Developing an app is one thing. The problem is that App Stores are flooded with miscellaneous apps and cutting through the noise can be very hard. That is why we offer you only the most relevant and important content to help you with an app promotion.
As the popularity of free-to-play games grows, the army of their haters becomes even bigger. At times it seems that an anti-freemium rant is going to push the popularity of the gaming model down. Though, with so many people playing and enjoying all that freemium gaming thing, the industry is almost impossible to stop.
Still, freemium game model critics aren’t going to stop being that fierce about new mechanics of digital fun stuff. But, if they can’t change the situation, probably they better change their attitude?
Even so, the change of attitude is going to be painful. Seasoned gamers will keep blaming the freemium business model for destroying the whole gaming concept. From day one game was designed to entertain but with mobile app trends games turned into a smart mechanism of soaking money out of gamers’ wallets.
Check out stats on the revenue generated by Apple’s App Store during 2016, by app category and pricing model:
The majority of wise gamers also claim that the author’s rights on games were violated. There was a moment when game developers created a unique product with outstanding design and concept, whereas now any user can have total control over the process of upgrading it whenever his budget allows for the desired enhancements.
In two words, the scenario looks like that:
creating a state of urgency
offering various promotions
leading free users gradually towards paid updates
customizing message for maximum engagement
making a shift from free to premium as easy as possible
It proves that the freemium app monetization strategy really works and keeps digging money as it provides entertainment.
Sounds so true, doesn’t it? But, in fact, this isn’t really free to play format itself that is ruining the gaming experience. Games have always been addictive.
Even when gamers didn’t feel or didn’t want to feel game’s negative psychological impact on their’s lives, it still has been extremely powerful.
And just like being an addict, games have always been a money-making machine. All gaming industry is built based on psychological tricks that foster deeper and deeper engagement of participants. All of them encourage more play and thus require more money for a gamer to keep the score. But the most important thing is that these tactics had been used long before a mobile phone got smart or even before touchscreen technology became widely used.
Has something ever changed? With the mobile industry’s rapid development, the gamers community grew enormously bigger. Naturally, this has made mobile gaming a trend with millions of users involved, of all ages indeed.
Consequently, when the mobile gaming industry became everywhere, it became truly promising to develop a freemium app. Since then all its’ drawbacks, as well as attractions, have become much noticeable.
This coin, however, has two sides. On the one hand, a larger number of game players results in a gaming niche becoming less pricey and more user-friendly.
On the other hand, such massive folks may be a rich source to monetize apps for freemium game developers who are in a search of ways to make money, selling the shoddy product. Unfortunately, there are lots of second-rate freemium mobile games that require spending quite a bunch of money for the game to become more powerful.
Game quality is really another sore point skilled gamers are 100% grumbling at. They are absolutely convinced that mobile games are less exciting than video games used to be. Not necessarily in fact. This is an argument more against the way some particular games work rather than against the industry in general.
It also sounds like video game lovers just can’t get over the changes the mobile gaming market has to offer. There are dozens of innovative approaches that are going to move the mobile game industry to a brand new level of quality. Let’s just have a sneak peek at hybrid games, for instance, that promise superior gaming experience through a combination of digital games and physical toy components.
Unfortunately, the quality of mobile games is not the only fault freemium haters are picking on. Excessive ads are what drive users crazy. Well, in all fairness, the main reason to develop mobile games is to bring game developers more revenue through freemium advertising.
But as the internet can’t exist without a huge advertising unit, mobile gaming platform as a part of webspace, can’t do without ads either. That means you simply can’t get rid of annoying commercials. But instead, you can expect advertisements to become more entertaining. This is where free-to-play games have plenty of room for improvement.
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As for the rest, the freemium gaming industry appears to have more attractions than drawbacks. Its biggest merit is that independent game developers now have more chances to put their mobile game masterpiece on the public display and successfully market it. Of course, they might have a limited budget but it serves more as an incentive to be creative rather than a discouragement.
From here, the more creativity they put into the game design, the higher the quality product they will eventually come up with. This way freemium gaming may become a safer industry for customers.
All sides considered, freemium is definitely not that very destroying element that may cause troubles to the game industry. Instead, it should be taken as a push that game developers should use to multiply their revenue at the same time giving all gamers a unique, customized, and pleasurable playing experience without much worry about their budgets.
Since its long-awaited release, iOS 8 made the IT world adapt to all the new ‘innovative’ features pretty quickly. Perhaps fascinating feature marketers found most nifty was demonstrating the functionality of their app via a video preview.
Such areas as mobile gaming adopted video previews as one of the best ways to highlight all the amazing opportunities and gameplay their apps offered. In addition, those companies that used video previewing were usually listed in Apple’s chart devoted to new apps, which was a quite smart advertising maneuver.
What changed?
A couple of months later, though, video previews quickly lost half of their hype. Why? What’s the reason behind such a dramatic loss in popularity? There’re a couple of pitfalls to consider.
First and foremost, it’s necessary to talk about production costs. The truth is, creating a proper video that is equally engaging, informative, and jaw-dropping is a rather costly and time-consuming endeavor. Even if you had opted for the most essential production rule of thumb, the project’s budget still grew substantially to be turned a blind eye on.
Moreover, a high price of video preview making prevents most marketing budgets from conducting A/B testing, which requires a variety of promotional materials based on different content variations. With video previewing, you have but one asset most of the time, and if it’s not effective, you spent your money in vain.
Secondly, nowadays content gets outdated very fast. When we speak about video content, it can become out-of-date right on the production stage before even being released. While photo assets can be juggled and updated in a jiffy, video production is a way more complex process, which also requires a dedicated expert to manipulate it.
