In the crowded mobile app market, what are some tips for success?
What are some tips for differentiating your mobile app from others, in both its design and in marketing it? What has worked for you? What stands out to you about your favorite mobile apps?
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Sep 17, 2014
App platforming is a nice trick. Look at Line tools...Multiple functional tools in one app. (Saves a ton of space)
Aug 29, 2014
Hi,
It is important that you keep the below in mind as a checklist:
Useful: Your content should be original and fulfill a need
Usable: Site must be easy to use
Desirable: Image, identity, brand, and other design elements are used to evoke emotion and appreciation
Findable: Content needs to be navigable and locatable onsite and offsite
Accessible: Content needs to be accessible to people with disabilities
Credible: Users must trust and believe what you tell them
Aug 29, 2014
Well, if I start talking about tips for differentiating your mobile app from others then
1. Make a great product: I am sure you have already made a good application. So I don't think I am going to stop you over here.
2. Build it with Virality: Think about it a bit while !
3. Key Is marketing : Well I guess promoting the application is the one of the crucial decision here have a look at the post: http://www.rapidsofttechnologies.com/blog/index.php/hello-mobile-application-developers-do-you-know-how-to-promote-an-app/
Aug 28, 2014
I'm glad you asked about marketing, because it is often overlooked. Sure, an app that's just tossed online *might* go viral - but it probably won't.
- Talk to tech journalists. A boost from one influential media outlet can work wonders.
- Submit to app review sites.
- Submit to sites that promote apps BEFORE release.
- Push it on social media.
- Advertise within other mobile apps by joining an ad network.
Aug 28, 2014
You absolutely need either:
1. Ability to code and implement your ideas, or
2. Investor who funds your team over the next 2-3 years so that you can hire top talent
If you don't have either don't waste your time, because the people you are competing against have at least one if not usually both of those requirements.
Finally, I strongly caution you against investing your own money. Investors have clear risk profiles and can afford to invest in multiple companies to maximize likelihood of success. You on the other hand would only be able to invest in your own creation which is highly dangerous since you gamble everything on one idea.
Aug 28, 2014
As the previous comments have written the most important thing to do is research what is out there, look at the reviews, implement an app that corrects these errors.
Apps should enhance not infuriate the user. Perhaps look at what apps people love and why they love them.
As with what apps I like? Simple well thought out, easily controls that do what I want when I want it.
Aug 28, 2014
At Mobal (http://moball.tv/), We have built a proprietary native app build platform, that is built for rapid native app deployment at industrial scale (In as little as 1 hour). Requiring only 1 High Res Photo and Logo from a design perspective. Inside of the app, the business, merchant, organization has ability to link up all of their existing content and create a menu/dashboard button for it (i.e. website, social media, online ordering, e-commerce, events, etc). Our system is 100% agnostic.
The apps come pre loaded with our location based software technology, enabling the merchant or business to see where all their customers are in real time and target anywhere on a map to deliver a Rich Push Message (i.e. Videos, Maps, Payment Links, Coupons, etc). We also enable the merchant/business to deliver messaging via iBeacons or Geo-Fencin
Aug 27, 2014
I agree with Neil. How is your app going to solve a problem that exists today, make sure you are not expecting users to change their behaviors to use your app. You can also look for an app that does well and find a way to improve it.
Aug 27, 2014
In the mobile app market, it now is going to become how does the app make someone’s life easier. Additionally it is going to become how do you stand out from your competition. If it is something very original what is the value proposition to the end user.
Aug 27, 2014
First do a thorough research of the existing apps on the market offering the same or similar service. People tend to think that the idea they got is unique but in reality unique ideas are rare. There is a fat chance you will find your idea realized a dozen times. This does not mean you should not continue if the idea is good and you think you can offer something because in the end what sells the app is the marketing and not the app itself.
Of course your app must be good and have a value for potential customer otherwise even the greatest marketing will not help.
Having something original to stand from the crowd is great, but having a clone app that looks great and works great is also ok. take for example dating sites and dating apps, and do a little research. You will be amazed to find there are dozens available, more or less with the same functionality, but they all have a lot of subscribers and actually live a successful commercial life. The reason behind it is even thought they are built and targeted to cater worldwide dating scene they always get popular in a specific area / country / region. And the world is a big place.
It is very rare case when app gains global popularity, and while you should strive to do a global hit, never forget that there is a local market and a local niche you can attack, and that it could be far more likely you will have a success that way.
I would disagree on private investment into own project, the investment is needed in the sense that in most cases you need to build a prototype, test your idea to be able to present it to investors in the end. Investors mostly do not like investing into something virtual when it is about web/mobile/services. The investment is not necessary in money but in time/space/electricity needed for making the pilot. If you have already established relations with investors and they are aware of your capabilities then trust is already setup and you can approach only with ideas and get funded, but it is a long road to achieve such a status. Most investors will ask you if you yourself did not invest in your idea before approaching them - do you really trust your idea. So approaching investors only with the idea is something that will mostly result in failure.