Bringing my first Android app to market - The process

[Tarheelfan2009]

Great execution man. Followed this thread and it is great to see that you followed through and brought this thing to fruition. Great idea and good price point for this app, IMO. Just looking at your screenshots, app icon, and description...you killed it! If I was comparing your app to the competition I would buy your app because your graphics and icons really give the impression of quality AND it is cheaper. :eusa_clap:

 

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[Jake]

Great execution man. Followed this thread and it is great to see that you followed through and brought this thing to fruition. Great idea and good price point for this app, IMO. Just looking at your screenshots, app icon, and description...you killed it! If I was comparing your app to the competition I would buy your app because your graphics and icons really give the impression of quality AND it is cheaper. :eusa_clap:

Thanks man. That's what I'm going for. Now the hard part...get found in the market!

I think I'll be making some changes to the description. I'll need to spend some time on that in the next day or two.

I appreciate the feedback

 

[Jake]

Discovered a quick way to rank for keywords

 

[oddball]

Did you notice the PR effect sales? How are sales going anyways? Anything you've done to market that has or hasn't worked?

Looking good so far.

 

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[Jake]

Did you notice the PR effect sales? How are sales going anyways? Anything you've done to market that has or hasn't worked?

Looking good so far.

Too early to tell. Steadily climbing up the google play ranks for the main keyword I'm aiming for. Only 5 sales so far of the paid app. The trial is doing well so I'm hoping some spillover starts to occur as people use up their free tries. I'll know more in a week or two. For now I'm just trying to build momentum and get my trial app to a point where it can be easily found in the market.

Edit: Google Play back end is horrible. Updates take around 24 hours and then even longer to update on the apps page. it looks like they're trying to fix that and I got my name on a beta tester list for something that I believe is going to be more real time.

 

[Jake]

Make that 6 :eusa_clap:

and a few credit card rejections

 

[tm33]

Make that 6 :eusa_clap:

and a few credit card rejections

Love it! I'll be watching closely to see how you do. Good luck man!

 

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[Jake]

Thanks! Making slow progress but momentum seems to be building. Need to put my thinking cap on and decide what my next promotional push will be.

 

[oddball]

Thanks! Making slow progress but momentum seems to be building. Need to put my thinking cap on and decide what my next promotional push will be.

50% off weekend/day.

 

[Jake]

50% off weekend/day.

I'm already priced to low. The top guys are at 3.99 and 4.99. I'm focused on getting downloads for my free trial at the moment so I don't think lowering my paid would make much of an impact. Too early for that imo. Thanks though. How's your app coming along?

 

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[oddball]

I'm already priced to low. The top guys are at 3.99 and 4.99. I'm focused on getting downloads for my free trial at the moment so I don't think lowering my paid would make much of an impact. Too early for that imo. Thanks though. How's your app coming along?

Maybe put in the description at the top that it is 50% off right now. Then put something right after that to tell people to buy it not since it won't last long.

My app is coming along. I was suppose to get a weekend update test app Friday but they ran into a few bugs so that slowed it down. I do have a second app I want to get priced out. It's something I could see making a lot, I'm not sure about millions, but I know I could easily turn a profit.

 

[Jake]

Maybe put in the description at the top that it is 50% off right now. Then put something right after that to tell people to buy it not since it won't last long.

My app is coming along. I was suppose to get a weekend update test app Friday but they ran into a few bugs so that slowed it down. I do have a second app I want to get priced out. It's something I could see making a lot, I'm not sure about millions, but I know I could easily turn a profit.

I could of swore I had in the description that is was a promotional price. Just updated to reflect that. Thanks for making me check!

I want to get going on my 2nd as well but I'm going to make sure this one has some legs first.

 

[Jake]

I made the "Top New Free Apps" chart :eusa_clap: #418 (page 18 lol) Long way to go before any significant amount of eye balls start seeing it.

 

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[Jake]

Got worried for a minute. I thought I had dropped off the top new apps list! Dug through the pages and found myself in position 317 page 14 :icon_super:

 

[Kari]

Looks cool!

I've made quite a bit of money through apps (both iOS and Android). A few things that I noticed off the top of my head:
1) On average, only a small percentage of Android devices has been rooted. You have a linux version of this tool that allows you to use the app, but no mac version? Plenty of mac users use Android devices.
2) 95% of the people don't bother reading descriptions. This could be an issue if you have to download a tool. This could result in a lot of refunds.
3) Any way to get rid of this root restriction? That'd be awesome for the sales of your app.
4) Have you considered integrating popular cloud based file storages through the Dropbox SDK and/or Box.Net SDK? That way, people without an SD card could also use the app and people with an SD card wouldn't always have to connect their device.