Thirdly, Apple’s content requirements are harsh. Lenient at first, later on, demands regarding photo and video promo materials became pressing. Apps that ignore following Cupertino’s recommendations, which are more of a commanding and imperative nature, are sacked from the store by moderators and then forwarded to owners for reconsideration.
Plus, given these strict video promotion guidelines, the final asset has little creative or entertaining value, which is simply cost-ineffective, especially in comparison to photo materials with much more creative freedom allowed to them by Apple.
Fourthly, another nail in the video preview a coffin was hammered when iOS 8 had been released. The truth is that video materials were visible only to iOS 8 users, which constituted only 78% of the total number of Apple audience. In other words, 22% of Apple devices (150 000 000 users!) were unable to check out video promos.
Therefore, the fifth reason why video content lost in popularity was the necessity to provide screenshots alongside an original video to cover those 150 mln users still using iOS 7 or lower. It resulted in extra budget money figuratively flushed down the pipe.
Love and hate are just one step apart
You’ve probably already realized that initial hype had quickly gone to naught. Numerous App Store Optimization (ASO) initiatives revealed the biggest problem of video previews. A serious effect on designated page visits in a too great number of cases with a subsequent conversion rate sinking.
According to the textbook, the goal of any landing page is to provide a solid user experience to make a user act the way you originally designed. Thus, the longer it takes to decide if your app is worthy to be downloaded or should rather be skipped, the less is the chance a user will make a target action. With this in mind, app screenshots have once again proven themselves a handier marketing tool with a higher persuasive value and potential.
On the flip side, videos provide users with too much room for doubts and contemplating, which seldom results in taking the actions you need.
To stack up, video previewing is a rather niche tool that definitely isn’t a definitive fit for all of marketer life’s emergencies. While for some apps it might work great, for others it will bring nothing but financial losses spent on production, and subsequent time expenditures spent on waiting for Apple’s verification.
Therefore, in search of flexibility, acceptable conversion rates, and as little as possible expenditures, a video previewing tool is the last to consider. Big brands, nonetheless, with AAA projects might include video previews into their marketing plan without any hesitations.
There was a time, way back when parents hoped their kids would someday become lawyers or doctors. Nowadays, the situation changed, and the meaning of success became much different. So, today people desire to create a viral application, sell it for millions of dollars, and achieve the American dream quickly and easily. Not so fast.
In fact, the app developing business, which is one of the biggest and fastest-growing industries in the whole world, is different than other traditional industries in many points. Furthermore, its daily modifications change the rules of all games. Since the app industry is such a unique sphere, being an entrepreneur – an entrepreneur concentrated on producing applications – naturally demands unique traits, skills, and abilities.
Here’re a few simple steps of what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur in the mobile area:
Think extremely fast
For entrepreneurs, the term “innovation” takes on an absolutely new meaning. If you think that the technology industry changes fast, just wait till you get into the mobile arena. Today, it’s not just about generating original and great ideas, but it’s more about making certain that by the time you complete elaborating your product it’s still applicable and relevant to the market. The app business varies everyday, and innovation isn’t just a part of the initial process but a daily urgency.
This is totally true since the mobile ecosystem is originally made. Many mobile applications depend on other platform with an eye to existing and big changes made by one influential player could lead to a mobile avalanche. Due to this, the professional entrepreneur has to stay flexible all the time.
Embrace simplicity
Most popular applications are focused on performing a single task perfectly well. But think for a minute about the difference between the app industry and other brands. For decades, brands have been trying to sell clients a whole lifestyle that generally consists of multiple products and merchandise. Usually, proposed products were costly and accounted for most of the business’s revenue.
As opposed to such companies, the app market is entirely different. It’s all about keeping it as simple as possible and offering a product that is extremely stylish, refined, and focuses on a single purpose. For example, in contradistinction to merchandise, applications are inexpensive goods that make users more open to installing them.
Define a monetization strategy
There is no trickier business model than mobile applications. Many well-known and successful apps with millions of clients all over the world still haven’t figured it.
Despite being a super popular product, users simply hate paying for applications. This tendency results in appearing challenges for entrepreneurs looking to provide users with what they really want – an outstanding output that’s free of charge.
Thus, entrepreneurs should always be confident that the used app monetization model doesn’t push away potential clients, whether it’s a freemium, in-app ad, or download fee model.
Flexibility is the answer
We all know the Coca-Cola myth about a company that intended to produce a new cough syrup and, as a result, ended up with a famous drink. The app business is full of fantastic examples of products that began with one purpose and ended up changing their track.
Truly speaking, applications are always required to add new useful features and remove less-desired ones to guarantee clients a well-functioning and reliable product.
The changeable nature of mobile app market needs entrepreneurs with a flexible mind. Such competent specialists have to accept changes and make their product adapt accordingly to the market requirements. Consequently, applications that don’t comply with the modern evolution of the tech world will simply lag behind.
Remember, it’s all about marketing
Of course, the striking idea is a must and perfect execution is vital, but, on the other hand, what is really significant in making your application a successful one is how efficient your market it.
Nowadays, mobile marketing is a completely new field that is different from traditional marketing. In fact, it allows entrepreneurs to select their target audience. Besides, it gives an opportunity to hit potential clients with persuasive messages that are relevant to their interests and consequently has more impact than billboards or TV advertising.
To prosper in the app industry, entrepreneurs have to get familiar with these options as an essential part of their marketing strategy and allocate appropriate channels to promote their products effectively.
Mobile users have quickly adapted to using these devices in almost everything that they do. While this is great for the industry, it makes it hard for mobile marketers to keep up. These marketers not only need to keep up with the changing desires of their customers but at a speed that has never been seen in marketing ever before.
A few challenges are more prevalent for mobile marketers than others. Here are the three biggest issues they face in the market today and how these issues can be solved.
