you would need to make constant updates, new features and develop new apps. Even with this, you hope users don't just delete your app and add the new hottest thing.

I think a quantity app mentality is good, create multiple apps. If you create the right kind of app, constant updates and new features aren't all that necessary, listening to user feedback and addressing their issues periodically is always good for business. I have an app with an iPhone and Android versions, they are another revenue stream for me. I do think with screen resolutions getting higher and higher and data plans getting lower, a mobile friendly website can offer everything an app can do, so I think the app market is viable for another 18-36 months for anything not real graphic intensive.

tekcraze and healthstatus,

may I ask what apps they are? I have a few apps but I've been getting pennies (from ads not priced)... And I agree with tekcraze that android users don't pay for apps as much as ios users.

My take is that unless you have a very very unique and polished app, it's hard to make money. Even with advertisement, you need millions of DAU's to get a good chuck of money. The markets are just too oversaturated.

Google "Making money with android"

It's a app developer blogging / his story about his apps and how they are becoming / not becoming successful from the start of $0 and $0 towards marketing.

His blog got so popular it was making more money than his apps for a while - He does a real financial report every month with how many downloads/impressions the apps are getting and also the blog adwords, etc

Oh and the answer is YES - A lot of developers publish things and dont market it what soever - so research , learn, eat, breathe marketing on top of development or find a partner to do it for you and you will be ahead of the game already

Originally Posted by DavLung

tekcraze and healthstatus,

may I ask what apps they are? I have a few apps but I've been getting pennies (from ads not priced)... And I agree with tekcraze that android users don't pay for apps as much as ios users.

My take is that unless you have a very very unique and polished app, it's hard to make money. Even with advertisement, you need millions of DAU's to get a good chuck of money. The markets are just too oversaturated.

HealthCalcs - HealthStatus iPhone application

I sell about 4 iphone apps to every android

to make money with advertising, you have to have a lot of downloads AND a lot of repeating uses. price an app if it is something they download once then use occasionally.

Originally Posted by JoeV

Or better yet... make something that ALL apps can benefit from. I always like the business model of selling supplies to the gold miners.

This, to me, sounds like the best method. However, the only problem I have with that is the tedious process of trying to generate ideas that businesses would find valuable. Maybe if I found some sources that followed the progress or workings of different businesses, maybe a source that would identify where certain businesses fall short with progress, etc., it would be an easier task.

Originally Posted by bmarone

This, to me, sounds like the best method. However, the only problem I have with that is the tedious process of trying to generate ideas that businesses would find valuable. Maybe if I found some sources that followed the progress or workings of different businesses, maybe a source that would identify where certain businesses fall short with progress, etc., it would be an easier task.

Expending effort is a bitch isn't it?

What type of business is best to target with an app?

Originally Posted by SportsFan438

What type of business is best to target with an app?

Depends, you could:
a) charge a lot per app, with lower numbers of people, but high value (real estate investors, forex traders, very vertical niches)
b) charge a little, with bigger numbers (accountants, attorneys, plumbers, teachers, wide niches)

bottom line is you have to meet a need with a group that is likely to have an iPhone or Android device in their pocket.

Well, the Apple App store alone is approaching 25 BILLION downloads. I'd say the market is scaleable.
Just find a great problem to solve and have an awesome marketing strategy.

Don't forget that instead of selling the app for a few dollars - you could sell branding and naming rights to the app and make it free

'Interest Rate Calculator App' becomes 'BOA Interest Rate Calculator' app with their branding/splash screen.

It just means you change your income from recurring income (selling a priced app) into one lump some payment upon launch from the advertiser.

Originally Posted by healthstatus

Expending effort is a bitch isn't it?

I think you misunderstood my question, or perhaps I could have phrased it better. My central point was pretty much where do I begin? For the past couple months, it seems as though my ideas have been sort of spur of the moment. There has to be a more systematized approach to generating ideas than just trying to "dream up" ideas for businesses.

Originally Posted by Giles

Don't forget that instead of selling the app for a few dollars - you could sell branding and naming rights to the app and make it free

'Interest Rate Calculator App' becomes 'BOA Interest Rate Calculator' app with their branding/splash screen.

It just means you change your income from recurring income (selling a priced app) into one lump some payment upon launch from the advertiser.

So you mean just sell the app name to a company/business, sort of like a liquidation?

Originally Posted by bmarone

So you mean just sell the app name to a company/business, sort of like a liquidation?

No, its simply branding the app in return for a lump sum.

Make the app, show it to some large companies that want branding, then rename the app and put their logo on it...