 

[Jake]

Looks cool!

I've made quite a bit of money through apps (both iOS and Android). A few things that I noticed off the top of my head:
1) On average, only a small percentage of Android devices has been rooted. You have a linux version of this tool that allows you to use the app, but no mac version? Plenty of mac users use Android devices.
2) 95% of the people don't bother reading descriptions. This could be an issue if you have to download a tool. This could result in a lot of refunds.
3) Any way to get rid of this root restriction? That'd be awesome for the sales of your app.
4) Have you considered integrating popular cloud based file storages through the Dropbox SDK and/or Box.Net SDK? That way, people without an SD card could also use the app and people with an SD card wouldn't always have to connect their device.

1. I'll add the MAC when I can. My Dev doesn't have a MAC so I may have to get the file written elsewhere. I'll start looking soon.

2. I'm hoping the trial weeds a lot of these people out but I have been getting a lot of refunds.:smx8: You can see in the 1 star reviews that people don't read descriptions lol. Sucks..but what can you do.

3. No. I haven't been able to find anyone who has successfully done it. From what I've heard it is not possible. We are working on getting the app to work on ICS without the need to run a batch. ICS has the functionality built in so it will be able to work without getting the permissions via pc. Samsung SII and a couple of gingerbread phones will also eventually work. I didn't think it was wise to wait until all of this was completed though so I launched with a almost complete product.

4. I haven't. I'm going to see if there is a way around it after we get ICS working without having to connect to pc. My Dev said it requires that an SD has been mounted. I'm not entirely sure what's all involved but he said it's required.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

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[theag]

I'm hoping the trial weeds a lot of these people out but I have been getting a lot of refunds. You can see in the 1 star reviews that people don't read descriptions lol. Sucks..but what can you do.

how many sales and how many refunds do you have so far? whats your purchase price and how much did you spend on developing the app?

 

[Kari]

2. I'm hoping the trial weeds a lot of these people out but I have been getting a lot of refunds. You can see in the 1 star reviews that people don't read descriptions lol. Sucks..but what can you do.

Are you limiting the functionality in the trial? It doesn't matter that much if people are not buying the app, since you can monetize the free version with ads in the future which could also be quite profitable.

 

[Jake]

how many sales and how many refunds do you have so far? whats your purchase price and how much did you spend on developing the app?

Purchase price can be found by taking a look at the app. I also already said what I spent having the app developed. I'll let the stats do the number telling from here on out. They do lag by nearly a day though. Refunds have been a significant and google also cancels a lot of orders if the cc doesn't seem to check out. Maybe I'll give a percentage as time goes on but giving a small snapshot doesn't really do anyone any good.

Are you limiting the functionality in the trial? It doesn't matter that much if people are not buying the app, since you can monetize the free version with ads in the future which could also be quite profitable.

Yes, the trial is limited to 10 uses. I may bump it up to 12-15 but I haven't decided yet.

 

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[theag]

Purchase price can be found by taking a look at the app. I also already said what I spent having the app developed. I'll let the stats do the number telling from here on out. They do lag by nearly a day though. Refunds have been a significant and google also cancels a lot of orders if the cc doesn't seem to check out. Maybe I'll give a percentage as time goes on but giving a small snapshot doesn't really do anyone any good.

Ok found it.

So you paid $1100 for development + $150 for the logo + some litle expenses like hosting and google play 1 time fee. Lets say about $1300 total. App price shows as CHF 1,90 for me, so lets say $2. thats 650 app purchases. maybe a little less if you activate mobile ads in the free one.

This app seems to target a really small niche of android power users that not just want to take screenshots, but take screenshots of multiple screens at the same time. Refunds and the problems users will have prior to even using your app (weird installation from what I see from the description, if I pay for an app I expect it to just work, else I immediately ask for a refund) aside:

Do you expect to ever break even with this app? If yes, when?

 

[Jake]

Simple answer..yes. and there's more money involved than that. Additional graphics, advertising, etc.. I would have not made it if I didn't think it would be a good ROI

 

[theag]

ok, good luck then. I'm curious to hear an update in a few months

 

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[Mike39]

I saw today you had 10,00+ downloads, is that accurate?! I marked all the 1 star reviews as spam or unhelpfull btw haha, people are retards and don't know what a rooted phone is

 

[wade1mil]

I saw today you had 10,00+ downloads, is that accurate?