The Competition Is Fierce
The hypercompetitive market of the mobile marketing world makes it difficult to cope and makes the cost per install (CPI) higher. The industry is flooded with apps with over a million being offered through Google Play and Apple’s App Store. This is not surprising when you consider that stores like these receive over one thousand submissions of new possible apps every day.
From these numbers, analysis has found that the most competitive app category is games. The number of active games that users can download is nearly 400,000. The second most competitive category is business though it only has about half the number of active apps that games have.
The number of apps is only increasing and so is the cost per install. This number is growing along with the number of downloads available. Discovering an app organically is something very rare. This is why developers need to use paid installs, which are achieved via marketing. This highlights the rising costs as they are connected to the growing demand.
What do the growing costs mean for the company acquiring new users? It means that since the cost is almost always increasing, the company will spend the same amount of money for fewer users. If they would like to maintain the number of new users that they get each month, then they will need to increase their spending.
How Do We Solve This?
It can be assumed that the trend of growing demands and growing costs will continue for a long time. Mobile Marketers should use this information and all of the information available to them to address this problem and make decisions.
Ensuring the money of the company is spent in the most effective and fruitful way is where this begins. Companies should use a performance-driven business model that only charges the company for actual use rather than for the installation. This can be made a condition of spending with a network that runs it. If the network does not seem interested, then it may be a sign of the network itself having problems. If the network is having problems and cannot deliver users as promised, then it is probably time to cut ties.
Assessing the network completely can ensure that working with the network will actually pay off rather than be a waste of money. An activity can be measured after the installation has been completed and from there the user can be assessed through the network.
Keeping Them Interested
Mobile marketers need to deal with the problem of retention when it comes to their users. They need to ensure that the app is changing and growing to fit the needs of the users. Marketers need to be in tune with what the app is being used for and how to ensure it continues to keep the attention and the interest of the users.
It is incredibly common that users will download an app, open it, and play with it once and then never think about it again unless it comes time to clear some room on the device. Through analysis, this is thought to happen roughly with around 20 percent of users. Although downloading and installing an app is part of the process, it is not enough to keep a business going. The app needs to be downloaded and used for the company to make any money.
The Solution
There are ways that mobile marketers can see how many users, based on percentage, return, and continue to use the app. This gives the marketers a general idea of how much they need to adjust in order to take that number from whatever it is, to be closer to 100%. This can be found by carrying out a cohort analysis.
From there, the marketer can use visual analytics in order to understand better how the users are using the app and how often. Essentially this helps to understand the general use. Analyzing each aspect of the user’s experience can help to pinpoint the areas that could be improved. Once these areas have been improved, then the percentage of customers that are returning or frequent users will certainly increase.
Note: There are important advertising-related fixes you can make to measure retention-related in-app events to know who the loyal users are and then connect them back to the networks that acquired them.
The Downsides of Linking an App
When an app download screen comes up unexpectedly and interrupts what the user was doing, it is not likely that they will just go with it and download the app. This disruptive linking happens at random times and can even come up when the user has already downloaded that specific app. In whatever scenario this happens, it can be detrimental to the app’s success.
How Can This Be Fixed?
Deep-links is something that mobile marketers can use in order to remedy the problem. These links will allow the user to be directed to their desired screen once the app has finished being installed. This kind of link, like many others, can also help to save user information, which can create an even more positive experience.
The seamless transitions deep-linking provides makes it easier for the user to navigate and get the information they wanted. This is something that also enhances their experience.
Mobile markets that are better able to focus their work on the mobile user experience and how the app is really being used will better be able to craft their app to be more competitive, keep users loyal and provide meaningful and useful links.
The modern addict is a very different image than the ones of the past decades. The addicts of our time are getting their fix from a range of online distractions. There is a great deal of literature and research that has gone into the narcotic effects of these sites such as Twitter, Pinterest, and, of course, Facebook.
In The Business Of Crafting Desire
In the modern age of selling distraction, it is the companies that can quickly form strong user habits that come out on top. These companies have a clever web of internal triggers that will cause users to visit their site without an external prompt.
Marketing goes out of the window with habit-forming products. These companies simply become part of the daily routines of their customers. This is called the: ‘first-to-mind’ characteristic. When the customer is bored, sad, interested in a topic or has a spare moment they immediately think of the product and company.
The Basics
While it sounds very simple to create this kind of company as there are so many of these sites already active, it isn’t as straightforward. Manufacturing desire is a skill that takes time to develop. The successful companies are the ones that can create the right hook for their customers.
Habit-forming technology has some identifying characteristics that come up in everything from video games to advertising campaigns. These are the five steps to create an effective hook. Although the process can be applied to a varied selection of companies and products this guide is focused on consumer Internet companies.
1) Trigger
The start of the process is what powers whether it is successful or not. Most of the time the triggers work in a combination of both external and internal ones. The technology will provide the customer with an external trigger to start a cycle towards an internal trigger. Some example external triggers are links on a website, an email, or an app icon. The feelings that these external triggers create will eventually become internalized, and a habit is formed.
2) Action
Once the trigger creates a desire, then the action needs to be directed. This can be based on two aspects of behavior: motivation and ability. The key to encouraging the customer to take the action is to make it as obvious and to make it require the least amount of effort possible. This is the ability aspect of the process. At the same time, the design of the product must continue the motivation aspect by being immediately attractive.
3) Reward
The reward step of the process is one of the most intricate and needs to be carefully planned. It isn’t easy enough to give a predictable reward, it must be a variable reward. If you gave a person a box, and there is a minimal reward inside that was continually the same, they would quickly take the box for granted and lose interest. If the box occasionally threw out a larger more exciting reward, then that changes everything.
Creating intrigue puts customers into an intense hunting state of mind. This makes desire become the guiding force. As a variable reward system, it can form some of the strongest habits. With the examples of Facebook or Pinterest, it is the fact that rewarding content is different with each visit. It is not predictable, and, therefore, it creates a need to visit more often to get greater rewards and the user’s next big “hit”.
4) Investment
Most habit-forming processes finish with the reward and create a short loop. The key to manufacturing desire is the investing phase. This step has two main goals. Firstly the company wants the customer to have a high chance of passing through the process again and again. Secondly is to use the dopamine reward state to push customers into parting with some cash, time, data, effort, or social capital.
The difference between most sales pitches is that with manufacturing desire the investment will improve the service. In terms of online companies, it comes in virtual assets, learning about new features, and inviting other users. The company uses each investment to make the trigger even more attractive. This will eventually result in the reward being more exciting with every pass the customer takes through the hook process.
Using The Power Wisely
Habit design is a powerful tool and should be utilized carefully. It can create a whole range of entertaining parts of a person’s lift and healthy routines. It can, however, be used to create extremely damaging and wasteful addictions.
Whether it is right or not to use is certainly an important question but one that has to be answered while also remembering that the technique is already here and is here to stay. The benefits for companies are just too great, including greater access to the collection of customer data. The combination of access, speed, and data create a whole range of types of habit-forming triggers.
With such a powerful effect, it is clear how important it is for a company to understand the hook process and how to utilize it successfully. Equally, the average customer needs to know precisely how these processes work in order to prevent excessive and unwanted manipulation.
Being able to manufacture desire is what will differentiate between companies that succeed and those that fail in the future. This is especially true for those that can build a service around especially attractive internal triggers that don’t require any need for further marketing or external triggers.
By following the four-step process can help any company to create a successful hook based product. For the customer, being aware of the processes will help to keep this powerful technique from being put into the hands of companies that are profiting off of damaging habits.
With the right companies using positive triggers that generate healthy or life-affirming rewards will mean that manufacturing desire will place many customers on a hook cycle that will benefit them and their wellbeing in general.
App developers need to be familiar with a number of different devices and platforms in order to make their applications usable for everyone. Applications began when Apple introduced the App Store, which is now the primary way of accessing applications for phones and tablets.
Apps are now being developed for both iOS and Android platforms with some success but now there are even more devices and platforms being introduced to the mix. The platform that is gaining popularity quickly is the smartwatch.
Smartwatches have been around for longer than you might think but since their development over a decade ago, they haven’t seemed to gain any traction. That is all changing as companies like Google and Apple, and even smaller companies, are developing smartwatches that are more attractive and user-friendly for consumers.
With a market that is primed to accept a new piece of technology, these companies are taking advantage. They are lowering the prices, improving the features and the style of the watches as well as making them more aesthetically pleasing for the user. When a watch is more technologically advanced and more fashionable then consumers are more likely to be interested in purchasing and using it.
The growth in popularity of the smartwatch has been just as rapid as the developmental changes that have been implemented. Part of this means developing apps that are suited for the platform used by the watches.
The reasons for developing apps for smartwatches will prove to be challenging as well as fruitful for developers. We have listed some of the main reasons to get involved in the new platform below.
1. The New Kid In Town
There are only a select few operating systems for smartwatches, and there are already many apps available or being showcased for each. The Android Wear, Pebble, and Apple Watch Kit are all platforms that have yet to reach their potential in terms of available apps and features.
The apps that are available add something to the usability of the watch and the overall performance. This makes the smartwatches something even more appealing and more functional than an average watch or timepiece.
Getting into this amazing market of applications early will create a place for the developer in the market. This also means having an understanding of how the platform works from the beginning and being able to compete with the skills of other developers in terms of flexibility. Developers can become well known in the industry when they get into smartwatch app development right from the start.
2. Improving UX
Since this is a relatively young platform in the development world, there are a lot of functions that have yet to be discovered or added. These missing features could make the user experience even better and could be something that developers can use to make a name for themselves. There is a huge amount of room for improvement in terms of the stock of apps and the features they could add to the watches.
It is normal for operating systems to be updated and improved with new features and elements put out by the company. This often happens frequently over the lifetime of the app. This is the case with apps used on platforms that have already been well developed.
Before companies are able to begin making improvements for the smartwatch platform, developers have the opportunity to make a contribution by making these improvements for the companies in order to better establish their brands. Pebble alone already has over 5,000 apps and that number is only growing. Developers need to get into this market if they want to be successful overall.
3. Paid Apps
While apps for phones and tablets are often free or based on a rate that reflects the use of the app, smartwatch apps are often paid downloads. This is good news for everyone involved in the development, as monetary elements are definite.
Most users are expecting to pay for the apps that they use on their smartwatches as that was what the system used when the watches first came onto the scene. Because of this, there are more chances for developers and companies to make more money from the apps they put out to customers.
The unique additions that these apps add to the smartwatches make them more usable and provide valuable functions for the user that they are happy to pay for.
4. The Issue Of Fragmentation
Understanding that fragmentation between platforms has been a headache that all developers and companies would like to avoid. It is also why most have put more time and effort into keeping the operating system of the smartwatches easier to use and understand.
While phones have different platforms that need to be accommodated for, the smartwatch platform is more controlled, with little variation. This makes developing apps much easier.
5. Impressive Attributes
There are things that smartwatches can do that will impress any user. Their functionality includes a lot more than just telling time. There are sensors that allow the watch to collect data and interact with other devices.
This is primarily useful for fitness and notifying the user but the watch is becoming more versatile than ever before with the ability to make payments and operate the user’s vehicle.
The potential is there for developers to use to their advantage. There are ideas that can be developed for the watch specifically and elements that can be used to enhance the user experience fully.