If that's true, congratulations! Maybe now theag can quit being such an a$$ to people starting apps.

 

[Skys]

If that's true, congratulations! Maybe now theag can quit being such an a$$ to people starting apps.

You will always have nay-sayers. The whole CENTS can be used as one big excuse for not executing. That's what I am doing myself, but I try not do to it to others. "I might aswell not try this, the entry sucks..everybody is doing this". Or "Mwehh.. Don't see how this can ever become passive, I am wasting my time".

For everything there is one hell of an excuse to be found. Sure, lots of people are trying to build apps perhaps. Just do it better. Be the best in your sector. You can not convince me that you can not reach lots of people if you develop a great app, no matter how many people are trying to become rich with it. Wrong 'why'.

Not saying teaagg is a nay-sayer. I don't know the guy.

 

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[Jake]

I saw today you had 10,00+ downloads, is that accurate?! I marked all the 1 star reviews as spam or unhelpfull btw haha, people are retards and don't know what a rooted phone is

Yes, been spending a decent amount trying to build momentum. Downloads are high but they don't appear to be quality.

Thanks, I think competition is doing the opposite and bumping all the crap reviews. Possibly even paying for crap reviews. This isn't an excuse just an observation. A few days ago I got a 1 star review that says "Worst soon ever" ok..wtf does that mean..well "worst soon ever" just got posted as a review again! Strange

 

[andviv]

people are retards and don't know what a rooted phone is

I don't see calling people retards because they don't know/want to mess with their phones. This is complicated for most users.

If this is critical to the strategy then the application has a very limited audience.

I am sure you know you can "root" your TV. And your car's computer. There are hacks for everything with a processor in it.

The number of people that want to follow this route is very limited.

I, personally, do not want to go for a small market that also is very technical. Most will think they can build the same app themselves but better, after all, they are 'hackers'. I rather focus on a wider audience so I can reach many more users.

I think competition is doing the opposite and bumping all the crap reviews.

Are your competitors also needing the users to root their phones?

Downloads are high but they don't appear to be quality.

How do you define a quality download?

 

[Jake]

Are your competitors also needing the users to root their phones?

How do you define a quality download?

For the most part, yes. Some have a few phones working without root or using batch file but the top guys are also using the file method to grant access. So there is a large enough market to make it viable.

A quality download would be one that uses the app..not one that installs it because it was advertised to them and then uninstalls it.

 

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[PopEmersen]

If that's true, congratulations! Maybe now theag can quit being such an a$$ to people starting apps.

theag isn't being an a$$, he is asking real questions that need to be asked. He reminds me of Kevin off the shark tank, he asks direct questions that need to addressed.

Thats just my opinion.

 

[theag]

Maybe now theag can quit being such an a$$ to people starting apps.

I'm starting to understand that your posts in the other thread are probably directed at me . I'm not an a$$ man, you should read my posts again. I'm just pointing out what are in my opinion possible flaws in the ideas that have to be directed.

I, personally, do not want to go for a small market that also is very technical. Most will think they can build the same app themselves but better, after all, they are 'hackers'. I rather focus on a wider audience so I can reach many more users.

This is exactly what I wanted to say with my earlier feedback, but better phrased.

You will always have nay-sayers. The whole CENTS can be used as one big excuse for not executing. That's what I am doing myself, but I try not do to it to others.

So basically what you mean with that is that you are honest to yourself but not to others, for whatever reason. But I'm honest to people and give clear and direct feedback of what I think. This may sound rude, especially on a online forum, but I do this for a reason. As an entrepreneur you're sometimes so in love with your idea that you begin to have a tunnel-vision and you only see the positives. This happened to me a lot. Back then I needed somebody to point out the flaws in my thinking to see the whole real big picture and it helped me a lot. I'm not here to bash peoples ideas or apps, I simply want to give them feedback from the point of view of a A) potential customer and B) a fellow entrepreneur.

I'm definitely not a nay-sayer.

Sure, lots of people are trying to build apps perhaps. Just do it better. Be the best in your sector. You can not convince me that you can not reach lots of people if you develop a great app, no matter how many people are trying to become rich with it. Wrong 'why'.

Thats absolutely true. I think building apps is a great thing. But do it to solve a need, not to build apps. I don't have Android but I'm sure Jake's app is great and he build a better app for this specific task than his competitors because he researched them and improved what they have etc. I'm just not sure if the market opportunity is big enough to make it worthwhile, and thats what I'm giving as feedback here.