“How much does it cost to make an app?” is the first question the development team gets from startups and established businesses willing to build mobile projects. Knowing the cost of app development is essential for estimating an adequate budget and planning to spend.
Mobile application development costs may vary from $30,000 to $500,000, depending on the business functionality. But functionality is not the only price-forming factor.
This article will explain what mobile app development costs consist of and how you can impact your app costs. We’ll also explain the difference between Managed Services, Dedicated and Extended Team, and the concept of project management triangle, which is essential to understand what lies behind the estimation of mobile app development costs.
Some people think that mobile app development costs equal the number of hours one developer spends on coding. Such an approach is far from reality.
Apart from code, mobile app development project requires the following specialists:
Business analysts and project managers create the project backlog with tasks
Solution architect designs the overall architecture of the project’s back end components
Quality assurance managers make the checklists for the project functionality to ensure the functionality works without error
Designers work on the project layout, prototype, and complete design
All of the described roles require qualified specialists who charge a reasonable price for their work. Moreover, your project might require more than one developer. Therefore, work hours constitute a big part of your mobile app cost.
One example is in developing a logistics mobile app with several integrations, such as a warehouse database, online payment gateway, and booking functionality. Let’s imagine your development team has two months to complete a working project’s functionality.
To meet your deadlines, the project manager will dedicate a team of three back-end developers and two front-end developers to your project under a managed service model, which will increase the cost of your project. Thus, the cooperation model is another factor that impacts the final project app costs.
Let’s look at the three cooperation models we use at The APP Solutions and try to find out which of them will suit your project and bode well for future app costs.
What Affects Mobile Application Costs: The Cooperation Model
The cooperation model in software development defines the client and the team’s responsibilities. At The APP Solutions, we cooperate with the client under the following models:
Extended Team
An extended team means we provide you with professionals while you manage all processes. This will suit when you need to augment your existing team with our professionals. This working model works best for projects with established management and app development process.
The extended team will inherit the existing structure and report directly to you or your responsible manager.
Dedicated Team
A dedicated team business model includes shared responsibilities between the client and the development team. It works best for outsourcing business functions such as Development and Quality Assurance.
The dedicated team includes a Project Manager who is taking care of the Systems development life cycle (SDLC) Methodology and process, facilitating the dedicated team’s integration with your in-house development teams.
Under this model, The APP Solutions team manages all product development processes while giving you the freedom to develop your business. We are responsible for hiring extra specialists for creating complex projects and providing technical support after the product launch.
Apart from a Development and QA specialist, your project may require a Product Manager, UI/UX designers, Business Analytics, and System Analytics.
But how do cooperation models impact app development costs?
The more responsibilities you give to your developers and the more extensive the project scope you need to implement, the more developers will work on your project. Thus, the higher the app cost to create your app.
The app development cost also depends on three constraints that form a project management triangle. Let’s see what those constraints are.
If you need to finish a job in a shorter time you can throw more people at the problem, which will raise the project’s cost, unless by doing this task quicker, we will reduce costs elsewhere in the project by an equal amount.
Developers can complete a project faster if you increase the app development budget or cut scope. Similarly, if you increase the scope, the development team will require equivalent increases in funding and schedule.
In this way, if you cut the budget without adjusting the schedule or scope it will lead to lower quality, illustrating the proverb “Good, fast, cheap. Choose two.”
But if you need to launch a project within tight deadlines and minimal
app development
budget, consider building its MVP, which means Minimum Viable Project. The project’s MVP comes with minimum functionality to validate your business idea without ballooning app development costs.
To receive a precise cost estimate for your mobile project, you need to follow these steps:
Step 1. Ask a mobile app development team for a quote
Get in touch with the mobile app development team, describe the app idea, its functionality, and your business goal.
Step 2. Select the number of mobile platforms
Choose the mobile platform you want to target. Remember that developing a separate app for iOS and Android will double the app development cost. Thus, target one platform for MVP.
Step 3. Create the list with app functionality
Build up a list of your mobile app’s functionality that would be enough to validate your business idea.
Step 4. Prioritize mobile app features to implement in MVP
Send the list to your development team, so a business analyst can add other features if needed and prioritize functions for the first project scope.
Step 5. Ask the mobile app development team to estimate your main app features
Ask mobile app developers to evaluate the list with must-have features they will implement first, and get a precise mobile app development estimated cost.
But how much time do developers need to implement core functionality for the app’s MVP?
What Affects Mobile Application Costs: Core Features
A table with mobile app essential features, tech stack, and estimated number of hours will give you an idea about the time and money required to develop a fully-fledged mobile application:
User login
Most mobile apps provide users with registration via email or phone number to identify the user. But the most convenient way to access an app automatically creates a user profile and collects all public data about a person is through sign-in social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Tech stack
Number of hours
Facebook SDK
Log In with Twitter
Instagram Basic Display API
4+ hours for UI/UX design
8+ hours to develop the app back-end using NodeJS
8+ hours for feature integration per each platform (iOS, Android)
Push notification
Mobile apps use push notifications to inform users about the real-time updates in the app, such as changes in order status, new content, new messages received, etc.
Tech stack
Number of hours
Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) for Android mobile apps
Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) for iOS
24+ hours for iOS
24+ hours for Android
Navigation bar
In order to allow the user to flow through your app features and content, you will need a navigation bar. This feature also defines how the user switches from one screen to another, returns to the main menu, closes an app, takes actions, etc. Thus, your app must include swiping and scrolling features, icons, buttons, arrows, and other UI architecture.
Tech stack
Number of hours
Human Interface Guidelines
24+ hours for the app back-end
16+ hours for Android or iOS development
Media content sharing
If you develop a social media app like Tik-Tok, or messaging app like WhatsApp, you need to allow users to share media files such as images, short videos, or audio files. You may also need to empower your app with editing capabilities, including adding emoticons, filters, effects, or even animated masks.
Tech stack
Number of hours
Android NDK Native APIs for Android apps
Core Audio Kit for audio exchange, PhotoKit for photo editing, and AVKit for media playback on iOS devices
8+ hours for the design
16+ hours for the front-end
40+ hours for the back-end
40+ to develop this function on each mobile platform
What Affects Mobile Application Costs: App Complexity
To show you how mobile app features and app development costs vary regarding app complexity, we split mobile apps into the following categories and added the estimated time in hours to evaluate the cost to make a solution.
Type
Simple apps
Moderate apps
Complex apps
Description
No API integration
No back-end
Basic UI components
Simple features (email subscription, social login, calendar, etc.)
Custom UI/UX features
Build-in payment gateway
API integration
Back-end server
Multi-language support
3rd-party integrations
Custom animations
Complicated back-end
Custom UI/UX design
Real-time features via database integration
Time
400+ hours
500-800+ hours
800-1500+ hours
What is not included in app development services?
A development team with a solid approach for product development does not mean your application will be famous among users. But what can you give such guarantees?
A good marketing plan, financial models, and a pitch deck:
Marketing plan. A marketing plan is the foundation of a well-written marketing plan to achieve your business goals.
Financial model. Financial modeling is the process of creating a summary of a company’s expenses and earnings in the form of a spreadsheet that you can use to calculate the impact of a future event or decision.
Pitch deck. A pitch deck is a brief presentation you can use to provide your investors or potential partners with a quick overview of your business plan.
While the team develops your project’s MVP, you need to spend two or three months on marketing activities, such as app store optimization, with your app marketing team.
After the team launches your mobile app, it is vital to continue your cooperation because the app’s code can perform unstable in a live environment with real users. Such conditions may cause downtime and errors, which developers must fix as soon as possible. To make this possible, at The APP Solutions we provide IT support services for recently launched projects.
While the tech support team will fix errors, the development team creates and implements new business functionality to your app to make a fully-fledged product.
In this way, for the first two months after the app’s release, the development team will be busy with your mobile app development.
How Much Does It Cost to Create an App: Total Cost
So, how much does it cost to make an app? When hiring a team for mobile app development you do not pay for features implemented, nor for technologies used. Your app development budget cover project development services the app development company provides and responsibilities you share with the team of developers:
When working under a managed service model, you receive the freedom to develop your business and get in touch with the team to see the team’s progress.
A dedicated team costs less than a Managed service model, but you’ll need to face more responsibilities for a project’s success.
An extended team will suit you only if you have established management and processes and need to augment your in-house development team with developers to build an app.
The app development cost also depends on the number of functions, the app’s overall complexity, and the team composition your project requires. Don’t forget about the Project Management Triangle and its contrast – time, cost, and scope.
It is already well-known that trends in app development are forever changing. However, it is up to you to explore how they are changing if you are truly interested in app development. There are plenty of trends that can be found by reading through the information published in the State of the Developer Nation report from the research firm VisionMobile.
With all that can be discovered there, as an app developer or even as a user of apps, you should pay special attention to these four popular trends in app development. These were reported for the first quarter of the year 2015.
Number One: Using Swift
As an app developer or user, you know that even the newest and hottest trends can take a while to catch on. Very rarely will consumers bite onto a new idea just because it is there to be used. A rise in Apple’s Swift language is one that should be noted.
The researchers from VisionMobile surveyed 8,000 different top mobile game developers as part of their investigation. One out of five of these developers were using the Swift program after it being on the market for only four short months.
Objective-C had a jump on Swift in relation to iOS devices, and it only has a 39% usage among developers. This type of use is considered to be extraordinary as far as app development trends go.
As many as 25% of Swift developers are considered to be new to the iOS platform. This is considered to be a substantial amount. Even with this large amount of users, VisionMobile states that Objective-C is not going away.
It is predicted that most developers will have both tools available for their program. Experts say that in order to be the most successful on the iOS platform it will be necessary to understand how to properly use both tools in app development.
Number Two: The Growing Popularity of Cross-Platform Tools
It was discovered in the evaluation of app development trends that the use of third-party tools is at the highest rate ever. Among mobile app developers, 83% of those that responded to the investigation are using at least one third-party tool. These tools can be used for a plethora of developments including analytics, crash reporting, and other testing.
One of the biggest jumps of the use of cross-platform tools has occurred within the last six months. During this time, the usage went from 23% all the way up to 30%. The question for app developers is always how to choose the right tools for the successful creation of their app.
The best answer given by those that have accomplished their goals is finding a provider that is well-known and stable. This gives the confidence that they are going to be around to benefit from for a long time to come.
Number Three: Increasing Profits with Enterprise Apps versus Consumer Apps
No matter how popular smartphones and tablets are, there is never any guarantee that any one application is going to make money. Just because users are downloading apps faster than they are being created does not mean that just because one is available that it is going to be purchased by those looking to add to their app collection.
Trends of the first quarter of 2015 show that apps that make moneymuch better are enterprise apps compared to consumer apps. The difference between consumer apps and enterprise apps is not even close.
Research shows that 43% of the app developers that are working on enterprise apps reach or go beyond the $10,000 profit mark each month. Those that are making consumer apps are only in the 19% range when it comes to this type of revenue.
Most individual smartphone and tablet users would rather get their consumer applications for free instead of paying even a small amount for them. However, businesses are willing to spend a little bit of money to make money. That is why they will spend a few dollars on the enterprise application that is going to help them be more productive and profitable.
Number Four: The Popularity of the Internet of Things and its Slow but Sure Payoff
Many developers are now investing their time and resources into the Internet of Things (IoT). This is something that does not have the quick payoff that many people are usually looking for. Over half of the developers that took part in this research project have reported that they are using the IoT on some level in their developments.
One interesting factor is that many are doing so on a side project or hobby level rather than on their actual project. The areas that have created the largest interest include the mobile platforms iOS and Android. This comes as no surprise because the popularity and sure return that these are going to bring. Areas like smart building and wearable computing markets are among the areas being used.
Even though IoT is still in the early stages, experts from VisionMobile say that there are huge advantages of the IoT for the developers that are utilizing it. The products that are considered to be in the highest demand have the best software. Through the process of creation, the developers involved are going to be creating more competitive products over time.
After reviewing this information, taking into account what you already know about app development, and doing a complete evaluation, it is easy to see how the mobile development market is going to continue to change and grow at a rapid rate for a long time to come.
Also see infographic on this topic: Trends in mobile industry 2015.
Infographic
The development is going to occur in all different areas including the tools available to developers, the languages, the various device platforms offered, and finally the economics related to the applications. It is essential as a developer to stay up-to-date on all the changes in developments.
Even though this can be almost as time-consuming and difficult as doing your real job, it is a must. That is why the mobile market continues to be an exciting one to be a part of.
In this strange and relentless world of mobile application development, the first impression is the thing that matters the most. If your app attracts attention – this is the goldmine.
While it seems to be an obvious thing to claim, some tend to ignore the user experience and first impression, hoping that content alone will make it gangbusters. It doesn’t work like that, however, because in order for the user to get to your amazing content, s/he needs to have your app on their mobile devices.
The consequences of failing to make a positive and ultimately engaging impression are well-known, but there is hope as there are several fairly simple ways of making your application look attractive in the app market.
Here are 10 tips that will help you to make your app look cool in the app store.
How to Market Your Mobile App?
Clearly defined target audience
App store works in mysterious ways at times. There are thousands upon thousands of applications of all walks of life — but only those which happened to be in top-25 charts are making serious business. The rest is just there doing time and stuff. Why is it so?
The reason for that lies in the users. For the most part, they are not looking for some peculiar deep cut options, they need to do something, and they simply take what is lying on the surface. The logic behind this decision is simple — apps presence in the top-25 is a noteworthy sign that this particular app is actually useful and trustworthy.
This means — in order to get through you need to be in the top-25. How? Two words — App marketing.
If you want to compete with the big boys — you need to convince users that your app is worth attention. Your goal is to thoroughly explain what makes your app better and/or different from the others.
How? Look at the application from the user’s point of view. Channel directly to their needs and expectations for certain kinds of apps. Why should he care about it? That’s the secret.
Focus on local markets and work on regional rankings
Another important element is knowing where your target audience is situated country-wise. It is one thing when you need to get into the top 25 of the United States and completely another when you need to get into the United Kingdom top 25. Thresholds are different and the competition varies.
By localizing your target market and focusing your efforts on building up the presence there you can save yourself a lot of time and money. It is that simple.
In the case of non-English speaking countries, it makes sense to make a fully localized version. Even though it seems like everyone knows English — not everyone is comfortable using it. The thing is — for the most part, users prefer to use an application in their native language. Adding support of other languages broadens the international appeal of the application and immensely widens your audience.
Apply an App Store Optimization (ASO)
App Stores are huge. It is easy to get lost there. The success of an application depends on the discovery factor. For the most part, users are either skimming on the top or going straight through the referrals. The majority of users don’t go beyond that.
But since there are hundreds upon hundreds of various applications trying to present themselves in the most engaging manner possible — the competition for the top spots is very high. Even if your app is actually better than the others in a selected field — it doesn’t mean it will stand out in the search results. Quite the contrary is within a probability.
Hopefully, App Store SEO aka ASO can help.
How? You see — search engines are weird beasts with less reason than a bag of bats locked in a submarine. They live by their own rules and you can study them in order to turn the tables into your favor.
By applying ASO you give yourself an additional advantage in the quest for user’s discovery. Simple adjustment of the description and elaborations of the title can work magic for the discovery factor. Combined with high volume low competition keywords — it moves your app up the search results ladder straight to the top.
An icon is the first thing users see of your application. In many ways, it is a “make it or break it” situation. You either hook the user, and he goes on to check out the description and the screenshots, or he just moves on through the search results.
An icon shows what your app represents. It is your coat of arms. It tells what the app is about through common symbolism.
Here are a few handy tips on making a distinct icon:
It should be catchy and easy to remember;
It should not be cluttered (remember that it’s the icon, not a screen)
It should be tied to the purpose of the app;
It can be a play on words or images based on the app’s purpose or name.
Make a convincing screenshot showcase
Screenshots play important role in the consideration of whether to download an app. On the surface it seems like a nothing deal — just throw in a bunch of screenshots that show how an app works – that’s how app developers usually see it. But in reality, it is a bit trickier.
Upon selecting screenshots for the App Store page, you need to keep in mind how users perceive them. They need to understand what is what and how it works through static images. If done right, screenshots can serve as a strong rationale for your mobile app marketing campaign. However, you should keep them to the point and ultra-descriptive.
Here are several things you need to keep in mind about the visual presentation in the App Store:
Show full cycle of navigation (for example, on-boarding process)
Show features of the app and appropriate screens for them
Record a video of how the app works
Tell a story to the user of how s/he could use the app
Take full advantage of the video opportunities
While adding video presentation to the page may seem abundant — it can be used to further the impression of the product and incite positive decision i.e. download.
How does it work? Basically, this is like an ad for the app. Don’t simply repeat your screens, but rather, make the user want to use your app and be happier / healthier / more positive (whatever your app is designed to do).
For example, how the app solves a particular problem or how it allows doing more than other apps. The key element is relatability. If the potential user can’t relate to the problem depicted or doesn’t identify himself with the target audience, chances are s/he won’t get the app (unless s/he falls in love with the design or micro-interactions…)
Make description credible
While the visual aspect is able to raise awareness and carry out the first contact — it is a description that makes a final stroke in the “to install and or to pass on” story. The well-written description of an application works on two fronts:
Explains what the app is about;
Presents apps value proposition;
Keep in mind that the text consists of two parts. One that is seen in the search results and the rest of the app page. You need to make the opening lines as catchy as possible so that the user will go to the app page and consider the download.
Think about it from a user’s perspective. For example, you need an app to take notes. You’ve found one and it looks kinda fine, but the description is just some atrocious mix of buzzword mumbo-jumbo and hapless braggadocio. You go “yikes” and move on.
Here are several handy tips on how to make app description work in your favor:
Must be written in an engaging manner;
Must explain the purpose of an app in plain words;
(optional) Show the benefits and advantages of your product in contrast with competitors;
Must be slightly intriguing.
Secure glossy user reviews and ratings
User ratings and app reviews are an incredibly influential factor when it comes to consideration on whether to download an app. Basically, the better app store reviews the better conversion. However, it is also one of the places where you have little control over the situation.
It can go both ways — scare off potential users due to exposing flaws and inconsistencies or convince them to try it out by the sheer power of positive reaction.
How to secure good reviews? It all comes to one thing — make a good app that is actually useful and tested through and through before going on the market. And if there any problem occurred, just fix it on the notice.
Word of Mouth matters
Referrals are one of the most common ways of discovering new applications. What makes it happen? In a nutshell, it is a direct result of the positive reception of your application. I.e. app is so good, users are telling other users to try it out.
How to make it? Basically, try-hard, and make a good app, spice it with a clever marketing campaign, and voila.
However, because of that, there is little to no control over it. You can’t artificially generate positive word of mouth.
Sure, you can strike a partnership deal with an influencer who will recommend your app to his audience but that is not a guarantee of positive word of mouth. In fact, it can backfire as an attempt to shove something down the throat.
Make frequent updates
One of the most effective ways of maintaining a consistent presence in The App store is through a steady stream of updates. The logic behind it is simple — it shows that an application is still moving forward and evolves into a better thing.
There are several types of updates worth mentioning:
Optional updates — supplementary features (new photo filters, etc);
Seasonal updates — April’s Fools Day treacherous trolling user experience;
Every update in one way or another is a legitimate reason to remind already engaged users about an app and also attract new users through readjusting ASO.
In conclusion
Promoting an application is a challenge. But with these little tips in mind, you can be sure that all your marketing efforts will be ultimately fruitful.
If you decide to rebrand your product, don’t forget your mobile strategy. It’s always a decisive ritual of transformation when you decide to rebrand your product line because mobile is no longer a by-product.
Mobile strategy plays an integral part in a whole process, whether it’s to stand out from competitors, increase sales, exclude a negative image or present new features. We have compiled 5 marketing questions each entrepreneur should ask themselves before starting a rebranding journey.
1. Do I really need an app?
Apps aren’t suitable for all types of companies, so why this question is important. You definitely need an app, when you can offer mobile users an improved, balanced experience that connects with your brand’s nature. The app should work in a way users can interact with the label. On the other side, when should you remove your app?
There are many apps that need a real purpose because a lot of brands are launching an app just for the sake of one without counting of the added value. The best proof that your app isn’t worth your precious time and money when it demonstrates the same content that is featured on your website.
2. The interface of the website. How should it look?
Let’s be honest, there is nothing more embarrassing and irritating in 2015 than creating an awkward website that is not suitable for mobile screens. Moreover, visiting sites via mobile phone far exceeded desktop, users. All that really matters that you must guarantee that your website is mobile-friendly because consumers will buy or download your product using their mobile devices.
3. Should your brand use Multilingualism?
If companies want to interact with consumers and form a deeper connection, they must speak “their “language. During the rebranding process, the majority of labels change their names and logos to show a new identity. This new “personality” will most likely endeavor to advertise new fresh ideas and values, but don’t forget that the language used by your project should reflect this “breezy identity”.
4. Target the proper audience?
When you decide to rebrand your product, usually your target audience isn’t going to remain the same. It is a great opportunity to focus your strength on those you are trying to attract the most.
The same thing with a mobile strategy: Your new label’s audience must apply in your mobile ad targeting. Truth be told, mobile is a perfect background for brands who want to check different groups as the eventual target audience.
5. How should I introduce my new marketing concept?
For those who are making some changes to their concept, there is one important rule. They should inform their customers and the whole market about the name, slogan, or logo changing for their company.
In this case, you can use some really aggressive strategy like a mobile advertising campaign on popular platforms. This method will inform customers about your re-branding.
For example, Airbnb decided to change its logo that was not appropriate for the entire concept of the company. A new logo was about the Belo symbol that stands for ‘belonging’. Their entire strategy was built then on the ‘belonging’ basis and theme.
It was perfectly adapted to their website, interface, and, of course, mobile application. However, they did not prepare their customers for changes, and the brand got its portion of negative feedback after the logo was released. People just called it ‘ugly’ and ‘weird’ with no idea what it was.
So, what lesson can we learn from this example? Well, you should remember that before showing your audience your new image, look, and concept you should educate them. And mobile marketing would be the perfect decision for that task.
So, you should launch some really massive educational campaigns to demonstrate your new features, logo, corporative colors, and stuff. Lead your customers to step by step to the whole new concept. This will be your perfect foundation for rebranding.
